PLANNING FOR PLANNING FOR

RENEWABLESRENEWABLES

SomeSome Key IssuesKey Issues

Presentation to HEON, March 2009Presentation to HEON, March 2009

DAN GRIERSONDAN GRIERSON

�� 9 years working for LPAs in Durham and 9 years working for LPAs in Durham and

NorthumberlandNorthumberland

�� 2 Years as the only planner within a major wind 2 Years as the only planner within a major wind

energy developerenergy developer

�� 4 years as a renewable energy consultant for TNEI 4 years as a renewable energy consultant for TNEI

ServicesServices

�� Now working for Novera Energy as a project Now working for Novera Energy as a project

director, based in the NE of Englanddirector, based in the NE of England

Planning For RenewablesPlanning For RenewablesFocus on domestic scale technologiesFocus on domestic scale technologies

� Domestic Wind

� Solar Water Heaters

� Photovoltaics

� Ground Source Heat

� Air Source Heat

� Biomass

RenewablesRenewables� Indigenous energy source – we have one of the best

wind resources in Europe

� Low Carbon

� ‘Fuel’ can be free and immune from cost increases,

unlike fossil fuel and nuclear

� Renewables are not subject to fossil fuel volatility

� Supply security

� Leave minimum lasting impact after

decommissioning

Planning Policy Statement 22 Planning Policy Statement 22

(PPS22) (PPS22) -- Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy

� Current national planning policy guidance on

renewable energy is set out in PPS22. This

requires planning policies at regional and local

levels to provide an effective framework

encouraging the development of renewables. It is

a material consideration to be taken into account

when considering any planning application for

renewable energy.

The Merton RuleThe Merton Rule

�� "The council will encourage the energy efficient design of "The council will encourage the energy efficient design of

buildings and their layout and orientation on site.buildings and their layout and orientation on site. All new non All new non

residential developments above a threshold of 1,000sqm residential developments above a threshold of 1,000sqm

will be expected to incorporate renewable energy will be expected to incorporate renewable energy

production equipment to provide at least 10% of predicted production equipment to provide at least 10% of predicted

energy requirementsenergy requirements..

�� Planning Policy Statement PPS1 (Planning and Climate Planning Policy Statement PPS1 (Planning and Climate

Change) 2008 requires all UK local planning authorities to Change) 2008 requires all UK local planning authorities to

adopt a "Merton rule" type policy. adopt a "Merton rule" type policy.

Small Scale Domestic Wind

Small Scale Domestic WindSmall Scale Domestic Wind

�� Not permitted development (Yet?)Not permitted development (Yet?)

�� Legal issues to resolve, further legislation Legal issues to resolve, further legislation

expected later this yearexpected later this year

Larger Scale Domestic Wind

�� Each installed Megawatt of wind will Each installed Megawatt of wind will

supply between 500 and 600 households, supply between 500 and 600 households,

on average.on average.

Larger Scale Domestic WindLarger Scale Domestic Wind

�� Needs planning consent in every caseNeeds planning consent in every case

�� Similar issues to commercial scale wind in Similar issues to commercial scale wind in

some cases: Issues can include:some cases: Issues can include:

� Noise

� Shadow Flicker

� Construction impacts

� Ecology

� Aviation

Top Public Concerns Top Public Concerns

� Landscape and visual impact

� Noise and shadow flicker

� Perceived impact on house prices

� Impact on tourism!

� Impact on ecology

� Aviation

� Health

� Efficiency?

� Carbon balance

Are wind turbines noisy?Are wind turbines noisy?

� Guidance on avoiding noise nuisance

� Modern turbines are quiet

� Noise can be controlled by planning conditions,

distance from properties and layout

Is wind efficient?Is wind efficient?

� Modern turbines are increasingly efficient

� Capacity factor varies from site to site typically 30%

or more

� Modern turbines are ‘available’ – >97% of the time

� And generate electricity for 80-90% of the time

� Generate when UK electricity demand is high

(winter)

� Fuel is free

� Output can be (and is) predicted

Solar Water

Heaters

Solar Water HeatersSolar Water Heaters

�� Usually permitted developmentUsually permitted development

�� Not PD on listed buildingsNot PD on listed buildings

�� Permitted unless;Permitted unless;

� panels when installed protrude more then 200mm.

� they would be placed on the principal elevation facing

onto and visible from a highway in buildings in

Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites.

�� Stand alone systems PD unless:Stand alone systems PD unless:

� more than 4 metres in height

� installed less than 5 metres away from any boundary

� above a maximum area of array of 9m2

� situated within any part of the curtilage of the dwelling

house and would be visible from a highway in

Conservations Areas and World Heritage Sites.

Domestic Photovoltaics

PhotovoltaicsPhotovoltaics

�� Usually permitted developmentUsually permitted development

�� Not PD on listed buildingsNot PD on listed buildings

�� Permitted unless;Permitted unless;

� panels when installed protrude more then 200mm.

� they would be placed on the principal elevation facing

onto and visible from a highway in buildings in

Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites.

�� (Same as solar water heaters!)(Same as solar water heaters!)

Ground source

heat pumps

Ground Source HeatGround Source Heat

(AND WATER SOURCE HEAT PUMPS)(AND WATER SOURCE HEAT PUMPS)

�� Permitted DevelopmentPermitted Development

Air source

heat pumps

Air Source Heat PumpsAir Source Heat Pumps

�� Not Permitted Development Not Permitted Development –– Yet!Yet!

�� Legal issues to resolve, further legislation Legal issues to resolve, further legislation

expected later this yearexpected later this year

Domestic biomass systems

Domestic BiomassDomestic Biomass

((Wood burning boilers and stoves, and CHP) Wood burning boilers and stoves, and CHP)

�� Permitted Development unless:Permitted Development unless:� flue exceeds 1m above the roof height

� installed on the principal elevation and visible from a

road in buildings in Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites.

The EndThe End

But...But...

We have hardly started!!!We have hardly started!!!