All is fair in love and renewables

In any ecosystem, the survival of two similar carnivorous species depend on at least two fundamentals, food and space. If food is plentiful but space is at a premium, then conflict between the two species is inevitable. The same applies to always hungry and fast spreading renewable energy developers.

A wind farm developer Seagreen, and a solar farm developer Tealing Park Solar Ltd, are at war over a former WW2 RAF base.

From the Times:

” Wind & solar companies are normally allies in the hunt for subsidies but the rewards are now so great that they are fighting each other for the control of a former wartime airfield.”

Seagreen wants to build a 3bn/3500MW offshore wind farm off the east cost of Scotland, it will need the airfield for a substation. Tealing Park Solar has applied for planning for a 31MW solar farm covering the equivalent of 70 football pitches on the same land.

Both parties are objecting to the other’s proposal.

The owner of the land is objecting to the wind farm. He has granted a long lease to the solar farm, at (a reported) £900/acre/yr.

It is estimated that the solar farm would receive 29 million over 15 years; the wind farm, 15 billion over the same period, when all phases of construction are completed. Seagreen has told the local council that the wind farm is of “national importance”. Seagreen may wish to apply for a compulsory rights of entry, if they do not come to an arrangement with the landowner, however a recent ruling from Ofgem has raised doubts whether this would be possible.

Read the Times(£) article here.