institute of energy and sustainable development how can a rural community become carbon neutral?...

Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development

How can a rural community become Carbon Neutral?

Andy Stephenson


Why the need

• Under the Climate Change Act 2008 – Government committed the UK to 34% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 and 80% by 2050

• The only way to achieve such cuts is through deep cuts on our reliance on carbon technologies and generating energy through low-carbon means


Carbon Lock-in

• As discussed by Mander et al (2007) the UK is currently ‘locked-in’ to a carbon intensive energy system technologically, institutionally and in relation to the structure of society.

• The co-evolvement of carbon intensive lifestyles and consumption patterns with the energy infrastructure, has resulted in the general public feeling ‘locked-in’ by social norms and the cultural, economic and social contexts around them (Sanne, 2002; Michaelis, 2003)


Tackling Carbon Lock-in

• Any change must overcome the huge inertia created by the interdependencies between elements of the system (Unruh, 2000). This in turn requires policy makers to consider how such a transition may be brought about.

• Carbon Neutral Communities can help tackle this inertia and help reduce the dependency on high levels of carbon consumption by replacing them with lower energy requirements and lower carbon intensive technologies.


What is meant by Carbon Neutral?

• Carbon Neutral has no accepted definition• Many Communities either claim to be carbon

Neutral or are working towards it• Three main methodologies being used

1. Build a new Carbon Neutral community

2. Make the community as energy efficient as possible, then offset the remaining emissions

3. Carry out energy efficiency works then use technology to uptake the remaining emissions


Guidance

• To Tackle this problem DECC have issued Guidance under a 3 stage process:

1. Calculating and Defining Emissions

2. Reducing Emissions

3. Offset emissions

“Carbon neutral means that – through a transparent process of calculating emissions, reducing those emissions and offsetting residual emissions – net carbon emissions equal zero.” (DECC 2009)


Edmondsley

• A case study village near Chester-le-Street in County Durham


The Study

• In 2005 a Study was carried out by the EST to identify whether the village could become carbon neutral.

• Emissions were only considered for Heating and Lighting

• Conclusion was through the use of Biomass CHP and PV, carbon neutral status could be achieved.

• This lead to more studies being conducted into the conclusion.


Further Studies

• Included a Thermographic Infra-red study to highlight what work was required to improve thermal performance


Further Studies

• Included Financial models to implement the scheme.

• Interviews with Residents on the need, the technology, the schemes and its implementation

• Results have highlighted a change to the proposed delivery and an opportunity to maximise income under the FIT and Renewable Heat Incentive.


Standard village energy model

Village

Fossil Fuels Burnt

ElectricityHeating / Hot water

Useful Heat

Gas / Coal / Nuclear / large scale Renewables

Gas / Oil / Coal exported into the UK

National Transmission

Point of use

Heat Loss

Carbon Loss

Carbon Loss

Heat Loss


EST solution

Village

Biomass Burnt / CHP

ElectricityHeating / Hot water

Gas / Coal / Nuclear / large scale Renewables

District heating

National Transmission

Point of use

Heat Loss

Carbon Loss

Heat Loss

Micro-Renewables

Useful Heat


Revised Village Solution

Village

Biomass Burnt / CHP

Heating / Hot water

Electricity GenerationDistrict heating

National TransmissionPoint of use

Heat Generation Micro-renewables

ElectricityHeat Loss


Conclusions

• While the last two models are both potential solutions, the revised village solution offers greater scope.

• Income generation and a means for the operation to become sustainable is key, the last model presents this opportunity.

• The proposed solution means a genuine carbon Neutral Community without the need for offsetting and allows for expansion within the community and business development

institute of energy and sustainable development how can a rural community become carbon neutral?...

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