PLANNING REQUIREMENTS

The planning system is administered predominantly by the local planning authorities, the District and the County Councils. The role of the planning system is crucial in the regulation of land use and development as a form of control, with regard to over and obtrusive development. Therefore the planning system is effectively sustains and improves both our built environment and natural heritage in the city and in the country.

There is an inextricable link between planning and environmental assessment, although they have separate administrative procedures. The introduction of environmental assessment methods has made the complete analysis more thorough and systematic. The planning system and the environmental assessment will be prominent in the development of renewable energy projects throughout the 21st century on a commercial and domestic scale. 

Any project that involves 'development' will require planning permission where development is defined in the town and Country Planning Act 1990 as 'the carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land'

This particular PV - hydrogen storage - fuel cell system we are reviewing, in relation to building integration has the following compliance criteria, in particular for PV and hydrogen storagage components. The other system components do not have any regulatory requirements. The criteria are as follows: -

Photovoltaics

* The erection of PV on a commercial basis will usually require planning permission.
* PV on a domestic property does not usually require planning permission as long as they do not extend above the ridge line when roof mounted.
* In a conservation area PV will require planning permission.

Hydrogen Storage 


* Planning permission will be required for a purpose designed store for hydrogen cylinders and tanks.
* In accordance with The Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 a tank with a capacity exceeding 150 litres water equivalent:-

a. must be suitably constructed; and
b i. must be adequately separated from any building in the same occupation, from any boundary, and from any other such tank; and ii the number of such tanks in a group must be limited. (must not exceed six)

* The minimum separation distance of the hydrogen storage, with a barrier from building, boundary or fixed source of ignition is four meters.

It should be considered that there are no specific Building Standards (Scotland) for the storage of hydrogen. Building control at Glasgow City Council advised that the group works in accordance with F6 (2), 'storage of liquid and gaseous fuels - Liquefied Petroleum Gas storage.'

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