Newsletter March 2011
Policies and Projects
Energy National Policy Statements
Parliament is currently scrutinising the Government’s revised national energy policy statements. These have been through both Houses and comments are being reviewed by the DECC, with plans to implement later this year.
One of the key areas to be affected is infrastructure planning. The Government has taken back powers on infrastructure decisions from the previous commission and set up a new unit to overview policy. Much of this is, of course, to ease the path for new nuclear power station construction.
Gas
Gas network infrastructure projects continue to get the green light, with approval for a pressure reduction station connecting Milford Haven depot to the NTS, and expansion of the Caythorpe gas storage facility.
Consent has also been given to a new 900MW CCGT at Spalding, Lincs and ScottishPower’s 1000MW CCGT at Damhead Creek, Kent.
Onshore
Vattenfall’s application for an onshore wind farm with a maximum generating capacity of 60MW at Ray Estate, near Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland has received consent.
Offshore
New marine policy statements are being developed by the DECC to manage planning decisions offshore, including marine conservation zones, in line with the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. On the project side, the Humber Gateway offshore wind farm (developer E.on) has recently been consented. The project lies to the north of the mouth of the Humber Estuary and will be a minimum of 8km from the coast.