Renewable Energy

RENEWABLE ENERGY UK POLICY SHIFT: LOCAL COMMUNITIES VS. RENEWABLE ENERGY?

Tristan Ward and Mustafa Latif-Aramesh

THE GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED COURSE.

A sentence which often instils elation or dread depending on the policy in question. In this instance, (with unlucky timing on the eve of the COVID-19 outbreak), the Government has launched a consultation on changing its approach to renewable energy.

The Government asks whether its Contracts for Difference scheme should be expanded to include onshore wind and solar photovoltaic. To date, the scheme has resulted in the award of contracts for 16GW of new renewable electricity capacity, including nearly 13GW of offshore wind capacity – but the Government considers an expansion to the scope of the scheme is now required.

While this article concentrates the Government’s proposal for how developers and local communities should engage with one another when onshore renewable energy projects are proposed, the government’s proposals also include the extension of the scheme until March 2030, measures aimed at strengthening delivery incentives and supply chains, the removal of new coal-to-biomass conversions from future auctions, and including energy storage.

Why are these suggestions being brought forward now? In two words: Net Zero. UK policy is moving toward an “ultralow carbon power sector” in order achieve the “net zero” carbon target by 2050. This ambition is in line with the Committee of Climate Change’s recommendation that there should be at least a fourfold increase in the UK’s renewable energy capacity. THE DEVIL IN THE DETAIL: LOCAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Both developers and landowners need to be aware of the Government’s proposals – in the Government’s words – “tough new guidance for renewable energy developers to ensure local communities given more effective voice and make sure they have a definitive say on developments that affect them”. The apparent intention to make it harder to obtain planning consent for renewable energy renewable projects does not sit easily

with the Secretary of State for Business statement in the same announcement that “Ending [Britain’s] contribution to climate change means making the UK a world leader in renewable energy”.

Objectors to wind energy projects have turned to the planning system to try to prevent consent being granted. In R (The Friends of Hethel Limited v South Norfolk DC) for example, objectors argued that the turbines would damage the setting of a listed building; and in R (Wright) v Resilient Energy Severndale Ltd the objector successfully argued that a promised yearly donation to the community of around £20,000 for the 25 year lifetime of the turbine had been improperly taken into consideration by the planning authority in deciding to grant consent.

In this vein, it is not clear how the proposals out for consultation interact with existing planning policies such as existing local plans, the National Planning Policy Framework, and the National Policy Statements for schemes under the Planning Act 2008.

Developers should take legal advice to ensure inconsistent requirements are reconciled, and to take advantage of overlapping requirements to avoid duplication of their efforts (and additional cost!).

Broadly, the Government makes three proposals to increase local community benefit and engagement. LOCAL COMMUNITY INVESTORS?

First, and the starkest part of the Government’s suggestions is that developers provide “an opportunity for communities or local people to invest in the project, with this opportunity additional to a community benefit fund”.

How precisely this marries with initial investors in a development

taking significant risks before a site is ready for local community investment is not clear. If the proposal becomes law, developers will wish to consider how this risk is rewarded.

Community benefit funds are also mentioned. Such funds have become fairly common in large infrastructure projects, but transfer of the concept to the renewable energy sector should enable efficiencies in providing these community benefit funds. For example, a centralised or combined fund paid for jointly with other developers in order to reduce administrative costs could be beneficial.

Of course, there is no one size fits all community fund, but developers should take opportunities to collaborative. This is could be the intention behind the Government’s proposal to create “a register of renewable energy developments in England that lists available projects and community benefits”.

The Government’s consultation also reminds developers to consider how to engage with the local community on their community benefit funds. The timing of consultation and engagement could be challenging: developers should provide information enabling the local community to respond in a fully informed way, but over-development of proposals costs money that is wasted if is necessary to change course. LIFETIME INVESTMENT?

The Government’s second proposal is that “community benefits… last the lifetime of the project”. That requires thinking beyond the initial construction stages, and considering how operational benefits of projects could be utilised.

Government has also made clear that if a project or site is sold, successor operators must comply with

agreements with the local community. This, of course, is a matter for agreement between developers, but parties will need to ensure agreements and consents can be transferred and are acceptable in the market. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT?

Thirdly, Government wants developers to assess “the potential effect of a proposed renewable energy development on visual amenity and landscape”. This is of course a fundamental requirement of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (where applicable), and an aspect which is mentioned in virtually every planning policy document. We think this proposal wholly or partly stems from opposition to onshore developments discussed above, bearing in mind the Contracts for Difference scheme had initially excluded onshore wind and solar energy from support.

LOCAL COMMUNITY TEETH

This proposal is directed at requiring developers to meet (or placate) the needs (or concerns) of local communities. Government promises that Local Communities “will have a definitive say on whether projects are allowed to proceed.” How is this to be achieved?

A clue comes in the Government’s further statement that “It will remain the case that no English onshore wind project can proceed without the consent of the local community.” Currently government guidance provides that no planning consent for wind energy development is to be granted unless firstly the site is in an area identified as suitable in a local plan; and secondly, it can be demonstrated that the proposal has community backing. The consultation document does not specify how Local Communities could actually have a definitive say or how a developer could evidence it has engaged appropriately.

Companies are currently being confronted with sharply increasing electricity prices and ever stricter environmental protection requirements. At the same time peak currents represent a big challenge for the infrastructure and the network stability and drive energy consumption, and consequently costs and the CO 2 balance, upward. In addition to efficiency and cost effectiveness, sustainability is also becoming an increasingly important subject across all sectors.

“We are seeing a clear trend that companies want to be more active when it comes to CO 2 reduction and decarbonisation, and are looking for feasible, practical solutions. This is precisely what Fronius offers,” explains Patrick Gojer, Business Unit Head Marketing and Sales Perfect Charging. “We are there as a partner to support our customers on the way to a CO 2 -neutral charging infrastructure. In order to do this, we identify possible potentials for achieving savings in ongoing operation, and create the requirements for the necessary transparency. Our many years of experience both in battery charging technology and in solar energy allow us to offer the customer holistic, intelligent and simultaneously sustainable charging solutions.” Another key advantage is that the entire system comes from a single source, meaning that Fronius is also the only contact for any maintenance and service work and can respond quickly and in a targeted manner.

BATTERY CHARGING TECHNOLOGY AND PHOTOVOLTAICS: THE PERFECT COMBINATION FOR GREEN LOGISTICS

The use of renewable energy offers companies a number of options for reducing their ecological footprint and therefore making an important contribution to environmental protection. Fronius helps its customers to take the right steps towards CO 2 - neutral charging infrastructure and therefore reduce operating costs whilst also being more sustainable.

SELF-GENERATED SOLAR ENERGY FOR THE FORKLIFT FLEET

The use of renewable energy, and photovoltaic systems in particular, plays a big part on the route towards CO 2 - neutral intralogistics. Industrial buildings with their large flat roofs are often ideal sites for solar collectors. The energy that they produce can be put to excellent use, for example for the operation of electric forklift trucks. They are responsible for up to a third of total energy consumption

How will developers mitigate such rules? Clearly by engaging with communities as recommended by the proposals, though this may not be so easy given the decision in R (Wright) v Resilient Energy Severndale Ltd. More generally, developers need to involve themselves in the development of local plans, to ensure area are designated as suitable for renewable development, and they also need to be prepared to challenge unreasonable decisions by judicial review where appropriate. NEXT STEPS

This is, of course, all the subject of a consultation so we must wait to see how the renewable energy sector and local community groups react, and more importantly how the Government responds. That said, developers should build the proposals into their plans on the assumption they will be incorporated into law more or less unaltered. www.bdbpitmans.com

in many companies. “The self-generated solar energy ensures greater independence from the public grid, reduces both energy costs and CO 2 emissions and is therefore an important step towards greater sustainability,” says Gojer.

Fronius offers the most progressive technology available on the market for charging traction batteries for electric forklift trucks with the Selectiva charger range. These can be optimally combined with the Fronius Solar Energy business segment, which specialises in the design and implementation of tailor-made photovoltaic systems including inverters. https://www.fronius.com/en-gb/uk

RATHLIN-VALENTIA – POLES APART BUT LINKED BY COMMON NEED

Two islands at the opposite ends of Ireland are making ‘energetic strides’ in the face of the COVID 19 crisis to develop a new green hydrogen energy strategy for a new decade. R athlin Island off the coast of Co in what they want next. There has been operative make a feasibility study and the Antrim and Valentia Island off a desire to move Rathlin Island towards GenComm projects Decision Support Tool the coast of Co Kerry are both carbon neutrality and the ‘Rathlin As A (DST) both work to allow these plans to committed to seeing a green Carbon Neutral Island’ document produced come to fruition. Colum O Connell explains hydrogen future that even includes in September 2019 was a step in gathering the direction the group proposes saying: new ‘green ferries’ operating to both islands. thoughts and momentum. That same month “The people of Valentia recognise the

Both locations are on a ‘green’ journey the DFI facilitated a meeting on Rathlin global challenge around carbon reduction. , Rathlin have had their energy audit between representatives from Rathlin They also recognise the opportunities completed, Valentia have their energy master Development and Community Association, , that may become available should we get plan, both have a common denominator, Belfast Metropolitan College, Invest NI, NUIG, behind a carbon reduction program that namely hydrogen as being the key to a and Energia. This meeting focused around cannot only reduce carbon but enable better future. It has been said if you focus on hydrogen as a fuel of the future. While consent energy independence and create high value sustainability, business can gain and there has been granted for a community turbine employment opportunities. The feasibility are environmental and financial benefits, the goal is to make a clean energy transition study and decision support tools empower its all interlinked. And in the troubled to zero carbon through the use of Green H2. the community members to understand the times of COVID 19 this is more needed in In the coming years the community analysis and options and make decisions these communities than ever before. has aspirations to explore options around that make a real impact on their future.

Michael Cecil, Rathlin Development and retrofitting the ‘Rathlin Express’ passenger “Decarbonisation can take shape in Community Association Chairman reckons ferry with hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen many ways on Valentia. The initial focus the island is braced for the COVID challenge, storage tanks and electric drives. There is a is to decarbonise the heating systems saying: “All small and medium islands suffer need to secure a hydrogen supplier to meet on the island. Our energy master plan from energy poverty as traditionally most the potential demand from the ferry. A pilot identified that in our residential heating have no means of producing energy or of hydrogen powered vehicles on Rathlin systems, 40% consumed oil or gas, while fuel, this leads to a reliance on transporting and a new identity for the East Lighthouse 20% consumes carbon intensive turf or everything using very inefficient methods. on the island are all envisaged. A citizen coal. Hydrogen can provide an achieveable During periods of bad weather, ferry engagement event in May 2019 and a East transition path for decarbonising this downtime or even the current COVID-19 Lighthouse Insight Report in August 2019 area. We also have a plastics factory which lockdown transportation becomes even more demonstrated that there is support for uses significant volumes of gas as part of difficult - all leading to insecurity of supply. research and development on the site into its manufacturing process, and hydrogen

“COVID-19 has shown the public quite what renewable energy offers. Michael and offers a real alternative here also. clearly how we are damaging our planet the RDCA are very open to the envisaged “The ferry is a key service to the - since lockdown and with the reduction ‘green’ future with Michael saying: “Our community of Valentia. Our ferry is due for in transport and industry there has been roadmap outlines our ambitions around H2 replacement and a hydrogen fuel vessel a marked improvement in air quality, and this includes a plant producing green H2 would complement our decarbonisation there is anecdotal evidence that nature in the short to medium term, that is very much strategy. We have seen funding models has bounced back somewhat. We need part of the plan. Yes, our desire is to develop for such vessels in Orkney and Norway, to ensure we don’t revert back to how green ferries coupled with an island green and we see no reason why this model things were pre-covid. That will involve transport all linked back to wind energy and cannot be repeated in Valentia.” new thinking around travel and energy.” an associated H2 plant can become a tourist Both Rathlin and Valentia are areas of

Likewise Colum O Connell, Chairman and education attraction in its own right. natural beauty but the communities want of the Valentia Energy Group knows that “The brief for the lighthouse development to embrace the clean energy option. The fresh new thinking is needed now too , is quite clear in that the entire venture must lighthouse on Rathlin was built into the saying: “Valentia, like the rest of Kerry has a aim for carbon neutrality in its build and cliff face between 1912-1917 and the light huge dependency on the tourism sector. A operation. We hope that pilot projects and was first exhibited in 1919. You are just 11 recent study by PWC showed that Kerry is medium scale research can take place onsite miles in distance from the Mull of Kintyre the county that has had the biggest impact to be rolled out to the wider community.” in Scotland. The Valentia lighthouse first on tourism due to the COVID crisis. This Decarbonisation is on the agenda in exhibited light in 1841 and on a good day is one of the reasons we are looking to Valentia too. In January 2020 the Valentia you can see the UNESCO World Heritage develop a hydrogen based economy so that Energy Co-Operative was formally registered. Site Skellig Michael and the remote we can create employment opportunities A reduced carbon footprint ties into a bigger Blasket Islands from the lighthouse site. in Valentia that enable us to diversify story about climate change. This is an issue The desire to turn Rathlin into a full green away from tourism type employment.” that is being discussed on Valentia ? There economy will be welcomed for economic

Both islands are in tune with each other are wider questions around how the co, environmental and educational reasons. 28 ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JUNE 2020

Michael and the Rathlin Development Community Association want to develop their green energy initiative and have posted a partner search on the H2020 call ‘Decarbonising Islands Using Renewable Energies and Hydrogen-H2 Islands’. The scope of such a project covers the complete value chain of H2 (production, transport, storage, distribution) in order to decarbonise an island. The solution should provide energy flexibility and improve the islands system resilience through the use of renewable hydrogen, acting as a buffer. Hydrogen can enable sector coupling where you can manage seasonal energy and H2 production demand balancing and allow a large integration of renewable energy on the island. All the hydrogen is produced from the renewable energy capacity on the island. An example is how Sardinia became ‘hydrogen ready’.

These two islands, Rathlin and Valentia, may be 395 miles apart but their peaceful relaxed atmosphere together with the islands long histories attracts many visitors. Both are attractive tourist destinations, both have small native populations in their hundreds, both have a ferry, Valentia has a lighthouse, Rathlin has 3, and both were communication leaders of their time. Valentia was the eastern terminis of the first commercially viable transatlantic cable. Rathlin was where the first commercial wireless telegraphy link was established. Now in 2020 both strive for an energy security with green hydrogen as the catalyst. Both now strive for low carbon economies and a sustainable tourism based on green hydrogen. Rathlin’s plan is for tourism, energy and the economy , 360˚ Destination Green© ‘2030 goals are to make a clean energy transition to zero carbon through the use of Green H2, to energise the low carbon economy and develop the tourism initiative’. The key strategic objective of both is to use green hydrogen as the catalyst to future proof the islands socially, economically and environmentally. The rugged features and the distinct history does not hide a new ambition to be trendsetters for the rest of the remote communities in Europe to follow.

Already in 2020 a paper `Hydrogen From Offshore Wind, Investor Perspective On The Profitablity Of A Hybrid System Including For Curtailment’ extended the debate. The authors included researchers from the MaREI centre in Cork. Their words are now ringing true as they wrote, “As we continue to decarbonise our energy systems there is an increasing interest in and potential to develop offshore windfarms.”

Michael says: “We see green H2 as a sustainable fuel across the Island , everything from our lifeline ferries, cars and commercial transport, domestic and commercial heating systems - all of which bring our carbon footprint closer to zero.”

Indeed it beggars the question can the island indirectly help build a more competitive Northern Ireland energy market, perhaps the Community Action Renewable programmes of the past may not have had Rathlin top of their plans ?

Michael is positive saying: “We have always seen islands as microcosiums of wider society. Projects like green H2 production, storage and distribution are challenging in Rathlin Island remote locations, if an Island can achieve this with its limitations then anywhere can.” Michael also sees job creation as a distinct possibility in this new Green H2 world saying: “Yes as the renewable energy operation will require management and maintenence as well as Valentia Island any associated H2 plant. H2 will have to be distributed to customers on a retail basis. Once we start this journey seriously other projects and developments will create employment in their own fields, perhaps through pilot projects, education etc. “

There is a wider discussion about an unbalanced energy demand due to tourism demands at different times of the year, Michael is clear what he would like to see in relation to this dynamic, “ Firstly a reduction in energy usage throughout the year. Secondly we are actively trying to expand our tourist season over the entire year if possible. We hope to attract the “right kind” of tourist going forward. More of those seeking to explore the Island because of our sustainable development and learn from it.”

Both communities strive for energy security with green hydrogen as the catalyst. The catalyst can lead to other growth, energy sustainability, community stability and organic firmness. Hydrogen can be produced without a carbon footprint and hydrogen has a high energy density making it suitable for long term storage.

Colum from the Valentia group tells of their particular journey, “Our priorities right now are very much focused on getting funding for a pilot program to commence producing hydrogen. This comes off the back of a strong foundation of analysis, documentation and community support. Having completed an Energy Master Plan (funded by SEAI), we got a clear baseline of what our baseline Energy consumption was on the island. From this a register of opportunities was created and an energy strategy was defined. This strategy identified hydrogen as an integral part of our journey to energy independence. Following on from this we completed a feasibility study on the production of green hydrogen in a community owned setting. Following a series of community meetings, we got overwhelming buy in from the community on Valentia and a strong mandate to follow through on the strategy on the behalf of the community.” Colum agrees with the message if you focus on sustainability, business can gain and there are environmental and financial benefits maintaining ,“I could not agree more. We are all aware of a number of financial risks associated with consumption of fossil fuels. We have seen the volatile nature of oil prices and its very nature leads to uncertainty in a commercial environment. We are also at the beginning of the introduction of carbon taxes which will only add to the bottom line costs. The introduction of a sustainably sourced fuel which can be produced in a constant supply of price can only be an attractive offering to commercial organisations. Conversations we have with local businesses say the cost of energy is a major priority for them to stay competitive. “

Mobility, heating , marine are all areas that can benefit and as Colum explains that’s not all : “Tourism is an integral part in our local economy and developing a tourism friendly channel is key for us. We have structured the energy co-op so that an education stream can be created. This stream will look to develop a ‘Cool Planets’ Experience, which will build an education experience on sustainable energy. This can be a link to the Eco tourism sector.”

A new energy plan is vital argues Colum and a hydrogen solution can produce jobs, Colum says: “Short term this has provided a focal point for the community to have a real conversation about the opportunities associated with carbon reduction and how we can take a community based approach to the challenge. Long term we have the opportunity to create valuable employment for the island and achieve energy independence.

“A community owned model will be key to this. This could lead to roles in engineering, transport and education. This proposition is very exciting for us.”

Innovation in the energy world is alive and well on these two islands.

GOING GREEN WITH GRAPHENE

SPEARHEAD PROJECTS SHOW POTENTIAL OF “WONDER MATERIAL” IN RENEWABLE ENERGY There is huge demand to find greener renewable alternatives to our traditional, finite energy sources. Now, graphene is unlocking new possibilities within the energy sector, creating a more efficient and sustainable future. Here, Francesco Bonaccorso, deputy head of innovation of the Graphene Flagship, explains how its researchers have created a series of initiatives in order to take graphene from the laboratory to the commercial market. S ince it was first isolated in 2004, graphene has become a hot research topic. Graphene has been embraced across a variety of industries, most notably healthcare and material applications. And, now, graphene technology is being applied to renewable energy.

World’s first graphene solar farm

According to a 2019 report by the Financial Times, it is forecast that coal, oil and gas will still contribute about 85 per cent of the world’s primary energy supply by 2040, compared with 90 per cent today. While these figures underline the need to reduce the levels of dependence on non-renewable sources, another report stated that the global supplies of renewable electricity could expand by 50 per cent in the next five years BATTERIES FOR A batteries. In practicality, the lifespan – powered by a resurgence in solar energy.

Among the Graphene Flagship’s spearhead projects, a series of initiatives undertaken with partners, is its Solar Farm initiative. The project created the world’s first graphene-enabled solar farm in Crete, Greece. Led by its partner, the University of Rome Tor Vergata, a public research university in Rome, Italy, the project explores the production of graphene-enabled solar cells that could help bolster the European Union’s efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

In fact, the Solar Farm project has already seen great sustainability progress in developing its solar modules. This involves the production of large area graphene perovskite solar cells; single photovoltaic panels assembled from connected solar cells that are designed to increase the efficiency, and lower the cost, of solar energy. Researchers have already achieved power conversion efficiencies of 15.3 per cent with the technology, which is a remarkable result.

Going forward, the project aims to surpass this figure and pave the way towards the future exploitation of graphene-basedperovskite solar cells. In tandem configuration with siliconbased solar cells, it is foreseen to achieve power conversion efficiencies beyond present records. BETTER WORLD

Reducing our reliance on nonrenewable sources is one thing, but what about sustainable developments in energy storage? According to the Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI), worldwide demand for battery energy storage will significantly increase in 2025, and graphene and related materials could play a vital role in meeting that rise.

With this in mind, another of the Graphene Flagship’s energy spearhead projects, entitled Technology of Silicon Graphene Lithium-ion Batteries for Large Scale Production, aims to increase the electrode quality of lithium-ion batteries. The project has advanced the integration of silicon-graphene composites into lithium-ion batteries for high-energy and high-power applications.

Due to its high surface area, large electrical conductivity, lightweight characteristics, chemical stability and high mechanical flexibility, graphene can increase the energy capacity, charge rate and stability of lithium-ion and recharging time of batteries used in electronic applications — ranging from electric vehicles and mobile phones to laptops — could significantly improve.

Innovative projects like these can open the door to new areas of research and product design. To this end, the production of silicon-graphene lithiumion batteries, coupled with the world’s first graphene-enabled farm, are just a few of the sustainability-focused projects that the Graphene Flagship is working on.

While it remains to be seen how graphene can transform the energy industry, its journey has only just begun in creating new opportunities for applications in energy storage and energy conversion. It seems likely that graphene and related materials could be exactly what is needed to help engineers find greener renewable alternatives to traditional materials to develop next-generation energy devices.

For more information about graphene and projects funded by the Graphene Flagship, please visit: graphene-flagship.eu 30 ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • JUNE 2020