Lessons from community
energy projects in Wales
A brief overview
Matthew Leese
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Our Activities
• Energy Efficiency
• Fuel Poverty
• Renewable Energy
• Education
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Talk overview
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Context
Available sustainable energy resources
Welsh approach
Case studies
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How energy is used in Wales
• Total Energy
– split across transport, electricity and heating
– total energy consumption is 125kWh/d/p
– Electricity only: 22kWh/d/p (18kWh/d/p in UK)
• Domestic total energy demand
– 25 kWh/d/p
– >3 GW demanded – every second
– 20,215kWh/home/yr
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Sustainable energy resources
• Wind – abundant, wide spread
• Onshore hydro – plenty of rain!
• Offshore hydro – some of the UKs best tidal flow
• Solar – in the south is best
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The Wales approach
“Our aim is to produce more electricity
from renewables than we consume as a
nation within 20 years.”
One Wales: One Planet, a new Sustainable Development Scheme for Wales, p. 55
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The Wales approach -helping communities
• Wales has world leading agenda
– PD rights for some installations from 2009 using
devolved rights
– Encouragement through active Assembly Minister
– Renewable Energy Route Map
– One Wales: One Planet, a new Sustainable Development
Scheme for Wales
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The Wales approach
Planning Policy
– TAN 8: Renewable Energy (incl. SSAs for wind)
– TAN 12: Design
– TAN 22: Sustainable Buildings (2010) (mandatory CSH)
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 Action on small/community-scale renewables will include:
 initial £15m EU funding supporting 22 community energy projects
 maximising the significant benefits of providing domestic heat through
renewable means in all our programmes
 supporting the early introduction of a UK renewable heat incentive scheme
 working with stakeholders to encourage the take-up of renewable energy
financial incentives from micro- to macro-scale projects
 championing the potential benefits of feed-in tariffs for community
renewable energy projects
 encouraging the piloting of smart-grid technology in Wales
 small-scale renewables support through the Welsh planning system
 providing domestic renewables as part of our Home Energy Efficiency
Scheme
 promoting local energy generation, including as part of public sector
schemes and procurements
 Working towards zero carbon homes by 2016
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HELP!!!
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PPS services offered
Benefits to be acquired
1. Feasibility Study
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Consultancy work
Confirm site technical feasibility 2.
Initial statutory consultations
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Scoping/planning
Approximate financial forecasts 4.
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2. Secure Site
• Option and Lease?
• Purchase/own?
Local skills, employment and capacity
in renewable energy social enterprise
Reduce CO2 emissions
Non-government income
Increase energy security - potentially
Possible protection from rising world
energy prices
3. Business Development
• Constitution and Company
registration (IPS? LLP? CIC?)
• Capacity/skills assessment
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Freq. distribution of wind after 1
year
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Percentage of time
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Wind speed m/s
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Roch
• Measured wind resource: 5.0 m/s
• NOABL wind estimate: 5.7 m/s
• Turbine quote: ~£54,000
– £25,000 PPS
– £20,000 reserves
– £9,000 pledges/loans
• Annual income: ~£7,600
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PSEEG
• Modelled wind resource: 7.0 m/s
• Met monitoring imminent
• Turbine size: 800 kW (E53)
• Turbine quote: est. £1,500,000
– £0 PPS
– £300,000 Ynnir Fro Loan?
– £1.2m bank loan?
• Annual income: ~£293,000
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Newport
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Solar resource: 3.22 kWh/d (PVGIS)
West-Southwest facing roof
Proposed array size: circa. 17kW
Array cost: est. £56,000
– £25,000 PPS
– £10,000 Other funding
– £remaining community pledges
• Annual income: ~£4-5,000
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Lessons learnt
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Lessons learnt
• Hindrances and delays
– Planning, objectors, enthusiasm, remoteness
– Cost, funding, expertise
– Other statutory consultees
– Special designations
• Positives and encouragements
– Planning, supporters, enthusiasm, remoteness
– Funding, expertise (social capital)
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Thank you
Questions?
Matthew Leese
matt@ecocentre.org.uk
01239 821907
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