Onshore wind farm development set to progress

An onshore wind farm development, with turbines reaching up to 500-foot high, to provide green energy for Pembrokeshire’s Dragon LNG site, is set to move forward.Milford Energy Ltd, a sister company to Dragon LNG, is seeking planning permission for an onshore wind farm and associated equipment, infrastructure and ancillary works.Proposed is a development with a minimum generation capacity of at least 10MW, although this will depend on the precise wind turbine model selected. Currently, of the candidate wind turbines being considered, the maximum combined generation capacity is in the range of 12.6MW to 13.5MW.Lined up is a scheme of up to three wind turbines with a maximum blade tip height of just under 500-foot, together with associated foundations, hard standings and crane pads.Now a local impact report for the scheme has been adopted and will be considered at a meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee on 5 December.A report for the committee notes that it is recommended that the contents and conclusions of the adopted local impact report that is appended be noted.This application is due to be determined by Welsh Ministers.The proposed development, known as Dragon Energy, will provide a direct supply of renewable energy to the Dragon LNG Terminal. It will be a key component of the applicant’s Net Zero and energy security strategy.Dragon LNG operates the liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving, storing and regasifying facility adjoining the site, which is at Waterston, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.The terminal provides gas for use by millions of commercial and residential UK consumers and is a key part of the UK’s critical infrastructure. It has the capacity to supply up to 10 per cent of the UK’s needs on a daily basis.Dragon LNG own the main part of the site where the wind turbines are proposed to be located and will lease the land to MEL. MEL would operate and maintain the proposed wind turbines.The application added: “The proposed development aligns with the aims of the recent Celtic Freeport status announcement for Milford Haven and Port Talbot, which will help to create jobs, drive growth and level up opportunities across Wales. The Freeport will focus on low carbon technologies such as wind, hydrogen, carbon capture utilisation and storage and biofuels to support the accelerated reduction of carbon emissions.”This will be supported by the development of land and quayside space and bringing a disused railhead back into operation, to enable infrastructure to support development. The proposed development will significantly decarbonise a key UK energy facility, and the application therefore fully aligns with and will augment the key objectives of the Freeport designation.”