Policies
Renewables East is committed to achieving renewable energy in the East of England.
We will show this commitment by supporting the offshore energy industry, raising awareness of the potential of renewable energy to attract more investment, and encouraging planning authorities to take a more positive attitude towards local community renewable energy schemes, as laid out in the East of England Sustainable Development Framework.
Renewable energy has a key role to play in enabling the East of England to meet its share of the national greenhouse gas emission targets, and we will be working to help the region generate 14% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010.
This 14% target will be put at the heart of regional policy through the adoption of the East of England's Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) in 2007. Known as the East of England Plan, it will replace the Regional Planning Guidance relating to the three counties of East Anglia, and that for the three counties of Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, which used to be part of the South East.
Renewables East & local government
Renewables East has been initially funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) which is one of nine regional development agencies in the UK. We have established an effective working relationship with EEDA and its partner regional bodies, the East of England Regional Assembly (responsible for producing Regional Planning Guidance) and the Government Office (GO-East).
Government bodies at every level take decisions that affect the take-up of renewable energy in the region:
The six counties (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire) have produced Strategic Plans for their areas
The 44 District Councils produce Local Plans (and their replacement Local Development Frameworks) and determine planning applications for renewables schemes
The 4 Unitaries (Peterborough, Luton, Southend and Thurrock) have the planning responsibilities of both levels.
Hundreds of Parish Councils can be very influential in deciding whether a renewables project goes ahead with local blessing or is vigorously opposed.
All of these Councils, from time to time, need to decide where they stand on renewable energy policy or on specific development proposals. To assist authorities in making such decisions, Renewables East have introduced initiatives such as the planning seminars held in partnership with GO: East, across all 6 counties in the East of England in early 2005 to address planning policy and planning guidance.
Renewables East can help with understanding and interpreting sustainable development policy, and we offer practical and technical support during planning and regeneration projects. We're keen to help local government bodies to find the best ways of working with their own land and business assets. Of course, we always support best practice in all areas.
National policy
The Energy White Paper is at the heart of national energy policy. The three main areas of growth are energy efficiency, a lower carbon economy and renewable energy. The regions are fundamental to the success of these initiatives.
'This announcement is good for the environment, good for Britain's energy needs and good for jobs. The Energy White Paper committed us to providing 10% of energy from renewable sources by the year 2010, and an aspiration to double that figure by the year 2020.' Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt
This is only part of the BERR's sustainable development strategy, which 'is about wealth creation, environmental protection and social justice going hand in hand' and aims to improve resource productivity so that greater economic growth need not mean more damage to the environment. Moving towards a lower carbon economy by harnessing renewable energy is one way to achieve these aims.
The mechanism by which electricity from renewable sources is supported is the Renewables Obligation. Under the RO, all electricity suppliers are obliged to source an ever rising percentage of their power from renewables. If they do not purchase enough Renewables Obligation Certificates (or ROCs) they must pay a fine for every unit of renewable electricity they failed to purchase. This fine is recycled to those electricity suppliers who did meet their target thus making an incentive for the electricity suppliers to invest in renewable energy.
For more details on the RO:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/policy/renewables_obligation.shtml
The RO is subject to review and amendment as the Government attempts to modify the process to iron out any difficulties that have arisen. At present the RO is not as effective as it might be in supporting the use of biomass. Therefore the Government have undertaken to revise the policy in light of research and put these proposed amendments out for consultation: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/policy/rooamend.shtml
In order to encourage the widespread implementation of renewable energy, and to allow local planning authorities to determine how to balance the localised impacts of any renewable energy facility against national and international policy, the Government created a national planning policy guidance note on renewable energy. PPS 22 underscores the importance of renewable energy and the weight that must be given by local planning authorities to including positive policies for its use and to planning applications which are received for renewable energy proposals (see planning - more info).
In order to ensure that the local development documents which set out local planning policy best reflect national energy policy and national planning policy guidance, it is the responsibility of the Government Office and the East of England Regional Assembly to provide regional planning guidance in the form of a Regional Spatial Strategy. The current version of this can be found in the form of the Draft East of England Plan.
Renewables East shares the government's commitment to integrating economic, environmental and social policies to ensure a better quality of life for everyone, now and for future generations.
In July 2003, the Department of Trade and Industry released proposals for the next generation of offshore wind farms to provide up to six Giga Watts of new energy generation by 2010. These new wind farms will be situated off the North West coast, the Wash and Thames Estuary.
European policy
In accordance with the Kyoto Treaty, the European Community has committed to 'preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment; protecting human health; and prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources'.
Member states are obliged to support and promote renewable energy.
UK policy on renewable energy not only derives from international treaty obligations, it is also is supported by EU agreements and directives. The 1997 Renewables Directive aims to promote a substantial increase in the proportion of electricity generated from renewable energy sources across the European Union by 2010.
Individual member states have all been required to take appropriate steps to encourage consumption of electricity from renewables, in order that the overall EU target of 12% energy (22.1% of electricity) by 2010 can be met. Each state has its own indicative target, depending on issues such as historical experience with renewables: that for the UK is set to 10% of electricity generation by 2010.
One of the ways in which the EC is honouring these commitments is the European Biofuels Directive, with specific objectives for the transportation and energy sectors. A draft European Parliament and Council Directive requires member states to set a minimum percentage of biofuels to replace diesel or gasoline for transport purposes, and the need for further legislation (including possible mandatory percentages) will be assessed before December 2006. Another Draft Council Directive proposes reduced tax rates on biofuels.
Renewables East is committed to accelerating the development of renewable fuels for transport in the East of England by linking academic research, industry and commerce, working with the region's farming community to produce energy crops and opening up the market for biomass fuel.
Global Policy
The UK is a signatory of the Kyoto Treaty and is legally bound to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to below 1990 levels by 2010. The Protocol entered into force on 19th February 2005 after ratification by Russia. For details of the latest status of ratification of the Protocol please click here.
In addition, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change supported 'sustainable development' (using natural resources at a rate no faster than that which they are replaced) and encouraged developing and sharing environmentally-sound technologies and expertise.
The growing demand for fuel is one of the major causes of the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and non-sustainable fuels sources such as coal, oil and gas contribute to the problem. Renewable energy sources have no carbon emissions, and give countries a means of reducing their harmful emissions without needing a dramatic cut-back in energy consumption.
In bringing the benefits of renewable energy to the East of England, Renewables East hope to play a part in meeting global targets for decreased greenhouse gas emissions and creating a low carbon future.
Developing flagship projects, supporting the use of renewable energy systems in new housing, and looking into ways to grow the skills base necessary for 21st-century renewable energy technologies will all have a positive impact that extends beyond the East of England. This may be of particular benefit to developing countries, where cheap, clean energy from a sustainable source is much needed.
By proving that sustainable fuel sources can be a great advantage to our region, we want to demonstrate that they are also a realistic way of powering a climate-friendly global economy.