BOROUGH OF POOLE

LOCAL ECONOMY OVERVIEW GROUP

2 MARCH 2006

BOURNEMOUTH DORSET AND POOLE RENEWABLE ENERGY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN – FINAL VERSION

INFORMATION ITEM

Copies of the Renewable Energy Strategy are available in Members’ Rooms.

  1. Matter for Consideration

1.1The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Renewable Energy Strategy Final Version was published in December 2005. The Strategy, prepared by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, was commissioned by Dorset County Council, with funding from Government Office for the South West. The work itself has been steered by the Dorset Energy Group, whose members are drawn from the three strategic authorities and Dorset Districts, as well as community sector representatives.

  1. Recommendation

2.1Information item.

  1. Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Renewable Energy Strategy & Action Plan

3.1At its meeting of 23 June 2005 LEOG recommended endorsement of the strategy subject to the inclusion of the following amendment:

“Poole’s Waste Strategy acknowledges that ‘energy recovery’ will need to play a part in local and regional solutions over the next few years. At this early stage of the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Waste Local Plan period, Poole has no identified need for a thermal treatment facility in the early part of the plan period. However, the plan must safeguard sites for when they are required. It is agreed that technologies such as gasification and pyrolysis are not yet proven in the UK and therefore other emerging technologies may be considered when they are proven. This is unlikely to be determined in advance of 2010”.

3.2At Full Council on 26 July 2005 the strategy was endorsed subject to the inclusion in the final published version of the document that the above amendment be included. The document has now been published and at Appendix 7: Endorsement with Caveats on page 114 it is set out that the Borough of Poole has endorsed the strategy subject to the addition of the wording resolved for inclusion by Full Council.

3.3Attached at Appendix A to this report is a summary of the Strategy’s priority areas and action plan.

DAVID RALPH

Head of Strategic Planning Services

If you have any queries on this report, please contact

Mike Garrity, Strategic Planning Services, on 01202 633323

Background Paper: Bournemouth, Dorset & Poole Renewable Energy Strategy & Action Plan – Final Version (December 2005)

APPENDIX A

Summary of Priority Areas and Action Plan

  1. Renewable Energy Strategy: Priority Areas and Action Plan

4.1The key part of the Strategy is the Priority Areas for Action and Action Plan and this is largely unchanged from the Draft Version previously considered by Members. The Priorities and Actions are summarised below, with key areas of new wording highlighted in bold:

4.1.1Priority Area 1: developing positive planning policies for renewable energy. This would include:

  • criteria-based statutory planning policies, preferably developed through joint working (to ensure consistency);
  • developing a methodology for assessing landscape capacity/ sensitivity for wind farms and biomass energy crops;
  • encourage effective community engagement and benefits from wind power developments, which for Dorset could involve the preparation of good practice on developer contributions and encouraging developers to develop good practice on community engagement.

4.1.2Priority Area 2: Developing biomass energy and renewable energy from waste in Dorset. Ways for carrying this forward include the following:

  • establish demonstration heat-only biomass boiler installations at local authority-owned sites, such as leisure centres or schools. This seeks three actions: Dorset local authorities are expected to assess the potential for installing biomass boilers in corporate properties; should look for opportunities where major refurbishment or new building of council properties is proposed; and enter into dialogue with potential wood fuel suppliers, as well as considering the potential for local authority self-supply of wood fuel;
  • establish an advice and promotional scheme for biomass energy for key stakeholders, which would also provide a referral service for local authorities to use;
  • local authorities will promote and secure district heating/CHP in major development schemes through the use of planning guidance, development briefs and Section 106 agreements;
  • identify potential large heat loads for biomass CHP plant on local authority controlled sites;
  • local authorities to consider the use of centralised anaerobic digestion (CAD) and advanced thermal treatment (ATT) as part of waste strategies;
  • procurement of liquid biofuels for transport to be considered by major transport providers and local authorities
  • carry out a detailed survey of food wastes in Dorset, to establish potential for disposal via a CAD plant; and
  • to contact large glasshouses to identify potential for biomass heating.

4.1.3Priority Area 3: Increasing use of renewable energy in buildings. The specific actions include:

  • joint working of local authorities to produce a policy, for adoption in their Local Development Documents, requiring developers to incorporate sustainable energy in new buildings and developments;
  • develop guidance for developers and information leaflets;
  • local authorities to consider potential for use of renewable energy for ‘remote power for street lighting etc;
  • consideration being given to the use of renewable energy systems on local authority-owned sites.

4.1.4Priority Area 4: Raising awareness and understanding about renewable energy. Actions include:

  • Dorset’s three local education authorities to support Dorset schools to incorporate learning about renewable energy;
  • training for councillors and local authority officers; and
  • research into community benefits arising from renewable energy.

4.1.5Priority Area 5: Developing community renewable energy initiatives and exemplars. The actions include:

  • Establishing a one-stop shop for renewables advice. Such a service could link with the existing Poole and Dorset Energy Advice Centre.

4.1.6Priority Area 6: Researching and Developing New Areas for Action on Sustainable Energy. Specific actions include:

  • Developing an energy efficiency strategy and action plan for Dorset;
  • Investigating the potential for tidal stream technology off Portland;
  • Investigating the potential for the establishment of new renewables industries in Dorset;
  • Liquid biofuels for Dorset.

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