RENEWABLE ENERGY STAYS LOCAL

28 Mar 2006 03:15 PM

DTI, Defra, the Countryside Agency and the Forestry Commission today announced over £400,000 of additional funding for the Community Renewables Initiative (CRI). The CRI provides expert advice and support to local people on installing renewable energy systems, such as solar panels on village halls and biomass heating for their schools. Since its launch in 2002 the CRI has helped communities to 'do their bit' in tackling climate change. To date 91 community renewable energy projects have been completed, 294 projects are nearing completion and there have been over 2600 inquiries. Renewable energy schemes include wind power, solar PV and hot water, ground source heat pumps, and biomass for electricity and heat generation schemes.

Energy minister, Malcolm Wicks said:

“The Government is launching a new microgeneration strategy that we hope will lead to greater use of technologies such as micro-wind turbines and solar panels so it’s important that we can spread the message through programmes such as the CRI. I am pleased that today’s funding announcement means that we will be able to build on the good work that has already been done.”

Tony Hams, Countryside Agency board member and Chair of the CRI national advisory group said:

"Local communities have a vital role to play in tackling climate change. This has been demonstrated by The Community Renewables Initiative, which is helping communities to switch to renewable sources of heat, and power, and encouraging clean and efficient ways of providing energy for their homes, schools and businesses. It also empowers people to work together, creating a sense of unity and pride within communities- using renewable energy as a focus."

Elliot Morley, Minister for Climate Change and Environment, said:

"Traveling around the regions to see sustainable development in action in communities up and down the country, I have been impressed by the many renewable energy projects I have seen which are excellent examples of the kind of small-scale schemes, particularly in rural areas, promoted by CRI.

"I welcome the news that the new funding will allow the CRI's work to continue, playing a valuable role in spreading knowledge and expertise further afield."

Andy Mason, Forestry Commission, said:

"Clearly the renewable energy agenda is a huge part of the work which the CRI partners are engaged in, but the beauty of this scheme, is that it engages people locally and in a very real way, making the renewable energy debate relevant to our communities and our everyday lives."

For further information or to arrange visits to CRI schemes, please contact the Countryside Agency press office on:

Matthew Heard: 01242 533476 or 07900 608168

Beth Rose: 01242 533306 or 07900 608052

-Notes to editors-

1. The Community Renewables Initiative provides expert advice and support to develop and deliver renewable energy projects with local people as part of their wider agendas. Projects are delivered at a local and regional level by a network of ten Local Support Teams covering over 70% of England.

2. The CRI is co-ordinated by the Countryside Agency, with funding from DTI, the Countryside Agency and Forestry Commission. It is backed by many other groups including the Environment Agency, CLA and CPRE.

3. Examples of CRI projects include:

   Shortenills Environmental Education Centre in Buckinghamshire is an eco-education centre, promoting the benefits of renewable energy to primary school children, showing how renewable energy schemes can reduce their effects on the environment.

   With the help of the CRI local support team TV Energy, Shortenills has replaced its old oil-fired boiler with a 80kWth woodchip-fired boiler, adding to its existing energy saving devices, including solar sun tubes, a solar photovoltaic array, and automatic timer switches for lights. These combined with Buckinghamshire County Council's green energy purchasing policy, make the centre the county's first 100% renewable energy powered building.

   The CRI was instrumental in delivering this project by providing project management services: recruiting suitable contractors, securing funds, and co-ordinating the installation and local wood fuel supply.

   The wood-fuelled boiler will offset approximately 50 tonnes of CO2 per year using sustainable, locally-sourced woodchips, contributing to climate change targets. It will provide a further education facility for the children visiting the centre.

   In its aims to become as sustainable as possible, Shortenills acts as an advocate of such technologies within the community. This creates employment, raises awareness of renewable energy, and develops better links with other sectors of the community.

   The Fawside Deneholme Community Centre in Northumberland was renovated, installing renewable energy technologies, using help from the CRI local support team REALL, in order to help secure local energy supplies and raise the profile of microgeneration schemes in community buildings.

   The Fawside Foundation, a community charity tackling social and environmental issues in the Allen Valleys, bought and developed the building which is now used by many community members for a range of daily and residential activities.

   The Fawside Deneholme Centre features a ground source heat pump, tapping the latent heat within the ground to heat water and supply the central heating system, and a large solar heating array. The CRI local support team funded the feasibility study for these technologies and helped secure the funds that delivered the scheme on the ground.

   With the solar heating array saving around 3320kWh per year alone, the project provides tangible community and environmental benefits. The foundation plans to install further renewable technologies including hydroelectric power and solar PV panels when more funds become available.

4. The Countryside Agency is the statutory body working to make the quality of life better for people in the countryside and the quality of the countryside better for everyone. It is a non-departmental body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

   The Agency is changing as the result of Defra's Rural Strategy (published in July 2004) and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill which is expected to complete its passage through Parliament in spring 2006. The Bill includes changes to:

   • establish a Commission for Rural Communities that will act as a rural advocate, expert adviser and independent watchdog, with a particular focus on disadvantage. Currently operating as a division of the Countryside Agency, the Commission will become an independent body when the Bill becomes law.

   • form a single new body - Natural England - that will integrate the Landscape, Access and Recreation division of the Countryside Agency with English Nature and most of Defra's Rural Delivery Service (RDS). Natural England will work for people, places and nature, with responsibility for enhancing biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promoting access, recreation and public well-being, and contributing to the way natural resources are managed - so that they can be enjoyed now and by future generations
   .

   These changes are expected to come into effect in October 2006, at which point the Countryside Agency will cease to exist.

   We may be changing, but our skills, knowledge and enthusiasm will continue to benefit people in rural England. To find out more about our work, and for information about the countryside, visit our website: www.countryside.gov.uk

5. The Forestry Commission is the government forestry department for Great Britain. It supports woodland owners with grants, felling licences, regulation and advice; promotes the benefits of forests and forestry; and advises Ministers in the UK Government, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assemby Government on forestry policy. It manages more than 1.04 million hectares (2.56 million acres) of national forest land owned by Ministers for multiple public benefits such as sustainable timber production, public recreation, nature conservation, and rural and community development. For further information, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Beth Rose Media and Public Affairs Officer Landscape Access and Recreation (LAR) The Countryside Agency 01242 533306 07900 608052