Transition in Action, Totnes and District 2030, an Energy Descent Action Plan Energy Security

“Sometimes people ask me, “Surely we used The National Energy Picture: to live on renewables just fine before the industrial revolution? Yes, but don’t forget that Where our Energy Comes two things were different then: lifestyles From at the Moment and densities.” Although different kinds of fuels are used for pro- David J C Mackay, Professor of Physics, ducing different types of energy, it is important to Cambridge University1 note that not all are interchangeable.

The Challenge Fossil fuels Oil has a high energy density and its liquid nature At present, despite plenty of Governmental talk about makes it easily transportable. It is used for over 90% the need to create a low carbon economy, 90% of the of the world’s transport and is an important raw ma- UK’s in 2009 still comes from oil, gas terial for the plastics, chemical and pharmaceutical and coal, fossil fuels which are finite and non-renew- industries. Oil is also used for making pesticides and able, and high emitters of carbon. other agrochemicals. The UK was self-reliant for oil, use is now over 5 times the level it was in 1990, but in and for gas, profiting from exports of both, until 2003. 2007 contributed to only 3.3% of our energy demand. We lose energy due to inefficient conversion and use Gas requires more stringent measures to contain of supplies and poor conservation of the energy. and transport and is more suited to static applica- tions such as cooking, space heating and water The UK’s energy situation is deeply perilous. We are heating and electricity generation. It is also used as at the end of lots of very long pipelines, and North a raw material for fertilizer production. Global peak Sea oil and gas peaked several years ago and are now gas is expected around 10 years later than oil, but falling sharply. Much of our indigenous energy pro- when that peak comes it will be more abrupt than duction was sold during the 1980s at a time when the oil peak. The UK is more dependent on natural oil and gas prices were very low. Now we have be- gas than most other countries. 38% of UK primary come a net importer of energy, at a time when those energy comes from gas, as opposed to, for example, prices are highly volatile. The imperative to reduce 25% in the US. our consumption of fossil fuels is driven by the need to reduce carbon emissions with huge urgency, and Coal is the least energy dense (but most carbon also by the fact that we need to build energy security; rich) of the fossil fuels. Its primary use in the UK as Fatih Birol, Chief Economist at the International is electricity generation; worldwide use is growing Energy Agency puts it “we must leave oil before oil more rapidly than any other fuel. Global leaves us”. is expected around 2025 and the quality of the coal being mined around the world is falling sharply. The Government’s response is to talk of a new gen- eration of coal fired power station, and also nuclear Other non-conventional oil resources include energy. Both of these responses are problematic. deep-water oil, polar oil, heavy oil, tar sands and The UK has also seen a doubling over the last 4 years oil shale. These require high investment in energy of the number of residents living in fuel poverty, that (giving a low EROEI2) to recover them and their is, needing to spend more than 10% of their income carbon implications are such that their use should on energy. be avoided.

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61.5% 13% Losses due Losses due to poor to inefficient insulation, unwanted conversion (Heat) appliances left on etc. 100% 3.5% 22% National Grid Losses Primary Useful Energy Energy

Loss of Energy due to inefficient Conversion. Source: 3.18

Nuclear power ing is possible. Nuclear power plants in France have already had to operate below capacity due to this Nuclear energy is produced as electricity from fis- effect and their legislative upper limit of 24 C for re- sion of uranium oxide, a finite resource. It currently ceiving waters post discharge. accounts for about 3% of total UK energy supply. The EROEI of nuclear power is worsening as stocks Nuclear fusion (based on light elements, e.g. hy- of high quality uranium ore deplete although there drogen & lithium) has been researched for over 2 are clearly differing ideas about how long reserves decades, but has not yet provided a reliable source may last. The DARE report states that under cur- of clean or cheap energy. Its potential contribu- rent consumption levels the world’s known reserves tion towards energy provision remains speculative. may last 60 years3 However in another scenario Pro- Lithium - a likely vanishing resource - is relatively fessor David MacKay suggests thorium could yield uncommon in the earth’s crust (and China has been 120 kWh/day per person for 60,000 years4 Dr Co- buying up lithium mining rights over the past de- lin Campbell of ASPO has stated that “if the all the cade); this could also have serious implications for world converted to nuclear tomorrow, this would electric cars and similar vehicles, as lithium is cur- last about 3 years”5. Production of nuclear power rently a key component of their batteries. also uses fossil fuels at most stages of its production. Energy from renewable supplies Global warming is also having an impact on nu- clear power production. Natural streams are used In 2007 just 1.5%6 of the total UK energy supply for cooling purposes; as global temperatures and came from renewable sources, and much of that sea temperatures rise these streams will reach the was methane gas reclaimed from landfill sites. Re- power plants at higher temperatures, thus less cool- newable energy is an integral part of the Govern-

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21% Industry

30% Energy 13% Households use in Agriculture 2005 & Services

36% Transport

3.19 Energy Use in Britain. Source: Zero Carbon Britain

ment’s longer-term aim of reducing CO2 emissions Transportation – mainly uses oil by 80% by 2050, a figure now matched by the rest Heating, cooling and cooking – mainly uses gas, of the G8 countries. In 2000 the Government set a but in rural areas also relies heavily on oil, electricity target of 10% of electricity supply from renewable and some wood. energy by 2010, and in 2006 announced an aspira- tion to double that level by 20207. Industry and Services – generally uses gas coal & oil How we Use Energy The Coming Energy Gap Before exploring solutions, it may be useful to firstly look at the ways in which we produce energy for In 2007, the UK imported 20.2% of its consumption use at present. of primary fuels8. With UK oil and gas production in the North Sea in sharp decline this gap, in effect, the Electricity is currently produced in the UK using UK’s energy deficit is widening sharply, and we will 78% fossil fuels; 1% oil, 43% gas and 34% coal. Nu- need to find alternative domestic energy supplies or clear electricity contributed 15% to electricity pro- increase imports. However, fossil fuel supplies world duction in 2007, but has been declining in the past wide are also in decline, with more than 65 of the decade and will continue to do so over the next 20 98 oil producing nations having passed their peak years. Renewables continue to grow but in 2007 in oil production, and those nations whose produc- contributed just 5%. Electricity generation currently tion hasn’t yet peaked will need more and more of it accounts for about one third of the UK’s total carbon themselves; therefore less and less imported energy emissions. will become available to the UK.

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As fossil fuels become scarcer, they become more Renewable Energy costly and energy intensive to extract. The ratio of the amount of energy a resource provides and the Renewable energy supplies can be captured from: amount of energy required to recover that resource Solar is known as Energy Returned on Energy Invested (EROEI). EROEIs for fossil fuels decline as resources Wind decline and are likely to indicate that other sources Hydro of energy such as renewables are more profitable for Biomass short-term as well as long term investment. Waste organic material The UK has a security of supply problem loom- ing, this is known as the “energy gap”. A substan- We can also harness additional energy by using tial number of old coal and nuclear power stations technology such as heat pumps to increase supplies (around 30% of the current total generation capac- we are already using. ity) are scheduled to close by 2020. These currently In the T & D Energy Budget section we explore these produce 22.5 gigawatts (GW) of energy production; different technologies. leaving a risk that energy demand will exceed sup- ply unless alternative energy supplies are available. As former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Managing the National Grid, Lawson said in 2008, “all in all, the likelihood of the Fluctuating Supplies, Seasons lights going out in Europe at some point over the and Storage next 20 years has never been greater”. The ques- tion that really must arise from looking at the graph There are a number of technical challenges in pro- above is, where is our energy going to come from? viding and storing electricity supplies from inter-

140 60

120 50

100 Gas (billion therms) 40

80

30 60 Oil (million tones) 20 40 Actual Oil Projected Oil Actual Gas Projected Gas 20 10

0 0

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Actual & Possible Future UKCS Oil & Gas Production. Source: UK. Dept. Environment and Climate Change (DECC) 3.20

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mittent sources such as renewable supplies. Solar multiple system of storing electricity which can be supplies are generated in variance with time of day, left plugged in when idle, drawn on as needed by season and cloud cover. Wind and hydro supplies the grid and used for travel when energy supplies can vary enormously by the day. Wave and tidal are permit. generally more predictable but still have daily tidal Water pumping systems can be used, whereby ex- variance. Continuous feed in anaerobic digestion cess electricity is used to pump water up a height can provide a steady supply, but this energy gen- to store energy, to be released with the energy re- eration is more efficient at producing methane for captured by turbines feeding back into the grid vehicle fuel. as needed. The large water reservoir at Roadford The Commission while (which currently supplies Totnes and District) could postulating an overall reduction in energy use of at be part of a regional energy storage scheme. Smaller least 30% by 2050 nevertheless forecast an increase schemes in conjunction with weirs and turbines on in electricity consumption of 16% due to expecta- some of the smaller local rivers (e.g. near Sharpham) tions of changes such as diesel trains and road could also be utilised. In Spain desalination plants transport switching over to electric vehicles. This are used to store energy. has major implications for the Grid. At the supplier level it is generally most convenient Local short-term fluctuations (SLEW) can be accom- to be able to plug into and feed or use from the na- modated by the Grid provided there are sufficient tional grid using either 2 separate meters or just one back-up reserves on-line e.g. pumped up storage, 2-way meter (as in Oregon for the last 20 years!). emergency generators, quick response gas tur- Government set feed-in tariffs for consumer pro- bines etc. We need to be able to store energy off duced power supplies are famously ungenerous to grid, which then feeds back into the grid to meet de- smaller suppliers, however these are set to improve. mand. Electric cars are being considered as a useful

100000 hydrogen fuel cell

10000

1000

lithium ion 100 flywheel lead acid vanadium

Energy density (Wh/kg) air 10 supercapacitor air/oil pumped storage 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 E ciency

Some properties of storage systems and fuels: Energy density versus efficiency. 3.21 Source Without the Hot Air

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The national grid needs to be able to match demand Energy Demand and Supply in with supply, there are a number of ways that this can be achieved, for example ‘smart metering’ to Totnes and District encourage customers to use ‘off peak’ electricity at In the Energy Budget in the next section we have cheaper rates. Smart metering can be used to man- made the following estimations: age both electricity and gas supplies; power com- Totnes & District Baseline estimated panies can: total DEMAND of all energy 00 Vary the price according to hour by hour supply = 709.5 GWh/y in 2009 and demand reducing to 354.7 GWh/y by 2030 00 Monitor usage remotely (no need to read meters (in line with ZCB 50%) manually) T & D Baseline estimated potential 00 Provide users/consumers with an easy to under- renewable energy production stand indication of energy usage = 138 GWh/y in 2009 00 Access customers’ appliances to switch them on and off remotely (this will require modifications rising to 163.8 GWh/y by 2030 to the wiring in individual premises) to reduce (2030 T&D estimated total renewable energy loads (peak-lopping) production INCLUDING per capita share of A maximum allowance or consumer ration can be National potential large scale set. On the Island of Eigg, households have a warn- renewable energy capture ing noise when they are reaching their maximum = 234.4 GWh/y) allowance for the day (if they exceed this the elec- (2030 T&D estimated total renewable energy tricity cuts out and they are fined). production INCLUDING per capita share of We need to question whether we can practically or National + International potential large scale realistically expect the electricity supply to be avail- renewable energy capture able 100% of the time on the national grid. It will = 299.2 GWh/y) be easier for us to get through the coming energy While this would indicate that large scale national transition if we can accept and prepare for some in- and international energy capture technology could terruptions in supply. There is an ongoing debate at provide the bulk of renewable energy supplies there the time of writing that there could be an upper limit are 2 key considerations: to the amount of renewable energy supplies the Na- tional Grid could accommodate, however experi- 00 The full off shore renewable potential is likely to ence from Germany suggests 100% is possible. A take a long time coming on stream renewables based grid will be easier to put in place 00 As an essentially rural locality, T & D is probably if we can accept some management of demand, in- more able to generate renewable energy than cluding short interruptions in supply. other places e.g. cities in the UK; the overall UK Resilience in the national grid at the local level poses picture may therefore be, a lower share of na- many challenges; however there is speculation that tionally produced renewables available to rural resilience could be achieved by creating regional areas. grids linked nationally using interconnectors (as Please refer to the Energy Budget Section for further currently used between countries). There is a need details and analysis of potential energy demand and for research and trials in grid management for re- supply of renewables in Totnes and District newable supplies and storage.

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Fuel Poverty in Devon in use of individual transport. With rising costs of energy, households are likely to reduce their con- Fuel poverty demonstrates the social dimension of sumption further in small but accumulatively signifi- equity of access to affordable home heating. The cant ways. Other measures such as rationing may Devon Affordable Warmth Strategy9 of 2004 stated be applied by the government to curb demand in that the average level of fuel poverty in Devon is line with supply problems as they arise. 24%; this is just above the English average of 23%. In Please refer to the Energy Budget section for discus- South Hams the average is 20%, however as the map sion on the ability of T&D to meet this target below shows, there are small areas in Totnes and District, particularly in Totnes town with red areas indicating 26-40% households in fuel poverty. Imported Energy

The temperatures recommended by the World National estimates of energy consumption are health Organisation are 21 degrees C in the living based on the use of energy within the UK. Goods room and 18 degrees C in other occupied rooms. from foodstuffs to plastic goods that are imported Households living in fuel poverty cannot afford to carry embodied energy that is not included in the heat their homes to these temperatures when out- UK calculations and carries energy produced in oth- side temperatures fall. er countries. Various estimates have been made to assess the energy consumption of imported goods we use10. The causes of fuel poverty are: The total estimate based on the more 00 Low household income conservative DEFRA study is around 60 kWh/day 00 Homes with poor energy efficiency per capita nationally11. 00 Under occupancy Locally this translates to about 00 Fuel prices (365 x 60kWh x 23,863) 522,600 MWh/y energy from imports and adds about 6.5 tonnes of carbon from emissions per person in the UK. Those most at risk of fuel poverty are: Adding this total to our other current energy use 00 The elderly (estimated above): 0 0 Families with young children 709.5 GWh/y 00 The long term sick / disabled Almost doubles our 2009 total energy use 0 0 The long term unemployed in T&D to 1,232.1 GWh/y

This highlights our current dependence on imports Zero Carbon Britain? and pinpoints a key challenge to becoming nation- ally and locally resilient. The Centre for Alternative Energy in Wales commis- sioned a report in 2008 to consider the challenge of having our energy supplies produced entirely from Managing a Global Carbon renewable resources. Their findings were that by Budget: the year 2030 in order to meet energy needs, we need to be producing 50% of current usage through The science shows that we cannot afford to burn all renewable energy and 0% from conventional fuels. the oil, gas, and coal left on the planet, as this will To achieve this a number of obstacles will need to lead to run away climate change, in fact we have be overcome. ZCB 2008 estimates that we can re- burnt too much already and need to take measures duce consumption by 50% through energy efficien- to reabsorb some of those carbon emissions. Con- cy and measures, in particular traction & Convergence is a proposal for nations to through major improvements in insulation of build- adopt to reduce carbon emissions12. Having identi- ings, energy efficiency, and substantial reductions fied national annual allocation of carbon emissions,

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160

140

120

100

80

60

40 MtC

20

0

2007 2012 2017 2022 2027

Carbon Budget Britain. Source: Zero Carbon Britain. 3.22

this budget will be divided into annual allocations Energy efficiency covers a very wide range of mea- with a year on year reduction (Contraction), bring sures from fitting a condensing boiler to switch- all nations to a position of emission equity (Con- ing off a light. It is estimated that 10% of all energy vergence). Major emitters like UK and US will have could be saved by simply changing our behaviour to make drastic cuts initially, whereas countries like and switching off unwanted appliances. Space Bangladesh would reduce by less. Where nations heating is by far the biggest use of domestic energy use less than their quote they could trade these with and this is where the best possibilities of energy ef- other countries as Tradable Energy Quotas (TEQs) ficiency occur.

The DARE report assessed that 58% of energy can Energy Efficiency be saved through simple measures applying energy efficiency, the main one being good insulation (see It is clear that to generate enough energy to meet T&D Energy Budget section) current energy demand will require an investment over many years. Reducing our energy demand by investing in energy efficiency is an essential prereq- uisite to introducing renewable energy and will have a double benefit13:

00 A once off investment in energy efficiency will continue to save money indefinitely 00 This will reduce the capital investment needed for renewable energy infrastructure

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grants and schemes, offering free or discounted Funding Local Energy Security cavity wall and loft insulation, heating and renewable energy systems. The Charity is part of a consortium Energy Action Devon (EAD) is a not for profit, which manage the South West Energy Saving Trust’s charitable business working with the public, private, advice centres, providing free and impartial home and voluntary sectors to deliver energy efficiency energy efficiency and transport advice via the Trust’s and awareness through action in Devon. It also free helpline for advice (0800 512 012) and a home raises awareness of the many local and national energy check.

We need to guard against the Rebound effect! rationing. With focus, determination and an honest assessment of our situation, these are all avoidable. The Rebound effect happens where increased en- Like any addict whose addiction is out of control, ergy efficiency due to better insulation in the home without a co-ordinated, focused and committed brings fuel costs down, so people turn up the ther- ‘detox’ programme, the likelihood of the addiction mometer. “Domestic temperatures are estimated taking the addict down with it is very high. From a to have increased from 16 degrees in 1990 to 19 climate change perspective, we need to break our degrees in 2002” 14 Ideally this idea (also known as dependence on fossil fuels as soon as possible. Jevrons Paradox) should not apply in the post- world. While climate change says we should break our oil addiction, peak oil says we will have no choice in Business as Usual or Willing to the matter. Change? - Emerging Trends - Any approach that strategically navigates our way out of our energy predicament must be based on Where we are Now the following principles:

If we pursue business as usual to its logical conclu- 00 Clear understanding and awareness of how sion; assuming that economic growth is still pos- energy is used sible in a world needing a drastic cut to its carbon 00 Major reduction in use of energy at all levels of emissions and fail to prepare for the reality of dwin- society dling oil supplies, the world will be one which has 00 Severe reduction in use of products with high done nothing to adapt its energy system for the in- embodied energy evitable shocks it is facing. Nationally, the failure to engage in a concerted programme of far-reaching 00 High priority for investment of time and finance energy conservation could be catastrophic. As the in energy efficiency UK struggles to import sufficient gas to make up 00 Recognition of the vulnerability of conventional the shortfall of its own plummeting supplies, the energy supplies UK may have to make some tough choices about 00 Development and provision of renewable where the priorities for that energy lie. By 2010, the energy supplies must be prioritised and brought UK will be importing one-third of its natural gas, and on stream by 2020, 80%. By 2013, the cost of importing oil 00 Rapid reduction in use of fossil fuel based energy and gas could reach £100bn a year, which if noth- 00 Equitable approach to the sharing of all ing is done will continue to grow each year, having resources a disastrous impact on an economy already reeling 15 from the recession . What follows is one version of how energy security We will see highly volatile oil prices, interruptions might become more localised and sustainable over to supply, geopolitics shifting increasingly in favour the next 21 years. of those who still hold energy reserves, sharply ris- ing fuel poverty, and, most probably, blackouts and

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tal and energy security reasons, but also because Vision 2030 they accrued a financial return from them. What cars and other vehicles there are in Totnes now are By 2030, the relationship that Totnes has to energy powered either by bio-methane or electricity, and has undergone a transformation. Over the 20 years every south-facing surface is now clad in solar pan- of this plan, the area successfully reduced its energy els. The two wind turbines installed close to Totnes consumption by 50%, and installed the capacity to are now a source of great pride to the town, and the generate the other 50% from number of different money they generate has made a significant contri- renewable technologies. One of the keys to this bution to funding the establishment of many of the was the setting up in 2009 of the Totnes Renew- new businesses vital to the localisation of the local able Energy Society. This proved to be a powerful economy. driver in the installation of large-scale renewables, as it invited the community to invest in them, and ‘It is not the strongest species that survive, nor to share in the return. Renewable energy became the most intelligent, but the ones who are most not only something people wanted for environmen- responsive to change’ - Charles Darwin

Resilience Indicators 00 % of buildings with solar hot water collectors 00 Number of people who feel well informed about From the research that led to this Plan, we have energy issues identified a number of key indicators by which 00 Number of people concerned about energy se- we can be sure that we are moving forward. curity/climate change These include: 00 Reaching the Government target of reducing 00 % of houses with insulation to Passivhaus stan- carbon emissions by at least 20% by 2020 (80% dards by 2050) 00 % of energy produced from local renewable These can be revisited regularly to see if the com- sources to meet local (estimated) demand munity is making progress in the right direction.

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Energy Security

Strategic themes: • Renewable electricity generation • Energy efficiency measures

Individuals ∞∞Members from Sustainable South Brent (SSB) and the Dartmoor Circle pay a visit to the PGE- The TRESOC share option (see below) raises ∞∞ 32 wind turbine at Bodmin. SSB have measured £250,000 within the first 6 months. the average wind-speed in South Brent at 5.18m/s 3-fold rise in interest in DIY low energy housing ∞∞ during 2008. is reflected in huge attendance at TTT’s tour of KEVICC has a comprehensive Energy feasibility buildings with retrofits and solar panels. ∞∞ study carried out on whole college starting with The Great Retrofit pilot solar panel installation ∞∞ current energy usage. This finds that two thirds takes place at 10 houses in Totnes as interest of electricity use is for computers and related widens in investing in PV and Solar hot water systems - servers, air conditioning and peripherals. combined systems. The report makes a long list of recommendations, ∞∞Farmers put forward land parcels for tree starting with several easy-win energy efficiency management plans to generate wood fuel measures and a 500kW biomass boiler to replace ∞∞Many people get enthusiastic about changing the ancient gas boilers on Redworth site. Cavity their incandescent lights for low energy bulbs wall insulation is installed where possible and loft and cutting back on car use insulation is topped up where there are ceilings, ∞∞Engineers call for Smart metering to be prioritised but the 1970’s design with sloping roof spaces is by power companies and in Government plans. difficult to retrofit.

Community Policy Makers & Service Providers ∞∞The Totnes Renewable Energy Society launches ∞∞April - The Chancellor announces an extra £1.4 its share prospectus, inviting people within Totnes billion in support for low carbon industries and District to buy between £20 and £20,000’s ranging from energy efficiency and renewables worth of shares. The Totnes Times feature about through to carbon capture and storage. These the launch quotes TRESOC’s Managing Director, measures, together with announcements made Ian Bright, as saying “TRESOC offers a unique since last autumn when the downturn started, opportunity for the Totnes community to take will enable an additional £10.4bn of low carbon control and benefit from local renewable energy investment over the next three years. The extent production, a key component of a sustainable of the UK’s investment in low carbon is set out energy future”. in “Investing in a Low Carbon Britain”, published ∞∞TRESOC submits planning application for a 4.6kW today in the News pages of their new website. wind turbine on land close to Totnes. Whitelee 300MW Wind Farm opens near Glasgow, ∞∞The RSPB announces that birds and wind turbines the largest on-shore wind farm in Europe with can co-exist 140 turbines. ∞∞The woodchip boiler installed at Sharpham ∞∞July 2009, Government announces rates for becomes fully operational after some initial Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) of 42p/kWh. Reeling in teething problems. Later in the year, as does the delight and almost disbelief at the news, Andrew 44kW Guntamatic Synchro 44 log boiler in the Knox from DARE said “42p/kWh could make a Barn Retreat and a 20.16Kw Photovoltaic array on domestic PV installation an investment on par the Creamery. with investment in the market and would make

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• Energy conservation measures • Sustaining grids and network

investment in TRESOC something only a fool houses will be fully insulated, all light bulbs will would refuse. Please let me know when I can be low energy, every roof will carry both Solar PV buy shares”. and Solar HW and one house is to be fitted with ∞∞The new parking metres installed in Totnes High under-floor heating generated by a heat pump. Street are powered by photovoltaic cells on the ∞∞Sales of pyjamas and Long Johns increase as top. people invest in clothing to cut heating bills. ∞∞SHDC grants permission to SSB for a 225kW ∞∞Totnes Men’s Probus Society organise a visit to turbine (hub height 30m). This is estimated to Plymouth University Energy from Algae trials. potentially supply about 10% of South Brent’s electricity need. ∞∞DPNA grant planning permission for the reinstatement of the 12’ diameter waterwheel Community at Lydia Mill and the Environment Agency grant an abstraction (transfer) licence, SSB set to work ∞∞Phase One at ATMOS features a photovoltaic 16 clearing the leat. roof, installed by Totnes-based Beco Solar , who operate out of Totnes Industrial Estate. ∞∞Work begins on TRESOC’s hydro scheme on the weir in Totnes. ∞∞Department of Communities and Local Government give a grant to TRESOC to fund their planning work and set-up costs. ∞∞KEVICC installs a woodchip boiler to replaces its defunct gas boiler. Also installed is energy monitoring software that tracks electricity and gas use in real time and heat production from the biomass boiler. This is accessible on the intranet, and can be used for teaching purposes. Public display meters in Reception and other parts of the college allow the energy status to become readily visible. The school is delighted with its Individuals new energy system, and plans to do the same for the new school buildings it is designing. ∞∞ calculation, wireless home electricity meters & Smart meters gain popularity ∞∞The Western Morning News re-assesses its strong as self-assessment gets a grip on householders. anti position on wind turbines, announcing that Rising energy bills are met with major reductions its new position will be to be supportive of wind in domestic use. Computers are being switched development, providing developments are not off twice as often as before. Fridges are having excessive in scale, and that some element of their heat exchangers dusted. community ownership is involved”. It runs an editorial praising the TRESOC application as Smart Energy demonstration street in Totnes ∞∞ demonstrating “best practice for wind”. self selects as part of major retrofit initiative. All

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Energy Security

Strategic themes: • Renewable electricity generation • Energy efficiency measures

Policy Makers & Service Providers ∞∞The Department of Energy and Climate Change make available the new feed-in tariffs, which, for Individuals the first time, mean that homeowners generating Research by the Department of Communities and electricity through micro-renewables (wind, ∞∞ Local Government finds that of the 420 people solar) are paid more for that electricity than who have taken part in TTT’s Transition Together they pay the grid for energy. For householders project, 85% have, as a result, cut their home across Totnes and District it becomes a more energy use by over 40%. National government attractive investment to put money into installing commissions a nationwide version of Transition photovoltaics than to put it into pensions. Together. 50 photovoltaic systems are installed in Totnes ∞∞ Totnes-based photovoltaics company Beco within the first 9 months after feed-in tariffs are ∞∞ Solar report a 400% increase in orders, as feed-in introduced. tariffs mean that installing them is now a sound ∞∞Local PV and micro-wind industry undergoes financial investment. On the back of a series of a period of intense strain, then rapid expansion events promoting PV run by providing plentiful skilled employment in Totnes Totnes, interest soars. (Beco) and throughout Devon. Support from Domestic Solar Hot Water installation in just RE4D helps industry through the strain and ∞∞ about 10% of all households in T&D; with Solar PV provides much training through expansion phase just behind at 8%. Capital cost is clearly an issue giving Devon micro-renewables industry massive but so are rising energy bills: grants or subsidized advantage relative to other counties. Devon loans are needed. becomes an industry leader. Electricians are getting trained in rewiring SHDC agrees to reduce the number of streetlights ∞∞ ∞∞ individual premises for Smart Metering. They by 30% and replace 25% of those remaining with recommend to all their customers to have these PV lights as a phased in changeover for all lights. adjustments made for any small wiring job ∞∞The Planning Inspectorate holds a planning appeal into SHDC’s refusal of TRESOC’s application for a wind turbine near Totnes. The inspector rules in favour of the application, over-ruling a small but high profile opposition campaign, arguing Community in his ruling that “at times of national insecurity, ∞∞Phase One of ATMOS adds 3 vertical axis wind where ensuring future energy supply is the turbines17, which become a source of fascination national priority, initiatives such as this, which to the town as well as generating reliable and has succeeded in raising £500,000 from the local silent wind energy in the urban context. community, and the benefits of which go back Totnes Industrial Estate is clad in photovoltaics, as into the community, are desperately needed and ∞∞ a demonstration project, funded in part by DECC. absolutely vital”.

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• Energy conservation measures • Sustaining grids and network

∞∞The first wind turbine erected by TRESOC is put up. ∞∞The new Government sets out its plans for The Mayor of Totnes dedicates the 4.6MW turbine national offshore renewables that will equate and many of the 1300 TRESOC shareholders are to 50kWh per person per day by 2025. Local photographed in front of the turbine, waving their authorities are to be their local partners in rolling share certificates. out the plan for capturing tidal, wave and wind ∞∞Dartington Hall Trust installs a woodchip boiler energy. Tax payers heave a sigh of relief that to generate heat for the buildings on the Estate. urgent priorities are being addressed They note that managing their own woodlands ∞∞‘HotROCs’ (Renewable Obligation Certificates for will only produce one-third of what they will heat energy) programme begins. need, the rest will come from elsewhere (e.g. ∞∞British Gas announces that its plans for Smart Dartmoor Wood fuel Co-operative), but in the Metering, offering its customers a discount in long term, their Agroforestry Farm initiative will electricity tariffs for a year plus an Energy Drop add significantly to what they produce. package that includes a PV panel, Solar HW system together with the Smart Meter installation. The other electricity supply companies quickly Policy Makers & Service Providers follow with similar offers. ∞∞SHDC announces its ‘Great Retrofit’ initiative. The Council offers any homeowner or landlord funding to enable 4 aspects of energy efficiency, insulation (internal or cladding), new triple- glazed windows, solar thermal panels and energy efficient boilers. SHDC borrows long term at low interest rates on the open market for 25 years, and offers grants of up to £10,000 per property. Individuals The repayments are set so as to cover the interest The carbon calculator built into Facebook, and repayments, and are added to the borrower’s ∞∞ automatically linked to one’s online payment of Council Tax bill. The repayments are less than the energy bills, means that lowering one’s carbon money saved, so it is a very attractive opportunity. footprint becomes a matter of great personal The bulk of the loan is repayable if and when the pride. Research undertaken by the University of house is resold, but sale value is increase by the East Anglia shows that the lower one’s carbon efficiency of the property, providing the seller footprint, the more trustworthy people think with the funds to repay the loan. SHDC invests you are as a friend. People with very high in training local contractors to do the work to the carbon footprints tend to receive more ‘be my highest standards, and from the day of its launch, friend’ rejections on Facebook than those with there is a great deal of interest in the scheme. lower footprints. The Sun’s alarmist take on Totnes Hospital replaces its outside lights with PV ∞∞ this, suggesting that “’hello love, how big’s your and carries out a feasibility study into having an carbon footprint?” will become a widely used anaerobic digester on site to turn hospital waste chat-up line, fails to materialise. The nation and into heat and power while minimizing the breathes a sigh of relief. need for sanitation by incineration, a process that Jumpers and thick socks are back in fashion as emits dioxins and furans. ∞∞ home heating costs rise.

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Energy Security

Strategic themes: • Renewable electricity generation • Energy efficiency measures

∞∞Interest rises in domestic Micro hydro as rainfall increases and more generous feed-in tariffs make small mills more viable.

Community Individuals TRESOC’s feasibility study on anaerobic digestion ∞∞ 100 KEVICC students take part in the Energy Drop concludes that the commercial food waste ∞∞ Challenge, where they challenge and help their generated by the hotels, restaurants and other families to reduce their energy consumption by outlets, as well as waste from larger scale food over 50%. The winner, Hannah Dove, reveals that industries, would be sufficient, when put through she taught herself to use a sewing machine in an Anaerobic Digester, to create bio-methane order to be able to back her curtains with thick to power 35 buses, or 200 cars18. They form a blankets. partnership with Stage Coach buses, and Bob the Bus, as well as with 2 local taxi firms, to explore the ∞∞80 households invest in 25 Electric cars, which practicalities. Local biogas production and fuel come on stream at 6 new car pools in the district; refining creates much local skilled employment. they are part of an incentive scheme to support the grid in balancing the energy load. ∞∞A community woodland plan “30% Tree Cover”, is drafted in conjunction with farmers and ∞∞A survey shows that 25% of buildings are landowners to create additional woodlands generating power. The frequent power cuts are and hedgerows for wood fuel, food production stimulating major individual investment in PV and . SWW gets involved as a large and wood stoves. landowner and funds the first phase of planting. ∞∞A heat wave in Devon causes problems for ∞∞KEVICC sets up an experimental Algae pond to freezers closed down during a Smart Meter see if they can produce diesel for the school bus. practice exercise in 2 adjoining streets. The householders hold a street Freezer Party to use the defrosted food. “I wouldn’t usually serve fish- Policy Makers & Service Providers fingers at a party,” says Henry James, “but actually they are quite nice with a chilli dip.” ∞∞Totnes Town Council puts together a plan to make Transition more visible to enhance tourism and benefit their budget; they install PV panels Community on all the bus shelters and streetlights in the area, ∞∞Supported by TRESOC, and with community and install more bicycle racks around the town. investment, 3 new hydro schemes are put in ∞∞SWW announces new Anaerobic digesters will be across the area. The system at Staverton Mill is installed at Moreleigh and South Brent to generate the largest, generating 68kW of electricity. electricity from farm wastes. A combined heat ∞∞TRESOC begins work on a large Anaerobic and power scheme will be piloted in conjunction Digester on Totnes Industrial estate. Methane- with 3 nearby houses at each plant. powered trucks are brought in to collect food ∞∞The Government offer a small grant as an waste around town, and contracts are signed incentive to bring in all premises not yet rewired with major food manufacturers to guarantee that for Smart metering, saying that legislation to their waste will be fed into the digester. make this compulsory may follow if needed.

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Individuals ∞∞The ATMOS Arts building becomes the first ∞∞Due to a combination of retrofitting and reduced energy autonomous arts venue in the UK. It demand, and as a result of the Great Retrofit that employs an innovative heat recovery system began in 2011, domestic energy consumption in that stores the heat generated by the weekly big Totnes and District has now fallen 30% on 2009 concerts, and the accompanying dancing, in a levels. This fact is noted and celebrated at a 2 day thermal store beneath the floor, and radiates heat ‘Totnes: making the Transition real’ festival in the at other times. new Civic Hall. ∞∞Dartington establishes an algae pond on the ∞∞More landowners identify land parcels for flooded fields (near Swallowfields) to produce growing trees for wood fuel. New hedgerows

diesel for the vehicles and capture CO2. are planted out with ash and hazel for coppicing. ∞∞A number of community hydro schemes are Local people sign up for their ration of wood fuel being explored in local villages to increase local ∞∞With the introduction of Carbon Rationing in renewable energy supplies. TRESOC is supporting 2016, a low-carbon lifestyle can actually become these initiatives with advice and capital to groups a part of one’s income. setting up. Community ∞∞TRESOC apply for planning permission for a second 4.6MW wind turbine, on the same site as Policy Makers & Service Providers the one already successfully operating. This time, ∞∞15% of homes in the area have taken up SHDC’s the planning process is much smoother, with no ‘Great Retrofit’ programme. SHDC feels it has objections, and permission is approved within 16 probably attracted most of the ‘low hanging fruit’, weeks. A second share option raises £400,000. i.e. those people who are already keen on energy ∞∞Woodland harvesting for fuel has become very efficiency. The rising energy prices of 2013 prove popular as the new hedgerows are becoming to be the incentive they have been waiting for, productive. People work together to manage the and soon, interest in the scheme is soaring again. woodland and dry and store the fuel. ∞∞The new fleet of public service vehicles at Devon PCT are all methane / electric hybrids and will run Policy Makers & Service Providers off locally produced renewable energy. ∞∞SHDC‘s offices are clad with photovoltaics, and ∞∞National Government announces energy used to power a small fleet of electric vehicles rationing to be administered locally to avoid for trips in and around Totnes. 3 smaller wind supply cuts as fossil fuel imports become turbines are installed at Follaton House to unreliable. Major national investment in off- maintain energy supplies for the new databanks shore wind and wave turbines meets with less and servers they have installed on site. objection as shipping has reduced ∞∞Take up of the ‘Great Retrofit’ scheme passes ∞∞Totnes Energy Company carries out a survey 50%. Old boilers for new Heat pumps are SHDC’s of locations identified for small water mills and Christmas offer as they open a new unit offers incentives for development of micro hydro for complex materials. schemes. 5 old mills are identified for phase 1 and get the go ahead. They also assess potential (flooded) sites for algae to biodiesel production.

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Energy Security

Strategic themes: • Renewable electricity generation • Energy efficiency measures

Individuals Community Zero Carbon Britain aim of 50% reduction in Farmers take up the carbon sequestration ∞∞ ∞∞ energy use has arrived in Totnes and district. The incentives offered by central government and annual local energy assessments are showing plant out the new grasses that will draw more that energy consumption has reduced to 50% carbon into soils. The grasses have been shown of 2009 usage, and that 80% of this is all now to benefit both air emissions and grazing cattle. generated by renewables. Micro wind turbines have become more ∞∞ Local heat and power schemes have been set acceptable and popular with most rural houses ∞∞ up in 6 housing groups drawing heat and gas installing combined turbine and heat pump supplies produced by on-site anaerobic digesters. heating systems when their boilers need The Dartington Abundant Life Community is part renewing. As a result of R&D coming to fruition, of one scheme being used as a model by Devon improved and worthwhile building mounted PCT to promote this system for all residential wind turbines become available, opening up homes. options for urban and commercial situations. ∞∞Solar PV roof slates are gaining in popularity on new builds and re-roofs as the prices have come down. Some of the ‘Sunny Slates’ are made from recycled plastics now being mined from landfill sites. Policy Makers & Service Providers ∞∞Wood rationing quotas increase as Follaton’s arboretum coppice comes on stream. The wood chip boiler on site can now provide power and heat from the wastage for all SHDC offices on site. ∞∞SWW brings its woodlands into local quotas for wood fuel. ∞∞Offshore wave power comes on stream and supports the newly regionalised electricity grid. Electric cars are provided for community group car pools as decentralised energy stores. ∞∞Totnes and District wins national award as first carbon neutral district in UK.

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• Energy conservation measures • Sustaining grids and network

Individuals Policy Makers & Service Providers ∞∞Garden lawns, which take up carbon from the ∞∞SHDC does a deal with Devon County Council to atmosphere (through different grass varieties sell surplus national energy quotas. Council tax with deeper roots) come into fashion as concerns comes down as a result. about climate change continue to rise. People ∞∞New Local Authority housing at Old China Blue ‘adopt’ foreign landholdings as stewards for premises is a model of good planning and wins carbon sequestration. award for minimal embodied energy and systems. ∞∞Energy bills have declined with global warming ∞∞Totnes station gets a makeover in line with the and more spare energy is sold back to the grid Atmos Project. The refurbished waiting rooms, than anticipated, taking advantage of the better Whistle stop café and new footbridge reflect tariffs for households. the strong artistic and energy aware designing. The giant carbon calculator on platform 2 now enables travellers to measure their carbon clean- up footprint while waiting. Community ∞∞Harberton’s new Dance n’ Disco floor at the Community hall harnesses feet power. The idea catches on at 5 more community halls in the district. Pedal power films arrive in the district to pilot work researched by People Power, who has already created a wave of interest in treadle power for household appliances including dishwashers. ∞∞Algae ponds for bio-diesel production are established at ATMOS in the flooded gardens.

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UK Government Renewable Energy Strategy 2009. www.decc.gov. Further Reading uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renew- able/res/res.aspx Department of Energy & Climate Change. www.decc.gov.uk/ UK Industry Task Force on Peak Oil and Energy Securities (2008) Encraft (2009) Warwick Wind Trials Final Report. Downloaded from The Oil Crunch – Securing the UK’s Energy Future – first report www.warwickwindtrials.org.uk/resources/Warwick+Wind+Trials+ of the UK Industry Task Force on Peak Oil and Energy Securi- Final+Report+.pdf ties (ITPOES). Downloaded from www.arup.com/_assets/_ Heinberg, R. (2009) Blackout: coal, climate and the last . download/4D6FF5E5-19BB-316E-408B503DFB26ADDB.pdf New Society Publishing. YouGen – Renewable Energy made Easy: http://www.yougen.co.uk. Fleming, D. (2007) The Lean Guide to Nuclear Energy. Free down- Online community (http://www.yougen.co.uk) for people who load from http://www.theleaneconomyconnection.net/down- are interested in energy efficiency and renewable energy loads.html#Nuclear. Energy Action Devon (EAD) Good Energy. (2009) A very useful website about microrenewables. www.energyactiondevon.org.uk/ http://www.generateyourown.co.uk Grants for home insulation etc. Johnson, D. (2009) Nuclear Power? No Point. www.greenparty.org. www.cosydevon.co.uk/ uk/assets/files/reports/Nuclear_Power_No_Point.pdf Quiet revolution MacKay, D.J.C. (2009) Sustainable Energy – without the hot air. UIT, www.quietrevolution.co.uk innovative turbines Cambridge. Tainter , J. (1990) The Collapse of Complex Societies. Cambridge University Press.

Wind Car by students at Grove School

The Old Mill at Dartington before renovations. © Lou Brown

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EDAP 1.indb 138 01/04/2010 20:04:48 A Timeline to 2030 3 rniin n Action in Transition © Rob Hopkins

The Totnes Renewable Energy There are technologies available to us now to de- velop commercial supplies of useful energy from Supply Company (TRESOC): renewable resources in the Totnes area, principal- empowering the community ly from wind, various forms of biomass including waste, and small-scale hydropower plant. To enable A Transition Towns Energy Workshop in 2007 pro- everyone to join, the minimum individual share- vided an opportunity to discuss community owner- holding will be £20, up to a maximum of £20,000. ship of renewable energy, leading to the formation Each member will have one vote, regardless of the of TRESOC, the Totnes Renewable Energy Society. size of their shareholding, ensuring democratic con- In 2008, TRESOC was registered as an Industrial and trol of the Society. Shares can only be sold back to Provident Society to ensure the profitable develop- the company for their original value, providing pro- ment of renewable energy resources for the benefit tection against takeover or carpet bagging. TRESOC of the community of Totnes and 15 neighbouring aims to become a locally owned renewable ener- parishes. Following a protracted period identify- gy utility company, providing healthy, sustainable ing suitable projects, TRESOC is now preparing to dividends to members as renewable energy plant launch its Prospectus, offering membership to- ev comes on line. eryone resident within Totnes and Environs. All details of the Prospectus and share issue will be made available through the Transition Towns net- work – watch this space!

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