Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

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7. Social benefits of Renewable Energyin Worcestershire7.1 Renewable energy can bring realbenefits to local communities. Althoughthe capital cost of installing somerenewable energy technologies can behigh, the running costs - especially ofwind, water and solar technologies - canbe lower than conventional fossil fuels.Whilst being primarily an economicbenefit, this can help reduce fuel poverty.Grant assistance can further help to makerenewables more financially attractive.Further information on grants is providedat Appendix H.7.2 Community ownership orinvestment in renewable energyinstallations can provide benefits to localpeople 20 . By setting up an energy supplycompany (ESCO), residents local to theproposed development can directly investin the installation, helping to fund design,construction and running costs. In return,investors are eligible for a share in anyprofits generated by the sale of renewableenergy.7.3 Encouraging young people to takea responsible attitude towards sustainabledevelopment is seen as crucial incombating climate change.Worcestershire County Council'sEducation for Sustainable Development(ESD) team works across the County'sschools to communicate the need for,among other things, renewable energy.The ESD team have stated that:"Worcestershire County Councilrecognises that climate change andenergy is the greatest threat facingus in the 21st century. This themeunderlies all of our ESD work withschools".Draft Strategic Overview of ESD atWorcestershire County Council7.4 Educating children through ESDon the issues surrounding renewableenergy is just one part of a much widerneed for effective education across thewhole community. People must beproperly informed in order to be able tocomment effectively on projects that mayconcern them. Misinformation can bedamaging and can portray renewables intoo positive or too negative a way.Objective information can be cascadedfrom local authorities, local strategicpartnerships, and national organisations,as well as groups such as Act on Energy.7. SOCIAL BENEFITS ● Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire20Case study 2B, PPS22SOCIAL BENEFITS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY INWORCESTERSHIRE: SUMMARY/SUGGESTIONS● CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENERGYSUPPLY COMPANIES (ESCOS), TO ALLOW LOCAL PEOPLE TO MAXIMISE THEBENEFITS FROM RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES LOCATED WITHIN THEIRAREA.● OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE THE BENEFITS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY ARECOMMUNICATED THROUGH EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE THROUGH THEEDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, SHOULD BEMAXIMISED.Technical Research Paper 19
8. RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE ECONOMY ● Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire8. Renewable Energy and the Economy ofWorcestershire8.1 Development of renewable energypresents significant opportunities for theWorcestershire economy in job creation,business growth, and agriculturaldiversification, amongst other benefits.8.2 In rural communities notconnected to mains gas or electricity,homes and businesses may rely uponcostlier forms of energy including oil andliquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Movingtowards renewable forms of energy couldreduce this reliance on costlier fossilfuels. For business in particular,installation of renewable energies canhelp to improve the so-called 'greencredentials' of companies.8.3 A growth in renewables will requirea commensurate growth in renewablesdesigners, manufacturers, suppliers,distributors, retailers, maintenanceengineers, etc. Whilst some of thisbusiness growth may fall outside theCounty, by encouraging Worcestershire'sdevelopment in renewables there is abetter chance that local people and localcompanies may benefit. Approximately£15-19 billion of capital expenditure wouldbe required nationally to meet the 2020renewable energy aspirations of theEnergy White Paper 21 . With theassumption that economic activity relatedto renewables will remain constantthroughout this period, between 17,000and 35,000 jobs could be sustained bythe industry at the national level. Theseestimates have been set conservativelyand do not take into account recentgovernment policy including the Code forSustainable Homes or the ClimateChange Bill. Furthermore, research hasshown that for every £40,000 invested inrenewable energy, one job is created 22 .The opportunity exists for Worcestershireto capitalise on this growing market.8.4 In rural areas, the establishment ofrenewable energies can offer benefits notonly through the provision of employmentopportunities, but also through supportinglandowners in both the agricultural andforestry industries. By stimulating thedemand for renewable energy, it isevident that the expansion of therenewables market within Worcestershirewill present economic opportunities forinward investment and employment, aswell as in skills and training.8.6 As an example, development ofbiomass heating or biomass CHP couldcreate the following opportunities:●●●●●●●●●Installation and maintenance ofheating/CHP systems;Transportation - waste materials, woodmaterials;Agriculture - short rotation coppicing(willow/miscanthus);Facility staff - administration,management, handling, maintenance;Construction;Specialist skills - arboriculture, treesurgeons, etc;Technical advisors;Professionals - Architects, designers;Research and development.21Renewable Supply Chain Gap Analysis, DTI (2004)20Technical Research Paper22West Midlands Regional Energy Strategy (November2004)
Page 2 and 3: TECHNICAL RESEARCH PAPERPlanning fo
Page 4 and 5: Executive SummaryGenerating energy
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 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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