2.16 To support investment in the energy sector:
• the Government has granted development consent to seven power station developments, since August this year, at Stanford-Le-Hope, Selby, Immingham, Anglesey, Thorpe Marsh, Ferrybridge and Westermost Rough;
• the Government is firmly committed to working urgently with industry to resolve radar interference issues holding up wind energy developments, through an ongoing programme of work over 2012, by:
• working closely with the wind industry to agree a plan of work to develop generic aviation mitigation solutions for defence radar which will resolve objections holding up wind farms in development or awaiting construction;
• working with wind developers and the civil aviation community to enable the implementation of the range of solutions to mitigate wind farm interference; and
• addressing barriers to investment in radar by the wind industry.
The Government intends that this programme will commence in early 2012.
• the Government supports the work of industry and regulators to bring forward investment in the regulated sectors where this can realise savings and help meet future challenges. For example, Ofgem have approved in principle the £1 billion Western high voltage link from Scotland to England, subject to the completion of certain conditions. Work can start next year for delivery in 2015;
• the Government has published the Renewables Obligation Banding Review, since when, several projects have made significant progress – for example a 30 megawatt biomass plant (Blackburn Meadows) commences construction this month, creating 200 jobs during construction and providing power to 40,000 homes;
• the Government will agree how the impact of wind energy projects in the Wash on birdlife should be assessed by the summer 2012;
• the Government accepted in October the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee to include High Integrity Pipe Welders on the list of jobs open to migrants from outside the European Economic Area. This is a specialist skill required for the nuclear programme;
• the Government will complete the rollout of smart meters by 2019, so that electricity customers can participate actively in helping reduce carbon intensity. In 2012, the Government will put in place obligations on energy suppliers to complete the rollout. The communications and data infrastructure required to support smart meters is expected to be operational in 2014; and
• the Government will publish an Electricity Market Reform technical update around the turn of this year, giving greater certainty about details of the Capacity Mechanism and the institutional arrangements for delivering market reform. This will help businesses and investors in the energy sector to plan their investment decisions.
2.17 In addition, the planning application for the Hinkley Point C new nuclear power station was accepted by the Infrastructure Planning Commission on 24 November 2011.