Archived decisions

Contact: Kim Catt, ext 6748 and Richard Coles, ext 6747

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

That the South East England Regional Assembly be informed that the County Council:

(i) welcomes the broad intentions of the consultation draft of "Harnessing the Elements: A Strategy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy", including the `joined-up' approach of the South East England Regional Assembly, the South East England Development Agency and the Government Office for the South East;

(ii) welcomes the sub-regional approach of the Strategy and supports Hampshire being linked with the Isle of Wight;

(iii) supports the use of targets to guide policy objectives, and considers that the minimum target of 4% of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2010 is appropriate, but in the light of the UK Government's target of 10% by 2010, the target 6% by 2016 is modest and the South East England Regional Assembly should explore in more detail if the target could be increased;

(iv) believes the draft Strategy should give greater weight to energy efficiency measures in reducing carbon emissions, and give greater guidance to local authorities in establishing energy efficiency targets in planning policy;

(v) considers that the mix of renewable energy technology developed in each area should be agreed locally;

(vi) believes the draft Strategy should clarify what contribution energy generation from green wastes and biomass could make to regional targets; and

(vii) believes that the draft Strategy should address the scope for generating heat and developing biofuels for transport, as well as electricity generation.

2. Reason

2.1 To respond to the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) requests for comments on its draft Strategy for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not to offer a response to the SEERA. This option was rejected because the draft Strategy will form an important part of the revision to Regional Planning Guidance. It is appropriate that the County Council makes its views known on the document.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Background

7.1 On 24 October 2002 the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) published "Harnessing the Elements: A Strategy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy" for public consultation, and a synopsis is available in the Environment Department Library. The existing Planning Policy Guidance Note 22: Renewable Energy (PPG22) is becoming dated, as the focus for energy issues has moved on. Policy INF4 of the current Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) supports energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. The Strategy will be SEERA's formal submission to the Government for the amendment to RPG in spring 2003.

7.2 The vision and objectives of the draft Strategy go beyond the current RPG of 2016 and look towards 2026. The driving force for the vision behind the Strategy is that by 2026 14% of the South East Region's electricity generation capacity will come from renewable resources.

8. Key Matters from the Draft Strategy

8.1 The draft Strategy sets out regional and sub-regional targets for electricity generated from renewable energy resources (Policy EN5) as follows:

(i) 4% by 2010;

(ii) 6% by 2016; and

(iii) 14% by 2026.

8.2 SEERA has identified biomass, wind and solar as the key elements to the Region's potential contribution from renewable resources. The draft Strategy identifies each sub-region's potential to deliver renewable sources of energy from the natural elements identified. The draft Strategy identifies four sub-regions, of which Hampshire and the Isle of Wight combine to form one sub-region.

8.3 Development Plans should identify targets for renewable energy that reflect regional and sub-regional targets based on local assessments of potential.

8.4 The draft Strategy proposes that Development Plans should:

(i) identify broad areas of land where wind energy developments will `in principle' be considered favourably;

(ii) identify the type and scale of renewable energy development which may be acceptable in sensitive areas of countryside through Landscape Character Assessments;

(iii) identify and mitigate the adverse impacts of renewable energy development to ensure that natural resources are protected; and

(iv) include policies which encourage community-based schemes.

8.5 The draft Strategy encourages consultation with the renewable energy industry at the earliest stages of the plan preparation process. Other draft policies in the Strategy seek to:

(i) promote demonstration projects and best practice;

(ii) raise awareness and identify means of overcoming technical and financial constraints to renewable energy provision; and

(iii) encourage the development of renewable energy markets and supply chains.

8.6 The draft Strategy calls on development plans to increase the energy efficiency of all development through design, orientation and the use of solar energy. It also promotes the development of Combined Heat and Power plants.

8.7 The draft Strategy does not make any strong linkages with other regional strategies currently being prepared.

9. Director of Environment's Comments

9.1 The broad intentions of the draft Strategy are welcomed. There is strong direction from the Government to invest in renewable energy; this is driven by the commitment to address climate change issues and cut emissions of all greenhouse gases as part of the Kyoto protocol.

9.2 SEERA acknowledges that successful implementation of the Strategy depends on joint working by a wide range of organisations at different levels, including the renewable energy industry. This view is supported. It is important that joint working takes place to move towards meeting the targets identified in the Strategy. Public awareness is vital and SEERA's proposals to promote best practice and demonstration projects are welcomed. Such projects illustrate the advantages of such schemes and show their viability. Hampshire is developing a portfolio of renewable energy projects which will demonstrate the scope for local initiatives, utilising a range of renewable energy technologies leading to the commissioning of renewable energy generating plant at a scale appropriate to local communities and environmental constraints.

9.3 The key issues for the planning authorities of Hampshire is the location of development and infrastructure and how best to reduce and manage the demand for energy, and will be addressed through the planning process.

9.4 The identification of targets is supported. Whilst accepting that the region is starting from a small base in terms of practical schemes on the ground, the County Council considers that the targets proposed beyond 2010 are not sufficiently challenging, particularly since the UK Government target is to produce 10% of electricity from renewable sources by 2010, and the recent report of the Government's Performance and Innovation Unit proposes a supplementary target of 20% of electricity to be from renewable sources by 2020. In order to achieve the targets being set by Government, those targets being set by SEERA should reflect to a greater degree the objectives being promoted at the national level. The figure of 6% by 2016 is very modest to achieve this and should be increased to 8%. The targets should take account of the potential to generate heat from biomass.

9.5 There is concern that Hampshire's ability to achieve the potential for renewable energy from wind (both onshore and offshore), identified in the draft Strategy, could be difficult, due to a large number of environmental and technical constraints, including telecommunications, radar and military installations. In addition, the contribution from water needs to be considered, and in this context Hampshire County Council is working in partnership with Thames Valley Energy, the South East England Development Agency and the Environment Agency on a study to assess the South East Region's potential for water power. The sub-regional target figure is broken down into the different renewable elements of wind, biomass, solar and water. It is believed that a mix of renewable energy technologies is the most appropriate way forward, and that the balance and mix should be decided locally.

9.6 It is disappointing that the draft Strategy does not give greater emphasis to the role of energy efficiency in reducing emissions. It would be helpful if the Strategy could give some guidance to local authorities on the establishment of energy efficiency targets in planning policy, besides the more general policy statements on the design and orientation of buildings and the use of energy efficient materials. Some local authorities have already identified specific energy efficiency targets in planning policies.

9.7 The draft Strategy must make stronger links with regional economic development, transport and waste management strategies. For example, supporting technological innovation in renewable energy technologies as a creator of employment and wealth. The draft Strategy should look at the role of waste materials as renewable fuels. Although the strategy places this under the remit of the Regional Waste Management Strategy, materials could make an important contribution towards energy generation and meeting the regional renewable target. The draft Strategy should also clarify what contribution energy generation from green wastes and biomass could make to achieving regional targets. In terms of transport, the draft Strategy should consider the potential of biofuels, given: firstly, the contribution that vehicles make to carbon dioxide emissions, and secondly its potential as another source of renewable energy for power generation. There is a case for an over-arching regional natural resources strategy linking the various threads together.

7663/KC