The Delabole launch was a great opportunity to ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for his views on renewables and other issues close to our hearts.
Is this your first visit to Delabole and the wind farm? What are your impressions?
It is an honour to visit the site of the UK’s first wind farm, and I am delighted to be able to attend the opening of the new wind farm with its new increased generating capacity.
What role do you see onshore wind playing in the UK’s future renewable energy fuel mix?
It’s one of the more cost-effective and established renewable technologies. Onshore wind farms are flexible in size: they can be deployed effectively on a small scale by local communities or individuals, or on a much larger scale as part of a commercial generator’s portfolio.
We have to make sure electricity consumers don’t pay more than is necessary to decarbonise UK electricity supplies. Supporting onshore wind as part of the overall mix is a great way to do so.
At the moment there’s about 4GW of installed generating capacity in the UK. To ensure onshore wind is viable for developers, we provide them with financial support through the Renewables Obligation, which pays out only for the electricity generated by each turbine – so there’s no upfront payment to cover capital costs, for instance.
As a result, generators have an incentive to look for the windiest spots in the UK to locate turbines, because that’s the most cost-effective – their profits are directly related to wind speed.
We regularly review the banding levels under the Renewables Obligation. One of these reviews is under way at the moment, and we will go out to consultation this summer on our proposed bands.
How do you think communities should benefit from supporting renewable technology projects and how do you think developers should engage with communities near to those projects?
Communities hosting renewable energy projects should be rewarded for the contribution they are making to wider society. That’s why, in the Coalition Agreement, we announced that local authorities in England will be able to retain the business rates generated by renewable energy developments on behalf of individual communities.
I’m very pleased that the wind farm industry recently agreed minimum standards for the contributions that developers will make to community development in England.
Financial contributions might include investment in energy efficiency measures to reduce electricity bills, or cheaper electricity prices. That’s on top of any direct benefits to those living in the area, such as rent paid to landowners.
Why do you think there is often such vocal opposition to wind farm developments in the UK, particularly in certain press, whereas other countries like Germany are proud of their wind farms?
Many people in the UK are actually in favour of onshore wind farms and recognise the benefits they can bring – for the environment, security of supply and the local economy.
But I know this isn’t true for everyone. England is particularly densely populated, so there are usually lots of people living near any new wind farm.
It’s important that wind farms are sited appropriately, and that developers are required to carry out a rigorous analysis of the impacts that their projects are likely to have on the local environment. When the Environmental Impact Assessments don’t add up, wind farms can be turned down.
But I think one of the main reasons for the level of opposition to wind farms has been that in the past people have sometimes felt that they have been imposed on their communities – rather than being developed through a process of close engagement.
That’s why the Coalition Government is committed to changing the relationship between wind farm developments and the communities that host them. We’re reforming the planning system to give communities more power to determine the shape of places in which they live.
How can individuals and communities benefit from small-scale renewable generation projects, such as solar panels?
Generators who qualify for feed-in tariffs (FITs) get paid for the electricity they generate - and for any electricity they export. If they use any electricity onsite, they also save money on bills. We’re keen for local authorities to work with other partners and community scale renewable electricity schemes that can be supported by FITs.
Solar electricity will make a real contribution to meeting our challenging 2020 renewables target - to generate 15% of our energy from renewables. The South West has more solar energy than other regions in the UK.
A typical home photovoltaic (PV) system could save around 1 tonne of CO2 per year – or 25 tonnes over its lifetime. For a well sited installation of under 4kW capacity the generator could receive about £900 a year. And even though the upfront costs are high, electricity bills will be reduced. A typical domestic PV system can produce around 40% of the electricity a household uses in a year.
There has been a lot of interest in large-scale solar farm developments in Cornwall – how do you see the future for large-scale solar in the UK developing?
Large scale solar installations weren’t anticipated under the FITs scheme we inherited. They could soak up money intended to help homes, communities and small businesses generate their own electricity. There is a risk that an increasing number of large scale solar farms could push FITs costs off track.
Last Monday (7th February) I announced a comprehensive review of FITs, along with fast-track consideration of large scale solar projects. We’ll make any changes to tariffs as soon as possible.
What are your top three green tips for Good Energy customers?
- Insulate your home: Over half of the heat in an uninsulated home is lost through the walls and roof. Most UK homes don't have the recommended amount of insulation, so think about insulating both your loft and your cavity walls.
- Turn Appliances Off Standby: The average household wastes around £40 a year simply by leaving appliances on standby. Remember:
- you can't switch most electronic goods off just with the remote control
- to turn off an appliance completely, use the power switch on the appliance itself or turn it off at the plug
- if a charger or power pack is warm or has a light on, it's probably using power - Buy Energy Efficient Appliances: Energy efficient appliances are easy to find and aren’t necessarily more expensive. Look out for appliances that carry the ‘Energy Saving Trust Recommended label’ which are among the top 20 per cent most efficient available; or the European Union energy label. EU energy labels on fridges, freezers and washing machines show how energy efficient an appliance is on a scale of A to G. A is most efficient and G is least efficient.
