The total cost of Scotland’s 7GW project pipeline could be slashed by as much as £150 million each year, if they are implemented.
Reforming the planning system to make it “smarter” offers the largest savings. The most effective single change would be to use planning guidelines to encourage developers to use the latest technologies featuring larger rotor diameters and hub heights. This alone could cut the levelised cost of energy by as much as £11/MWh.
The report said guidelines should be established to make it easier to redevelop existing sites, and that doing so could add 1GW of capacity to the existing pipeline. The consent process should be improved to make it more “coherent” and “consistent”.
It said the grid should be transformed by reforming the charging system and deploying new smart connections to avoid network reinforcements.
There should also be a “revenue revolution”, partly through the deployment of energy storage. Barriers should be removed to enable combined wind and storage to participate in the capacity market.
“The cost of onshore wind has come down significantly over recent years, and it is now one of the most competitive forms of new electricity generation in the UK,” said senior policy for manager for Scottish Renewables Lindsay Roberts.
The government has said onshore wind will not be eligible to take part in the next contracts for difference auction due to be held towards the end of this year. It is not yet clear whether the technology will be eligible for either of the two other auctions scheduled to take place during the current parliament.
Roberts said the report showed it makes “no sense” for onshore to be left out. “Without it, we will all be paying for more expensive alternatives,” she added.
The study was conducted by consultancy firm Everoze. The head of their Scottish office Zoe Barnes said the report “is about identifying concrete actions for government, industry and relevant stakeholders to find common ground to enable onshore wind to fulfil its potential in Scotland – delivering reliable, affordable and clean energy at the heart of the power sector.”
Earlier this week the world’s largest offshore wind farm was given the green light by the government.