Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

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11. Technological Issues for Renewable Energyin Worcestershire11.1 When considering the type ofrenewable generation technology whichmay be most appropriate in a givenlocation, there are many factors whichmust be taken into account, including thepolicy and community issues referred toelsewhere in this paper. A technologicalassessment of renewables is alsorequired in order to understand what willor will not make an effective contributionto reducing emissions. A more detaileddescription of each technology is providedat Appendices A and B.11.2 It is worth noting that CO2emissions resulting from electricity areconsiderably higher than those from gasor oil. For example, for a typical domesticheating system, CO2 emissions arecalculated as: 0.27 kg/kWh for oil; 0.194kg/kWh for gas; and 0.46 kg/kWh forelectricity 28 . This is because the electricityused in the home or workplace must begenerated (usually off-site and from fossilfuels), and this results in significant CO2emissions. It is thus more efficient (inemissions terms) to heat water using gasthan it is to heat it with electricity. Thismeans that more renewable energy isrequired to offset electrical usage thangas. The Department of Trade andIndustry give the following example toshow the relative benefits of each:4m2 solar water heating offsets1,600kWh gas;20m2 photovoltaics offsets1,600kWh electricity11.4 The greatest reduction in CO2 willbe achieved through a holistic approach,whereby energy is considered in all itsforms and across all sectors. As stated inthe introduction, this paper is concernedprimarily with energy generation ratherthan conservation. However, it isimportant to recognise the range ofexisting built stock, and to appreciate thatretro-fitting renewables and making existinghomes and businesses more energyefficient could yield massive emissionssavings. It is stated in the Government'sconsultation 'Building a Greener Future:Towards Zero Carbon Development', that"…by 2050 as much as one third of thetotal housing stock will have been builtbetween then and now." This illustratesnot only the scale of the challenge toinfluence that third of all housing that is tobe built, but also the two-thirds of existinghousing that could be upgraded.28Figures taken from the University of Strathclyde'sEnergy Systems Research Unit. Information availableat: http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01-02/heat_pump/auxiliary.html#top411. TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireTechnical Research Paper 27
11. TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES ● Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire11.5 It is important to recognise thatrenewable energy measures will varyaccording to the needs and constraints ofeach particular site. A broad range ofenergy technologies may be possible,and meeting the targets set bothnationally and locally is unlikely to lead tolarge wind turbines occupying everyavailable site in the County. The scale ofeach renewable energy installation shouldbe suited to its particular circumstances.As envisaged by the Government's'Building a Greener Future: Towards ZeroCarbon Development' 29 consultation,future energy requirements "will requiresome form of low or zero carbon energyuse … This could be at the developmentlevel (e.g. CHP) or at the building level(e.g. solar hot water heating)".29Building a Greener Future: Towards Zero CarbonDevelopment, Consultation, DCLG (Dec 2006-Mar2007)11.6 As stated in the West MidlandsRSS, "the location of renewable energyfacilities is a cross-boundary, sub-regionaland regional issue". In considering thepotential that could be offered byrenewables, it may be necessary to lookbeyond administrative boundaries.Renewable energy is likely to beaddressed on a sub-regional basis in thePhase 3 revision of the RSS, and thispaper will be revised in line with itsoutcomes.TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY INWORCESTERSHIRE: SUMMARY/SUGGESTIONS● IN ORDER TO ASCERTAIN A VIABLE INDICATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGYPROSPECTS IN THE COUNTY, A DETAILED STUDY OF CAPACITY MAY BEREQUIRED, FOCUSING ON THE MOST SUITABLE LOCATIONS ANDTECHNOLOGIES AND THE POTENTIAL OUTPUT.● POTENTIAL FOR RENEWABLE GENERATION WILL VARY BY LOCATION.APPENDICES TO THIS PAPER PRESENT CONSIDERATIONS FOR APPROPRIATEAND VIABLE TECHNOLOGIES.28Technical Research Paper
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 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 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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