Renewable Energy Capacity Study for the West Midlands

Telford & Wrekin Council, on behalf of West Midlands Councils and a range of partners, commissioned SQW, Maslen Environmental and CO2 Sense to undertake the Capacity Study on Renewable Energy for the West Midlands.

The project aims to provide analysis and decision support to ensure that authorities in the West Midlands are able to deploy renewable energy in time to meet the UK's 2020 targets.

Government policy on renewable and low carbon energy is fast moving to take into account emerging technologies and targets. Between 2004 and 2009, worldwide renewable energy capacity for technologies grew at 10-60% annually.

In parallel, the spatial planning system is undergoing a process of reform and there has been growing recognition of the potential for low carbon economic growth (e.g. new 'reen collar jobs') in the context of the UK recession.

These facts come together to present a dynamic backdrop for the local planning of onshore renewables and means that it is essential that the West Midlands has a robust understanding of its renewable energy potential.

The project provides the essential evidence base required for renewable energy deployment and will also assist local planning authorities in developing policy to support appropriate development.

The project has a specific emphasis on ensuring that this evidence base is consistent with national guidance and other activities in the West Midlands.  It has done this by building on previous/ongoing studies in the region and then applying the methodology recently published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG).

The project focuses on land-based renewable electricity and heat, including both commercial scale renewables and micro generation (on-site and building-integrated renewables). Its specific objectives are to:

• provide a full resource assessment for on-shore low carbon and renewables technology capacity, constraints and opportunities for the West Midlands;
• as part of the above, undertake a detailed analysis of the hydropower potential and constraints along the middle Severn form Shrewsbury to Worcester;
• develop a West Midlands electricity distribution network capacity assessment to enhance understanding of the areas of the network that have capacity, and those that do not, to connect and accommodate electricity generated from renewable sources;
• produce energy planning guidance by setting out generation potential for each local authority, providing guidance on how this should be aligned with economic development and planning policy, as well as enabling an overall understanding of the renewable energy potential for local authorities' own assets and operations as well as those for the wider area.

It is also important to note that this project is intended to provide a strategic assessment down to local authority scale. It is not intended to provide guidance for the assessment and development of specific sites.

Finally, it is important to note that this study has not been undertaken in isolation or 'from a clean slate'. A considerable wealth of research has been undertaken in this area within the West Midlands, the results of which helped inform the assumptions used within the resource assessment.

In addition, the study is closely linked to the West Midlands Local Authority Low Carbon Economy Programme, project-managed by Sustainability West Midlands and using the Climate Change Skills Fund. This supports local authorities in implementing current and forthcoming government policies on energy and climate change adaptation, with a particular focus on the planning system.

14 March 2011 Dissemination Presentations:

• Renewables - Stakeholder Presentation
• Renewables - Planning Guide Presentation 
• Hydropower - Presentation

For further information about the project please contact Harjot Rayet, Environmental Policy Officer by email Harjot.rayet@telford.gov.uk or by phone 01952 384219.