Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

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Executive SummaryGenerating energy through renewablesources is an alternative to the burning offossil fuels. Using renewable energy hasenvironmental, social and economicbenefits.Worcestershire's potential for thegeneration of renewable energy has notbeen systematically evaluated, but it isevident that current levels of renewablegeneration in the County are significantlybelow what could theoretically beachieved. Worcestershire's land-lockedlocation precludes off-shore generation,but there is nevertheless a large potentialfor renewable energy:● The rivers, streams and watercoursesthat traverse the County could beexploited to provide hydro-electricpower;● Large areas of the County haveaverage wind speeds sufficient for thegeneration of energy from windturbines, with the greatest potential inBromsgrove and Wychavon districts;● Biomass energy has significantpotential in Worcestershire, withsubstantial existing woodland and highpotential yields from energy crops;● Solar irradiation (the amount ofsunlight falling on the ground) acrossthe County as a whole is relativelyhigh, and could deliver both electricityand hot water through the increaseduse of solar panels;● Worcestershire falls within an area thatis capable of utilising the heat of theground, air and water to contributetowards heating energy needs.● Energy from Waste' is not generallyconsidered renewable, and is notconsidered in this paper. However,organic wastes, such as farm slurry,food waste, and landfill gas isconsidered renewable and cancontribute a valuable renewable fuelsource for biomass heat and/or powergeneration, and anaerobic digestion.National and international targets are inplace to ensure that renewable energycontributes to a reduction in theemissions of carbon dioxide into theatmosphere, therefore mitigating thedamaging effects of climate change. Thetargets require a major expansion ofcurrent capacity, and Worcestershire willhave its part to play in contributing tothese goals.As a County with extensive rural areas,Worcestershire has the potential to exploitrenewable energy where conventionalgas and electricity supplies may not beavailable. In this context, renewablescould provide a viable alternative tooil-fired heating or petrol generators.A concerted effort is required from allsectors in order to achieve the greatestcarbon savings. This paper considers therole of the planning system andrenewable energy in the built environmentand seeks to establish the key facts abouteach of the technologies as they relate toWorcestershire.It is recognised that renewable energygeneration should be seen as asubstantial component of what must be acombination of measures; the paperrecommends an energy hierarchywhereby energy conservation andefficiency are the principal actions, withenergy generation being considered onlyafter these primary concerns have beenaddressed.In order to develop further policies andguidance on renewables, the paper seeksto collate relevant baseline information, toallow an informed view to be taken on theneed and support for an expansion inrenewable energy capacity.Technical Research PaperEXECUTIVE SUMMARY ● Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershirei
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireAfter every chapter of the paper, asummary is provided, together with anysuggestions/recommendations for action.These summaries have been broughttogether and outlined below:POLICY CONTEXT●●●EFFECTIVE DEMANDMANAGEMENT ANDCONSERVATION OF ENERGYSHOULD ALWAYS BE CONSIDEREDAHEAD OF ENERGY GENERATION.AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, PROMOTIONOF RENEWABLE ENERGY SHOULDBE INTEGRATED INTO COMMUNITYSTRATEGIES, LOCALDEVELOPMENT DOCUMENTS, ANDSUSTAINABILITY APPRAISALS;REVISED TARGETS FORRENEWABLES CAPACITY WILL BEDETERMINED THROUGH PHASE 3OF THE RSS PARTIAL REVISION.LOCAL DEVELOPMENTFRAMEWORKS CAN SHAPE HOWDISTRICTS RESPOND TO THENEED TO INCREASE RENEWABLESPROVISION.COMMUNITY STRATEGIES/LOCALAREA AGREEMENT●●THERE IS SCOPE TO INCREASETHE PRESENCE OF RENEWABLEENERGY IN COMMUNITYSTRATEGY REVISIONS ANDENSURE IT IS INCLUDED IN THELOCAL AREA AGREEMENT.FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDEDINTO THE POTENTIAL OF THECOUNTY TO DELIVER INCREASEDRENEWABLE ENERGY, INCLUDINGTHE COMMISSIONING OF ACOMPREHENSIVE STUDY INTORESOURCE AVAILABILITY.WORCESTERSHIRE'S VULNERABILITYTO CLIMATE CHANGE●●WORCESTERSHIRE'SVULNERABILITY TO THE EFFECTSOF CLIMATE CHANGE IS HIGH ANDIS FORECAST TO INCREASE. THESEVERITY OF 2007'S FLOODINGHIGHLIGHTS THE COUNTY ASBEING AT PARTICULAR RISK.RENEWABLE ENERGY CANCONTRIBUTE TO BOTH THEMITIGATION OF, AND ADAPTATIONTO CLIMATE CHANGE BYREDUCING EMISSIONS THATCAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE AND BYPROVIDING A MORE SECUREMEANS OF SUPPLY.RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THEENVIRONMENT OF WORCESTERSHIRE●●●RENEWABLE ENERGYINSTALLATIONS CAN BEAPPROPRIATE AND JUSTIFIEDDEVELOPMENTS AT BOTH THECOMMERCIAL AND DOMESTICSCALE.RENEWABLES ARE LIKELY TOBECOME MORE COMMONPLACEFEATURES AS THE NEED FORCLEANER ENERGY ACCELERATES.IT IS VITAL TO ENSURE THATLANDSCAPE CHARACTER,HERITAGE, BIODIVERSITY ANDAMENITY CONCERNS ARECONSIDERED FROM THE OUTSETIN ANY RENEWABLES PROPOSALS.iiTechnical Research Paper
Page 2 and 3: TECHNICAL RESEARCH PAPERPlanning fo
Page 6 and 7: SOCIAL BENEFITS OF RENEWABLEENERGY
Page 8 and 9: 1. Purpose1.1 This working paper is
Page 10 and 11: significant positive impact. Conser
Page 12 and 13: 3.1 An Energy White Paper, 'Meeting
Page 14 and 15: Regional3.10 The West Midlands Regi
Page 16 and 17: 4. Community Strategies, Climate Ch
Page 18 and 19: As mentioned elsewhere in this pape
Page 20 and 21: 5. Worcestershire’s Vulnerability
Page 22 and 23: 6. Renewable Energy and the Environ
Page 24 and 25: 6.10 Green belt designation covers
Page 26 and 27: 7. Social benefits of Renewable Ene
Page 28 and 29: 8.10 The economicbenefits of renewa
Page 30 and 31: Fig.1 - Responses to Questions 13(d
Page 32 and 33: 10. Baseline Data and Forecasts10.1
Page 34 and 35: 11. Technological Issues for Renewa
Page 36 and 37: 12. Infrastructure Requirements12.1
Page 38 and 39: 13.7 This research paper provides a
Page 40 and 41: Appendix A. Characteristics and App
Page 42 and 43: Domestic Micro Wind TurbinesDomesti
Page 44 and 45: Forests and WoodlandThe potential o
Page 46 and 47: acknowledged that increasing the su
Page 48 and 49: Ground/Water/Air Source HeatPumpsGr
Page 50 and 51: Biogas (Anaerobic Digestion)Biogas
Page 52 and 53: OpportunitiesFew planning obstacles
Page 54 and 55:
OpportunitiesSignificant potential
Page 56 and 57:
GROUND/AIR/WATER SOURCE HEAT PUMPSO
Page 58 and 59:
Appendix C. Example calculations of
Page 60 and 61:
Appendix D. Maps of Predicted Incre
Page 62 and 63:
Appendix E. Energy Saving Trust tab
Page 64 and 65:
MAP OF DELIVERABLE WIND RESOURCEIN
Page 66 and 67:
SOLAR IRRADIANCE AT DIFFERENTLOCATI
Page 68 and 69:
MAP OF UPTAKE OF ENERGY CROP SCHEME
Page 70 and 71:
FORESTRY COMMISSION WOODLAND OPPORT
Page 72 and 73:
DISTRIBUTION OF WOODLAND OF OVER 2
Page 74 and 75:
CO2 EMMISSIONS IN WORCESTERSHIRE IN
Page 76 and 77:
CHANGE IN CO2 EMISSIONS IN WORCESTE
Page 78 and 79:
TOTAL FINAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION AT L
Page 80 and 81:
Appendix H. Sources of Further Info
Page 82 and 83:
Further ReadingThe Assessment and R
Page 84 and 85:
Rural Regeneration Zone Annual Repo
Page 86:
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