Wind power planning in France (Aveyron), from State regulation to local planning

Alain Nadaï, CIRED - Centre International de Recherche sur l’Environnement et le Développement, France
Olivier Labussière, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, Laboratoire Société Environnement Territoire, France

Keywords

wind power, land planning, participation, landscape

Abstract

Since a few years, French wind power has undertaken an unprecedented development. Few turbines are in place (756 MW), but the overall granted capacity amounts to about 2.7 GW. The administrative territory of Aveyron, one of the best wind power potential in the Country, is an interesting case for understanding the ways in which industrial wind power is being developed and regulated in France. The paper presents Aveyron wind power development by dividing it into three periods. For each period, we also sketch national developments in wind power policy.

Between 1996 and 2000, Aveyron was one of the few places selected for developing wind parks under the French “Eole 2005” call for tender.

Between 2000 and 2005, French regulation shifted to fixed tariffs for small wind parks (less than 12 MW). The lack of planning approach provided developers with a window for profits. Numerous projects of small parks were submitted for development authorisation, overflowing the local administration. During the year of 2003, a new law on urbanism provided some rules for individual project developments without answering the key issue of territorial planning. In Aveyron, a local scheme devised by the decentralized branches of the State had a limited reach due to the lack of mandatory status and concertation.

In July 2005, a new Energy Law imposed the design of Wind Power Development Zones (WPDZ) as a condition for tariff benefit (starting July 2007). WPDZ appeared to local actors as a promising tool but it came late. Many projects were already granted with construction permits.