Small Scale Wind and Solar Energy Systems: Access to Resources Under Irish and English Law

This article addresses some of the barriers to adoption of small scale wind and solar powered renewable energy systems. Two aspects are considered, planning law as a barrier to these small scale developments, and the legal protection of solar and wind resources. Both property law and planning law are discussed as possible means of preventing the shading our of solar panels, wind, turbines and naturally illuminated rooms. However, in Ireland and in England and Wales these are found to be lacking. Suggestions are made to develop both property and planning law as legal means of resource protection