Decarbonising Cambridge: a Renewable and Low Carbon Energy
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Decarbonising Cambridge Decarbonising Cambridge: A renewable and low carbon energy study for Cambridge City Council Final Report September 2010 Element Energy Limited 20 Station Road Cambridge CB1 2JD Tel: 01223 852499 Fax: 01223 356215 1 Decarbonising Cambridge Contents 1 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Overview ................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Renewable and low carbon energy resource assessment ...................................... 2 1.3 Policy option recommendations ............................................................................... 4 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Overall objective ....................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Aims of study ............................................................................................................ 7 3 Climate change, renewable energy and low carbon policy framework ......................... 9 3.1 National and local planning policy framework ........................................................ 10 3.2 Other local policy .................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Examples of local planning policy from the UK ...................................................... 17 3.4 Implications of the change of Government ............................................................. 21 3.5 National building regulations and zero carbon policy ............................................. 24 3.6 Cambridgeshire Carbon Offset Fund ..................................................................... 29 4 Local context ............................................................................................................... 31 4.1 Population and housing stock growth .................................................................... 31 4.2 Housing delivery by site type .................................................................................. 31 4.3 Non-residential development.................................................................................. 33 4.4 Development site characteristics............................................................................ 34 4.5 Forecast growth in Cambridge carbon emissions .................................................. 35 5 Strategies for delivering low carbon development ...................................................... 37 5.1 Overview of technologies ....................................................................................... 37 5.2 The role of energy efficiency .................................................................................. 38 6 Local low carbon and renewable energy resource assessment ................................. 45 6.1 Opportunities for district heating ............................................................................ 45 6.2 The role of biomass ................................................................................................ 53 6.3 Waste to energy ..................................................................................................... 61 6.4 Wind resource in Cambridge .................................................................................. 64 6.5 Solar technologies .................................................................................................. 69 6.6 Other technologies ................................................................................................. 72 7 Barriers to low carbon development in Cambridge ..................................................... 75 Decarbonising Cambridge 7.1 Development site characteristics............................................................................ 75 7.2 Stakeholder workshop ............................................................................................ 75 8 Low carbon policy development .................................................................................. 78 8.1 Energy strategies ................................................................................................... 78 8.2 Target setting methodology .................................................................................... 83 9 Conclusions and policy recommendations .................................................................. 92 9.1 Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 92 9.2 Policy option recommendations ............................................................................. 95 10 Summary of Delivery Mechanisms ............................................................................ 109 10.1 New developments .......................................................................................... 109 10.2 Improvements to the existing stock.................................................................. 112 10.3 Low carbon energy infrastructure .................................................................... 114 11 Appendices ................................................................................................................ 116 11.1 Details of emerging national planning policies ................................................. 116 11.2 Details of examples of local planning policy .................................................... 120 11.3 Forecast development in Cambridge – data sources ...................................... 153 11.4 Fabric improvement analysis – cost data ........................................................ 154 11.5 Renewable energy resource assessment – methodology ............................... 155 11.6 Decarbonising Cambridge workshop – outputs ............................................... 156 11.7 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................... 162 11.8 Glossary ........................................................................................................... 163 Decarbonising Cambridge 1 Summary 1.1 Overview National planning policy guidance such as the Supplement to PPS1 (on Climate Change) and PPS22 (on renewables) clearly signals the role of local regions in reducing CO2 emissions and meeting renewable energy requirements. Planning authorities must understand the potential for low and zero carbon technologies within their jurisdictions and to set informed targets in terms of carbon reduction / renewable energy in new developments. This study provides the evidence base for setting targets for the CO2 performance of new developments in Cambridge It includes a summary of relevant national planning policy and a review of the local context in terms of development plans and existing policies. The potential for low carbon and renewable energy development is evaluated for applicable technologies. These assessments are complemented by an analysis of the technical feasibility and economic implications of low carbon development. This provides the basis upon which the policy recommendations for the Council‟s planners are based. 1.1.1 Aims of study The aims of the study are to: Assess the potential for low carbon and renewable energy systems in Cambridge. Provide evidence base for planning policies relating to decentralised renewable and low carbon technologies in new development sites. Provide advice on the development of planning policy and identify additional supportive measures to achieve policy goals. This report provides the evidence base for Cambridge City Council to adopt robust and justified planning policies in its Core Strategy in respect of energy efficiency and DLCRE. It also makes recommendations in respect of additional work that is required to support these policies. 1.1.2 Context The City of Cambridge is undergoing considerable growth. In the period 2001–2021, Cambridge is expected to accommodate 19,000 new homes, with the population expected to increase from 117,700 in 2009 to 151,200 by 2021. Responding to climate change is a key strategic objective for Cambridge City Council, with one of the Council‟s Medium Term Objectives for Cambridge being for: “A city in the forefront of low carbon living and minimising its impact on the environment from waste and pollution”. The Council adopted its Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in 2008, which sets the City a carbon reduction trajectory amounting to an 89% cut in emissions by 2050 relative to 2005 levels. While this trajectory relates to the City as a whole, planning for new development has a considerable role to play in helping the City Council achieve this target. Achieving ambitious carbon reduction targets in the context of significant new development and population growth presents a considerable challenge. Furthermore, much of the new development is expected to be delivered through large urban extension sites, many of which have renewable energy and carbon reduction targets already defined in Area Action Plans. This highlights the need for ambitious yet attainable planning policies to guide new development in the city over the coming years. 1 Decarbonising Cambridge 1.2 Renewable and low carbon energy resource assessment An assessment of the opportunities for low carbon and renewable energy projects in the local area was undertaken