Renewable Energy Strategy for West Berkshire LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP October 2012 1 This report has been prepared by TV Energy on behalf of the LSP and West Berkshire Council. Report reference TVR285. Technical Shubha Rai Annex Renewable Energy Advisor Projections Laura Wylde and analysis Analyst Strategy Keith Richards prepared by: Managing Director This document has been prepared by TV Energy Ltd in accordance with a contract to supply goods and/or services and is submitted only on the basis of strict confidentiality. The contents should not be disclosed to third parties other than in accordance with the terms of the contract. Important Notice Whilst reasonable steps have been undertaken to ensure that the information contained within this report is correct, you should be aware that the information contained within it may be incomplete, inaccurate or may have become out of date. Accordingly, TV Energy make no warranties or representations of any kind as to the content of this report or its accuracy and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, accept no liability whatsoever for the same including, without limit, for direct, in-direct or consequential loss, business interruption, loss of profits, production, contracts, goodwill or anticipated savings. Any person making use of this report does so at their own risk and it is recommended that they seek professional advice from their own advisor whenever appropriate. Nothing in this report is intended to be or should be interpreted as an endorsement of, or recommendation for, any supplier, service or product. TV Energy, Liberty House, The Enterprise Centre, Greenham Business Park, Newbury, Berkshire RG19 6HS Website: www.tvenergy.org Telephone: 01635 817420 Fax: 01635 552779 2 CONTENTS FOREWORD ..................................................................................................................................7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................8 1. A RENEWABLE ENERGY STRATEGY FOR WEST BERKSHIRE ..........................9 2. LINKAGE WITH WB CORE STRATEGY (2012)......................................................21 ANNEX 1: RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE ASSESSMENT .........................................25 1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................25 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................25 1.2 Objectives.......................................................................................................................25 1.3 Policy background..........................................................................................................26 1.4 Limitation.......................................................................................................................26 2 WEST BERKSHIRE AREA..........................................................................................28 3 WEST BERKSHIRE ENERGY USAGE ......................................................................29 3.1 Energy Usage .................................................................................................................29 3.2 Existing use of Renewable Energy Systems ..................................................................30 3.3 Sustainable Transport.....................................................................................................34 4 THE RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE ...............................................................35 4.1 Methodology ..................................................................................................................35 4.2 Resource.........................................................................................................................36 4.2.1 Wind..................................................................................................36 4.2.2 Solar ..................................................................................................43 4.2.3 Biomass .............................................................................................46 4.2.4 Heat Pumps .......................................................................................52 4.2.5 Hydropower.......................................................................................52 4.2.6 Waste.................................................................................................55 4.2.7 Others ................................................................................................58 4.3 Potential Energy Mix .....................................................................................................58 4.4 Discussion of physical constraints .................................................................................60 4.5 Economic Limitations ....................................................................................................64 4.6 Conservation area and AONB........................................................................................65 5 REALISING FUTURE PROJECTS ..............................................................................67 ANNEX 2: BAYDON WIND TURBINE APPEAL DECISION.................................................70 ANNEX 3: RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS IN SENSITIVE LOCATIONS....................75 3 Table of Figures Figure 1, West Berkshire Total Energy Consumption (with predicted 2012 figures) ...................9 Figure 2, West Berkshire Energy Consumption Breakdown by Sector (with predicted 2012 figures) ..........................................................................................................................................10 Figure 3, Visual impact versus Energy output .............................................................................11 Figure 4, Renewable energy installed capacity (MW) in WB .....................................................12 Figure 5, TV Local Authority percentage RE use map................................................................12 Figure 6, Map showing the position of two major developments in WB (lilac)..........................17 Figure 7, Consumption vs. BAU and Progressive Business (without Transport Figures)...........18 Figure 8, Consumption vs. BAU and Progressive Business (with Transport Figures)................19 Figure 9, Policy CS15 ..................................................................................................................21 Figure 10, AWE consultation zones.............................................................................................24 Figure 11, Boundaries of North Wessex Downs AONB (in green) West Berkshire district (in red) ................................................................................................................................................28 Figure 12, Energy Consumption of West Berkshire (Source: DECC2008).................................29 Figure 13, Installed capacity of current projects in West Berkshire (in MW) .............................30 Figure 14, West Berkshire heat usage-Heat usage by sector. ......................................................31 Figure 15, West Berkshire heat usage map, residential heat density ...........................................31 Figure 16, Current mix of the district pie chart............................................................................32 Figure 17, Current renewable energy capacity and associated energy generation with West Berks .......................................................................................................................................................32 Figure 18, Installed capacity of various technologies in the district (2011-2012).......................33 Figure 19, Current energy consumption of the district ................................................................33 Figure 20, Current energy generation, consumptions and UK government targets. The potential capacities are subsequently discussed below. ...............................................................................34 Figure 21, Resource availability...................................................................................................35 Figure 22, 2 75kW Vergnet wind turbine (East Lothian, Scotland, panoramio.com)....................1 Figure 23, Wind speed in m/s at 10m height above ground level (agl) .......................................38 Figure 24, Examples of 5kW to 11 kW systems ..........................................................................38 Figure 25, Windspeed in m/s at 45m height above ground level (at 1km resolution). ................39 Figure 26, 2 MW Enercon wind turbine cluster at Bristol Port ...................................................40 Figure 27, Potential commercial windfarm sites in West Berkshire (Land Use Consultant and TVE)..............................................................................................................................................42 Figure 28, 1.3 MW Siemens (left) residential scale Proven turbine (right) .................................42 Figure 29, UK Irradiance level (source: PVGIS, JRC) ................................................................43 Figure 30, PV Farm A section of 5MW ground mounted PV systems at Westmill. (Picture: TV Energy)..........................................................................................................................................45