News & Press
Microgeneration Strategy Must Use a Location Based Approach | 12 Jul 2010
Environmental Protection is urging the Government to review its policy intentions on permitted developments for micro-generation technologies such as small wind turbines and air source heat pumps.
The Government launched a consultation on its proposed Microgeneration Strategy for England earlier this week. Environmental Protection UK has criticised proposals to give microgeneration technologies permitted development rights and is calling for a location based approach to microgeneration.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change rushed out a 'consultation' on a microgeneration strategy on the 12 July to meet the requirements of the Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009. However, the permitted development requirements of the Act are still mired in disagreement surrounding a suitable way forward for some technologies.
While the stated purpose of this Act of relieving fuel poverty and securing low carbon energy supplies is laudable, evidence is mounting that the carbon savings achieved by these technologies is highly dependent on the location in which they are installed.
In addition to this, evidence presented by Environmental Protection UK, the Institute of Acoustics and Defra officials proves that permitted development - as proposed by the Department of Communities and Local Government (and their equivalents in Scotland and Wales) – would give rise to complaints about noise impacts.
It is unlikely that there will be many sites where air source heat pumps and small wind turbines could generate appreciable quantities of power and heat without causing noise complaints.
Government departments have also failed to reach an agreement on the acceptable noise level for permitted development, with the proposed 45dB almost certain to cause noise problems.
With the deadline for implementation set in the legislation now passed, Environmental Protection UK believes that it is time a more constructive approach was taken. Incentivising these technologies in the predominantly rural areas where they are most likely to achieve significant carbon savings could also address rural fuel poverty and minimise the likelihood of disturbing the sleep of neighbours.
"Permitted development rights are aimed at increasing the production of low carbon energy, and reducing the planning burden on local authorities, but unfortunately permitted development as proposed is unlikely to achieve either of these aims", said Philip Mulligan, Chief Executive of Environmental Protection UK.
"The urban locations where most of us live offer the least potential for technologies such as small wind turbines and air source heat pumps, whilst for local authorities permitted development merely shifts the burden from their planning function to their environment protection teams, who have to deal with the inevitable noise complaints. A location based approach to microgeneration would help to maximise carbon savings, whilst helping to ensure that noise issues are managed"
Environmental Protection UK wrote to Ministers in the previous Government earlier this year, expressing our concerns and making a clear case against permitted development as proposed but did not receive a reply. We have now written to the new CLG Minister Eric Pickles restating our arguments and await an answer.
ENDS
More:
Ed Dearnley, Policy Officer
ed.dearnley@environmental-protection.org.uk 01273 878771/ 07872
376500
Notes to Editors:
1. Environmental Protection UK is the environmental protection charity supported by pollution control professionals. We have been working for a cleaner, quieter, healthier world since 1898.
2. Our letter to Eric Pickles can be downloaded at http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/assets/library/documents/Permitted_Development_-_Pickles_letter.doc
3. DECC's Microgeneration Strategy consultation can be found at www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/microgen_strat/microgen_strat.aspx. There is no consultation document, so we would consider this as a call for evidence perhaps labelled as a consultation to meet the requirements of the Act.
3. The Green Energy (Definition and Promotion Act) (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2009/ukpga_20090019_en_1 ), is a rare example of a Private Member's Bill which passed onto the statute. Private Member's Bills are Parliamentary Bills introduced by individual MPs outside of the Government's programme, as such they often lack the backing needed to pass through Parliament. The Act was promoted by Peter Ainsworth, a former Conservative MP and Environment spokesperson.
4. The Energy Saving Trust's study on small wind turbines 'Location, Location, Location' (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Global-Data/Publications/Location-location-location-The-Energy-Saving-Trust-s-field-trial-report-on-domestic-wind-turbines ) determined that location was critical if turbines are to generate appreciable quantities of power. In urban areas wind speeds are often low due to presence of buildings, and wind is often turbulent (changing direction frequently), reducing the efficiency of turbines. Similar results have been found from a study of small wind turbines in Warwickshire.
5. The carbon savings achieved by air source heat pumps are also dependent on location. Heat pumps draw energy from the grid to run, and electricity is a high carbon fuel. In rural areas where alternative heating fuels are gas or electricity heat pumps can achieve significant carbon savings, however if the alternative heating fuel is natural gas (as it is in most urban areas) the carbon savings offered by heat pumps are marginal. The Energy Savings Trust is currently researching the function and impacts of air source heat
pumps.