the future of renewables in victoria

The future of Renewables in Victoria

Wind Energy

Victorian Planning and Environment Law Association

30 April 2012

Phil Burn, Project Development and PlanningWestWind Energy

Wind energy is the safest and cleanest of all forms of electricity

generation with regard to its manufacture and ongoing

operation...

Generating electricity – Wind

State of Play - World

State of Play – AustraliaState Installed Cap (MW) Jobs Cap investment

SA 1151 806 $2.7b

VIC 428 300 $983m

WA 204 143 $923m

NSW 187 131 $467m

TAS 142 99 $424m

QLD 12 8 $20m

Total 2124 1487 $5.5b

Planning Policy VC 78New noise standard – New Zealand 2010

Removed the call in provision for projects over 30MW

Onerous transitional arrangements affecting approved projects.

Planning Policy VC 82

Banned from the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, Bellarine Peninsula, Macedon and McHarg Ranges, Bass Coast and the Great Ocean Road region as well 5km from specified towns. Unless integrated with another development.

Prescriptive 2km setback (unless written consent) between existing dwellings and wind turbines.

Victoria’s Wind Resources

Banned Areas

Banned Areas

Planning Policy2km setback (52.32-3) does not consider: 

• number and the location of turbines• prevailing wind direction• topography• power rating or size of the turbine• make and model of wind turbines and the

rated sound power output.

Planning Policy 2km setbacks

Aluminium by electrolysis

Petroleum refinery

Wind turbine

Opinions

Opinions

81% of respondents would support a wind farm within 10km of their residence and 68% would support a wind farm within 1km of their residence.

Strong support for the development of wind farms than might be otherwise assumed from media coverage.

Why care?DevelopmentCostly to develop wind energy projectsConsultants / legal feesSite investigation fees

ConstructionTower construction opportunitiesRolling construction labour forceLocal multipliers

OperationAdditional non-rainfall dependent farm incomeSignificant municipal chargesOperational / maintenance.

The FutureAustralia needs to reach 41,000 GWh to meet LRET (2020). Mostly from wind – industry estimates approx 8 GW or 3200 x 2.5 MW wind turbines.

Rooftop solar (PV and hot water) has created a REC surplus - REC demand should be addressed by 2015 / 2016.

Victoria has approximately 3000 MW approved awaiting construction. Some projects will expire as investment will focus on the most efficient and cost effective wind projects.

ConclusionWe need to acknowledge that cheap and efficient electricity generation must be located in areas of natural advantage. Wind is no exception.

Impacts associated with land use change can be managed and performance standards can be applied. Wind is no exception.

Areas of landscape, amenity and tourism significance can be measured and assessed, without the need for draconian planning controls.

ConclusionVictoria’s land use planning system should allow the national LRET to be met at the lowest cost.

An excellent opportunity exists for Victoria to participate in electricity diversification and employment creation and investment in Victoria’s regions.

This opportunity should be embraced, encouraged and managed – not wasted.

Thankyou

Refs.World Health Organisation Europe Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health Budapest, Hungary, 23–25 June 2004 Energy, sustainable development and health. Background Document.

http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/planningapplications/moreinformation/windenergy

http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/aavpp/52_10.pdf

Wind Turbine Photo Courtesy of Vestas

http://www.wwindea.org/home/images/stories/publications/half_year_report_2011_wwea.pdf

http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/resourcecentre/factsheets.html

World Health Organisation Europe Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health Budapest, Hungary, 23–25 June 2004 Energy, sustainable development and health. Background Document.

Victorian Wind Atlas 2003, SEAV

RefsPacific Hydro 2011 Community Polling Results, Attitudes to wind energy in Victoria, NSW and South Australia.

ERM (2008) Lal Lal Wind Farm – Landscape and Visual Assessment Report.

CSIRO (2012) Acceptance of rural wind farms in Australia: a snapshot.

http://www.agk.com.au/macarthur/index.php/faqs/

http://www.infigenenergy.com/about-us/news/miles-georges-address-to-the-pwc-renewable-energy-breakfast.html

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/government/initiatives/renewable-target/fs-enhanced-ret.aspx