Best Practice Guidelines

BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR THE RE TECHNOLOGIES

On all the environmental issues contact as early as possible with all the relevant statutory environmental organisation is recommended.

Wind Energy

Best Practice Guidelines for Wind Energy Development

http://www.britishwindenergy.co.uk/ref/bpg.html

Wind & Solar The Guidelines are intended to assist the development of appropriate wind energy projects in the UK. They result from consultations with the RSPB, Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Council for Wales and many other organisations including international environment groups, local authorities and specialist agencies.

Clear guidance is given on the environmental and planning issues that should be considered for wind energy projects and the dialogue that should be undertaken. They are directed at wind energy companies, but are also relevant to others such as local authorities and local communities.

Planning for wind energy - http://www.bwea.com

The Government has indicated that considerable emphasis will be made on the role of the regions in sustainable economic development. This is a view that BWEA shares. Historically, electricity generation has largely been something that has happened in large plants, often coal-fired or nuclear. The electricity is transmitted great distances (adding to its cost and losing some of its power along the way) across networks of pylons to consumers.

In the UK, electricity demand grows by approximately 2% annually. This trend, together with the inevitable closure (for reasons of age, economics, safety or public pressure) of existing generating plant means that we need to choose how we will replace this capacity. We are already seeing smaller-scale generating facilities beginning to replace larger plant. Clearly, there will be more smaller plants than the few large generating sites and these smaller plant are likely to be more geographically dispersed. This trend coincides with a popular move to sustainable, non- or less-polluting forms of generation.

Already, we see some regions actively promoting themselves as natural homes for wind energy - the South West, North East, East of England and Scotland have all recently used images and language that recognise the changing nature of generation and how they see their region embracing the opportunities of new employment and investment.

In the past, some people have seen a wind energy planning proposal in either only a very local or (at the other extreme) in a national or global context. By thinking along regional lines, perhaps more informed judgements about the number, location and configuration of wind turbines can be made. In the same way that decisions about where to put schools, roads and other facilities are made, communities can work together and at a regional level to choose how they want to make their contribution towards achieving a more sustainable future.

Wind farm development and nature conservation

A guidance document for nature conservation organisations and developers when consulting over wind farm proposals in England. Jointly published by WWF, English Nature, RSPB and the BWEA, this will be an invaluable tool for 'facilitating the growth of good quality wind energy projects which work in harmony with ... nature conservation objectives and commitments'.

CCW Wind Turbine Developers Checklist - www.ccw.gov.uk

Offshore Wind

The CCW has produced guidelines; Guide to Best Practice on Sea-Scape assessment - www.ccw.gov.uk

Hydro

No formal best practice guidelines are available for hydro-power development.

A basic guide to developing small-hydro projects can be found at the British Hydro-power web-site at:

http://www.brit-hydro.cwc.net/frametop9.htm

Biomass

Guidance for planning biomass energy developments

When planning for biomass energy development, a consenting procedure is required for the various elements of the biomass chain, and the environmental effects need to be assessed at each stage. A guide to the primary planning issues and site selection, environmental effects and consultation for biomass schemes are detailed in the biomass planning issues document which can be downloaded below:

Biomass Planning.doc

Biomass Good practice guidelines on-line

Biomass Production British BioGen, in conjunction with members of the Bioenergy industry and interested stakeholders, has developed Good Practice Guidelines. These guidelines are available here as browsable web pages and as pdf files for downloading. They can be downloaded from:

http://www.britishbiogen.co.uk/gpg/index.html

Guidelines are available specifically for:

Short Rotation Coppice for energy production

Wood Fuel from forestry and arboriculture

Anaerobic Digestion of agricultural and food processing residues

Forestry commission guidance

Further guidance on the management of dead and dying wood, and on the impact of the removal of wood fuel on soil nutrients, is given in the Forestry Commission guidance available from the Forestry Commission.

Solar

Prior to installing any solar water heating system, the customer will need any necessary planning permission be obtained from the local authority. Certain types of minor development, known as permitted development, are given general permission by the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order 1995. Local Authorities have, however, the power to withdraw these permitted development rights and in such cases formal application must made to the local authority. Formal application must be made if the proposed work is in a new house or otherwise lies outside the limits of permitted development. In case of doubt, the member should advise the customer to consult the local planning authority as to whether formal application for planning permission should be made. Listed building consent is required for installation of solar collectors in any building listed as being of special architectural or historical interest.

Code of Ethical Practice for the Solar Water Heating Industry

The code of Ethical Practice exists to regulate the conduct of all members of the Solar Trade Association Ltd. who market, manufacture, supply, install or service solar water heating systems or components for domestic hot water and swimming pool applications.