Planning and sustainable energy (February 2013)
- 1. Climate change, sustainable energy and the planning system date www.pas.gov.uk
- 2. Aim of the session • To help you understand: – the relevance of planning – sustainable energy opportunities – issues that need to be considered • within plan-making and in determining planning applications
- 3. “Is climate change really our problem?” Photo credit: air bubble
- 4. Impacts of Climate Change • Global Temperatures have risen 0.8˚C since late 19th Century and 0.2 ˚C over last decade • Very likely that CO2 emissions caused majority of rise since mid 20th Century (>90% probability, IPCC) Measuring 2020 2050 2080 Sea Level Rise 9.7cm 21.8cm 36.3cm Winter Temp Increase 1.3˚C 1.7˚C 2.6˚C Summer Temp Increase 1.6˚C 2.7˚C 3.9˚C Winter Precipitation +6% +14% +19% Summer Precipitation -7% -14% -15% Source: UK Climate Projections, average figures projected for London
- 5. Where is energy used? Final energy consumption by sector (TWh) (Department of Energy & Climate Change, 2011)
- 6. Rising Fuel Costs £3,500 £3,000 £2,500 £2,000 £1,500 £1,000 £500 £0 Annual Domestic Energy Supply Cost 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Electricity (no CH) Gas (w/ CH) Transport (Department of Energy & Climate Change, 1990-2010)
- 7. Issues for residents? – When can I move back home after the flooding? – I’ve lost all my wedding photos in the flood – I have to drive my kids to school but petrol is so expensive – I can’t afford to heat my house – I was so sick in the heat wave
- 8. Impacts • These personal issues arise from the negative impacts of: – increased risk of flooding – extra pressure on water resources – location of development/need to travel – heat waves and other extreme weather events – an increase in the urban heat island effect – increased health risks for vulnerable groups, including the elderly.
- 9. What are the links between climate change and planning? Photo credit: telex4
- 10. Climate change and planning • Spatial impacts of climate change • Policy context • Mitigation and adaptation • Health and climate change • Implications for new development • Role of development management • Taking a lead
- 11. Climate change and planning • These address issues such as: – economic opportunities – new industries – local employment – sustainable drainage/green infrastructure – biodiversity – community engagement – air quality – lower energy costs – accessible sustainable communities
- 12. What are sustainable energy technologies? • Solar photovoltaic • Solar thermal • Heat pumps (ground, water and air sourced) • Energy from waste (mechanical or biological treatment and incineration) • Wind power • Hydro power • Fuel cell technology • District heating or energy • Combined heat and power • Biomass (used in direct combustion, anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis or gasification) • Wave power • Tidal power • Geothermal • Nuclear energy
- 13. Two scales of energy projects Strategic projects or infrastructure Building integrated (microgeneration)
- 14. Building integrated: Solar PV
- 15. heat pumps
- 16. Strategic projects: anaerobic digestion
- 17. wind
- 18. What does sustainable energy offer? • Environmental, social and economic benefits for your community. • These include things like job creation, cheaper fuel bills, community pride, educational opportunities, improved air quality, and more • Health is an important one eg adequate insulation in homes – reducing dampness (asthma, pneumonia)
- 19. Suffolk County Biomass Example •Wood Fuels Programme in Suffolk County •Has produced a total heat output of 3.2MW •Saves about 420 tonnes of CO2 each year.
- 20. Torrs Hydro New Mills Example • Torrs Hydro New Mills Limited was founded in 2007 • Community owned; 230 members raised £125k • Grant provided remaining £165k build cost • 240,000kWh annual generation for re-investment
- 22. renewable energy Technologies that generate energy from resources that are naturally replenished (sun, wind, wave, etc.) Photo credit: AnnieGreenSprings
- 23. zero carbon Energy technologies or building construction methods that do not emit carbon dioxide.
- 24. decentralised energy Technologies that are located closer to the energy user than traditional power stations; often in the form of district heating. Photo credit: Sheffield City Council
- 25. kilowatt A unit of power equal to 1,000 watts. A kilowatt hour is the amount of energy generated by a kilowatt generating unit for one hour of operation. Useful for comparing the energy output of different technologies.
- 26. The Green Deal A mechanism to enable energy efficiency improvements to a property without any up front costs – providing the “Golden Rule” is met; that as a result of taking out a Green Deal the total energy bill will be lower than the current bill even while paying off the finance (based on current prices)
- 27. Feed-in Tariffs Provides electricity microgenerators (up to 5MW) with a guaranteed income for 20 or 25 years for the energy they generate and feed into the electricity grid.
- 28. Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Currently provides renewable non-domestic (larger) heat generators with a guaranteed income for 20 years for the heat they generate and is consumed. A domestic version is expected in Summer 2013
- 29. What does planning deal with?
- 30. Who deals with what? • Local authorities – onshore, up to 50 megawatts. – Planning officers – delegated decisions. – Planning Committee - significant decisions • National Infrastructure Planning; inspectorate makes recommendations to ministers. Secretary of State – larger than 50 MW and all offshore applications.
- 31. Permitted development • Solid wall insulation • Solar panels (free standing and roof mounted) • Building integrated heating; biomass boilers, combined heat and power units, ground source heat pumps
- 32. Building Regulations • Incremental changes to energy use and carbon emissions • Mainly involves fabric performance • Need for on-site renewable energy or connection to decentralised energy Image credit: NHBC Foundation
- 33. How can plan making influence sustainable energy?
- 35. 3 sustainable energy principles The NPPF sets 3 guiding principles for local planning to follow in encouraging appropriate sustainable energy: 1. Plan for new development in locations and ways which reduce greenhouse gas emissions 2. Actively support energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings; and 3. When setting any local requirement for a building’s sustainability, do so in a way consistent with the Government’s zero carbon buildings policy and adopt nationally described standards.
- 36. Role of the local plan Sets out a vision and spatial policies for (amongst other things): • Climate change • Sustainable development • Flood risk and management • Green infrastructure • Transport • Economy • Health
- 37. Local Planning principles The local plan orchestrates ‘the necessary social, physical and green infrastructure’ that is required to create sustainable communities. It is a delivery strategy that is: • linked to other policies • integrated with other strategies.
- 38. Flexible policies • Not all development sites can achieve carbon reductions through on-site energy installations • Policies need to allow for flexibility • Carbon reduction targets rather than renewable energy targets are recommended • Consider climate change mitigation and adaptation together.
- 39. Sustainable design and construction • Can help address planning issues, eg healthy living, design for an ageing population • These policies should: –support the development of renewable, decentralised and low-carbon energy schemes; –ensure that development proposals have a minimal negative impact on the environment; –reduce the vulnerability of communities to the effects of climate change.
- 40. Sustainable construction standards • Design standards eg Code for Sustainable Homes, BREEAM and Zero Carbon homes and buildings cover these issues. • These standards have energy generating criteria that mean officers and members need to have an understanding of energy technologies.
- 41. Zero Carbon Homes 1.energy efficiency: a high level of energy efficiency in the fabric and design of the dwelling. 2.carbon compliance: a minimum level of carbon reduction to be achieved from energy efficient fabric and on-site technologies (including direct connection to a heat network). 3.allowable solutions: a range of measures available for achieving zero carbon beyond the minimum carbon compliance requirements. Photo credit: Vargklo
- 42. Community benefits of renewables • Roseland Community Energy Trust seek to develop six 125m Wind Turbines, resulting in ~£750,000 community benefit • HJ Banks commercial application for two 125m turbines Source: Bolsover District Council & Roseland Community Energy Trust
- 43. Adapting to Climate Change • Local Plans should take account of climate change over the longer term, including factors such as flood risk, coastal change, water supply and changes to biodiversity and landscape. • New development should be planned to avoid increased vulnerability to the range of impacts arising from climate change. • When new development is brought forward in areas which are vulnerable, care should be taken to ensure that risks can be managed through suitable adaptation measures, including through the planning of green infrastructure. Photo credit: i-sustain
- 44. Adaptation Example - Barking Green Roof • Reduces the amount of surface water run off • Providing shelter and feeding opportunities for wildlife • Improving the buildings’ character and appearance • Providing extra heat and noise insulation • Helping to improve air quality http://www.uel.ac.uk/erg/BarkingRiversideGreenRoof.htm
- 45. Methods of Mitigating Carbon • Reduce the need to travel and increase sustainable transport options, such as walking and cycling • Be energy efficient through design and construction Photo credit: Nottingham Energy Partnership • Encourage sustainable travel such as cycling and walking • Require the development or use of sustainable energy
- 46. Mitigating Climate Change • Policies should maximise renewable and low carbon energy development while ensuring that adverse impacts are addressed satisfactorily • Consider identifying suitable areas for renewable and low carbon energy sources, and supporting infrastructure; • Support community-led initiatives for renewable and low carbon energy, including developments outside such areas being taken forward through neighbourhood planning; and • Identify opportunities where development can draw its energy supply from decentralised energy systems and co-locate potential heat customers and suppliers.
- 47. Provide guidance to developers • energy efficiency • orientation, avoiding solar gain in summer • layout, using the natural landform, positioning of adjacent buildings • cycle parking • waste recycling • sustainable drainage and landscaping
- 48. Development Management • Does a development meet your policies? • Can development contributions support energy projects? o S106/CIL o Allowable Solutions
- 49. Flexible Policy • 3 wind turbines - meet energy needs for 20 flats (or lighting for the whole building) • London Borough of Southwark has a 10% CO2 reduction target • Should add CHP unit to achieve up to 8.7% reduction in carbon emissions. Photo credit: Sarflondonunc
- 50. W4B Biofuel Generator Appeal • 50MW power plant at Avonmouth, Bristol, proposed in December 2009 • Over 1,100 objections due to proposed fuel of Indonesian palm oil • Recommended for approval due to fuel source not being a material planning consideration, but committee voted against – Feb 2010 • Appeal lodged in May 2010 and granted planning permission in February 2011 by secretary of state • Condition: “plant must burn only "sustainable bioliquids" as defined under EU Directive 2009/28” Photo credit: Ecotricity
- 51. Broughton Wind Farm Appeal • Three turbine proposal on former mine site • Officers recommended refusal – with development panel agreeing in Nov 2010 • Developer lodged appeal April 2011 • Planning inspector upheld Allerdale council decision in Dec 2011 Photo credit: craig shaw
- 52. Pollington Wind Turbine Appeal • Single wind turbine proposed near Pollington, East Riding of Yorkshire • Application refused in April 2010 due to objection from local airport • Developer lodged appeal and was successful in October 2012 Photo credit: Ecotricity
- 53. Field based solar arrays (farms) Community vs Developer Led • Bowhay, Exeter • 54 acre, 10.7 MW • Application lodged November 2011 • Refused in July 2012 at committee • Developer appeal refused December 2012 Photo credit: Ecotricity • Watchfield, Westmill • 30 acre, 5 MW • Application lodged December 2010 • Unanimous approval at committee in March 2011 • Community led with community shares launched June 2012
- 54. How can you take a lead?
- 55. What you can do next • Meet with policy planners • Talk to the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) chair (or equivalent) • Make presentation to main partnership board • Hold workshop with public sector partners • Identify infrastructure needs • Ensure LEP takes an active and regular interest • Share your good practice
- 56. What you can do next (cont.) • show member leadership of agenda • develop a genuine corporate approach • assess if the organisation is ‘fit for purpose’ • explore the development of joint teams • prioritise your goals • consider starting small and building in steps • broker partnerships • ensure consistent decision making • promote your approach – sell benefits • develop incentives – lower bills • show commitment for the ‘long haul’
- 57. Conclusions • What are you trying to achieve? • Is the local plan up to date? • What are the environmental, social and economic impacts of the proposal? • Can the impacts be minimised through conditions? • Is there an assumption that people will be opposed?
- 58. PAS support •Compare Renewables information on 8 sustainable energy technologies, 25 case studies, introductory material to energy issues http://www.local.gov.uk/compare-renewables •Case studies and discussion forums www.pas.gov.uk/climatechange •And TCPA led Climate Change Coalition – guidance for local authorities