Renewables infrastructure

The Renewables Infrastructure Group was formed in November 2010 to lobby proactively for Hove to become more sustainable and less dependent on imported fossil fuel by using energy more efficiency and generating it from renewable sources (sun, wind and tide). We are currently campaigning for the following:

  • A feasibility study on utilising the waste heat from Shoreham power station to keep the radiators hot in the city, which could halve the amount of natural gas used in the city.

  • The implementation of the measures in the Energy Bill, particularly the green deal, and the responsibility of landlords to insulate their properties.

  • A spatial plan for Hove and Brighton for the introduction of renewables:

    • including support for the development of the Rampion wind farm 13km off the coast. Community consultation on this project has finished. Our response to the consultation is available here.

The group meets monthly on the second Wednesday of the month from 6.30-8.30pm at 16 Nizells Avenue, and all members are welcome.

Our activities in 2011 and 2012:

  • Representations to the Council’s scrutiny Committee:

    • Highlighted the need and opportunities for windfarms, extensive solar (PV and Thermal) and the opportunity for combined heat and power in the context of Shoreham Power Station.

    • Raised a number of issues for example in terms of switch to electric vehicles, use of LEDs in traffic lights, use of smart meters.

    • Expressed our support for Port ZED and similar exemplar zero emission developments.

    • Highlighted the need for competent advice on retrofitting dwellings to a higher thermal performance, especially for the hard to treat homes, which comprise most of Brighton and Hove’s Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian housing stock.

  • Response to the Rampion off-shore wind farm proposal (1st March 2012)

1. HCS Conclusions and recommendations

a) We support the Rampion wind farm project in principle, because it reduces the city’s dependency on imported gas to keep the lights on, and its carbon footprint;

b) We suggest that the electricity be landed at the existing 132kV substations at Shoreham (Fishersgate) and Newhaven, which are connected to Bolney by overhead lines, making unnecessary the 132kV cable to Bolney;

c) We question the carbon dioxide emissions that the project claims to save, namely  920,000 tonnes pa, (2.1 bn kWh pa at 430 gms/kWh). We believe this should be stated as 400,000 tonnes pa at 190 gm/kWh of gas displaced from Shoreham power station;

d) We are campaigning for a heat grid in the City of Brighton and Hove and surroundings, to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions by utilising the waste heat from Shoreham power station. This would save a further 500,000 tonnes pa of carbon dioxide emissions from 2.6 bn kWh pa which is presently wasted. We invite Eon to support a pre-feasibility study of this.

2. Is the cable to Bolney really needed?

We question the need for the 28km cable from the coast at Sompting through the South Downs National Park to Bolney. The power (350MW) from western offshore substation should connect to the 132kV  substation in Shoreham, (known as Southern Cross, Fishersgate) which is already connected by two 132kW lines to Bolney, each with a capacity of 300MW. This is also where Shoreham Power Station connects to the grid. The Eastern offshore substation of Rampion should connect its power to the corresponding 132kV substation at Newhaven, which is connected to Lewes.

3. Heat grid for the city and surroundings

The Rampion project is a catalyst for the city of Brighton and Hove and surroundings to move towards being a zero carbon-emission city. We have been campaigning for this, and believe that the next step should be the installation of a heat grid, national legislation for which are required by 2014 under a draft European Directive on Energy Efficiency.

To this end we invite Eon to support a pre-feasibility study for the installation of a heat grid for the city and surroundings. This would enable the utilisation of the waste heat from Shoreham Power Station. In 2010, this totalled 2.6 bn kWh. Saving it with a whole city combined heat and power (CHP) district heating (DH) scheme would save 500,000 tonnes pa of carbon dioxide emissions, which is 25% more than Rampion will save.

Eon International are already involved in schemes in continental countries, such as Sweden and Germany. We would welcome Eon’s involvement here. When we have a heat grid we will also be able to utilise the waste heat from anaerobic digesters, and geo-thermal sources.

  • Paper to the Council on planning measures to reduce carbon emissions in the city: How can the City Plan support the national 80% CO2 reduction target? A reflection on potential spatial planning measures. Download the latest draft version of the paper (Word file).

  • Paper on introducing district heating in the city. Download (Word file).

  • A stall at the Hove Business Fair in April 2012 to advocate our views

  • We will have a stall at the Brighton Ecofair in June 2012 to advocate our views