Reviewing and Improving Our Public Consultation Process Appendix 7B
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Reviewing and improving our public consultation process Appendix 7b Working with you for our energy future www.eirgrid.com Appendix 7b European Grid Report: Beyond Public Opposition - Lessons Learned Across Europe Update 2013 Renewables Grid Initiative EUROPEAN G R I D R E P O R T Beyond Public Opposition Lessons Learned Across Europe Update 2013 EirGrid • Reviewing and Improving our Public Consultation Process • Appendix 7b Page 1 EUROPEAN GRID REPORT – UPDATE 2013 Imprint The Renewables-‐Grid-‐Initiative is managed and legally represented by Renewables Grid gUG. Haydnstraße 1 12203 Berlin, Germany Managing Director: Antonella Battaglini Jurisdiction: AG Charlottenburg / HR 141989 B Tax number: 27/602/56382 Authors: Theresa Schneider, Stephanie Bätjer are The Renewables-‐Grid-‐Initiative (RGI) gratefully acknowledges funding support from the European Commission. All content and opinions expressed in this publication solely those of RGI. Co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the European Union 2 EirGrid • Reviewing and Improving our Public Consultation Process • Appendix 7b Page 2 EUROPEAN GRID REPORT – UPDATE 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 5 1.1. THE ADDED VALUE OF THIS UPDATE 5 1.2. SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY 6 2. CHALLENGES 7 2.1. PLANNING AND APPROVAL PROCESS AND INTERACTION WITH STAKEHOLDERS 7 2.2. NATURE CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT 11 3. SWITZERLAND 12 3.1. TERMINOLOGY 12 3.2. PLANNING AND APPROVAL PROCESS AND INTERACTION WITH STAKEHOLDERS 12 3.3. NATURE CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT 16 3.4. CHANGE PROCESS AND INTERNAL STRUCTURES 17 3.5. PLANNING AND PERMITTING PROCEDURE: OVERVIEW 18 4. UPDATE FROM BELGIUM 19 4.1. LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND 19 4.2. GOOD PRACTICES DEVELOPED SINCE 2012 19 5. UPDATE FROM GERMANY 20 5.1. LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND 20 5.2. GOOD PRACTICES DEVELOPED SINCE 2012 21 6. UPDATE FROM THE NETHERLANDS 24 6.1. LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND 24 6.2. GOOD PRACTICES DEVELOPED SINCE 2012 24 7. LESSONS LEARNED 26 7.1. PLANNING AND APPROVAL PROCESS AND INTERACTION WITH STAKEHOLDERS 26 7.2. NATURE CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT 27 8. CONCLUSION 28 9. ANNEX 29 3 EirGrid • Reviewing and Improving our Public Consultation Process • Appendix 7b Page 3 EUROPEAN GRID REPORT – UPDATE 2013 L IST OF ABBREVIATIONS List of Abbreviations 3D VR................................ ....................................... 3 Dimensional Virtual Reality AC ................................ .............................................. Alternating Current ARE ................................ ........................................... Swiss Federal Office for Spatial Development DC ................................ .............................................. Direct Current DETEC ................................ ..................................... Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications Switzerland EIA ................................ ............................................ Environmental Impact Assessment EMF ................................ .......................................... Electromagnetic Fields ENTSO-‐E ................................ ................................. European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity ESTI ................................ .......................................... F ederal Inspectorate for Heavy Current Installations Switzerland EU ................................ .............................................. European Union FAQ ................................ ........................................... Frequently Asked Questions FOEN ................................ ........................................ Federal Office for the Environment Switzerland FOT ................................ ........................................... Federal Office of Transport Switzerland HVDC ................................ ........................................ High Voltage Direct Current NGO ................................ .......................................... Non -‐Governmental Organisation RGI ................................ ............................................ Renewables -‐Grid-‐Initiative SEA ................................ ............................................ Strategic Environmental Assessment SFOE ................................ ......................................... Swiss Federal Office of Energy TSO ................................ ........................................... Transmission System Operator 4 EirGrid • Reviewing and Improving our Public Consultation Process • Appendix 7b Page 4 EUROPEAN GRID REPORT – UPDATE 2013 INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction 1. Introduction The transformation of the electricity public participation in planning sector is an inevitable building block procedures. in the fight against climate change. This update complements the There is a broad consensus among findings of the European Grid Report transmission system operators on what has been attempted, what (TSOs) and environmental non-‐ works and what needs further governmental organisations (NGOs) review in grid planning and that the electricity grid is a key permitting procedures. enabler of this transformation. However, the current grid system is To achieve these aims, this update out-‐dated. Thus, the effective covers -‐ on going activities and integration of electricity stemming relevant eriences exp of RGI’s TSO from 100% renewable sources into members. As in the 2012 report, it the grid depends on the successful focuses on the need determination, modernisation and development of spatial planning and permitting power grids across the EU. processes of grid development Yet, there is no consensus in society projects. 1.1. The added value of this on how to build the grid. Affected update communities are often very successful in organising an opposition. What’s more, local NGOs The European Grid Report only often state their concerns regarding marked the beginning of a grid impacts on nature, protected systematic assessment of best areas and biodiversity. practices and lessons learned. This update is the first in a series of In 2012, the Renewables-‐Grid-‐ follow-‐ups that we plan to publish in Initiative had initiated a project on the coming years. best practices. On-‐going grid development projects have been Compared to the findings showcased considered in order to identify the in the European Grid Report, many most urgent challenges, attempt to of the grid projects described are meet them, and to identify lessons now in a later stage of development. learned for future action. The This is often related to much more European Grid Report summarises detailed knowledge about the these findings showing the current specifics of the project which calls state of the art in harmonising grid for new ised custom participation expansion with environmental approaches. protection principles and improving 5 EirGrid • Reviewing and Improving our Public Consultation Process • Appendix 7b Page 5 EUROPEAN GRID REPORT – UPDATE 2013 I NTRODUCTION This update focuses on the experiences of five TSOs, including Swissgrid – a new addition to the report. The chapter on Switzerland was not included in the 2012 report due to a then on-‐going reorganisation of the Swiss electricity market. It is only as of January 2013 that Swissgrid both owns and operates the 6700 km of grid lines that constitute the Swiss transmission system. Equivalent to the 2012 report, this update presents very practical examples of how challenges in grid planning can be dealt with. Just as in 2012, they are easily traceable, as they are indicated by the highlighted 1.2.green Scope boxes. and methodology Findings of this update were compiled with the help of a questionnaire 1 that RGI partners filled in. Afterwards, telephone interviews were conducted and the information provided was supported by relevant material from the TSO. 1 An examplary questionnaire can be found in Annex 6 EirGrid • Reviewing and Improving our Public Consultation Process • Appendix 7b Page 6 EUROPEAN GRID REPORT – UPDATE 2013 CHALLENGES 2 Challenges 2. Challenges Legislative challenges The European Grid Report illustrates that many TSOs recognise the importance of addressing different Current challenges that German concerns that stakeholders bring TSOs face are mainly related to the forward regarding grid development fact that a new permitting regime projects. They are aware that such needs to be implemented. All actors efforts help in reducing conflicts and involved – including the regulator speeding-‐up the grid development who will act as the permitting process as a whole. However, authority for projects spanning more putting this participatory approach than one German federal state into practice still comes with many (“Land”) – need to learn how to fulfil challenges. their new role, how to put their new tasks into practice and how to Compared to the findings of 2012, interpret the defined procedures. many TSOs are now in the later stages of their projects (end of The current transition period permitting and preparation of encompassing projects run construction). Other TSOs are according to two legislations is a dealing with the implementation of a communicative and procedural new legislative background and challenge. Some transport needs had related challenges. Moreover, new been determined under the old legal technologies like underground framework, thus using another cabling or HVDC are currently being methodology. The new legal realised for the first time