Net Zero & Energy
A new report by the international engineering firm Arup has called on local leaders to take a proactive role in securing their own energy sources. Innovating Urban Energy warns cities can no longer afford to rely on centralised suppliers and that council leaders and mayors will need to seize control of their own future if they are to meet growing levels of energy demand. It also highlights the importance of integrating infrastructure planning and energy systems, along with the role that new technologies, such as smart metering and district heat networks will play in the future. Jamie Hailstone speaks to Arup’s global energy leader, Ian Gardner, about why the future for energy in our cities is local.
In the UK, we still have a relatively centralised approach to energy production. What can be done to encourage more localised supplies?
Regulatory reform to allow local generators to supply to local consumers to help improve revenues for decentralised energy. This reform needs to embrace the concepts of energy storage and also a more diversified approach to the system operator role.
At the national level, the most important factor is a consistent policy framework, which encourages and supports appropriate technology-driven decentralisation, in order to give funders and developers sufficient confidence to invest in local energy systems. Delays and sudden changes in financial support mechanisms diminish the impact these policies are intended to create. Also the planning system has an important role to play in supporting local generation and in challenging developers to maximise local, low carbon generation.
Campaigners are seeking to crowdfund a legal challenge to the decision by the communities secretary to overturn Lancashire County Council’s refusal of planning permission for fracking in the Fylde area.
Frack Free Fylde has so far managed to crowdfund more than £3,400 via the Crowd Justice website, with donations from 158 people. The group is hoping to raise £10,000.
