Renewable energy

Sustainable energy

The Government is presently promoting energy production from renewable sources:

• The Kyoto Protocol (1997) has set targets to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases through the use of renewable energy sources. The EU in 2001 has also supported this move through Directive (2002/358/CE). 
• Nationally, in Feb 2003, the Government released a white paper on reduction of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions thus promoting a low-carbon economy. Renewables to provide 10% of UK electricity by 2010 and 20% by 2020 - targets. 
• Wind, wave and tidal generation of electricity are all key sources of renewable power 

Cefas expertise is being used by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to monitor and advise on the environmental impact of the construction of marine based renewable energy sources.

Research

Cefas is currently undertaking research projects related to renewable energy. Details of these projects are listed below: 

• Assessment of the significance of changes to the inshore wave regime as a consequence of an offshore wind array
• Development of generic guidance for sediment transport monitoring programmes in response to construction of offshore wind farms

International expert list

Following the OSPAR Environmental Assessment of Renewable Energy in the Marine Environment Workshop on 17-18 September 2003 a questionnaire was circulated to gather contact details and relevant information from experts involved in marine environmental research and policy making for offshore renewable energy developments. The returns from this questionnaire have been input into the attached spreadsheet (Excel, 32KB). This is not an exhaustive or definitive list of experts but provides a starting point. If you would like your details to be added to this list please print, complete and return the attached questionnaire (Word, 39KB). We will only be able to include your details if we have a signed copy.

Reports

• Technical Report 133: A report on the perceptions of the fishing industry into the potential socio-economic impacts of offshore wind energy developments on their work patterns and income (PDF, 4.71 MB)
  • Appendices 1 - 5 (PDF, 4.70 MB)

Background Information

• Offshore Wind farms: Guidance note for Environmental Impact Assessment in respect of FEPA and CPA requirements, Version 2 - June 2004. (PDF, 386 KB)

Workshops

Impacts of wind farms on fishing activities, 10th October 2005, Birmingham

• Presentation 1: Introduction (PDF, 293 KB)
• Presentation 2: Structures (PDF, 445 KB)
• Presentation 3: Fishery review (PDF, 952 KB)
• Presentation 4: Activities in and around (PDF, 1.56 MB)
• Presentation 5: Fishers views and concerns (PDF, 881 KB)
• Presentation 6: Assessing economic impact (PDF, 706 KB)

Links to related websites

DTI - Offshore renewables Research advisory group

http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/policy/offshore/research-advisory-group/page22590.html

Defra sustainable energy website

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/energy/index.htm

DTI Strategic Environmental Assessment on offshore wind farm development

http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/offshore-wind-sea/process/envreport.htm 

Crown Estate wind farms website

http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/34_offshore_wind_energy.htm

British Wind Energy Association - Offshore wind farms website

http://www.offshorewindfarms.co.uk 

All-Energy electronic news letter and website

http://www.all-energy.co.uk

Stingray project - tidal energy generation

http://www.engb.com 

Chamber of Shipping view of wind farms

http://www.british-shipping.org/news/wind farms/wind_farms overview.htm

OSPAR demonstration website for the exchange of information on the environmental impacts of offshore renewable energy developments

http://www.environmentalexchange.info