Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
6 Climate Change and Atmospheric Emissions
6.1 Introduction and Overview
6.1.1 This chapter considers the proposed wind farm in relation to the expected renewable energy
generation and associated reductions in atmospheric emissions of CO 2. This chapter also
considers the carbon payback associated with the proposed wind farm.
6.2 Justification for the Development
Current Issues
Climate Change
6.2.1 There is now unequivocal evidence of climate change associated with human activity, from
observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting
of snow and ice and rising global average sea level (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, 2007). The effects of climate change are widely recognised as being one of the
greatest global environmental challenges facing the world today.
6.2.2 A major cause of climate change is a rise in the concentration and volume of green house
gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. This increase affects the way the earth retains heat and the
world’s leading environmental scientists have concluded this process is leading to an
increase in the earth’s average temperature, causing climate change.
6.2.3 The main human influence on global climate is emissions of key greenhouse gases,
specifically: Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ), Methane (CH 4 ) and Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) – for ease of
reference, these are generally expressed as a “carbon equivalent” – that is, equivalent tonnes
of CO 2 .
6.2.4 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a body of United Nations scientists
which monitors studies examining the effects of climate change, reported an increase in
atmospheric CO 2 concentration from a pre-industrial value of about 280 parts per million
(ppm) to 379 ppm in 2005. About two-thirds of the observed increased atmospheric carbon
concentration is believed to be due to the carbon emissions released from the burning of
traditional fossil fuels (notably coal and oil), to generate power.
Finite Fuel Sources
6.2.5 In addition to the issue of climate change, concerns currently exist about the long-term
viability of the use of fossil fuels to generate energy, due to the finite nature of the fuel. Owing
to political instability, there are also concerns that too heavy a reliance on imported fuels
could threaten the UK’s security of supply even in the relatively short-term future.
6.2.6 The European Commission’s Green Paper: ‘Towards a European Strategy for the Security of
Energy Supply’, highlights the importance of diversity of energy supply and of energy
generation within the European Union, along with an emphasis on increasing energy from
renewable sources (European Commission, 2000).
The Advantages of Renewable Energy and Wind Power
6.2.7 The primary benefits of renewable sources of energy (including wind, solar, hydro, tidal, and
geothermal) to generate electricity over conventional fuels are:
March 2013 6-1 ES Chapter 6
Climate Change and Atmospheric Emissions
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