A Record of ‘Firsts’
South West England has a track record of developing 'firsts' in renewable energy. There are over 150 renewable electricity schemes in the region including the first wind farm in the UK, the first centralised anaerobic digestion power station, the first commercial pyrolysis plant and the first underwater tidal stream turbine in the world.
Our Projects
Regen SW’s latest annual survey of renewable energy projects in the South West (2006) identified 151 grid connected renewable electricity projects with an installed capacity of 122.6 MW. There is also approximately 20 MW of renewable heat in the South West, including biomass heat, solar thermal, heat pumps and sewage gas CHP.
A Positive Environment
- 94% of West Country residents support the use of renewable energy
- In 2006 DTI announced funding of £4.5 million for the innovative Wave Hub Project
- In 2006 a 9 MW three turbine wind scheme for Avonmouth was unanimously approved by Bristol City Council’s planning committee
- The UK’s first bioethonal refinery at Henstridge, Somerset has been granted planning permission and is due to be operational in Spring 2008.
- The UK’s first wood-fuelled pyrolosis plant in Somerset has planning approval.
- Ambitious targets for renewable electricity, heat and building integrated renewables are included in the draft Regional Spatial Strategy.
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All the right elements for renewable energy
