Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

2. INTRODUCTION ● Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire2. Introduction2.1 It is now widely accepted that theeffects of climate change are having adramatic and negative effect on theenvironment. In addition to the recognisedsocial and environmental effects, thesignificant economic implications of failingto adapt to climate change have beenillustrated in the Stern Report 2 .2.2 Alongside the compelling evidenceof climate change, there is a need to takeaccount of falling reserves of fossil fuels,and the UK's growing dependence onimported energy. Relying on foreignsupplies of gas and oil could createincreased risk in terms of security ofsupply. Providing greater renewableenergy capacity will reduce this risk.2.3 As a key contributor to mitigatingclimate change, renewable energy formsa major part of the sustainability agendathat is now established at European,national, regional and local level.Renewable energy is defined in PPS22 3as "those energy flows that occurnaturally and repeatedly in theenvironment - from the wind, the fall ofwater, the movement of the oceans, fromthe sun and also from biomass". This istherefore the definition that should beassumed in local planning documents.The technologies involved are windpower,solar (both solar hot water andsolar photovoltaic), hydro-power,biomass, biogas, and ground/air/watersource heat pumps. Not all of thesetechnologies will be viable within all areasof Worcestershire for technological,environmental and economic reasons; adetailed summary of their characteristicsis provided at Appendices A and B.2.4 Renewable energy schemes cantake many forms and be of a variety ofscales. This paper outlines the issuessurrounding large, 'commercial scale'technologies, such as the wind turbinesseen in wind farms, as well as smaller,domestic-scale applications. Thesesmaller schemes fall under the term'microgeneration', which refers to thoseinstallations delivering electricity at 50kWor below; or heat energy at 45kW orbelow 4 .2.5 The growing importance of energyconservation and generation, and theirability to help combat climate change, hasbeen recognised in a host of policydocuments and legislation. At a Countylevel, there is scope for makingsubstantial improvements to our collectivecarbon footprint. Having a pro-active andrealistic energy policy will make a positivecontribution towards reducing emissions,whilst giving certainty to developers, andhelping to meet our national and regionaltargets.2.6 Whilst this paper is concernedprincipally with the generation ofrenewable and low-carbon energy, it isrecognised that energy conservation is,and should always be, the primarymethod of reducing emissions. Theenergy hierarchy should always beconsidered, whereby minimising thedemand for energy is the first and mostlogical step. Effective demandmanagement, together with greaterenergy efficiency, should be the firstactions in seeking to reduce emissions,but both conservation and generation arerequired in order to make the most2Technical Research Paper2The Stern Report on the Economics of Climate Change,HM Treasury (October 2006)3Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy,Department for Communities and Local Government(DCLG), (August 2004)4Section 82(8)(a) and (b), Energy Act 2004