WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE UK NON-FOSSIL FUEL AND RENEWABLES OBLIGATIONS

Prior to the implementation of the non-fossil fuel obligation (NFFO) in England and Wales, wind energy utilization in the U.K. had been minimal. However, under the first two NFFO orders of 1990 and 1991, expansion was rapid with twenty wind farms with an installed capacity of 132 MW being operational by September 1994. This growth is set to continue under the latest rounds of the obligations, where contracts have been awarded for six wind projects in Northern Ireland, 12 in Scotland and 55 in England and Wales. This continued growth will be accompanied by many of the planning and environmental problems which arose during the course of the first two rounds of the NFFO in England and Wales. In many cases, lack of experience of wind energy development on the part of the planning authorities and the public, and the structure of the NFFO, served to exacerbate these problems. This paper discusses the difficulties which have arisen and examines the various options and alterations available to the Government and planning authorities that would mitigate many of the problems experienced.