Energy Minister
Fergus Ewing has announced the adoption of a set of principles designed to
maximise community benefit from onshore renewable energy
developments.
These principals
will help the Scottish Government deliver the 500 megawatts of community and
locally owned renewables target by 2020.
The finalised Good
Practice Principles for Community Benefit from Onshore Renewable Developments
have now been published, following a period of consultation.
The key principle
is the promotion of a national community benefits package rate equivalent to at
least £5,000 per Megawatt per year, index linked to inflation for the
operational lifetime of the development. So for example, a 20 Megawatt windfarm
of eight turbines will generate at least £100,000 a year for the local
community.
Another key
component of the guidance encourages renewable energy developers to submit
information on potential community benefits as early in the development process
as possible. This is considered a vital step in allowing time for the community
to consider properly and to develop ideas for implementation of the community
benefit package.
In addition, as
part of the Principles Mr Ewing has announced that Government will work in
partnership with Scottish Renewables to set up a short-term industry working
group to develop guidance to encourage community investment in commercial
renewables schemes.
This is with a
view to maximising the opportunity for communities to invest directly in local
commercial schemes. To date communities involved in benefit schemes have reaped
over £5.6 million for local projects and developments.
Speaking yesterday
(24 April) at the 5th Annual Scottish Highland Renewable Energy Conference, Mr
Ewing said:
“Community
benefits from renewable energy offer a unique and unprecedented opportunity to
communities across Scotland. Today, I can confirm that there is now around 285
megawatts of such capacity operational across Scotland. That puts us well over
half way towards the target, and represents an increase of 40 per cent on the
previous year’s figure.
“The Good
Practice Principles is a landmark moment in encouraging developers to invest in
community benefit schemes arising from renewables development and overall
contribute to our target.
“This
Guidance has drawn mainly on experience from the onshore wind sector but the
Scottish Government would like to see community benefits promoted across all
renewables technologies.
“This
document details good practice principles and procedures promoted by Scottish
Government, and is intended as a practical guide to the process but also,
through examples of what is already being achieved, as a showcase to inspire
success.
“Featured
schemes include the Allt Dearg Community Wind Farm, which, through partial
community-ownership, generated £130,000 for the Ardrishaig Community
Trust in the first nine months of operation to September 2013, and which is
expected to generate £100,000 in annual income to the Trust.
“The
Scottish Government is very keen to see other communities get the chance to
invest in local developments like this, and that is why as part of the
Principles we have set up a short-term industry working group to develop
guidance to encourage community investment in commercial renewables
schemes.”
Notes To
Editors
Developers are
invited to submit their interest in joining the group to Local Energy
Scotland.
The Good Practice
Guidelines are available to view through the attached linkwww.localenergyscotland.org/goodpractice