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Past seminarsNew Renewables and the Urban Environment28 February 2005 Venue: Committee Room 5, House of Commons Background: The Government has set ambitious targets for the amount of our energy that will have to be supplied from renewable sources in future (10% of UK electricity by 2010 and an aspiration to double that figure to 20% by 2020). This is, of course, part of its wider strategy to cut CO2 emissions in the UK and reduce the economy’s dependence on fossil fuels. However, while there is broad agreement on the benefits of renewables there has been relatively little debate so far on the practical aspects of implementing a renewable strategy (ie. the changes required in the local energy supply network), except perhaps in relation to wind power, the best developed of the renewables. With the Government’s strategy on micro-generation due out later in 2005, this seminar will provide an ideal opportunity to debate some of these practical questions. We have decided to focus the seminar specifically on implementation issues for small and medium-scale renewable energy generation in the urban environment. With the vast majority of the UK’s existing housing stock located in urban areas and with most new development occurring here, it is here where the battle regarding micro-generation will be won or lost. New, smaller scale schemes will have to demonstrate that they are able to provide a reliable and cheap source of heat and power generation for homes if they are to eventually to replace the current energy generation network. Issues such as how to overcome public scepticism, the need for effective partnerships between local planners and developers, and central government support will be crucial to progress in this field. The seminar will be divided into two parts. Part one will be an analysis of which ‘new’ renewable technologies offer the greatest potential for meeting energy needs in the urban context. Part two will examine more closely the role of government – central and local – as well as the regulatory authorities in promoting new renewables within this particular setting. Part oneOutline: The focus of this part will be on the ‘newer’ renewable technologies, that is to say those which are at a relatively early stage of technological and/or commercial development. Wind power will not therefore be covered (although micro-wind turbines could be one of the technologies used in urban power schemes). How much power can these forms realistically supply and what are the cost and reliability of such technologies? How can we envisage their integration into housing, commercial and public sector developments? And is there a particularly strong case for business investment in any of these technologies in the future? Chair: Mark Lazarowicz MP Speakers:
Part twoOutline: Crucial to the success of urban renewable projects will be the level of support they receive from both central and local government. The GLA has already indicated its support through a new policy which states that 10% of the energy needs of major new developments in the capital should be met from renewable sources. Will other local authorities now follow suit? And how should planning and building regulations be adapted so as to encourage these schemes? (Could energy efficiency regulations be taken here as a model?) Moreover, with the Government due to launch its micro-generation strategy at the end of 2005, how much capital will be invested in some of the newer technologies discussed in part one (measured in terms of R&D funding and grants)? And finally, how can the regulator make it easier for local renewable schemes to be connected to the electricity grid? Chair: Justin Johnson, SERA Speakers:
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