Local Development Plans and Heat Networks

Alexandra LewisPlanning Officer (Development Planning)

Falkirk Council

Development Services

Falkirk Local Development Plan: How does current LDP address heat networks?

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• Falkirk Local Development Plan adopted July 2015• Makes commitment to produce Renewable Energy Supplementary guidance to:

– Provide information on those factors that will be taken into account when specific development proposals for the full range of renewable energy technologies – Consideration of opportunities and potential for heat mapping, co-location, heat networks, heat storage, district heating and heat recovery.

• Policy D04 seeks to encourage decentralised energy generation with heat recycling schemes (combined heat and power and district heating) in major new developments, and states requires Energy Statements for major developments which should include an assessment of the potential for such schemes.

Falkirk LDP2 – Current programme

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LDP2 Timetable

Issues and sites consultation

October/November 2015

Main Issues Report Publication

September 2016

MIR Consultation September-November 2016

Publish Proposed Plan November 2017

Examination November 2018 – September 2019

Adoption January 2020

SPP: What Development Plans Should Address

• Co-location of uses: Identify the potential for co-locating developments with a high heat demand with sources of heat supply.

• Future proofing: Develop heat networks in as many locations as possible, even where they are initially reliant on carbon-based fuels if there is potential to convert them to run on renewable or low carbon sources of heat in the future.

• Utilise and built on existing infrastructure: Local development plans should identify where heat networks, heat storage and energy centres exist or would be appropriate.

• Up-to-date policies: Include policies to support implementation.

Falkirk Council

Development Services

National Planning Framework (NPF3)

•3 National Developments in

Falkirk area:

– Grangemouth Investment Zone– Carbon Capture and Storage

Network and Thermal Generation

– Central Scotland Green Network

National Planning Framework 3 (NPF3)

Falkirk CouncilDevelopment Services

Characteristics of Danish Energy Planning

• District heating enshrined in Danish Law• Clear policy direction from central government and

consensus on energy planning. Energy planning undertaken at national, regional and municipal level.

• Land-use planners liaise with Danish Energy Agency and developers to look at various solutions for strategic developments

• In urban areas mandatory DH connection unless specific exceptions.

• Clear subsidy regime and avoidance of sub-optimal market• Tax regime favours renewable energy over fossil fuels• Co-operation between industry, energy supply companies

and local government with clear roles and responsibilities• Land use and energy planning are dove-tailed

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Borup Energy Centre• 7.5MW Straw Biomass energy

centre at Borup (Køge Municipality) providing heat and hot water

• Old straw system replaced by new efficient straw biomass boiler (previous unit operates as backup)

• Provides 95% of district heating for Borup residents – population is around 4500

• Produces 30 million KWh per annum

• Operates on co-operative model since 1964

• Straw is CO2 neutral – was previously waste product as little livestock in regionFalkirk

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Lessons from Denmark• Start small – focus on obvious opportunities first

• Focus on use of existing infrastructure

• Energy Centres do not have to have large building footprint

• Co-location of producers (excess heat or energy generation) with potential anchor loads and users is key - Something that spatial planning can partly address

• Councils should ensure joined-up policy approach

• Aligning stakeholders:– Local Authorities– Business and Industry– Developers– Housing associations

• Recognise that Scotland/UK

does not have same energy

legislative framework – find

workarounds

• Importance of successful

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Purpose of LDP Strategic Heat Maps•To provide a backdrop of support and direction for any public or private sector schemes that may come forward

•A starting point for discussions when engaging with developers looking to bring forward projects within or close to opportunity areas. Developers should explore potential for district heat network as part of schemes.

•Council will continue to promote opportunities for heat networks through appropriate policies, guidance, development brief or development framework produced by the Council – Supplementary guidance used as a starting point.

LDP and Heat Networks: Current actions

• Local Development Plan just adopted – preparation of evidence base starting for LDP 2

• Address heat networks initially through Supplementary guidance– SG part of the statutory Development Plan– SG can be updated to reflect local priorities and projects

coming forward– Can be adaptable as long as there is a current policy

hook• Initial approach: to provide high-level strategic heat map(s)

with heat map data overlay showing:– Existing and potential sources of heat/energy

(consented or sites identified in NPF3/LDP) heat anchors

– Existing and potential heat anchors– Strategic sites identified in the Local Development Plan

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LDP2 – Next stage of Strategic Heat Planning•Use heat data to inform overall strategic vision and settlement strategy•Heat network opportunities assessed at Main Issues Report Stage•Importance of well-worded policy hook to support strategy and SG•Strategic Map is likely to evolve significantly under LDP2•Important to reflect most up-to-date local progress through Supplementary Guidance•Look at infrastructure proposals within current plan – can heat networks opportunities be identified within the plan at LDP2 stage?•Look at Geothermal potential – rural areas of fuel poverty

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• Potentially re-assess Strategic Growth Areas and update relevant guidance – futureproofing is key

• Consider Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and other environmental assessment project planning.

• Raise as part of early key agency involvement

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Look at obvious opportunities first

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Grangemouth Energy Project

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Grangemouth Energy Project•NPF3 – Grangemouth Investment zone identified as national development. •Grangemouth Energy Project commissioned by Falkirk Council and lead by Mace•High concentration of energy consumption•Opportunities to explore whether a more cost efficient, lower-carbon solution can be found for homes and industry•The range of business activities at Grangemouth include;

– Refining and petrochemicals and storage; – Other chemical industries and storage– Engineering; – Infrastructure; – Recycling & waste management; – Energy support services; – Agricultural research; – Construction and related industries

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• Study assesses utilisation of; – existing local generation assets– newly developed generation assets – new transmission infrastructure such as cabling and heat

networks.

• Grangemouth Energy project seeks to progress the development of various work streams with individual business cases making up an overall masterplan

• Options appraisal/analysis considers the financial, economic, technical and legal aspects of the delivery of suitable generation and transmission infrastructure