The UK Government is committed to increasing the proportion of energy we use from renewable sources. As fossil fuels become depleted, combined with projected growth in global energy demand, puts our security of energy supply at risk. Utilising our renewable resources will make a strong contribution to our energy needs and allow us to be less reliant on others.

Increasing the proportion of energy we obtain from renewable sources will not only increase the security of energy supplies in the UK; it will also provide opportunities for investment in new industries and new technologies.
The development of renewable energy sources along with other efforts will enable the UK to play its full part in international efforts to reduce the production of harmful greenhouse gases. More information about the government’s commitments can be found on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) or the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) websites, which can be found at the following links;

http://www.decc.gov.uk

http://www.theccc.org.uk

What are renewable technologies?

Renewable energies are power that is created from sources that occur naturally and repeatedly in the environment, such from the wind, the fall of water, the movement of the oceans, the light of the sun, the heat in the ground (geothermal heat) and from biomass.    They can make a significant contribution to reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from energy generation.

Some examples of renewable technologies are given below:

Biomass Heating
Micro Combined Heat and Power
Heat Pumps (air and ground)
Micro Hydro Electricity
Solar - Solar photovoltaic (Solar PV)
Solar Water Heating Systems (SHWS)
Wind Turbines

How do I install renewable technologies on my property, community building or as part of my development?

Developers and Householders

The renewables handbook has been developed by the two Cheshire authorities & Warrington Borough Council primarily for use by householders but it can also provide a useful starting point for developers, community groups and businesses looking to incorporate carbon reduction or climate change mitigation methods into a development or develop low carbon sources of energy.  As well as providing a brief overview of the six most commonly used technologies they provide information about when planning permission is likely to be needed, how to submit a planning application and the factors that will be taken into account when determining an application.

It was funded by the Climate Change Skills Fund which aimed to provide a range of services for planning authorities, planning officers, council members and also for communities wishing to engage in the planning process and bring forward local low carbon and renewable energy developments.  The handbook can be downloaded from the CLASP website via the following link;

http://www.claspinfo.org/cheshire-renewables-handbook

If you are thinking about installing a renewable technology and need planning guidance the Development Management team at Warrington Borough Council can help.
T: 01925 442819
E: devcontrol@warrington.gov.uk

Community Groups

Those using community buildings often have an ideal opportunity to install renewable energies.

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) in consultation with Neighbourhoods Northwest has produced a package of resources to enable communities to undertake the steps necessary to deliver a community renewable energy project. The toolkit consists of:

Factsheets providing factual information about all renewable energy technologies at community scale, helping to decide which is the most suitable.

• Case studies showcasing local examples of how other communities have done it before.
• A checklist to help communities to understand each step along the way.
• A powerpoint presentation designed for communities to deliver a presentation on how to use the technical information contained in the factsheets.
• A literature library identifying further sources of information and support.

The toolkit provides materials to enable communities to engage the wider community and demonstrate the benefits of renewable energy projects, find support and collectively decide on the best project for their community group.

You can download all the resources from:

http://www.claspinfo.org/community-engagement-pack

What are the other benefits of installing renewable technologies?

Using renewable technologies reduces your carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. As well as this there can be financial benefits.

There are a range of government incentive schemes available that are intended to encourage householders, businesses and community groups to improve the energy efficiency of their premises and the take-up of renewable or low carbon energy generating technologies.  These incentives take several forms and currently include grants or loans towards the capital costs of installation and financial reward schemes based on the amount of renewable energy produced.  However, the funding schemes and the rates of financial reward change periodically, so it is recommended that you inspect the DECC and EST websites for information on the most current funding opportunities and incentive schemes that are available.

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/funding/funding.aspx

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Take-action/Grants-and-discounts-database