Spatial Planning for Large-Scale Wind Power Integration
Spatial planning is a tool to plan the use of physical space in a country, region, or city. A spatial plan can define, for example, where there will be roads, industrial areas, power plants, or transmission lines, showing also where there are nature conservation areas and other uses of the land.
Many countries do not currently carry out comprehensive, long-term spatial planning for wind power developments. This leads to ad hoc allocation over the years of space for the expanding production of national wind power. Such an ad hoc approach can lead to unnecessary conflicts with nature and neighbours, for example, because good wind sites that would not create such conflicts have perhaps been already reserved for other purposes. The ad hoc approach can also lead to unnecessary delays during planning and construction of new wind power plants – delays that could have been avoided had the planning of wind power developments been more long-term, well-structured and proactive.
Thus, Vestas recommends that governments:
Plan now for all available wind resources.
The new era of modern, renewable energy requires the same kind of determination and long-term commitment as was required to develop the fossil fuel era. Thus, Vestas urges governments to identify all available wind resources as immediately as possible and to take a systematic, long-term planning approach to large-scale wind power integration in their power supplies. Industrialized and developing countries alike would benefit in a number of ways from planning early for all available wind resources – among the world’s most inexhaustible, climate friendly modern energy sources.
Set clear wind power targets and timetables.
Establishing clear national targets for wind power triggers concerted regulatory and other planning action by the governments involved to meet their own targets. It also increases investor confidence, thus facilitating necessary investments in expanding the industry’s production capacity to meet in a timely manner the rising demands for wind turbines.
Develop national/regional siting plans for wind power.
National/regional siting plans identify specific on- and off-shore areas for long-term large-scale wind power developments. Spatial planning frameworks must assist in the development of national/regional siting plans by giving the same priority to wind power developments as to other important infrastructural development initiatives when allocating space. Identified areas must be good wind sites that also take nature and neighbours into account.
Safety is another important focus area to consider in order to prevent potential harm in case of damage to the wind turbine. Vestas also recommends that wind turbines be sited such that they are integrated into the landscape in aesthetic ways. Furthermore, neighbours should be allowed to participate in nearby wind power projects. For more details on environmental and public acceptance issues, please see separate Vestas policies on noise and wildlife.
Upgrade grid plans for the modern energy era.
Electricity grids are designed for fossil fuel technologies, which have different characteristics than modern renewable energy technologies. Regardless of these differences, grids in many countries are in strong need of upgrading to accommodate future energy demands. Such upgrades are expensive, long-term undertakings, and as countries plan for their energy futures, they should plan their grids with renewable energy technologies in mind. This includes extending grids to reach those areas where wind power resources are abundant, both on- and offshore.
Governments pursuing large-scale wind energy integration would benefit from promptly initiating upgrading of their national grid plans in parallel with the national site planning process. An integrated approach to siting and grid planning will assist countries in modernizing their grids to accommodate rising energy demands and growing wind power penetrations. National/regional siting planning makes it clear in advance where grids must be reinforced and extended over time.
Permitting procedures.
All the permitting processes for a wind farm should be concentrated in as few administrative jurisdictions as possible. A single comprehensive permit process would be ideal. The permitting process should not exceed six months, with deadlines set for responses and lack of response treated as no objection. Developing national/regional siting plans that identify good wind site areas and that also take nature and neighbours into account will assist countries in streamlining their permitting processes.
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