Ministerial guidelines
Wind Energy Development Guidelines
Siting, design, noise and shadow flicker for wind farms. A revised draft was published for consultation in 2019.
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government · June 2006 · 119 pages
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- Planning Guidelines Acknowledgements The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government wish to acknowledge the following persons and organisations who assisted in the revision of these guidelines: - Sustainable Energy Ireland An Bord Pleanála. Cork County Council. Geological Survey of Ireland. Irish Aviation Authority Dr Eric R Farrell, Trinity College, Dublin
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- Planning Guidelines Contents Page No Chapter 1 Introduction and Policy Context 1 1.1 Purpose and Status of Guidelines 1 1.2 Policy Context 1 Chapter 2 Technology and Wind Energy Development 6 2.1 Technology 6 2.2 Size and Scale of Wind Turbines and Wind Energy Developments 8 Chapter 3 Wind Energy and the Development Plan 9 3.1 Introduction 9 3.2 Relevant National and Regional Policy Documents 9 3.3 Consultation 9 3.4 Development Plan - Strategic Aims and Objectives 10 3.5 Step-by-Step Guide to the Analysis of Suitable Areas for Wind Energy by the Planning Authority 11 3.6 Geographical Information Systems and Wind Energy Development 13 3.7 Natural and Built Heritage and Wind Energy Development 14 3.8 Amenity Designations 14 3.9 Tourism and Recreation 14 Chapter 4 Planning Applications and Environmental Impact Assessment 16 4.1 Pre-Application Consultation 16 4.2 Wind Measuring Masts 17 4.3 Access to the Electricity Grid 17 4.4 Public Consultation with the Local Community 19
- lanning Guidelines 4.5 General Considerations in the Assessment of Wind Energy Planning Applications 20 4.6 Need for an Environmental Impact Assessment 21 4.7 Sub-EIA Threshold Developments 22 Chapter 5 Environmental Implications 23 5.1 Introduction 23 5.2 Natural Heritage 23 5.3 Ground Conditions/Geology 26 5.4 Archaeology 28 5.5 Architectural Heritage 28 5.6 Noise 28 5.7 Safety Aspects 31 5.8 Proximity to Roads and Railways 31 5.9 Proximity to Power Lines 31 5.10 Interference with Communications Systems 32 5.11 Aircraft Safety 32 5.12 Shadow Flicker 33 5.13 Windtake 34 5.14 Decommissioning and Reinstatement 34 Chapter 6 Aesthetic Considerations in Siting and Design 35 6.1 Introduction 35 6.2 Aesthetic Considerations 36 6.3 Siting of Wind Energy Developments 37 6.4 Spatial Extent and Scale 40 6.5 Cumulative Effect 41 6.6 Spacing 42 6.7 Layout 43 6.8 Height 45 6.9 Landscape Character Types as a Basis for Guidelines 46 6.10 Landscape Impact of Wind Energy Development Construction 70 6.11 Landscape Impact of Associated Development 71 6.11.1 Control Building and Substation Compound 71 6.11.2 Fencing 72
- Planning Guidelines 6.11.3 Connection to Electricity Providers 72 6.11.4 Roads/Tracks 73 6.12 Turbine Colour 75 6.13 Turbine Maintenance 75 6.14 Turbine Transformers 76 6.15 Landscape Impact of Wind Energy Development Operation and Decommissioning 76 6.16 Estimation of the Likely Degree of Impact on Landscape 76 Chapter 7 Planning Conditions 79 7.1 Introduction 79 7.2 Siting Design 80 7.3 Flexibility in Turbine Location 80 7.4 Archaeology 81 7.5 Noise, including Construction Noise 81 7.6 Environmental Impact: Mitigation/Compensatory Measures 82 7.7 Environmental Monitoring 82 7.8 Construction Phase 83 7.9 Borrow Pits and Quarrying 83 7.10 Roads and Access Tracks 84 7.11 Ancillary Structures and Equipment 84 7.12 Connection to Electricity Distributors 84 7.13 Site Management Issues 85 7.14 Shadow Flicker 85 7.15 Electromagnetic Interference 85 7.16 Aeronautical Safety 85 7.17 Windtake 86 7.18 Development Contributions 86 7.19 Decommissioning and Reinstatement 87 7.20 Time Limits 87
- lanning Guidelines Appendices Appendix 1 Landscape Sensitivity Analysis Methodology 88 Appendix 2 Advice for Developers on Best Practice in the Pre-application Consultation Process 91 Appendix 3 Landscape Impact Assessment of Wind Energy Development Proposals 93 Appendix 4 Best Practice for Wind Energy Development in Peatlands 99 Appendix 5 Glossary 102 Appendix 6 References 108
- 1 Planning Guidelines Chapter 1 Introduction and Policy Context 1.1 Purpose and Status of Guidelines These Guidelines offer advice to planning authorities on planning for wind energy through the development plan process and in determining applications for planning permission. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning applications for wind energy developments. They should also be of assistance to developers and the wider public in considering wind energy development. The Department originally issued guidelines in September 1996 to planning authorities on wind energy development. These guidelines supersede the 1996 guidelines and are one of a series of guidelines aimed at assisting planning authorities in the exercise of their functions. The Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government issues these guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, which requires both planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála to have regard to them in the performance of their functions. Planning authorities are also required under Section 28 to make copies of the guidelines available for inspection by members of the public. It should, however be noted that these guidelines relate solely to land use and environmental issues related to on-shore wind energy and do not deal with issues concerning purchasing agreements, matters relating to grid capacity or off-shore wind energy. Offshore wind farms are excluded from the provisions of the Planning & Development Act 2000. They are, however, subject to the Foreshore Acts which are administered by the Minister for Communications Marine and Natural Resources. That Departments procedures can be seen in the booklet "Offshore Generating Stations
- 2 lanning Guidelines - Notes for Intending Developers which is available free from the Department or may be downloaded from the Department's website at: www.dcmnr.gov.ie. 1.2 Policy Context The development of renewable energy sources, together with measures aimed at a reduction and more efficient use of energy, are priorities, nationally and at European level, on both environmental and energy policy grounds. The implementation of renewable energy policies must also have regard for the environment. Specifically, there is a legal requirement to integrate the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, manifest in Ireland’s ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the binding requirements of the EU Directives on Birds and Habitats, into all sectoral guidance, plans and policies. The government has to date supported the development of renewable energy-based electricity generating plant including wind turbine generators, mainly through the administration of competitions under the Alternative Energy Requirement Programme, which gave wind energy companies a guaranteed market to sell power. The need to fulfil Ireland’s national and international commitments to renewable energy, and the acknowledged quality of the Irish wind energy resources is expected to lead to continued growth in wind energy developments. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is currently undertaking a review of options for future renewable energy policy targets and programmes. The review will consider indicative increases in Ireland’s green energy output between now and 2020. 1.2.1 The National Development Plan (2000-2006) The National Development Plan provides support under the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme, for the promotion of alternative energy. In this regard, expansion of the use of renewable energy and promotion of the development of technology, which contributes to meeting our international climate change obligations, are prime objectives.
- 3 Planning Guidelines 1.2.2 Sustainable Development: A Strategy for Ireland (1997) The key sustainable energy policy is the reduction in and more efficient use of energy and also the greater use of renewable energy in order to significantly reduce environmental degradation and contribute to mitigating global problems such as climate change. 1.2.3. EU White paper on Renewable Energy (1997) This paper identified a potential growth in the contribution of renewable energy to total energy supply from 14.3% to 23.5% by 2010. Consequently, Directive 2001/77/EC of September 2001 on the promotion of electricity from renewable sources in the internal electricity market1 addresses an obligation on Member States to establish a programme to increase the gross consumption of renewable energy-based electricity generating plant (“green electricity”). The indicative target addressed to Ireland in the Directive is to increase green electricity from 3.6% of gross electricity consumption in 1997 to 13.2% by 2010. 1.2.4 Green Paper on Sustainable Energy (1999) This paper set a target of increasing the percentage of electricity generated by renewable sources from 6.3% in 2000 to 12.39% in 2005, which will be achieved by the installation of an additional 500 MW from renewable energy sources by 2005, mainly from wind energy. Following on from the Green Paper, the main aim of the Strategy for Intensifying Wind Energy Deployment (July 2000) is to support the delivery of this 500 MW target of renewable energy-based electricity generating plant. 1.2.5 The Electricity Regulation Act 1999 The Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, provided for the commencing of the liberalisation of the electricity market to competition in line with the requirements of the EU electricity and Competition Directives. 1.2.6 National Climate Change Strategy (2000) International action to address the global problem of climate change led to the adoption of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations 1 The Renewable Energy Directive.
- 4 lanning Guidelines Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Government’s National Climate Change Strategy sets out a ten year policy framework for achieving the necessary greenhouse gas reductions towards Ireland’s compliance with its 13% limitation target on 1990 emissions, within the overall EU reduction target of 8%, by the first commitment period 2008-2012. In addition to taking action now to reach this first step target, further action will be required to meet deeper level commitments. The scientific consensus developed in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is that cuts in global emissions of 60-70% over the century are needed to stabilise greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere at concentrations that prevent dangerous human-induced impacts on global climate systems. 1.2.7 Habitats & Birds Directives The EU Directive (92/43/EEC) on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna2 requires Ireland to propose relevant areas for designation as Special Areas of Conservation for the conservation of listed habitats and species, and to maintain their favourable conservation status. The Habitats Directive was transposed into Irish law by The European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997 (S.I. 94 of 1997). The EU Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds3, requires that special measures be taken to conserve the habitats of listed migratory and wetland species in order to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution. The most suitable areas for these species are classified as Special Protection Areas. Ireland is obliged to “take appropriate steps to avoid pollution or deterioration of habitats or any disturbances affecting the birds”. Only activities that do not have significant effects on birds are acceptable in Special Protection Areas. The Birds Directive also requires the avoidance of pollution or deterioration of habitats generally outside specifically protected sites. A listing of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Area sites is available at www.heritagedata.ie. 2 The Habitats Directive 3 The Birds Directive
Source Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government: Wind Energy Development Guidelines (June 2006) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.