Renewable energy surge at risk from government policy changes

A new report, launched today, reveals a rapid growth in the number of south west renewable electricity projects over the past year, dominated by small solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. However, it warns that changes in government policy are putting broader growth at risk.

Carried out annually by independent renewables experts Regen SW, the Renewable Energy Progress Report: South West Annual Survey shows that there were 2,451 renewable electricity projects installed in the past 12 months, and that a massive 97 per cent of these were solar PV. The report comes shortly after Regen SW’s first Renewable Energy Marketplace event in Exeter attracted a huge 1,200 people.

Merlin Hyman, Regen SW chief executive, said: “The sharp rise in solar PV installations is a direct result of the government’s Feed-in Tariffs, which were introduced in April 2010 and created huge interest. However proposed policy changes are undermining confidence and putting growth in all renewable energy sectors at risk.”

Merlin also called for ambitious plans to make the most of the jobs and growth potential from renewable energy: “As the growth in the past year shows renewable energy is the greatest economic opportunity of the next decade and we have great resources locally – but to make the most of this opportunity we need a clear national policy framework and ambitious plans to support local firms. Lead the way and we will enable great businesses to develop, flourish and sell their technologies and skills around the world.”

The renewable energy progress report collects together information on all of the known renewable electricity and heat projects in the south west.

The majority of renewable electricity installations recorded in the survey were microgeneration projects (less than 50 kW), with 2,442 projects being recorded. This is a major increase from last year where 408 projects were added. Of these 2,393 were new solar PV projects, which contributed 6.77 MWs of installed capacity. In contrast, only eight renewable energy projects were larger than 50 kW but contributed over 70 per cent of the capacity increase, highlighting the lack of progress on community scale schemes.

To date, no large-scale solar farms have been commissioned in the south west, although a number have been approved and are expecting to install before the results of the Feed-in Tariff fast-track review is implemented.

Counties’ performance
Cornwall remains the south west’s best performing county, with over a third of the region’s total renewable heat and electricity capacity. Other county statistics are as follows:

Former Avon
Only five projects installed in 2010/2011 were commercial installations. The remaining 318 were domestic. However, Bristol Port Company’s application to double the number of turbines at Avonmouth was approved in October 2010.

Cornwall and the IoS
One new large-scale wind farm was installed at Crimp in North Cornwall during 2010, whilst two others were ‘repowered’ with larger, more efficient turbines.

Devon
Devon was the county with highest number of new electricity projects. Within Devon, the South Hams, through the help of Transition Town Totnes’s Transition Streets Project, is the district with the largest number of new installations and highest new capacity added, with 118 projects contributing 0.51 MW.

Dorset
The Alaska Wind Farm was approved subject to conditions in November 2010. With a capacity of 9.2MW, once constructed, the wind farm will nearly double the amount of renewable electricity capacity in Dorset.

Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire has seen the greatest increase in renewable heat capacity in 2010/2011. The majority of the 5.15 MW increase is from new biomass installations, with 1.08 MW from heat pumps and 0.23 MW from solar thermal.

Somerset
The largest solar array to be installed in the south west during 2010, and the largest privately owned rooftop solar PV system in the UK at time of construction has been installed at Micheal Eavis’s Worthy Farm. The 1,116 solar PV panels have a capacity of 200kW.

Wiltshire
The 265 new electricity installations in Wiltshire and Swindon have more than tripled the number of projects recorded in the county. Of these, all except two micro-wind turbines were solar PV projects.

To view a full version of the Renewable Energy Progress Report: South West 2011 Annual Survey, visit: http://is.gd/EJi0Sg

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Notes to editors
Interviews
To interview Merlin Hyman or any member of Regen SW, contact James Reddy on the number below.

About Regen SW
Regen SW is a leading independent, not-for-profit, centre of expertise in sustainable energy. Its mission is to enable business, local authorities, communities and other organisations to deliver ground-breaking renewable energy and energy efficiency projects with thriving local supply chains.
www.regensw.co.uk

For further information
Please contact James Reddy, Regen SW communications manager on 01392 474322/07967 835947 or email him by clicking here