NEWS I ROUNDUP
Are councils slowing community energy programmes?
A NEW REPORT from Westminster think tank ResPublica has revealed that community owned energy could grow 89 times its current size if councils stopped blocking and started helping the industry. In Germany, community energy accounts for 46% of all energy produced from renewables. In the UK this fi gure stands at just 0.3%.
The ResPublica report, ‘The Community Renewables Economy: Starting up, scaling up and spinning out’, argues that if community owned energy is to become more commonplace, councils must make development easier. Community energy could generate £30m a year in tax revenue for cash-strapped local councils, and drive down high energy bills by increasing competition in the energy market. But ResPublica warns that councils must step up to the challenge, understand their new role and help, rather than hinder progress.
The new study reveals a growing appetite for community owned power. Over the last decade, community energy capacity has increased by over 1300% to nearly 60 MW. By 2020, on current trends, the sector will grow nine-fold to 550MW. But with leadership and investment from local authorities and with the right national policy framework, the sector is capable of delivering almost a fi fth of total renewable energy capacity - this would be equivalent to 5.27GW by 2020.
The report argues that key to achieving scale is joint ownership, where communities are able to partner with private developers, local authorities or businesses, with greater capacity, resource and fi nancial capability. But it stresses that there are a number of barriers to be addressed, including funding, fi nancial know-how and legal advice. Local and national Government must work together to understand the benefi ts and help catalyse growth.
In particular, this requires fl exibility and positive approach from local authorities who could and should lead the way and
invest funds in clean energy projects. Recommendations include training for local planners and councillors to make balanced decisions and fully understand the role of local government in energy production.
In response to the report, Greg Barker MP, Minister for Energy and Climate Change, said, “The Coalition is committed to helping hard pressed consumers with the rising cost of living. When it comes to energy bills, this includes supporting communities to take more control over local generation projects, while also empowering them to reduce their energy demand, tackle local fuel poverty, and get the best deal on their energy supply.
I welcome the ideas in this report on helping communities navigate the planning system, and on forming partnerships so that they are able to take an active role in their local projects. Our aim is to help communities and businesses seize this opportunity.”
Maria McCaffery, Chief Executive of RenewableUK added, “This report highlights the exciting prospect of communities working closely with wind farm developers, local businesses and authorities on jointly-owned projects.
“Using this socially and economically- inclusive model, we have an opportunity to redefi ne the relationship between communities and developers to unlock a signifi cant growth in community energy, particularly in onshore wind. This will enable all of us to reap the economic and environmental benefi ts of wind energy at a truly local level”.
Large UK project receives permission
BNRG RENEWABLES has obtained a 25-year planning permission from Shepway District Council’s Development Control Committee for its proposed 18MW solar array in Old Romney in Kent. The Committee voted 15 votes to one to support the scheme and a testament to BNRG’s professional and best practice approach to the application. The Planning Committee Chairman
commended BNRG on a well thought
out and sensitive proposal.
The utility-scale project will be constructed on approximately 120 acres of land at Sycamore Farm and will be equipped with around 73,000 solar panels, which each have a capacity
of 245 watts. During the application process a small number of letters of objections were sent, including one from Protect Kent, a local branch of national countryside body the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Tom Brinicombe, Programme Manager at BNRG said, “We have worked proactively to incorporate feedback from stakeholders and local residents into our plans and have
had positive feedback on the application as a result, with fewer than 10 letters of objection. We remain committed to ensuring that as well as generating a signifi cant amount of renewable energy, this project will also be well-screened and will increase local biodiversity.”
Issue III 2013 I
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