Summary of Renewable Energy Potential Study
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West Somerset Local Planning Authority Area Renewable & Low Carbon Energy Potential Study 2. Headline Summary 2.1 This section summarises the main findings of the renewable, low and zero carbon study. More detailed analysis can be found in the main body of the report with supporting material included in the accompanying Appendices. WHY DO THE STUDY? 2.2 Government guidance (Planning Policy Guidance and Statements or PPGs and PPSs) requires Local Development Framework Core Strategies (and other development plan documents) and the policies within them to be supported by robust evidence, which includes the development of an understanding of renewable, low and zero carbon resources and potential. Policies for consideration in the Core Strategy should be drafted on the basis of this evidence base. Recent Government draft guidance (the draft National Planning Policy Framework or NPPF) which will replace current PPGs and PPSs also suggests a need for evidence to support planning policy development in new style Local Plans. In addition, other factors drive the need for a better understanding of energy potential, including: • a changing climate; • national carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction targets enforced for new development through Building Regulations and renewable energy generation targets; • security of energy supply; • rising costs of energy to the consumer and energy producer; and, • employment and business opportunities presented by a low carbon economy. CONTEXT 2.3 This document reports the findings of a study compiling an evidence base on renewable, low and zero carbon energy potential for the developing West Somerset Core Strategy (or future new style Local Plan) and the policy response to the need to meet renewable energy generation and carbon dioxide emissions reduction targets set nationally. The technologies and resources covered in this report are: wind; solar photovoltaic; solar thermal; hydro power; heat pumps; biomass; and, energy from waste. It assesses existing and future energy consumption and resource potential and explores the possible planning policy response. 2.4 The study has been undertaken during a period of changing Government policy as the Coalition Government reviews national planning guidance, considers the definition of “zero carbon” and reviews targets for carbon dioxide emissions new buildings. The study is also set within the context of the review and recent introduction of Government incentives to ntroduction ntroduction improve energy efficiency and the generation of electricity and heat from renewable and low carbon sources I 11 West Somerset Local Planning Authority Area Renewable & Low Carbon Energy Potential Study (to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions), for example the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT), Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and the “Green Deal”. The impact of these incentives is difficult to estimate but they will undoubtedly have an impact on things such as the cost of delivering new buildings in line with Building Regulations targets. The take-up of the FiT to date has been steadily increasing nationally. In exploring options and the delivery of renewable, low and zero carbon technologies and resources to meet carbon dioxide emissions targets set out by Building Regulations, regard has been had to the previous Government’s Energy Hierarchy where, to reach targets, energy efficiency measures should be introduced, followed by on-site and connected heat and then “allowable solutions” (yet to be defined clearly, but including off-site solutions). Source: “Definition of Zero Carbon Homes and Non- Domestic Buildings” 2.5 The study covers the area of West Somerset District outside of the Exmoor National Park boundary, i.e. the area of the District for which West Somerset Council is the Local Planning Authority (LPA). However, much of the data for energy is available only at whole District level or on a Ward basis and not available for the Local Planning Authority (LPA) area. Where this has been the case, data for the whole District or wards within the LPA area (based on pre- May 2011 electoral boundaries) plus those which overlap with the National Park is given. Notes: The green line is the National Park boundary and the red line is the District boundary. Introduction 12 West Somerset Local Planning Authority Area Renewable & Low Carbon Energy Potential Study AN ENERGY SNAPSHOT AND FORECAST 2.6 It is important not to confuse “consumption” with “demand”. Consumption reflects actually energy consumed and used, whereas demand could mask additional energy which is desired by consumers but cannot be used, for example, due to affordability issues. Energy consumption data has been sourced from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. 2.7 Analysis shows that both average (per meter) electricity and natural gas (gas) consumption have reduced in recent years. 2.8 Domestic electricity use has fallen, both in terms of “ordinary” and “Economy 7” (which is predominantly used for overnight storage heating) use. In 2009, the total domestic consumption was 48 GWh and total economy 7 consumption was 40 GWh. 2.9 Non-domestic electricity use has fallen overall with “ordinary” use falling and “half hourly” use (i.e. those consuming larger amounts of power) remaining steady in recent years. In 2009, total non-domestic ordinary consumption was 39 GWh and total half-hourly consumption was 111 GWh. Power Converter 1 GW = 1,000 MW = 1,000,000 kW Consumption Energy 13 West Somerset Local Planning Authority Area Renewable & Low Carbon Energy Potential Study 2.10 Compared to other Districts in Somerset, West Somerset has a much higher average use per meter for “half hourly” use which is probably due to one or more consumers using a significant amount of power. The figures cannot be explained by the presence of Hinkley Point Power Station and its possible consumption levels as the consumption of gas and electricity by power stations is excluded from the energy allocated to the small areas data. 2.11 Domestic gas consumption has also fallen in recent years although non-domestic use has fluctuated, although remaining steady overall, with a slight increase in use between 2005 and 2009. Total domestic gas consumption in 2009 was almost 105 GWh and total non-domestic consumption during the same year was almost 387 GWh. Energy Consumption Energy 14 West Somerset Local Planning Authority Area Renewable & Low Carbon Energy Potential Study 2.12 Total consumption of gas by non-domestic consumers shows a very different pattern compared to other Districts, with high average consumption and a total consumption figure which matches South Somerset District and is far greater than others in Somerset. The figures cannot be explained by the presence of Hinkley Point Power Station as the consumption of gas and electricity by power stations is excluded from the energy allocated to the small areas data. Whilst there are some energy intensive uses in the District, they cannot be readily explained by known significant single users such as the Watchet Paper Mill, a factor acknowledged by the West Somerset Climate Change Strategy. The figures warrant further investigation and particularly in relation to potential opportunities for renewable heat use. 2.13 In terms of off-gas properties, it is estimated that around 54% of the District’s dwellings are in off-gas areas and are therefore reliant on Economy 7 and / or other forms of fuel for water and space heating. This figure has been fairly consistent in recent years. With dwellings which could use Economy 7 for their main heating factored in, the figure for those reliant on non- mains fuel for heating could be around 25%. 2.14 This proportion is likely to be smaller for dwellings in the West Somerset LPA area as there are likely to be a greater proportion of off-gas dwellings in the Exmoor National Park LPA area. 15 Consumption Energy West Somerset Local Planning Authority Area Renewable & Low Carbon Energy Potential Study 2.15 Data suggests that total consumption in West Somerset of energy from renewable and energy from waste sources has remained constant in recent years. This data reflects generation and consumption from large scale sources, however, and does not take into account energy generated from small (micro) and medium scale installations. 2.16 Energy consumption of other fuels sees different patterns of change across other fuel types. The use of coal for domestic consumption has grown in recent years, with industry and commercial consumption remaining steady at 1.1 GWh per annum between 2005 and 2008. 2.17 The consumption of manufactured fuels (which comprises domestic consumption only) has fallen significantly between 2005 and 2008. 2.18 Consumption of petroleum derived fuels has fallen by almost 50% in the same period. Domestic consumption has consistently been higher than industry and commercial consumption. In 2008 domestic consumption was 130 GWh, with industry and commercial at 103 GWh, for example. Energy Consumption Energy 16 West Somerset Local Planning Authority Area Renewable & Low Carbon Energy Potential Study Average (2005 - 2009) Energy Consumption in West Somerset District (GWh) 0.8% 0.6% 1.1% 0.1% 13.5% 2.19 In terms of proportions of fuel used, across the District (both domestic and non-domestic use), at 51.1%, natural gas is the most consumed fuel type, 38.7% with petroleum products (25%) and 11.5% electricity (21.2%) the next most used. 2.20 Only 1.1% of energy currently consumed is from renewables and 5.2% waste resources, although the figures do not include renewable energy derived from microgenerating sources. 11.7% 4.3% 12.4% Non-dom. Gas Domestic Gas Non-dom. Electricity (ordinary) Non-dom. Electricity (half hourly) Domestic Electricity Non-dom. Petroleum Products Domestic Petroleum Products Non-dom. Coal Domestic Coal Domestic Manufactured Fuels Non-dom. Renewables and Waste Energy Consumption Energy 17 West Somerset Local Planning Authority Area Renewable & Low Carbon Energy Potential Study 2.21 Average year on year change in domestic energy consumption has fallen in natural gas, electricity and manufactured fuels.