By using energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydro and biomass, we are investing in the planet’s future and could be saving ourselves money.

Background

Nottinghamshire has been at the forefront of energy production in the UK ever since the technology existed to exploit the vast reserves of the East Midlands coalfield. Whilst the Trent Valley coal-fired power stations are a potent reminder of the past, the energy landscape is changing. The UK Climate Change Programme (2000) and subsequent Government energy reviews have confirmed the policy shift towards a lower carbon economy.

There are now a range of incentives to use cleaner and greener technologies. They emit fewer or no emissions of the greenhouse gases associated with global warming and can provide more secure electricity generation from smaller flexible units.

Some small-scale community schemes have been installed in the county and some significant ‘green’ electricity contracts have been agreed, but overall there is much untapped potential.

Whilst a regional target for gridconnected technologies has been adopted for Regional Planning Guidance, some technologies have yet to be sufficiently proven and cost can be an issue (especially for grid connection). Certainly the key for most buildings is to install maximum energy efficiency measures at the outset before exploring renewable systems.

New build does offer opportunities to take advantage of a more favourable planning regime and incorporate systems that will become cost effective in the short term. Refurbishment may create scope for delivering solar power; for example it is estimated that half the existing UK housing stock could easily be fitted with solar hot water panels and provide around 40 per cent of their hot water demand.

The development of the renewables industry is more of a reaction to the global agenda of resisting climate change than to any impending scarcity or price hike of fossil fuels.

Forces for change

• The Renewables Obligation – requires electricity suppliers to purchase a proportion of electricity from renewable sources (3 per cent in 2003/4 rising to 10.4 per cent in 2010/11).
• Government intentions in the Energy Policy White Paper (2003) to reduce CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.
• Increasing cost of natural gas as North Sea reserves decline and more is imported.
• Issues of security of supply with ageing grid infrastructure and growing dependency upon long distance gas pipelines.
• Growing market for ‘green’ tariff electricity.
• The effect of the Climate Change Levy via the UK Climate Change Programme (2000), a fossil fuel tax on industrial / commercial / other organisations which exempts renewables (and good quality CHP)
• The Draft Regional (Sustainable) Energy Strategy (2003) and revised Regional Planning Guidance (RPG8) - set a county target for generation by 2010 for each major grid-connected renewable technology.
• A more supportive planning regime for incorporating renewables into new developments.
• Grants available to support installation of renewable systems.