Our Action Plan

Renewable-energy Generation / Carbon Offsetting

Carbon Footprint - Renewable-energy Generation Carbon Offsetting = Net Zero Carbon

As of summer 2020, PCC has the following levels of renewable and low-carbon energy measures installed:

• Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels: 498 kW at 34 separate buildings, including schools.
• Solar PV-powered signs, lamps and street furniture – various locations.
• Solar hot-water panels: 40 kW at ten separate buildings, including schools.
• Biomass wood-pellet heating and hot water: 500 kW at three separate buildings, including schools.
• Small wind turbine: 6 kW at Mary Immaculate School, Haverfordwest.
• Gas-fired combined heating and power (CHP): 260 kWe/520 kWthermal at 15 separate buildings, including schools.

Over recent years, the Council has sought to significantly increase the amount of renewable electricity that it generates but has been frustrated by the limited capacity of the local electricity-distribution network (National Grid). Previous applications to the electricity-distribution network operator – Western Power Distribution – for connecting to the electricity network have resulted in unviable costs due to significant reinforcement costs having to be met by prospective developers such as the Council.

Therefore, while PCC’s preferred primary method of compensating for its residual carbon footprint is to significantly increase the amount of renewable energy generated on its land, this depends on enhancements to the capacity of the local electricity-distribution network. Unfortunately, this is beyond the direct control of the Council – and discussions are ongoing with Western Power Distribution and the Welsh Government to seek the necessary improvements.

Carbon offsetting involves compensating for carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions arising from industrial or other human activity by participating in schemes designed to make equivalent reductions of CO₂ in the atmosphere. Because one unit of CO₂ has the same climate impact wherever it is emitted, the benefit is the same wherever it is reduced or avoided. Achieving verified carbon reductions could include protecting rainforests in South America or, potentially, local tree planting. This can be a complex issue and represents the option of last resort unless tree planting/peatland enhancement on Council-controlled land is deemed to qualify for carbon offsetting (Note: This to be confirmed when the Welsh Government publishes its land-use guidance as part of the carbon-neutral public services reporting framework).

PCC is working with the Welsh Government Energy Service (opens in a new tab) to explore and deliver opportunities for large-scale renewable-energy projects. The WGES supports the public sector in Wales to bring tangible projects to fruition and advises on energy-related issues. It is currently undertaking a review of the Council’s land in order to identify potential opportunities for ground-mounted solar PV and wind turbines. Historically, similar exercises have been undertaken with the Partnerships for Renewables and Local Partnerships – but while potential sites were identified, they were not deemed financially viable due to cost/local grid and/or land-use constraints. Major renewable-energy projects typically take several years to develop to completion (Note: ‘Energy Generation in Wales 2018 (opens in a new tab), October 2019, sets out the current energy-generation capacity of Wales and analyses how it has changed over time). It is notable that the County of Pembrokeshire has 20% of all installed solar PV capacity in Wales, which is testament to the excellent solar irradiance found at Pembrokeshire’s latitude compared with other areas of the country. Future renewable-energy generation on Council-owned land will depend on grid capacity (or having a local off-loader for power generated), and will also need to be satisfactory in planning terms.

The Council is working, and in some cases leading, on a number of regional initiatives that are aimed at creating a Pembrokeshire-based market and centre of excellence for renewable-energy technologies. See sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.

Actions

General

• As mentioned previously, 100% of the electricity procured via the NPS comes from renewable energy sources, with about 50% of this being sourced from within Wales. This purchasing provides a market for renewable generators and thus stimulates the renewable-electricity market. (Note: The consumption of this ‘green’ electricity is already reflected in the [decreasing] UK emission-conversion factor for electricity, and as a consequence the Council is currently unable to directly benefit from carbon savings resulting from its procurement of ‘green’ electricity as this would effectively be double-counting the carbon savings).
• The NPS is actively seeking low-carbon gas sources – e.g. bio methane from Anaerobic Digestion (AD) and monitoring the hydrogen-gas agenda.
• The Council Development Plans team completed a Renewable Energy Assessment in 2017, which forms part of the Local Development Plan (LDP) 2 evidence base. It has informed the emerging General Policies GN 4 and GN 5 of LDP 2.
• PCC continues to monitor the situation to assess the emergence of market mechanisms such as the Smart Export Guaranteed (SEG), which allows negotiations with electricity suppliers in order to secure an agreed level of payment for exported renewable electricity.

Solar

• In 2019/20, PCC agreed to enter into a partnership with Egni Community Co-op, who provided capital-free rooftop solar PV systems to six schools at Saundersfoot, Lamphey, Prendergast, Ysgol y Frenni, Golden Grove and Ysgol Bro Ingli. These schools are provided with the renewable electricity from the solar systems at a 20% cheaper cost than that offered by the school grid electricity tariff.
• In 2016, the Council entered into a partnership with British Gas and Generation Community, who provided capital-free rooftop solar PV systems to Greenhill and Milford Haven secondary schools. These schools are provided with the renewable electricity from the solar systems for free.
• Solar PV systems have been installed on an invest-to-save basis in multiple schools; across PCC’s sheltered accommodation; at Fishguard Leisure Centre; and at Glan-Yr-Afon Library and Gallery, Haverfordwest.
• Solar PV systems are installed at all new 21st Century Schools.
• Since 2015, there has been a decline in Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) subsidies for new solar PV installations, and FiT payments for solar PV ceased altogether in 2019. The removal of the subsidy resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of applications for renewable-energy projects in the PCC planning area. However, the cost of solar PV systems has continued to decline (by around 70%) and battery technology has emerged as a potential mainstream application. Coupled with the rising cost of electricity at many sites, where there is adequate consumption there is still a viable solar PV solution.
• The Council is due to install PV solar car-parking canopies at Pembrokeshire Archives (28 kW) and County Hall (70 kW) car parks in 2020/21 as part of the Re:fit Cymru Phase 1 scheme.
• The Council has installed solar hot-water panels at eight schools, one sports hall and a youth centre.

Biomass

• PCC was the first local authority in Wales to adopt biomass wood-pellet heating, with the Preseli biomass project in 2003. In 2015, the Council partnered with Pembrokeshire Bioenergy for a 20-year energy supply contract (ESCo) for the installation of a capital-free 400 kW biomass wood-pellet boiler system at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre, resulting in ultra-low-emission heating provision for its swimming pool and hot-water systems.

Tree planting / carbon sequestration

• The Council intends to review its tree strategy for implementation – including the future management of existing and proposed areas of woodland, management plans, removal of trees and life cycle.
• In recognising that the carbon-sequestration ability of soils and grasslands should not be overlooked, and that managed pasture for soil health instead of production gives benefits to carbon storage and the regulation of water runoff, the Council is reviewing practices for safeguarding and increasing carbon storage in soils and biomass, such as:
• Changing agricultural practices on Pembrokeshire’s County Farms to reduce emissions production and increase carbon sequestration through good soil management.
• Engaging with the agri-food sector to gain an understanding of how the Council might be able to support more sustainable farming practices across the County.
• Increased green infrastructure.
• Coastal management – since ‘coastal squeeze’ is an issue in coastal habitats, exploring allowing habitats to retreat one field back from the shoreline in order to increase extent.
• Engaging with a local researcher and Swansea University regarding the potential for diorite rocks to be crushed and spread on fields to capture the carbon.

 

Target

An appropriate target for renewable-energy generation is to be developed as part of the annual review of the Action Plan.

Notes:

(1) A significant increase in renewable-energy generation will be required to compensate for the Council’s residual carbon footprint.

(2) A target for renewable-energy generation has been inserted into the Deposit (public consultation draft) of LDP 2 – policy GN 5.  The setting of a target referred to here is specifically in relation to PCC activities/initiatives – unlike that in LDP 2, which considers all planning matters.

 

Actions to be undertaken

 

Ref: NZC - 19

• Action: Work with Welsh Government Energy Service to explore and deliver opportunities for large-scale renewable-energy projects.
• Lead officer: Sustainable Development and Energy Manager
• By when: Ongoing

 

Ref: NZC - 20

• Action: Work with National Procurement Service to support greater procurement of energy from locally generated renewable-energy projects.
• Lead officer: Sustainable Development and Energy Manager
• By when: Ongoing

 

Ref: NZC - 21

• Action: Explore the feasibility of, and identify land for, tree planting and other such measures (such as increasing the carbon store in soils and biomass) on Council-controlled land in order to contribute towards carbon offsetting.
• Lead officer: Strategic Asset Manager
• By when: Ongoing

 

Ref: NZC - 22

• Action: Develop appropriate target for renewable-energy generation as part of annual review of Action Plan.
• Lead officer: Sustainable Development and Energy Manager/Head of Infrastructure
• By when: Mar 2021