EIA in renewables
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Key Environmental Issues and Community Concerns for Large Scale Renewables Projects – Now and in the Future
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EIA in renewables
- 1. Considering the Environment & Community in Large Scale Renewables Prepared by – Jessica Berry Date – 4 November 2019
- 2. The Boom 21% of total electricity generation from renewable sources Source: AEMO Open Energy Networks, Available at: https://www.aemo.com.au/-/media/Files/Electricity/NEM/DER/2018/OEN-Final.pdf
- 3. Environment & Community Impacts of Large Scale Wind & Solar • The state based planning systems • Land Use Conflict • Visual Impact • Landscape Character • Amenity impact upon neighbours • Ancillary works – i.e. road upgrades for OSOM vehicles/ B doubles • Avian Strike • Property Prices • Noise and Vibration (Wind primarily) • Cumulative Impacts • Heat Island • Salinity • Flood impacts on/from • Foreign ownership • Impact on electricity prices Page 3
- 4. Lessons Learnt from Large Scale Wind & Solar Page 4 Importance of Site Selection Social Licence to Operate Programming of Approvals and Agreements
- 5. What's next? Page 5 Innovation - i.e. bi facial solar panels Multi-faceted Schemes Batteries & Storage Microgrids Hydrogen Energy from Waste – first Australian project kicking off in WA this year
- 6. Constraints for future renewables • Land Use Conflict (Rural and Urban) • Uncertainty in Energy policy • Uncertainty on legislative requirements and planning pathways • Greater expectations • Community acceptance of new technology • Sustainability of waste sources • Managing network capacity
- 7. Opportunities for future renewables • Learn from previous projects • Rethink old ideas • Proximity solutions • Integration • Reduced scale leading to lower impacts • Community Energy • Solving other problems i.e. Energy from waste
- 8. Questions pitt&sherry Jessica Berry Principal Environmental Consultant jberry@pittsh.com.au 0438 598 793
Editor's Notes
- Australia is experiencing a boom in renewable energy projects and generation with a large proportion generated by wind and solar As of August 2018 14,000MW of projects with an investment value of around $18 billion progressing through the NSW planning system 14.5 GW of new energy generation under construction or financially committed at the end of 2018 21% of total electricity generation from renewable sources – its highest ever level
- Having prepared numerous environmental impact assessments for utility scale renewable energy projects in Qld, NSW and Tasmania pitt&sherry has developed an in depth understanding of the key issues and constraints associated with these large-scale renewables projects as well as opportunities for innovation and best practice. This includes environmental, community, technical and logistical issues. The state based planning system within Australia present constraints for developers and leads to inconsistency in consideration of the environment and community prior to, during and after these developments. Land use conflict is a common issue amongst local stakeholders Need to show diligent site selection process How to integrate agricultural uses with solar – that article you sent through is a good example of the kinds of research happening now Can create rifts in community if one farmer is reaping benefits and the rest of the community gets the impacts Water use on site often raised by locals due to drought conditions, water entitlements and government funded irrigation infrastructure Avoiding quality agricultural land – if there is not planning indication of quality land worth proving on other way e.g. soil assessment, that land is difficult to use for cropping Visual Impact and Landscape Character – development in rural farming communities, built structures, glint and glare, height of assets Amenity – particularly noise and traffic during construction and property prices (perceived impact) Ancillary works – connection to substations and road upgrades to facilitate development Wildlife strike – bird strike from wind turbines, potential for birds to think solar farm is wetland Noise and vibration – operational for wind farms – limited for solar farms Cumulative impacts – multiple large-scale solar farms occurring with close proximity. The more solar farms there are the less palatable they are to the local community Urban heat island was an interesting issue because there is little research available particularly in Australia and therefore hard to communicate to community – more research in the future preferably Security fencing causing flooding issues and causing kangaroos to migrate through neighbouring properties Salinity issues and erosion issues Concerns over foreign ownership Concerns on impact to electricity prices
- Furthermore, and drawing on this knowledge and understanding, we intend to map out the potential risks and opportunities for future renewable energy projects in Australia. How do we capitalise on the lessons learnt around environmental assessment for the current renewables boom into best practice for future innovations? Site Selection – fatal flaw process, Social Licence - Early and Ongoing Transparent Consultation, Consider consultation fatigue Programming – planning, investment, grid connections and construction tenders
- In support of numerous innovative market leaders in renewable energy, pitt&sherry is currently undertaking feasibility and environmental assessments for the future renewable boom including microgrids and hydrogen projects. Need to summarise key renewable technologies for now and the future – beyond wind and solar
- As per dot points
- - Rethink old ideas - Proximity solutions – local solutions for local needs, co-locating Integration with existing infrastructure Hydrogen and Wastewater Hybrid systems and Mine sites Reduced scale with innovative technology leading to lower environmental/community impacts Community Energy Solving other problems i.e. Energy from waste Smaller development footprints will have reduced environmental, social and community impacts