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Introduction

To address the Climate Emergency and deliver the Council’s 2040 net-zero target, all energy currently provided by fossil fuels for heating, transport and electricity in Dorset will need to come from a low-carbon source. This will require an enormous increase in renewable electricity generation in the County.

Dorset Council cannot itself deploy the GigaWatts of renewable energy required at a county level, nor does it have control of national planning policy or the economics of renewable energy.  But, there are many things that the Council can do to facilitate the transition from the current state to a situation where Dorset supplies its own energy demands with renewable energy.

After detailed evidence and information gathering exercises, led by the EAP and carried out by officer working groups, it has been recommended that the Council implement the following 12 actions.

Milestones have been identified for each action. The plan below shows the immediate  targets we will need to achieve by 2023 to keep us on track.

Objective 1

Objective overview
Objective Action type CO2 saving potential Co-benefits  Cost 
Ensure Dorset Council’s estate becomes zero-carbon by 2040 Direct  Low Builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability  High
Action plan for prior objective
 Actions Action type CO2 saving potential  Co-benefits  Cost  2021-23 target 
Maximise opportunities for Solar PV on Dorset Council buildings  Direct  Low Builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability High   

10 installations
(5 per year)
by 2023

 

Objective 2

Objective overview
Objective Action type CO2 saving potential Co-benefits  Cost 
Increase renewable energy generation on Council owned land Direct, partnership/influence Low Improves ecology, builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability  High
Action plan for prior objective
 Actions Action type CO2 saving potential  Co-benefits  Cost  2021-23 target 
Construct large renewable energy installation (around 60 MW of solar PV or 30 MW of wind turbines) to meet Council’s demand Direct Low Improves ecology, builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability High  20MW of capacity 

secured by 2023

Commission study to identify opportunities for renewable energy in County Farms and Council car-parks.

 Direct Low Improves ecology Low  

Studies completed by June 2021

Objective 3

Objective overview
Objective Action type CO2 saving potential Co-benefits  Cost 

Increase renewable energy generation in Dorset

 Indirect, partnership/influence Medium Improves ecology, builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability, enhances health and wellbeing  High
Actions for prior objective
Actions Action type CO2 saving potential Co-benefits Cost  2021-23 target

As Local Planning Authority actively encourage renewable energy deployment by:

  • Identifying potential deployment sites
  • Creating appropriate policy and guidance
 Indirect High Improves ecology, encourages economic sustainability None Potential sites identified in Local Plan and guidance created by June 2022
Establish a positive planning policy framework and toolkit for maximising the use of renewable energy within development Indirect  Medium Improves ecology, encourages economic sustainability None Policy Framework and toolkit developed by March 2022
Undertake detailed resource mapping to confirm Dorset has the technical resources to be self-sufficient. Potential sites can then be identified in the Local Plan Indirect High Improves ecology, builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability Low Wind Resource Mapping completed by December 2020
Lobby central government over the major hurdles to renewable energy deployment, the Navitus Bay decision, investment needed on grid infrastructure, and future of heat Partnership/influence High Builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability None
  • Lobby paper to Government
  • Policy discussion group attended by March 2021
Promote renewable energy technologies to residents and businesses Partnership/influence Medium Builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability, enhances health and wellbeing High Communications and engagement plan developed & initiated by June 2021
Extend Low Carbon Dorset programme Partnership/influence Low Encourages economic sustainability None Secure additional £5m ERDF funds by Dec 2020 & deliver by 2023
Dedicated resources to assist with the expansion and awareness building of the Energy Local Project in Dorset Partnership/influence Medium Encourages economic sustainability, enhances health and wellbeing  Low Staff made available by June 2021
Work in partnership with BCP to plan a zero-carbon energy system for Dorset Partnership/influence High  Improves ecology Medium
  • Study commissioned
  • Plan developed by Dec 2022
Work with renewable energy developers in Dorset to secure new renewable energy generation to meet (and exceed) needs of Dorset Council Partnership/influence Medium Improves ecology, builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability High Process for working with developers defined by 2023.