Department of the Environment
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
Renewable Energy Commission
(Public)
Purpose of the Report
To re-mandate the existing ‘Tidal Power Commission’ into a ‘Renewable Energy Commission’ by extending its terms of reference and scope in order that further feasibility work can be carried out on the potential for Jersey to exploit its offshore renewable energy.
Background
In January 2011 the Tidal Power Commission completed its first phase of work (as mandated under MD-PE-2009-0093) to carry out a feasibility study in respect of the development of utility scale tidal power for Jersey and make recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment.
Whilst a detailed feasibility study has shown there is good reason to be optimistic about the size of the tidal power resource around Jersey, tidal stream technology in still an emerging technology and its exploitation is a long term proposition.
Furthermore, Jersey has good potential for exploiting other renewable energies such as wind and tidal range but more work is required to understand the economic feasibility and other challenges associated with these possibilities.
Any specific project of whichever technology will need to be decided upon by the States of Jersey in due course. However, there are a number of key ‘technology-blind’ steps to be put in place first and the work of the Tidal Power Commission has begun many of these in respect of tidal technologies.
However, the recent recommendations to the Minister provide a convenient opportunity for the group to extend its mandate beyond simply tidal technologies. A number of work areas now need to be developed and drawn to a conclusion so the States are ready to move forward at the appropriate time when a decision is reached in respect of the renewable energy of choice and potential specific projects.
The Recommendations of the Tidal Power Commission to the Minister for Planning and Environment
The following summarises the key recommendations that have been made to the Minister by the Tidal Power Commission:
The Minister for Planning and Environment reconstitutes the members of the Tidal Power Commission and mandates them as the Renewable Energy Commission to carry out the following workstreams. These workstreams can be continued within the Planning and Environment Department in conjunction where appropriate, with the Economic Development Department, Jersey Electricity plc and other stakeholders under the guidance of the Renewable Energy Commission. These comprise:
1. Financing options
Financing any renewable energy project in the absence of governmental subsidy remains a key challenge to extract the Islands renewable energy resources. The ongoing dialogue should be continued to ascertain whether Jersey might be eligible for financial incentives such as Feed-in-Tariffs from, most obviously, the European Continent, but also the UK. If Jersey is not eligible for such assistance it will constrain the speed at which renewable energy might be developed unless alternative funding can be found.
2. Environmental Consenting, legal framework
Terms and conditions in respect of the lease of the sea bed to the 12 mile limit should be resolved between the States of Jersey and the Crown in the right of Jersey i.e. the Duchy of Normandy as represented by the office of Her Majesty’s Receiver General. The conclusion of these investigations will inform the drafting of a Renewable Energies Law for ultimate consideration by the States of Jersey.
The uncertainties in terms of generic environmental issues, consenting, leasing requirements and associated costs of energy extraction should be removed. Good progress has been made through the draft Island Plan (P48/2011 lodged for debate 21-06-11) where policies NR4 and NR5 ensure that the environmental and social aspects of any project are rigorously and transparently tested.
Scoping work for a generic Environmental Impact Assessment has been initiated with key concerns raised around the robustness of baseline environmental data and stakeholder engagement in particular with economic activities such as the fisheries industry.
The initial (pre-scoping) assessment indicates that an Environmental Impact Assessment will be a significant and costly piece of work (c£600k) but it is acknowledged to be an essential part of the process of an application. However, it is not currently considered to progress this at this early stage since it is likely to be made the responsibility of any developer who is required under the Planning and Building (Environmental Impact) (Jersey) Order 2006 to accompany a planning application with such an assessment.
3. Joint Channel island co-operation
There is potential for great benefit if the individual Channel Islands work together in respect of developing renewable energy installations in their waters where there is potential for the achievement of mutually beneficial goals. Particularly important is the parallel development of legislation and consenting regimes across the Islands. This will ensure that the Islands present a coherent and robust framework for the extraction of renewable energy in line with jurisdictions that they may wish to market to.
The ongoing work with the other Channel Islands should be strengthened and formalised using the existing officer network of the Channel Islands Renewable Energy Forum and any other appropriate forum that may develop.
Scope of work
The Minister for Planning and Environment re-mandates the existing members of the Tidal Power Commission as the Renewable Energy Commission, with appropriate key stakeholders and other States Departments, to carry out the following tasks to be completed by the end of 2013:
- Extend the remit of newly mandated Renewable Energy Commission to include exploring the feasibility of other utility scale (i.e. >3MW) renewable energy opportunities for Jersey for example off-shore wind;
- Continue discussions with the UK and Europe to resolve the eligibility of Jersey to access renewable energy feed-in tariffs and/or other subsidies;
- Continue work with the Economic Development Department and other appropriate stakeholders to explore other potential funding routes for a utility scale project for example co-operative ownership;
- Continue, strengthen and, where possible, formalise relationships with other Channel Islands in respect of renewable energy opportunities in the whole Channel Island region for mutual benefit;
- Resolve leasing arrangements between the States of Jersey and the Crown;
- Draft renewables energy legislation to regulate, licence and consent for the extraction of renewable energy and lodge for States debate;
- Develop a practical consenting framework including a space use framework;
- Continue to actively engage with the British Irish Council (Environment) Renewables sub-group.
- Consider (and ultimately bring to the States for approval) commercialisation strategies including synergies with other Channel Islands and Europe / UK.
Terms, membership and working arrangements
For continuity, the membership will continue to comprise: Constable Dan Murphy (Chairman); Sir Nigel Broomfield; Alick McIntosh; Mike Liston but the Commission will have the discretion to call upon the assistance of others with appropriate expertise as they see fit.
Officer support will be from William Peggie (Director for Environment) and Louise Magris (Director of Environmental Policy)
There is no budget attaching to this work but the group can discuss the need to commission any further external work with the Environment Director.
Recommendation
The Minister is asked to agree the outlined re-mandating of the Tidal power Commission into the Renewable Energy Commission and approve its scope, terms, membership and working relationship
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Written by: | Director of Environmental Policy |
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Approved by: | Director for Environment |
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Decision ref: MD-PE-20011-0043
11th April 2011
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