1. Attendance and apologies

2. Minutes from last meeting.

No issues.

3. Matters arising

Will be covered during the meeting

4. DSEN Steering Group update including development of Sustainable Energy Strategy and RE guide – Tony Norton.

The Devon Sustainable Energy Strategy (DSES) is the main item on the Steering Group’s agenda, it has been written primarily for the LSP’s. The strap line is ‘Save Money, Make Money, Reduce Carbon’ and will be presented as hard-hitting.  

TN started on this by doing some background and target analysis. The aim of it will be mainly to meet our CO2 reduction targets from the 2003 White Paper, which equates to 15% of 2004 levels. The DSES will break the targets down by district. RE is expected to deliver 2.5% and EE 13%. This means that EnVision need to work with 98% of businesses and insulation needs to be improved in 91% of households.  Big targets that will require many more staff and investment.

But: The 15% target does not take growth into account. Expansion of Exeter airport could easily cancel out the entire 15%.

TN is now working on specific actions and priorities:

1. Business: EE and energy reduction is a top priority.

2. Domestic: Need to target fuel poverty and health (costs to NHS of fuel poverty)

3. RE: Large scale wind (need to inspire community-led wind and change attitudes.

Important to target different sectors/groups appropriately. Eg, in fuel rich East Devon, West Devon, South Hams where emissions are higher than average promoting micro-generation is likely to be quite effective. Whereas for businesses it should be easy to help them see the economic case.

JB is also working with the Learning and Skills Council to look at installer training and young people training, this will be focussed in Objective 2 areas.

Discussion ensued around how to enthuse communities. Community owned projects can make a lot of money esp wind turbines, but you need an inspirational grass roots leader. The Devon RE Guide which should be out in the summer will be a useful tool for community groups. There are problems with funding because Community Renewables Initiative will end in March.

5. RE4D update including Technology Growth Plans – John Baker

Renewable Energy 4 Devon is halfway through its pilot, unfortunately there was a delay of appointments at the start of the project. The team is spread out across Devon. There have been 20 events so far, 14 in the last quarter. 526 questionnaires were sent out in the last quarter, 961 since the project started.

The main focus is on businesses and community groups, (domestic clients can have 2 hrs of telephone advice)

So far RE4D has 92 SME clients, 7 community projects. Pre-feasibility studies are taking place and some installations are happening. 10 grants have been approved so far, 2 deferred and none rejected. Next grants panel meeting is 26th Feb.

JB is liaising with installers, finding out who they are and what they do, he’s had an excellent response. There are currently 11 installers in Oj2, others are moving into the area. JB is looking at training needs and resources.

Summary: RE4D is on track but behind with installations.

Action: JB to circulate the report with the minutes.

***UPDATE: PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE RE4D UPDATE ***

Low Carbon Building’s Programme Phase 2: There are 7 framework suppliers and grants are only available for particular products, in order that they would be able to bulk buy and thus generate economies of scale and reduce the costs for individuals. However this isn’t working well at the moment. JB is looking into what the framework suppliers need from the installers. Attendees were concerned that specifying particular products would end up restricting funding and delaying appropriate installations.

Technology Growth Plans

The plans look at how to promote growth in specific technologies and sector areas that will make use of them, and how to easily replicate projects. There is funding in the RE4D budget for 7 plans, talk to JB if you have a specific research project.

1.Micro-hydro: Geared towards upland areas, there is 5MW potential on Dartmoor, especially ‘high-head, low-flow’ sites. This is easily funded and very feasible.

2.Wood-fuel cluster: Farmers across Devon are diversifying, there is a cluster of biomass boilers around Princetown and Dartmeet

3.Industrial Estates – Totnes and Okehampton: Looking at retro-fitting micro-RE on each unit individually but also the possibility of site-wide initiatives, and how to roll this out across other industrial estates.

4.Specialist installers: In Oj2, looking at training and capacity building.

5.Construction Industry: Eg, workshops for small developers, generally raising awareness and building skills.

6.Manufacturing opportunities: Looking at potential for manufacturing in Devon, eg Appledore shipyard?

Currently installer capacity is not equal to demand, they are overloaded and not even advertising. Clients really have to fight for installer’s time. Need to increase capacity by 30% just to meet the demand from RE4D. Leads to issue of bigger companies coming in. Within RE4D there needs to be a balance between servicing demand and using local installers, so far JB has not started looking outside Devon, except for GSHP installers. Really important to support aspirant installers and get them accredited.

6. Training for Installers – Simon Tanner of Construction Training Company

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) photocards now becoming requirement of getting onto a site, represents NVQ level 2 and Health and Safety, basically used as a benchmark for competence. By 2010 all contractors will have to be carded.

CTC is a private provider of onsite assessment and training. They offer plant training, bespoke training, maintenance ops, onsite, basic skills (literacy/numeracy) can also train people onsite to become assessors. All courses are accredited. There is funding available for training plans from the CITB.

Opportunities for DSEN:

•Train to Gain funding for candidates who have no previous qualifications. £900 available per candidate.

•Specialist funding - £500 per candidate

•CTC have recently put in a bid with Westden for Objective 3 area training, aimed at SME’s

•Create own training group – need 10-15 companies, CTC could manage the admin side of this.

CTC currently going through planning for Beercross Sustainable Construction and Renewable Energy Training facility near Okehampton. Will hopefully be up and running within 2 years, and be a training/research demonstration facility. Installers will be asked to install RE systems on the building too. They are also looking into embedding RE into other qualifications.

7. Members reports including update on wind farm applications

Simon Holt spoke about Batswothy Cross. Planning application is going ok, the planning officers at North Devon have been very helpful, members will also be visiting the proposed site. NDDC meeting in mid-March to determine the outcome. Devon CC has given an officers recommendation for no-objection, hopefully NDDC will do likewise. SH asks DSEN members to get behind the application as individuals. So far there have been 900 votes against and 400 for. Thanks to DARE for their response.

The Fullabrook enquiry is now closed. The planning inspectors report for Den Brook stated that he ‘greater public good’ was more important than ‘local opinion’. Contact SH if you would like copies of the report.

Action: SH to liaise with developers and invite them to DSEN meetings.

DARE will be following the development of Den Brook closely, and watching the community response. CSE have produced a biomass Opportunities Strategy which is quite positive and looks at the potential for land use. DARE are now offering Energy Audits for householders at a small cost.

A waterpower group has been set up on Dartmoor and now has 40 members.

Woodfuels: DARE are engaged in bidding for a Woodfuel Heat Support System, a 12 month project to support development, 32MW-installed target.

20th Feb, Tony Juniper talking at Chagford’s Jubilee Hall.

Mark Prior: Forestry Commission are producing a Wood Fuel Strategy for England which will be launched within the month, and hopefully move to implementation in the Summer. 60% of forests are unmanaged – huge potential.

Andrew Lovering: Event on 9th March at the Tiverton Hotel “Your Opportunities, Our Survival” organised by Mid Devon Business Association is going to be upbeat and positive, showing people what the can do. Also running events across Sustainable Building Week in several locations finishing at the Genesis Centre.

Tim Cox: RE4D are running some Green Awareness Training workshops for tourism businesses, details on www.re4d.org.

Tony Norton noted the EU’s Competitiveness and Convergence Programme that will drive the sustainability agenda in the South West.

Frank Pearson: Looking at possibility if a ferry service across the Bristol Channel, but needs engagement from the region.

 

Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 22nd May 1.30pm – 4pm

Latrkbeare House, Exeter