A small-scale wind farm in south Lanarkshire operated by Nottingham-based Infinis Energy – where Ian Marchant is chairman – has applied for an exemption from the requirement to have a licence to generate under the 1989 Electricity Act.
UK Energy Minister Amber Rudd has announced that she is ‘minded’ to approve the application for the 66MW Galawhistle Wind Farm Limited, located near Lanark, south Lanarkshire, which is due to become fully operational in Autumn 2016.
In determining whether such applications have merit, DECC’s starting assumption is that all generation of electricity should be licensed, unless applicants can demonstrate that exemption does not pose a threat to the safe and secure operation of the electricity system or the interests of consumers.
Taking account of the level of the electrical power that could be exported to the total system in Great Britain by the Galawhistle onshore wind farm, Rudd has provisionally concluded that the connection of this plant to the system would not adversely affect network operation and that it would not be appropriate to require Galawhistle Wind Farm to hold an electricity generation licence in respect of the station. She is therefore proposing to make the exemption.
Representations for, or against, this application should be submitted by 27 November 2015 to:
Chris Chown
Energy Market Framework
Department of Energy
Fourth Floor, 3 Whitehall Place
London SW1A 2HD
Ph 0300 068 6085
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