Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

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Ground/Water/Air Source HeatPumpsGround source heat pumps (GSHP)extract the heat energy storedunderground and use it to contribute toheating water, either through directlycirculating water underground, or throughcirculating an intermediary fluid. A suitablearea of land adjacent to the building isrequired in which the pipework can beburied. This can be done eitherhorizontally (in which case a large landarea will be needed), or vertically in adeep bore (depth of 15m-150m), whichcan be more expensive. One of theprincipal benefits of the systems is thatthey do not require any externalconditions (e.g. strong direct sunlight) inorder to work efficiently. Due to thenear-constant temperature of the earth(c.10-12oC) at a depth of around 2m, thesystem can be used all year round,although it is unlikely to produce sufficientoutput to be the sole source of heat,especially during the winter. Typical costsfor a horizontal system are £800 - £900per kW; for a vertical system, costs maybe in the region of £1000 - £1500 per kWAs a technology that requires excavations(either vertical or horizontal), there existsa risk with GSHP that archaeologicalremains could be disturbed or destroyedduring installation/maintenance. Theinstallation of GSHP is being included ashouseholder permitted development,meaning that planning permission wouldnot be needed, which could consequentlyreduce the likelihood of proposals beingreferred to archaeological officers foradvice. It is therefore suggested thathouseholders choosing to install a GSHPsystem take reasonable care that therewill be no adverse archaeological impactsarising from the installation. If in anydoubt, consultation with professionaladvisors is recommended.Water-source heat pumps employ asimilar principle to ground-source, butextract the heat energy from a body ofwater instead of from the ground. Thismethod is unlikely to deliver significantreturns County-wide, as it depends on asuitable body of water (such as a lake)being in close proximity to the buildingusing the heat. Water-source systems arealso less efficient during winter months(susceptible to freezing, etc).Air-source heat pumps extract heatenergy from the air outside a building andtransfer it to be used as space heatinginside. The air temperature in the WestMidlands is probably insufficient toprovide any major heating gains, but thesystem also allows cool air to becirculated inside a building, which canprovide a more sustainable alternative toair-conditioning.Ground, water and air-source heat pumpsall rely on a small input of energy topower the pumping mechanism. The'coefficient of performance' determinesthe relationship between the energyrequired to be input, and the energy gainsfrom the system. For ground source, thisequates to a ratio of approximately 3-4units of heat energy received for everysingle unit of energy to run the system.Air-source pumps are less efficient.GeothermalGeothermal heat is extracted from theearth to provide direct heat energy, in theform of hot springs, etc. However, it isunlikely that this will be a suitable methodof energy generation in the County, as thetemperatures below the earth are too low.According to the Halcrow study, "…thegeological structure of the region is suchthat temperatures are not sufficientlyelevated near to the surface to allow theuse of geothermal heat".APPENDIX A ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireTechnical Research Paper 41
APPENDIX A ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireLarge/Small-Scale Hydro-PowerGeneration from tidal power is notpossible in a County so far from the sea.However, the rivers running through theCounty, together with the various streamsand brooks, have the potential to providea valuable source of renewable energy.The West Midlands Energy Strategystates that "For reasons of topography allhydro developments in the Region will besmall scale and, for the most part, "run ofriver" systems. The resource within theregion is therefore very limited" Extractfrom Page 53, West Midlands RegionalEnergy Strategy (October 2004)Micro-hydro schemes, with an output of100kW or less, are more likely to have astronger potential, but are unlikely tomake a significant contribution to overallelectricity generation. Disused water-millsare perhaps the most obvious opportunityfor the use of hydro-power, but newfacilities could also be installed, subject toenvironmental criteria, throughout theCounty.It is worth noting that some hydro-powerschemes can have beneficial effects inflood-prone areas. The Companion Guideto PPS22 states that certain schemescould have secondary potential for"reducing flooding and/or flood risk", andcontinues to advise that "hydro schemescan help to regulate river flows andminimise flooding".Any development of a river-basedrenewable energy scheme couldpotentially have damaging effects onflaura and fauna, as well as havinglandscape impacts. Furthermore,interfering with the flow of anywatercourse requires a sound knowledgeof any implications, both upstream anddownstream, which may arise from theworks. The Regional Energy Strategyconsiders that "It is likely that all hydrodevelopments in the Region will beincorporated into existing weirs and sowill not involve the construction ofimpoundment dams or long penstocks".Extract from Page 53, West MidlandsRegional Energy Strategy (October 2004)42Technical 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 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 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: This document can be made available

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