Question reference: S6W-26693
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 5 April 2024
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Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for electricity generators under 50MW were submitted to planning authorities under the Electricity Act 1989 in (a) 2015, (b) 2019, (c) 2022 and (d) 2023.
Answer
Applications for electricity generating stations with a capacity of 50MW or less submitted to planning authorities are determined in accordance with procedures set out under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. Consent under the Electricity Act 1989 is exclusively required for electricity generating stations with a capacity greater than 50MW.
The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of applications for electricity generating stations with a capacity of 50MW or less submitted to planning authorities under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. However, this information could be obtained from individual planning authorities.
The Scottish Government does publish information on the total number of planning applications for electricity generation determined by planning authorities. The number of applications determined in each year is recorded from 1 April to 31 March.
Number of planning applications for electricity generation | ||
Year | Major | Local |
2014-15 | 21 | 626 |
2015-16 | 17 | 561 |
2016-17 | 10 | 178 |
2017-18 | 9 | 123 |
2018-19 | 9 | 180 |
2019-20 | 12 | 94 |
2020-21 | 26 | 123 |
2021-22 | 31 | 106 |
2022-23 | 42 | 177 |
1 The figures provided for 2014-15 to 2019-20 do not include applications which were determined using a processing agreement.
2 Major applications are any development where the generating capacity exceeds 20MW but does not exceed 50MW.
Further information on planning applications determined by Planning Authorities can be found at: The Scottish Government - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)