National Policies: Wales
The National Assembly for Wales has set out a target to generate 4 terawatt hours per year of energy from renewable sources by 2010, likely to account for 10 per cent of the electricity generated in Wales by that time, and a target to generate 7 terawatt hours per year by 2020.
In support of this policy, draft planning advice has been published in Technical Advice Note 8 (TAN 8) . The document provides clear guidance to local authorities, industry, government and agencies for the development of all renewable energy technologies, but onshore wind power in particular.
At present, responsibility for granting development permission for power stations with a generating capacity greater than 50 megawatts onshore,and greater than 1 megawatt offshore, in England and Wales rests with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1989 (‘the Act’). Unlike the Scottish Government, which has statutory powers to grant development permission for power stations under the Act, the Assembly Government has a limited role. It is a formal consultee in the consents process, but has no statutory role. However, the National Assembly for Wales is seeking to transfer powers currently held by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, under Sections 36 and 37 of the Act.
The Renewables Obligation covers both England and Wales, and works in tandem with the Renewables Obligation Scotland (ROS) Order 2002.