Renewable Energy & Carbon Reduction

The Government’s Energy White Paper sets a target that 10% of the UK’s electricity needs should be from renewable energy sources by 2010.  The 2008 Yorkshire and Humber Plan (or Regional Spatial Strategy) sets a target of 11 megawatts (MW) to be achieved in Sheffield by 2010 and 52 MW by 2021.

 

Sheffield is committed to exceeding these targets.  The 2008 Yorkshire and Humber Plan states: "In advance of local targets being set in development plan documents, new developments of more than 10 dwellings or 1,000m² of non-residential floorspace should secure at least 10% of their energy from decentralised and renewable or low-carbon sources, unless, having regard to the type of development involved and its design, this is not feasible or viable" (Policy ENU5)

 

Renewable energy helps to reduce carbon emissions, which is a key part of mitigating climate change.  The Council will accept applications based on 10% of energy needs but would prefer to see how decentralised renewable or low-carbon sources will be used to reduce predicted carbon emissions by 10-20%.