A presentation by Gavin D. J. Harper, B.R.A.S.S. Cardiff University, for European Sustainable Energy Week, at an event hosted in Vilnius, European Capital of Culture 2009 by A.T.E.I.K www.ateik.info on the 12th February 2009. The presentation looks at renewable energy in the UK, looking at past policy on the national level, room for policy improvements, and innovative policy development on the regional and local levels, culminating with an introduction to Zero Carbon Britain, www.zerocarbonbritain.co.uk a radical roadmap for a clean energy future for the United Kingdom.

1. Renewable Energy:
The United Kingdom’s Approach
g pp
Gavin D.J. Harper - B.R.A.S.S,
Vilnius, Lithuania
12th February 2009

3. UK Renewables – Room For Improvement
Quota based systems do not work as well as Feed-In Tariffs.
UK approach based on “Renewables Obligation” to energy suppliers.
Scheme was introduced in 2002 and relies upon the “trading” of Renewable
Ob ga o Certificates (ROCs) a are allocated o every
Obligation Ce ca es ( OCs) that a e a oca ed for e e y MW o c ea po e
of clean power
produced.
EU directive: 2010 target for electricity from renewables ( ) including and
g y (%) g
excluding large hydro:
•UK 10% by 2010 (inclusive of hydro) – 20% by 2020 [DBERR]
•UK 9.3% (exclusive of hydro)
•Currently only 5% of UK’s energy comes from renewables.
•The projects stuck in the planning system could supply 7.5% of our energy
from windpower alone [Greenpeace]

4. UK Renewables – Room For Improvement
Quota based systems do not work as well as Feed-In Tariffs.
The Renewables Obligation was ‘designed’ to mandate a fixed proportion of
energy from renewables, without adding to consumers’ bills.
By c ea g a co pe
y creating competitive market for renewables, the c eapes op o s ge
e a e o e e ab es, e cheapest options get
developed first.
HOWEVER: the projects that have been developed have had to charge a
pj p g
“premium” to compensate for the lack of certainty about future prices.
The highly competitive market that the R.O. has created hasn’t delivered the
‘low prices’ promised.
Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariffs as used in Germany and other EU
countries – a direct subsidy, guaranteed market price approach has proven to
be FAR more effective in stimulating the uptake of Renewable Energy.

5. UK Renewables – Room For Improvement
REFIT vs. R.O.
UK’s Renewable Obligation delivers electricity at €96 / MWh
Germany’s* Feed-In Tariff delivers electricity at €66 - €88 / MWh
Spain s Feed In
Spain’s Feed-In Tariff delivers electricity at €64 / MWh
*[Revised Version – Energy Law 2000]
Figures from Prof. Dave Eliott Open University
Prof Eliott,
quot;Feed in tariffs have the potential to play an important role in promoting
renewable energy in small-scale generation, and we p
gy g plan to bring in an
g
amendment to the Energy Bill to make this happen.“
Rt. Hon Ed Miliband MP, October 2008

6. UK Renewables – Room For Improvement
We have the best renewable energy p
gy potential of any EU member-state…
y
…so why aren’t we making better use of it??
• R.O. Creates lack of certainty as to the future value of R.O.C’s
• This lack of certainty makes raising capital hard
• Poor planning system.
•The projects stuck in the planning system could supply 7.5% of our
energy from windpower alone [Greenpeace]
• New Electricity Trading Arrangements ‘unfriendly’ to small generators.
•Weighted in-favour of suppliers who can guarantee generation at a
given ti
i time – l
less predictable sources l
di t bl lose out.
t
•Chaotic Funding
•Grants for homeowners “dash” (pot too small?)
•Lack of ‘
L k f ‘real’ leadership from central government on renewables.
l’ l d hi f tl t bl
•Obssession with nuclear power, rhetoric on climate change not
matched by concrete moved towards carbon reduction (Kingsnorth,
Ffos-y-Fran
Ffos y Fran Open Cast Mine, Heathrow)
Mine

7. UK Renewables – Room For Improvement
Graph: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7657414.stm

8. UK Renewables – Change of Direction
•Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP- Feed In Tariffs for Small Scale Renewables
•Will undoubtedly improve small-scale renewable prospects if p
yp pp prices are
set at a sensible level.
•New U.S. ‘Green’ Administration
•Will this encourage change in UK Politics?
•Climate Change Act – CO2 levels cut by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050
•Commitment to ‘greening the UK’ but how will it be achieved?
•Five proposals for Severn Barrage have been shortlisted
•Potential to generate 5% of UK’s electricity from renewables.
•Consultation, final shortlist, project selection in 2010.
•£500,000 to develop “newer” tidal technologies.
•Opposition Party plans ‘energy revolution’
O iti Pt l ‘ l ti ’
•Electric cars, “national recharging network” smart meters, energy
efficiency loans, £1bn upgrade for national grid. “Green Paper on Low
Carbon”
•Philip Selwood, Head of Energy Saving Trust – “Absolutely Spot On”.

9. However…

10. The Merton Rule

11. The Merton Rule
Lack of “real” leadership from Central Government has resulted in forward
thinking from people working in local g
g pp g government.
•Adrian Hewitt
•London Borough of Merton
•Planing Policy Statement sets precedent for ‘Merton Rule’
Adrian Hewitt ‘architect of the Merton rule’ says local policies are a better
approach over building regulations as:
•Building Regulations are Inflexible.
•Creates P id and R
C t Pride d Recognition on a l
iti local l
l level.
l
•Fosters a sense of ‘competition’.
•Preserves imagination and initiative.

12. The Merton Rule
Planning Policy Statement 22 “Planning Guidance on Renewable Energy
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2004
2004.
Merton Unitary Development Policy PE13 – Adopted October 2003
“All new non-residential development above a threshold of 1,000
All 1 000
square metres will be expected to incorporate renewable enegry
production equipment to provide at least 10% of predicted energy
requirements.
requirements.”
This has since changed subtly to ‘incorporate on-site renewable energy
equipment to reduce predicted CO2 emissions by at least 10%.
qp p y

13. The Merton Rule
The ‘Merton Rule’ has been adopted by a
b f th b h d il
number of other boroughs and councils
throughout the country. Some are setting
their sights higher than Merton’s 10%

14. Energy Service Companies (ESCOs)

15. Energy Service Companies (ESCOs)
Woking Hedeselskabet
Borough Miljo Energi
Council
ESCO
Thameswey International
e aoa
Ltd. A/S
Thameswey
Energy Ltd.

16. Island Woking – Allan Jones
Energy Consumption Savings 244,408,155 kWh 48.6% Saving
Caron Dioxide CO2 Emission Savings 142,013 Tonnes 77.4% Saving
Nitrogen Dioxides Nox Emission Savings 439.0
439 0 Tonnes 76.6%
76 6% Saving
Sulphur Dioxide SO2 Emission Savings 1,480.84 Tonnes 90.9% Saving
Water Consumption Reduction 412,855,000 Litres 43.8% Saving
Savings in Energy and Water Budgets £5 388 721 31 4% Saving
£5,388,721 31.4%
•Worked in changing political climate.
•Economies of scale through ‘smart
smart
thinking and design’.
•Sell ‘service’ not ‘product’

17. Woking Park CHP

18. Zero Carbon Britain
www.cat.org.uk
t k
www.pirc.info
www.zerocarbonbritain.com
b b it i

19. Zero Carbon Britain
•Collaboration b t
C ll b ti between C t f Alt
Centre for Alternative T h l
ti Technology [
[www.cat.org.uk] and
t k] d
Public Interest Research Centre [www.pirc.info].
•An update on CAT’s 1977 Report “An Alternative Energy Strategy for the UK.
CAT s An UK
•A positive blueprint for Britain’s energy future.
p p gy
•Eliminate Fossil Fuel Generation in 20 years
•Break dependence on imported energy
p p gy
•No new nuclear plant

21. Zero Carbon Britain
1.
1 The economy and environment must be addressed together and
environmental considerations need to be paramount in establishing
economic policy.
2.Technology and the market must be recognised as vital tools – but not
as masters.
3. The long-term must be taken on board, as well as the short-term.
4. Adequate investment in research and development must be provided
urgently,
urgently to bring promising potential technologies (e g wave tidal
(e.g. wave,
stream and biofuel technologies) to the ‘starting gate’.
5. Energy provision needs to be influenced by social values and ‘quality of
quality
life’,for instance, the community benefits of local
energy provision should be recognised.
6. Energy security must also be addressed in the strategy debate.
-Sir John Houghton
Former Co-Chair of the IPCC

22. Zero Carbon Britain

23. Zero Carbon Britain

25. Conclusions
Out EU countries demonstrate
that we do not need to wait for
technology to develop-
We just need effective policy
put in place at multiple levels
to ensure rapid delivery of a…
CLEAN
SUSTAINABLE
FUTURE