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Renewable Energy Policy: A Local Government
Perspective
Alison Johnson for PEC624: Dissertation.
Overview of presentation
• Background for research focus/idea
• Aims & objectives
• Methodology
• Results summary
• Interpretation of results/ analysis
• Recommendations
• Limitations & areas for further research
Source: the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT).
Available at: http://www.lgat.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Local_Govt_Area_A4_map
Research problem
o Planning policy could inform the development of technical regulatory framework for assessing renewable energy applications
o Feedback suggested planning systems are inherently slow to adapt to change
o Those councils that increased flexibility to new technologies could benefit from new development opportunities e.g. telecommunications infrastructure
Aims & Objectives
• What potential barriers exist for renewable energy technologies through planning assessment processes from a Tasmanian local government perspective?; and
• What tools can Tasmanian local governments utilise to increase support for appropriate renewable energy applications through planning?.
Scope
This thesis covered:
• Tasmanian specific solutions
• Local government responses in particular
• Planning not building or Australian Standards
• ‘sustainable’ renewable energy not politically sensitive old growth forest use for biomass
• Electricity generation not heat or fuels for transport
• Commercial availability not research and development demo projects
Methodology
• Rational Comprehensive (RC) policy approach:
1.barriers identified – survey of councils planning staff and an energy profile on a case study council;
2.aims established – desktop study of renewable energy resource potential, electricity mix and State policy goals; and
3.potential solutions developed – literature review on best practice models.
Case Study Information
• Desktop study of local renewable energy resource;
• Council planning database provided no. of applications and type since 2005
• The REC Registry provided an indicative indication of renewable energy penetration in the State electricity mix
• Recorded RE generation and projected future demand figures
• Current planning scheme assessment processes outlined
Case Study Results/Analysis
• diverse variety of local renewable energy resources though relative comparisons difficult
• quantity renewable energy potentially very large with solar energy = ¼ Tasmania residential electricity consumption
• 1/3 of all energy needs is Tasmania come form renewable sources and 68% of electricity, 100% long way to go
• General environmental /social impact provisions are currently used to assess RE applications
Survey Design
• Gathered qualitative and quantitative data on council planning staff experiences assessing renewable energy applications
• Murdoch University Human Ethics Committee approval received on 20 August 2010
• Endorsed by the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority Regional(STCA), Climate Change Initiative (RCCI) on 5 May 2010
• Postal survey ‘information pack’ sent to all 12 Southern Tasmanian councils included the following...
Cover letter to General Managers.
Information Sheet
Survey Form
Consent Form
Key Survey Results
• A participation rate of 67% (8 out of 12 Southern Tasmanian councils);
• 38% of respondents not confident providing renewable energy advice to potential applicants and 25% did not respond;
• State Government most relied upon to make changes necessary to reduce barriers for renewable energy applications at a local government level.
• 62% agreed lack of policy support to be most important barrier, followed by lack of info and lack of planning scheme criteria
• Approx. a third of respondents disagreed applications were assessed consistently or appropriately
Survey Analysis
• Perceived inappropriate and inconsistent assessments for the local renewable energy industry clearly problematic
• State, local, Federal Governments’ highlighted as having a key role in finding solutions i.e. developing policy is a good start
• Qualitative survey results & quantitative comments all support the provision of further information/guidelines
Literature Review
• Planning measures at all levels of government in the U.K and Australia
• Measures grouped into the use of four main governing tools:
• leadership – strategies & policies;• authority – regulatory requirements;• enabling – guidance information/promote
awareness; and• provision – financial incentives such as waive ring
planning fees.
Lit. Review Results & Gaps
• U.K best practice approach uses a combination of policy tools(info regulatory etc) for optimal energy planning
• In Australia lack of policy, strategy, educational guidelines and regulatory frameworks for all renewable energy technologies
• Appears to be ad hoc response to community perceptions of risk
• Any Federal and state measures appear to be large scale wind orientated
Key findings
• Lack of explicit education, policy and regulatory tools for all sustainable RE technologies at all levels of government in Australia
• Survey highlighted institutional & social barriers at a local government level;
• Small no. and limited diversity of renewable energy applications not conducive with key aim of “100% renewable energy State”
• Councils play a key role positively supporting the appropriate installation of renewable energy electricity generation systems in local communities
Recommendations
• Essentially do what the U.K has done; coordinate the use of education, policy and regulatory tools through:
• Strong Strategy• Clear Policy• Increased Information• Explicit Regulation• Increased Education & Awareness Raising
Limitations & further research
• further local renewable energy resource mapping to identify opportunities & constraints;
• The effectiveness of planning exemptions to reduce barriers remains unassessed;
• Responsibility for technical operation & accountability for inactive technologies = public perception issues?
Questions?
Yes , Tasmania can be progressive.
Local government can also be progressive.
And yes planning barriers are only one type of a significant range of barriers the renewable energy industry faces as a whole, but it still appears necessary to change the situation.