South West England

A Record of 'Firsts'

South West England has a track record of developing 'firsts' in renewable energy. There are over 150 renewable electricity schemes in the region including the first wind farm in the UK, the first centralised anaerobic digestion power station, the first commercial pyrolysis plant and the first underwater tidal stream turbine in the world.

All the Right Elements

South West England is a natural home for renewable energy. It has the best climate in the UK, and the highest levels of solar radiation. There are strong areas of wind resources in all seven of our counties and research suggests the region has over 1000 MW of untapped wind energy resource. The South West also has one of the largest woodland resources in the country, and the potential to generate substantial amounts of renewable energy from its wave and tidal resources.

A Positive Environment

• 94% of West Country residents support the use of renewable energy
• In 2006 DTI announced funding of £4.5 million for the innovative Wave Hub Project
• In 2006 a 9 MW three turbine wind scheme for Avonmouth was unanimously approved by Bristol City Council’s planning committee
• The UK’s first bioethonal refinery at Henstridge, Somerset has been granted planning permission and is due to be operational in Spring 2008
• The UK’s first wood-fuelled pyrolosis plant in Somerset has planning approval
• Ambitious targets for renewable electricity, heat and building integrated renewables are included in the draft Regional Spatial Strategy