Onshore electricity generation - Electricity Act threshold: consultation

Background

Tackling the climate emergency has led to a significant increase in proposals for new electricity generation and storage. Our statistics show that the volume of applications made to Scottish Ministers has more than quadrupled over the last 20 years, with 15 applications made between 2001/03 and 70 applications made between 2021/23.

Wind farm proposals today may include turbines greater than 180m in height and with a generation capacity of 5-7MW each. This means a wind farm proposal comprising approximately 8 or 9 turbines is now likely to meet the 50MW threshold and require determination by Scottish Ministers. In contrast, an application for a wind farm submitted in 2004 comprised 22 turbines of 111.5m in height and a generation capacity of 2-3 MW each, with a maximum combined generation capacity of 51MW, whilst an application submitted in 1996 comprised 31 turbines with a maximum generating capacity of only 18.6MW.

Scottish Ministers can make changes to the type, characteristics and capacity of electricity generating stations which require consent under section 36 (S36) of the Electricity Act by an order which must be laid before the Scottish Parliament. Increasing the 50MW threshold, whether for all or only some technologies, would transfer responsibility for deciding more applications to planning authorities for consideration at a local level.