Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

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Biogas (Anaerobic Digestion)Biogas is a renewable fuel generatedthrough the processing of biodegradablewastes. If the waste is not biodegradable,it is not considered renewable; thus,many incinerators which generate energyfrom burning waste are beyond theconsideration of national renewablespolicy or the guidance in this paper 40 .Issues relating to non-renewable energyfrom-wastewill be addressed through theCounty Council's Waste DevelopmentFramework.Landfill GasNationally, landfill gas provides by far thelargest contribution to renewable energygeneration, accounting for 33.5% of allrenewable energy generated in 2005(according to DTI's UK Energy in Brief,2006). In Worcestershire, there arecurrently energy from landfill generatorsat Throckmorton, Martley andBromsgrove, with a total combinedinstalled capacity of 4.85MW. Thiscurrently represents the largest renewablegenerating capacity in the County, butlandfill gas cannot be expected to providea long-term energy source, as bestpractice in waste management will seethe resource being depleted in futureyears.40It should be noted that the EU does not consider wastecombustion to be 'renewable'. It does allow that thebiodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal wastecan justifiably constitute 'biomass', but states that "theincineration of non-separated municipal waste shouldnot be promoted under a future support system forrenewable energy sources, if such promotion were toundermine the [waste] hierarchy" (Paragraph 8 andArticle 2(b), Directive 2001/77/EC).Sewage SludgeAccording to the 'Renewable EnergyProspects in the West Midlands' report,sewage sludge could yield 10.7GWh/year of electricity in Worcestershire,based on a County population of 538,000generating 13,450 tonnes of sludge peryear.The Companion Guide to PPS22 states atparagraph 3 that: "Energy from AD is alsoeffectively carbon neutral in that thecarbon it releases is approximately equalto the carbon absorbed from theatmosphere by the plants which constitutethe origin of the organic waste"."A study conducted for Defra in 2005 byAEA Technology (AEAT) and FutureEnergy Solutions concluded that the mainchallenge to anaerobic digestion in theUK was an economic one, resulting frommarket failure. Public intervention maytherefore be necessary to pump-primeearly adopters of the technology and todisseminate knowledge of its potential".(Extract from paragraph 140, DEFRADraft Rural Development Programme2007-2013)Farm SlurryOrganic farm wastes (animal slurry) canbe processed to produce a gas that canthen be used to generate renewable heatand/or power. Anaerobic digestors can beoperated on the relatively small, 'on-farm'scale to provide localised energy for thefarm estate, or can be operated as 'centralised' anaerobic digestion, whichtakes in slurry from many different farms.Using slurry in this way can haveenvironmental benefits beyond simplyreducing carbon emissions, includingavoiding the pollution watercourses.APPENDIX A ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireTechnical Research Paper 43
APPENDIX B ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireAppendix B. Summary of Different RenewableEnergy Technologies in WorcestershireOpportunitiesLarge potential capacity from proventechnology.National planning policy suggeststurbines may be able to beaccommodated on green belt land, if thegeneration of renewable energy isconsidered to constitute very specialcircumstances, and any harm to thegreen belt's purposes is overrided.Strong private sector investmentpotential - not dependent on publicsector funding. Potential economicbenefits to the County in terms of jobcreation in manufacturing, maintenance,etc. examples of turbine businesses inCounty beginning to emerge.Community benefits, including possibilityof direct investment and return onexported electricity.Not reliant on supply / transportation /storage of fuel stock.LARGE-SCALE WIND TURBINESConstraintsRestricted to locations with suitable windspeed/direction/flow. Indicative windmapping suggests majority of Countyhas insufficient windspeed forcommercially-viable turbines.Landscape / heritage designations,including AONB; Green Belt; SSSI;RIGS; SWS; LNRs; Common Land;AGLV; SAMs; Listed Buildings;Conservation Areas; Parks & Gardens.Public perception of noise / radiation /wildlife impacts.Connectivity to national grid may not betechnically or financially possible.Access for installation/maintenance maynot be feasible.Potential to be a valuable diversificationof agricultural land.Installation can be removed whendecommissioned with minimal trace.Significant embodied energy inconstruction/transportation of equipment;Payback period has been suggested asbetween 3-10 months (DTI/SustainableDev. Commission) or just over one year(HoL Science & Tech. C'tee).44Technical 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 48 and 49: Ground/Water/Air Source HeatPumpsGr
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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