BOROUGH OF POOLE

LOCAL ECONOMY OVERVIEW GROUP

9 SEPTEMBER 2004

DORSET RENEWABLE ENERGY STRATEGY & ACTION PLAN – CONSULTATION DRAFT

Copies of the Draft Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy are available in Members’ Rooms.

  1. Matter for Consideration

1.1Members’ views are sought on the Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy and Action Plan: Draft for Consultation. Although a non-statutory document, the strategy aims to demonstrate how Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole can assist in delivering a regional target of 11-15% of energy production from renewable resources by 2010.

1.2The main purpose of the strategy is to establish a framework for delivering regional and sub-regional renewable energy targets. It does not commit local authorities to binding targets but rather sets out the indicative potential for different forms of renewable energy. It will then be a matter for local authorities and other bodies to carry this forward in other relevant plans or strategies which have some influence over the renewable energy provision.

  1. Recommendations

2.1That Members welcome the broad intent of the Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy, which is to set out a framework for how Dorset can help to deliver regional renewable energy targets by 2010.

2.2That Members recommend the inclusion of some wording to make it clear that:

  • the Deposit Structure Plan’s target range of 64-84 MW for renewable energy production has not yet been adopted and may be liable to change; and
  • the feasibility of delivering the target range will need to be the subject of detailed local testing.

2.3That Members seek an amended wording to one of the Actions in the Strategy, which expects local authorities to jointly develop a policy for adoption in their Local Development Documents requiring the inclusion of sustainable energy in new development. It is recommended that this should not commit local authorities to adopting potentially inappropriate joint policies but instead should support the principle of joint working to develop consistent policies.

2.4Members are invited to consider whether or not they wish to raise any further matters, particularly in relation to the Aims and Priority Areas.

  1. Background

3.1In 1997, at the Kyoto Conference in Japan, the UK government signed up to the Climate Convention. This commits the UK to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% below 1990 levels over the period 2008-2012. The Government has also set a domestic target to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.

3.2The Energy White Paper, Our Future – creating a low carbon economy, sets out the Government’s aspirations in relation to cutting CO2 emissions while addressing the possibility that by 2020 the UK could be dependent upon imports for three quarters of its energy supply. It notes that renewable energy will be increasingly important, pointing out that in January 2000 the Government announced its aim for renewables to supply 10% of our energy by 2010.

3.3Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22), Renewable Energy, picks up the themes of the White Paper including its commitment to reduce CO2 emissions and 10% target for electricity from renewable sources by 2010. PPS22 adds that renewable energy can contribute to all four elements of the Government’s sustainable development strategy: social progress; protection of the environment; prudent use of natural resources; and stable economic growth. PPS22 is seeking the inclusion of proactive and deliverable policies in regional planning guidance and development plans.

3.4Policy RE 6 of Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG10), as part of the UK’s commitment to the Climate Convention, supports and encourages the region to meet national targets for a 12.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2008-2012 and a minimum 20% reduction in CO2 emissions from 1990 levels by 2010. Furthermore, it seeks a minimum of 11-15% of electricity production to be from renewable energy sources by 2010.

3.5The Regional Assembly, in partnership with Government Office for the South West (GOSW), commissioned a project, REVision 2010, to assess the potential of the region in meeting RPG10’s renewable electricity target. This is based upon preliminary sub-regional assessments of renewable electricity potential and excludes from consideration key landscape assets such as National Parks, AONB’s and other sensitive character areas.

  1. Renewable Energy Strategy for Dorset

4.1Dorset County Council, with funding from the Government Office for the South West and GOSW, commissioned the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) to develop the Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy. This forms part of a wider climate change strategy (and will be complemented by an energy efficiency strategy). This is being steered by the Dorset Energy Group which comprises officers from all of the local authorities and community sector representatives. The strategy was the subject of a consultation event on 6th April involving key stakeholders and interest groups. The resulting strategy is now the subject of consultation, the period for which expires on 17th September. The key purposes for having a strategy are to:

  • provide a strategic framework;
  • encourage buy-in and ownership; and
  • ensure focused effort.

4.2The Strategy is intended to provide a framework for positive action and so its implementation ought to be on-going and will cut across the roles of local authorities as well as other organisations and stakeholders. Hence, whilst it sets out potential installed capacities for different sources of renewable electricity generation by 2010, it does not include targets for these. The key purpose of including figures is to demonstrate the feasibility of achieving a regional target of 11-15% of electricity generation from renewable resources.

4.3Renewable energy is defined as ‘…that which makes use of “energy flows which are replenished at the same rate as they are used”’. These are secure, inexhaustible and produce little or no CO2 emissions. Revision 2010 considered a range of different technologies, including wave power, tidal, hydro power, solar photovoltaic, wind, energy from waste, landfill gas and centralised anaerobic digestion (utilising food waste, animal manures and sewage). Some technologies are more advanced than others and so there will be some variation in the ability of each technology to contribute towards a regional target by 2010.

Vision and Aims

4.4The Renewable Energy Strategy’s Vision and Aims were developed initially in discussion with members of the Dorset Energy Group and refined following responses to a discussion paper and a consultation event. The latter event was held in April 2004 and involved all local authorities in the County as well as a variety of interest groups and organisations.

Vision: For the Community of Dorset to play our part in mitigating climate change by reducing our energy use, and harnessing our renewable energy resources. We wish to maximise the local economic, environmental and community benefits that doing this can bring.

Aims:

  1. To maximise the potential for local economic benefit and diversification
  2. To facilitate renewable energy development that is appropriate to Dorset’s environment and communities
  3. To encourage a high degree of community involvement, understanding and benefit from developing Dorset’s renewable energy resources and reducing energy consumption
  4. To enable Dorset to play its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with local, regional, national and international targets

Implications of Aims

4.5The Renewable Energy Strategy makes reference to a public opinion survey, conducted in the South West by MORI, which showed a high level of support for renewable energy in the South West, at 89% of the people interviewed. It is fair to say, however, that this support in principle does not overcome more specific local concerns when it comes to individual schemes. In an attempt to address some of the concerns and to promote the opportunities, the draft Renewable Energy Strategy contains a section which sets out some of the key implications of Aims 1-4 (see paragraph 4.5 above). This section emphasises that the intention of the strategy is to promote an approach which addresses all four of its aims, rather than creating a situation where one would conflict with another. It adds that concerns about any particular form of renewable energy should not rule out such technologies because each proposal will need to be considered on its merits, having regard to the relevant development plan and any other material considerations. The decision as to whether or not a renewable energy proposal is appropriate will be made on a site by site basis as part of the planning process and, in the case of larger scale developments such as wind farms, there is likely to be a need for an Environmental Impact Assessment.

4.6The strategy endorses the target range of 64-84 MW to be installed by 2010 which has been included in the deposit Replacement Structure Plan. It acknowledges, however, that further work needs to be done to influence Dorset’s target as part of the proposed review of all sub-regional renewable electricity targets in the South West in 2006/7.

  1. Renewable Energy Strategy: Key Issues

Targets and the Deposit Structure Plan

5.1Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy makes reference to the target range which is included in the deposit Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Replacement Structure Plan. This range is for 64-84 MW of electricity generation from renewable resources by 2010, a figure which emerged from the Revision 2010 project. This represents a likely range of 8.4% to 9.9% of Dorset’s current level of energy production.

5.2It is noted in paragraph 4.2.1 of the Strategy that there is already approximately 9 MW of larger scale renewable energy capacity operating within Dorset. This is made up from 6 MW of landfill gas (White’s Pit), and 3 MW of centralised anaerobic digestion (CAD) from sewage sludge, at Wessex Water sewage treatment sites. This represents 11-14% of the capacity target range set out in the deposit Structure Plan.

5.3 The Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy includes a breakdown of how the potential installed capacity for electrical generation might be achieved by 2010. This is as follows:

- On-shore wind:40-60 MW

- Biomass Combined Heat & Power:5 MW

- Energy from landfill gas:10 MW

- Energy from waste using advanced thermal treatment:6 MW

- Centralised anaerobic digestion:2 MW

- Solar photovoltaic:0.3 MW

- Micro hydroelectric power:0.1 MW

5.4The Strategy points out that these numbers should not be seen in any way as an assertion of how the target will actually be achieved. It is acknowledged that, due to technological, economic and other changes in the next few years, the mix could be different. It is also stated that the figures represent potential capacity, which is significantly lower than accessible capacity.

5.5It should be noted that the Replacement Structure Plan is a deposit plan, the consultation period for which expires on 10th September. Hence, the target range for renewable energy referred to in Energy Policy A of the deposit Structure Plan is not adopted and could be liable to change. Furthermore, mention of the target range in the Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy is indicative of the potential installed capacity by 2010, and has not been the subject of detailed local testing.

5.6It would be prudent, therefore, to explain the status of the Structure Plan policy and to clarify the matter of the range being indicative of potential and subject to local testing. This would complement the assertion in the Strategy that it does not commit to specific technologies.

Offshore Renewables

5.7For the purposes of the REvision 2010 target for the South West Region, offshore renewable technology projects will not count towards individual county production, but rather will go towards meeting the regional target. The need to find onshore opportunities thus will remain a significant priority within the Region.

Renewable Heat

5.8In addition to electricity generation the Renewable Energy Strategy contains a section on renewable heat. It identifies certain sources of heat relevant to Dorset, including the use of heat from renewable combined heat and power (CHP) installations, passive solar design, active solar heating, ground source heat pumps and wood fuelled heat only systems.

Links between Waste Management and Renewable Energy

5.9Waste and its disposal is relevant to renewable energy targets in that the processing of waste has the potential to be used to generate heat and electricity. This relationship is likely to become increasingly prominent not just as a result of renewable energy targets but also in the light of the Landfill Directive and Waste Hierarchy. The Renewable Energy Strategy sees an opportunity to link energy and waste agendas as a means of meeting both renewable energy and waste management targets.

  1. Renewable Energy Strategy: Priority Areas and Action Plan

6.1This section of the strategy suggests possible priority areas for Dorset. These have been amended in the light of responses to the discussion paper and the consultation event held in April 2004. The key priority areas are:

6.1.1Priority Area 1: developing positive planning policies for renewables. This would include:

  • criteria-based statutory planning policies, preferably developed through joint working (to ensure consistency);
  • developing a methodology for assessing landscape capacity/ sensitivity for wind farms and biomass energy crops;
  • encourage effective community engagement and benefits from wind power developments, which for Dorset could involve the preparation of good practice on developer contributions and encouraging developers to develop good practice on community engagement.

6.1.2Priority Area 2: Developing biomass energy and renewable energy from waste in Dorset. Ways for carrying this forward include the following:

  • establish demonstration heat-only biomass boiler installations at local authority-owned sites, such as leisure centres or schools. This seeks two actions: Dorset local authorities are expected to assess the potential for installing biomass boilers in corporate properties, and should look for opportunities where major refurbishment or new building of council properties is proposed;
  • establish an advice and promotional scheme for biomass energy for key stakeholders, which would also provide a referral service for local authorities to use;
  • local authorities will promote and secure district heating/CHP in major development schemes through the use of planning guidance, development briefs and Section 106 agreements;
  • identify potential large heat loads for biomass CHP plant on local authority controlled sites; and
  • local authorities to consider the use of centralised anaerobic digestion (CAD) and advanced thermal treatment (ATT) as part of waste strategies.

6.1.3Priority Area 3: Increasing use of renewable energy in buildings. The specific actions include:

  • joint working of local authorities to produce a policy, for adoption in their Local Development Documents, requiring developers to incorporate sustainable energy in new buildings and developments;
  • develop guidance for developers;
  • consideration being given to the use of renewable energy systems on local authority-owned sites.

6.1.4Priority Area 4: Raising awareness and understanding about renewable energy. Actions include:

  • Dorset’s three local education authorities to support Dorset schools to incorporate learning about renewable energy;
  • training for councillors and local authority officers; and
  • research into community benefits arising from renewable energy.

6.1.5Priority Area 5: Developing community renewable energy initiatives and exemplars. The actions include:

  • Establishing a one-stop shop for renewables advice. Such a service could link with the existing Poole and Dorset Energy Advice Centre.

6.2From the identified priority areas and actions it is clear that the responsibility for implementing the Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy will fall upon a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations. This will rely upon joint working and liaison, a key part of which will be community engagement.

6.3Priority Area 3 includes an action which seeks a joint policy in Local Development Documents which requires developers to incorporate sustainable energy in new proposals. Whilst in principle this is acceptable, it may not necessarily be appropriate or practical to have a joint policy as much will depend upon particular circumstances within each local authority. Also, due to the timing of the LDF process, local authorities will be at different stages in their LDF at any one time. Hence, it might be more appropriate for this action to recommend joint working in the development of consistent policies which support the sub-regional and regional policy framework.

  1. Conclusions

7.1Overall the intentions of the Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy are to be welcomed. It sets out a framework for how Dorset can assist in meeting regional targets for renewable energy by 2010 and sets out an action plan for achieving the deposit Replacement Structure Plan target range of 64-84 MW. Whilst this could raise some concerns in terms of the impact of renewable energy schemes, it should be remembered that national commitments are likely to increase pressures upon local authorities to accommodate renewable energy schemes. It is sensible, therefore, to have a strategy in place which can assist local authorities in developing local criteria and determining the appropriateness of renewable energy proposals within a clear and consistent framework. This should assist in developing wider public understanding and support and in preventing ad hoc proposals which do not accord with all four aims of the strategy.

DAVID RALPH

Head of Strategic Planning Services

If you have any queries on this report, please contact

Mike Garrity, Strategic Planning Services, on 01202 633323

Background Papers: Dorset Renewable Energy Strategy: Consultation Draft (July 2004)