Extracts from NATTA's journal
Renew, issue 145Sept-Oct 2003

9. SE Regional Targets

Indicative Regional Renewable energy targets were outlined last year (see Renew 137) and around the country, the local Regional Assembly organisations have been responding- by producing modified Regional Planning Guidelines, after local consultation. For example, The South East England Regional Assembly’s "Proposed Alterations to Regional Planning Guidance, South East- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy" emerged recently- and will be the subject of further public consultation. That’s not surprising because in some ways they are quite radical.

The initial target may not be very ambitious- the minimum target for the SE region is set at 5.5% of electricity from renewables by 2010, but it rises to 8% by 2016 and 16% by 2026- with 1750MW then being installed. That compares with the estimates for potential 2010 contributions for the SE region, as given in last years OXERA study, of 4.4% on the low scenario and 10.1% on the high scenario. In the annex of new planning guidelines report "Harnessing the Elements", there is a breakdown by technology. By 2010 it is envisaged that there might be 75MW of large biomass fired CHP, 35MW of small biomass-fired CHP, 102MW of biogas plant. 200MW of offshore wind capacity, 50MW of on land wind farms above 50MW, 96MW of smaller wind clusters, 24MW of similar wind plants, 1.5MW of micro wind power, 0.8MW of micro hydro, 8.4MWp of small domestic PV solar, 5.3MWp of larger commercial PV and, finally, 1.6MWp of motorway PV! That gives 510MW total, but to that they add 108MW of landfill gas fired generation, giving 618MW in all. Longer term, by 2016, offshore wind in seen as expanding by 100MW, onshore wind by 40MW, biomass by 60MW, biogas by 22MW, PV by 15MW and wave and tidal power are also seen as making contributions- giving 885MW in all.

Each area has a sub-targets: the targets for the Thames Valley are 140MW by 2010, 209 by 2016; for Sussex they are 57MW and 68MW respectively; for Hampshire and the Isle of White, 115 and 122MW, and for Kent 111 and 154 MW.

Given these expansion plans, the planning guidelines are also significant- overall there is a strong positive commitment to promoting the conservation of energy and the use of renewable energy sources, including support for ‘more local, small scale and dispersed patterns of generation.’ The Planning Guidelines note that ‘clear synergies exist between energy sources and other objectives including rural development (particularly biomass), economic development (opportunities for new markets, industries and employment) and improving the quality of built environment (energy efficiency as part of high quality design)’.

The Guidelines note that ‘to date the South East has experienced a very low level of renewable energy development’ but it is clear that it intends that this will change: There will be a ‘progressive and substantial increase’, with parallel development of heat producing renewables also being seen as important. Given that Kent, Hampshire, the Isle of White, the Thames Valley and Surrey are seen as being likely to be able to develop onshore wind best, there are going to be some planning battles. The Guidelines talk of District Councils and unitary authorities upgrading Development Plans and producing detailed guidance‘on the circumstances in which renewable energy developments will be acceptable in principle and be most likely to be permitted’ and it suggest that, ‘priority should be given to the development of renewable energy schemes, particularly larger scale ones, in less sensitive area including previously developed and industrial land and areas where there is already intrusive development or infrastructure, for example major transport corridors’. But it also says, provocatively, that ‘wind and other renewables should not be precluded in AONB’s and the proposed national parks, as there will be locations where small scale construction (for example, a wind development of between one and four turbines) can be accommodated.’

It will be interesting to see what the anti-wind lobby makes of that.

The reports can be accessed at www.southeast-ra.gov.uk