A Renewable Energy Strategy for the South West
A Renewable Energy Strategy for the South West
Potential for development of renewable energy
This project was a strategy report to look at the potential for the development of renewable energy in the South West over the next decade.
The Government Office for the South West (GOSW) commissioned a report, Renewable Energy Assessment and Targets for the South West (published in April 2001), to look at the potential for the development of renewable energy over the next decade. This report resulted in the setting of a South West renewable electricity generation target of 11-15% for the whole region by 2010.
The regional target is challenging, given that renewable electricity constitutes only a little over 1% of generation at present, but achieving the target will bring wide-ranging benefits to the region.
During 2002 the South West Renewable Energy Group held a series of consultations to help draw up a strategy, which was published and launched in April 2003. The aim of the strategy is to set out how the South West should proceed to achieve this regional target.
The South West Renewable Energy Group first developed a strategic framework in response to the recommendations made in the Renewable Energy Assessment and Targets for the South West report published in April 2001. This framework went out to wide consultation across the region during 2002.
The feedback from this consultation and outcomes from a full sustainability appraisal of the document were addressed and incorporated into the final document, which has now become the renewable energy strategy for the South West.
The overall vision of the strategy is: "to maximise the social, environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy through the integration of renewable energy into mainstream policy and practice at all levels within the region".
The strategy then identifies three main areas where a regional focus is required:
- Deploying renewable energy on the ground
- Developing skills and awareness
- Building the South West renewable energy industry
It incorporates a practical action plan for each of these areas, including timescales, suggestions for target audiences and indicators for measuring success.