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The UK’s newly elected Labour government has repealed a rule to halt building onshore wind farms virtually impossible, The Guardian reported. The revoked rules — which were outlined in two footnotes under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) — forced developers to provide proof that there is zero local opposition to the project, an impossible feat given that “ there is nearly always some local resistance to any building proposal,” the news outlet writes. The footnotes have been removed entirely from the new draft of the framework that is set to be confirmed on 18 July.
The renewables industry still needs more support: The UK’s renewables industry wants the Labour government to increase the country’s renewable auction budget after its 2023 auction failed to incentivize new wind projects, Reuters writes. The current budget of the government backed price guarantees — called Contracts for Difference — is GBP 1 bn with 800 mn earmarked for offshore wind, but markets and economics policy analyst at industry group Renewable UK Nick Hibebrd thinks this should be raised to GBP 1.5 bn.
Spain approved nearly EUR 794 mn in subsidies for hydrogen projects in order to position itself as a leader in green hydrogen production, Reuters reports. The funds will support seven projects with a total electrolysis capacity of 652 MW, according to Spain’s Energy Minister Teresa Ribera. 40% of the funds will go to two 100 MW hydrogen projects managed by oil company Repsol, while a third will go to Spanish utility Iberdrola’s 220 MW hydrogen plant in south-central Spain.
OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-
- US to fall short of offshore wind goals: The US is off track for the Biden administration’s 30 GW by 2030 offshore wind goal, with the American Clean Power Association predicting only 14 GW to be installed by the end of the decade. Capacity is expected to hit the target by 2033 but rising costs, interest rates, and supply chain problems continue to inhibit development in the short term. (Reuters)
