Protecting Large Scale Existing Renewable Energy Infrastructure

Policy ID.20 Protecting Large Scale Existing Renewable Energy Infrastructure A. Protection of existing Renewable Energy Infrastructure Large scale renewable energy infrastructure – including but not limited to solar farms, wind turbines, battery storage systems (BESS), grid scale heat networks, farm based bioenergy and anaerobic digestion, green hydrogen production, hydro-energy technologies, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage facilities (BECCS) and associated grid and heat distribution infrastructure, will be safeguarded from development that would compromise their continued operation efficiency, safety, maintenance or future adaptability. Proposals that would result in the partial or complete loss of existing renewable energy infrastructure will only be supported where it is demonstrated that: 1) The infrastructure is no longer operationally required or reasonably capable of continued operation, or 2) Replacement infrastructure of equal or greater capacity is secured and deliverable with an agreed timeframe, or 3) The proposal delivers overriding public benefits that cannot reasonably be achieved without the loss, and appropriate compensatory measures have been secured where feasible and proportionate to offset the loss of renewable energy generation, storage or associated infrastructure capacity. B. Development Affecting the Functionality or Efficiency of Existing Infrastructure Development proposals within or adjacent to safeguarded renewable energy sites must demonstrate that they do not impede operational efficiency including: • Access for maintenance, repowering, and emergency responses • Avoidance of significant adverse impacts on solar generation efficiency, informed by proportionate solar path and shading analysis where relevant • Avoidance of overshadowing of solar arrays where relevant • Wind flow and turbulence impacts on turbines where development is likely to materially affect turbine performance • Safeguarding of grid, cable and heat network corridors • Safeguarding or safety zones for BESS, hydrogen and bioenergy facilities. Where impacts cannot be fully avoided applicants must demonstrate mitigation measures that maintain the infrastructure’s operational performance. C. Co-location, Repowering and Optimisation Proposals for repowering, life extension or capacity enhancement of existing renewable energy infrastructure will be supported in principle subject to environmental, landscape, heritage and amenity considerations.