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All LLP projects will
be organised so that the financial benefits accrue within the community
and are re-invested in local regeneration and further renewable energy
projects. Shares in the different RE systems will be offered to local
investors and eventually community members will be able to purchase locally
produced ‘green’
electricity.
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History.
The LLP
project originally came out of the Renewable Energy Development
Initiative (REDI) with initial feasibility studies taking place
in late 2001. The Energy Saving Trust (EST) took the project on
in early 2002 and the project co-ordinator started in August of
this year.
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Funding.
Lydney Local Power has been supported by a total of £61,000 over two
and a half years from The Energy Saving Trust (EST) (which runs energy
saving programmes on behalf of the government) through its Innovative
Carbon Reduction Pilot Programme. Lydney Local Power is working to
bring in more funding to install renewable energy systems in the Lydney
area. |
Environmental Benefits.
The environmental benefits of the project will be principally in the reduction
of Green House Gases (GHG) emitted in to the atmosphere through the burning
of fossil fuels. The renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency
measures installed by LLP will offset an amount of oil, gas and coal that
would otherwise be used to provide heat and power. A reduction in fossil
fuels burnt will decrease the quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2), Sulphur
Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Nitrous Oxide (NO) released into
the atmosphere. The reduction in these gases will help to curb the greenhouse
effect and global climate change, this may also have a positive effect
on local air quality and linked respiratory illnesses.
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| View of Lydney
showing Beachley Industrial Estate, the River Severn and Berkeley
Nuclear Power Station on the opposite bank. Courtesy of LAP. |
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For the latest
news from the Lydney Local Power project, click on the links below. |
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Return Trip to Awel Aman Tawe
The
return trip to Awel Aman Tawe (AAT) will be taking place on
Thursday 28th October. The community Champions
scheme has funded a bio-diesel minibus and driver to make the trip
to the Amman Valley near Swansea. This will be a great opportunity
to talk to members of the AAT team and to see the renewable energy
installations that they have supported.
The mini
bus will leave and return from central Lydney, exact times and
location to be confirmed.
The trip
is free but places are limited, contact Kierson Wise at Severn Wye
Energy Agency on 01594 545368 or
[email protected] |
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Awel
Aman Tawe visit Lydney
Awel
Aman Tawe is a community sustainable energy project in the Upper
Swansea and Amman Valleys. The project is set up as a company
limited by guarantee and it has a not-for-profit constitution.
Awel
Aman Tawe is developing a community owned wind farm and is also
involved with a range of other local projects including energy
efficiency advice, solar water heating, photovoltaics, biomass
district heating and vegetable oil powered transport.
The Awel
Aman Tawe team visited the Lydney area in July 2004 to share
experiences and talk to members of the community who have been
involved with the Lydney Local Power project.
John
Ball from Taurus Crafts hosted the day providing a conference room,
teas, coffees and lunch for visitors.
The tour
started at the Brockweir and Hewelsfield Community shop where Fred
Simpson explained the roof integrated PV system and the ground
source heat pump as well as showing off the local organic vegetables
and café. The shop also hosts an IT suite and training facility.
After
lunch the group went to see the Lydney docks, the Norchard Drift
micro-hydro site and the site of the proposed community wind turbine
close to Oldcroft.
Finally
the visitors took in a trip to Blakeney Hill where members of the
Lydney Local Power Energy Club have installed a wood pellet stove, a
thermal store and a ground source heat pump in their homes.
For more
information on Awel Aman Tawe see
http://www.awelamantawe.org.uk/ |
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Above: Visiting the Brockwier and Hewelsfield
Community Shop |
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Above: Viewing new flood gates at Lydney Docks |
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Community Owned Turbines
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The
Lydney Local Power project has successfully secured funding from the
Alliance of Communities in Enterprise to conduct a feasibility study
into developing the Community Energy Club as a social enterprise.The
proposed enterprise will be set up primarily in order to develop and
own the Lydney community wind turbine and will also serve to process
revenue funds from the Norchard Drift hydro project.
The
study will research the different social enterprise structures
available to the group, develop links with potential wind energy
developers, conduct an economic appraisal for different wind turbine
options and prepare a business plan for the wind turbine
development. The study will begin on the 1st of September
2004 and is due to be finished by the end of December 2004.
The
Lydney community wind turbine project has also attracted technical
support through the Countryside Agency Community Renewables
Initiative (CRI). The CRI has arranged for support for the project
from both British Telecom and Energy for Sustainable Development (ESD),
a Wiltshire based renewable energy consultancy. A commercial energy
manager from BT has helped to identify the exact location of the
nearby fixed link that threatened to rule out the site and will help
with further technical issues regarding grid connection and
communications. ESD will be advising on regulatory issues, wind
speed monitoring and economic modelling of the wind turbines.
If you would like to be involved
with developing the community turbine and setting up the social
enterprise please contact Kierson Wise -
[email protected].
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Lydney
Local Power Energy Efficiency Challenge
The Lydney Local
Power Energy Efficiency Challenge was a two week program of energy
saving measures that took place between the 1st and 15th of December
2003 coinciding with National Warm Homes Week.
A team from
the Lydney Local Power Group took on the Primrose Hill Trinity Church
Group and the Severnbanks Primary School in a bid to save the most
energy in their homes.
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A new energy efficiency
measure was introduced each day over the fourteen day period as the teams
battled to beat bad energy habits. None of the measures were very difficult
(turning thermostats down, switching lights and appliances off when not
in use) and most could be done without spending money.
Each participant
received a challenge sheet to record their progress and points were
awarded for the different activities. At the end of the challenge
a round up and prize giving was held at Severnbanks School.
| Click on
the icon on the right to download a PDF copy of the challenge
sheet. Click on the icon to the right to download Adobe Acrobat
Reader |
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Severnbanks
School won the competition (and a cheque for £150) with a massive
1,202 points, Trinity Church Group came second with 123 points and
the Lydney Local Power Group brought up the rear with 93 points.
The School came
out on top due to a good turn out of pupils from years six and seven
(these pupils had just finished a science module on electricity)
who approached the challenge with a good deal of effort and enthusiasm.
Tasks were set as homework and course work and several of the teachers
joined the activities.
Individual prizes
of wind up/ solar powered radio and low energy light bulbs were
given to individuals from each team who scored the most points or
put in the most effort.
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| Kaye
Welfare, manager of the Gloucestershire Energy Efficiency
Advice Centre handed over a cheque for £150 cheque to the
School and three individual prizes of a solar power/wind up
radio, low energy light bulbs and other energy efficiency
goodies. |
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The 3 groups had notched
up a significant CO2 saving of 2117 kg over the two week period, this
would correspond to equivalent cash saving of £208.20.*
*Based on combined
behavioural measure savings resulting in a 10% reduction on household
bills/emissions. Average annual household energy bill: £590, Average annual
household CO2 emissions: 6,000 kg
Trips and Site
Visits
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Brockweir
and Hewelsfield Community Shop Visit
The Lydney Local
Power group will be visiting the Brockweir and Hewelsfield community
shop on the Wednesday 21st January at 10:30am.
The shop is
designed as a community enterprise to sell local organic produce
in a community café and provide a dedicated IT suite, general store
with delivery service, tourist information point and a library kiosk.
The site offers
an opportunity to see various different renewable energy technologies
and sustainable features including:
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| The community
shop’s locally sourced green oak frame under construction |
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- A
'slate' style grid connected PV system
- 12 kW ground source
heat pump
- 'Green Oak' construction
technique
- Heat recovery ventilation
system
- High levels of
insulation
- Low energy lighting
- Community involvement
and ownership
BedZed
Several trips and
site visits have occurred over the summer to allow local people to see
examples of sustainable energy in action. The first was a trip to see
the amazing Beddington
Zero Energy Housing Development (BedZed) in South London. The trip
was organised in conjunction with the Local
Authority Support Team and was aimed at encouraging both local people
and local councils to come and see an example of eco-housing best practice.
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On a scorching
July day a group of thirty one people, representing planning and design
departments from eight different local Councils, local Housing Associations
and the Lydney Local Power group, embarked on a full technical tour
of this state-of the-art housing development.
The high density
design includes building integrated photovoltaics, very high levels
of insulation, triple glazed windows, airtight construction with
naturally driven ventilation system, water conservation systems,
a wood waste fired combined heat and power plant to provide hot
water and much more.
The highly inspirational
tour was finished off with a presentation and question and answer
session with Bill Dunster, the schemes pioneer and architect.
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The trip demonstrated
what can be achieved with new build projects and has led to renewed enthusiasm
to include some of these measures in the new developments planned for
Lydney.
Wind Turbine and
Green Shop Cotswold Tour
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A second trip
took place in October to enable local residents to see and hear
a wind turbine up close.
Many people
are concerned at the thought of a new wind turbine in Lydney and
issues such as noise, visual impact and bird strikes can be a source
of worry.
To help to address
these concerns and to provide an opportunity for people to question
the experts directly a trip was organised to see the Ecotricity
500kW wind turbine at Lynch Knoll near Nympsfield (Stroud).
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On a very windy Autumn
day we made our way up to the turbine and met up with a representative
from Ecotricity. The history and details of the 45 metre high Enercon
turbine were explained to us and lots of questions from the group were
answered.
The tour then moved
on to the Green Shop located high up in one of the picturesque Cotswold
valleys. The shop sells a range of environmental goods including renewable
energy systems, environmental paints and rainwater harvesting systems.
The group were shown round the site which includes a small grid tied photovoltaic
system, solar water heating installations and a small wind power generator.
The trip was a great
opportunity for local residents to see, first hand, examples of the different
renewable energy technologies in action.
Updated 12th April
2004
A successful application
to the Clear Skies Feasibility Fund has resulted in a full study being
completed for the Norchard site by engineers from Renewable Heat and Power
Ltd, a small hydro consultancy based in North Devon.
The study has drawn
up the detailed designs for the project including electrical schematics,
detailed costing and an outline plan of works. The plans have been revised
to include a larger 8.5kW Ossberger cross flow turbine. This should increase
the power generation from the outfall to around 55,000 kWh per annum (roughly
equivalent to powering 15 homes).
The funding package
for the project is now in place with money coming from the Government
'Clear Skies' Community Fund scheme, the Sainsbury Family Trust, and EDF
Energy Green Fund.
The next step is to
obtain the Environment Agency licenses required for the scheme. The project
will need both Land Drainage Consent and an Impoundment License. Initial
information has been submitted to the Agency and the work for the full
application has been completed. The permits will take around three months
to process and, once in place, the order for the turbine will be placed.
The project is expected to be installed and generating power by March
2005.
For more information
please see the hydro projects
page
Updated 12th April
2004
The Lydney Local Power
Community Energy Club has been investigating a series of local sites for
their potential as community wind turbine. One particularly promising
site was found on farm land to the East of Lydney.
The site has good
overall wind speeds due to the natural funnel effect of the River Severn
Estuary concentrating the prevailing south west winds. A local wind developer
investigated the site and put it out to consultation with a variety of
organisations to gauge the level of objections the site would encounter
from principal bodies such as the MOD, the CAA and the RSPB.
Unfortunately, after
a waiting period of over six months, the results of the consultation showed
objections to the site from the Environment Agency, the Countryside Agency
and BT. The Environment Agency requested an Environmental Impact Assessment,
the Countryside Agency require a Landscape Character Report and BT require
the purchase of several OS Grid Ties to ensure the site is outside of
a fixed microwave link running between Cinderford and Bristol. The developer
felt that the costs of meeting these requirements for such a small scale
development would involve too much risk and subsequently pulled out of
the project.
The Lydney Local Power
Energy Club has discussed the situation and are keen to try to develop
the site with a smaller, more appropriate turbine than the one originally
suggested. The project coordinator is currently investigating each of
the objections in more detail in an attempt to resolve them to a stage
where the Lydney Local Power group will be able to take the site forward
as a community venture.
Contact.
Project Co-ordinator:
Kierson Wise
Telephone: 01594 545368
E-Mail: [email protected]
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The
partners involved in the project are:
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