Can Wales lead climate change battle?

Mar 10 2008 Western Mail

The Welsh Assembly Government has made a commitment to tackling climate change by launching a route map which sets out ambitious plans to make Wales self-sufficient in renewable energy within 20 years. David Emery looks at what the plan means for Wales and asks if it is truly viable

SO FAR, Wales has only dipped its toe into renewable energy sources and it is about time that the issue of climate change is taken much more seriously.

The findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have definitely focussed policymakers’ minds on the problem at hand, showing that climate change is happening, is measurable and is a result of human activity. It is in the hands of the public to make a change.

In responding to these findings, the new plans set out by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) are certainly a step in the right direction and it is great that a multifaceted approach has been taken. However, the targets that are being set – a 26-32% reduction in CO2 emissions across UK by 2020 and a 60% reduction by 2050 – are tough targets to reach in quite short timescales. Particularly when you bear in mind that at the moment it takes three years to get planning consent for a wind turbine!

There are certainly elements of the new proposals that are achievable and we should also have a good try at those that aren’t easily achievable. Particularly, tidal energy, which obviously has the upside of it never being switched off, but it needs a lot of research and development if we’re going to maximise its potential.

The document suggests Wales could create far more electricity than it consumes but that is only going to be the case if we really maximise the big resources like wind, wave and tidal. However, to really maximise these opportunities, a huge financial commitment is needed from the Government.

Solar, wind, wave and tidal resources have an enormous reserve of energy that could be exploited. In fact, according to research published in the Scientific American, the energy in sunlight striking the earth for 40 minutes is equivalent to global energy consumption for a year. This shows that the potential is out there.

As businesses are responsible for about half of the UK’s carbon emissions, Welsh businesses have a huge role to play in helping Wales become self-sufficient in renewable energy. They need to improve their energy efficiency and buy electricity from green tariffs. By adopting one of the micro-generation renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels, heat pumps or rainwater harvesting, not only can they help the environment, but they can also help reduce a company’s bottom line by saving on utility bills.

There are also financial incentives for homes and businesses to install renewable energy systems such as the Energy Technology List Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme for approved green energy products. We would like to see the WAG introduce more grant funding to help drive this important work.

The strategy document also sets out the need to make all new buildings in Wales zero carbon. This is a difficult task because while it is relatively easy to measure the energy consumed by a building, it is harder to quantify the carbon used in actually creating a new building. Achieving low carbon standards through insulation and under-floor heating, though, is a step in the right direction.

Combining micro-generated renewable energy with a green tariff can make a building’s energy consumption carbon neutral. For example, a heat pump requires electricity to run the pump and compressor, so ideally this should be obtained on a green tariff so that it comes from wind power or another renewable source. That way all of the energy a business uses for heating or cooling a building can come from a renewable source. However, at the moment, we’re not producing enough electricity by renewables for us to all buy from renewable sources.

While it is really positive that the energy route map has been launched, there needs to be some heavy investment in order for the stiff targets to be achieved and the process also needs to be sped up. Almost half of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions come from energy we use every day – at home, work and when we travel. By saving energy we can all help prevent climate change. The potential in Wales to generate renewable energy is enormous, so let’s tap into it.”

David Emery is managing director of renewable energy company Natural Power Wales. which specialises in a number of technologies, including solar thermal systems, underfloor heating, rainwater harvesting, ground and air source pumps to extract heat from the ground or air. For further information visit www.naturalpowerwales.com