Cornwall Carbon Policy Officer appointed October 2007.

Policy development process involves Cornwall Strategic Partnership.

Officer seconded to CSEP from CCC Oct 08 - Mar 09 to support Carbon Policy Officer and development of Climate Change Action Plan.

Carbon Policy Officer appointed to co-ordinate development of strategy. Initial focus to advise on Carbon reduction initiatives to be integrated within the Cornwall Sustainable Community Strategy. Project mandate for developing strategy & action plan approved by CSP and CCC Executive. Project initiation meeting held, panels of expert stakeholders convened to oversee content guidance and a Project Board formed to oversee the project's governance. The initial public visioning consultation exercise has begun (under the 'Corwall 2050' banding) with a display (with supporting website) touring various events in Cornwall (launched at Royal Cornwall Show).  

Oct 08: The phase 1 (fast-track) Task & Finish groups have completed their 'Issues & Options' papers, these have been sent for review by the Content Guidance Groups. The majority of the phase 2 groups are beginning to look at getting together to begin drafting their papers. Work has begun and is progressing well on the 'Policy & Regulatory Framework Review. Peter McGregor (Cornwall College/Environment Kernow) has been contracted to start the development of the Evidence Base (Data) Guidance Document.

CCC and CSEP are partners in an INTERREG IVC proposal 'Regions for Sustainable Change' which has just been approved for funding. This project will involve networking and joint activities with other European partners with a focus on developing low carbon economies, and includes funding for a Mini-Stern review for Cornwall. This will link directly to the development of the Cornwall Climate Change Action Plan.

CSEP Planning Group bringing together Planning & Building Control Officers from CCC and district authorities established in 2006 and continues to meet on quarterly basis. National policy discussions still dominate this area of work. Peter Rugg seconded to CSEP from CPR Regeneration as full-time Planning & Development Officer (Jan '08 - Mar '09). Will provide support to Planning Group and lead on energy-related planning work for CSEP.

Final draft Strategy complete. Includes recommendations that exceed national energy standards.

Project Manager appointed Oct 07 to co-ordinate development of strategy. The completed strategy was submitted to Carrick District Council in March 2008 and awaiting Member sign-off of all related strategies and the Area Action Plan before it can be published. It includes developer guidelines and ESCo options for the proposed urban extension in Truro and Threemilestone. 

Initial energy feasibility study for the CPR area launched in Feb 2006. Project Officer appointed to CEP October 2007 to lead on CPR sustainable energy work within the context of the ASPIRE project (funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme). First draft SEAP has been developed and consultation with community and stakeholders to take place from Summer to Autumn 2008.

In Jan 08 CSEP participated in a project proposal to the INTERREG IVC funding programme. The project 'POWER' focuses on the energy opportunities for post-mining areas. If successful CSEP's activities were to focus on use of minewater in CPR area for energy generation. Unfortunately the proposal was unsuccessful in initial evaluation stages due. Expected that the proposal will be resubmitted in early 2009.

Community consultation events have taken place in CPR during summer 2008 whilst work continues on drafting of SEAP. Information on the CPR activities to be presented at a conference in Brussels in December (organised by CSEP).

Partnership delivery of ENVISION Cornwall programme, HONEY2CORNWALL programme, Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) etc ENVISION. Programmes being delivered to target. Additional funding secured to continue ENVISION to end 2008. Future programmes (post 2009) as yet unclear due to uncertainties around the Business Resource Efficiency Programmes and delays in commissioning under Convergence.

GTBS scheme in Cornwall currently being delivered to target.

Work currently focused on creating an ESCO for the CPR area. An ESCo development workshop was held on 05/02/08 at CSEP's offices with key local and regional stakeholders. CSEP's Tim German and Peter Rugg took key ESCo stakeholders from Cornwall County Council and CPR Regeneration to a meeting with Allan Jones, Chief Executive Officer of the London Climate Change Agency in April, followed by a fact-finding visit to the Barkantine CHP district energy scheme. A further meeting was held with the EDF Energy London ESCo team on 19 May to discuss private sector approaches to ESCo formation.

A heat main strategy has been completed and is being tested for planning issues. Following the establishment of an 'ESCO' working group (CPRR, SWRDA, CSEP) a draft project plan and tender brief have now been produced. Following approval of the brief by the 'Energy Strategy Steering Group' and SWRDA Covergence team, a tender process will be undertaken in late Autumn to establish a business and delivery plan for a CPRR ESCO.    

William Garnier apointed in Jan '08 as CSEP Renewable Energy Technical Officer to continue LAA delivery (following departure in Dec '07 of previous officer Will Wason).

507 installations of new micro-renewables in community & domestic buildings reported to CSEP by 31/03/08 reflecting 2610KW of installed micro-renewables capacity in community & domestic buildings (heat, electric, cooling).

1378 free energy efficiency measures installed into Cornish homes since April 08.

Community Energy Plus, Carrick District Council, Cornwall County Council and the University of Exeter have worked in partnership on a demonstration project to investigate in detail the practical and financial implications of improving a hard to treat property. A hard to treat farmhouse in Cornwall was treated with various energy saving (loft and external wall insulation) and renewable energy measures (biomass and solar), improving the building's SAP from 6 to 62 and its running costs from £1280/yr to £315/yr. Demonstration project delivered in Carrick on CCC farmhouse.

Community Energy Plus is a partner in Energy Saving Advice SW, which has won the tender to deliver the Energy Savings Trust Advice Centre (ESTAC) for the SW region. The ESTAC entered into force on 02 October and work over the next 3 years will include finding solutions to dealing with hard to treat properties (via the EST Green Neighbourhoods Fund).

CSEP Energy in Buildings Group (EIBG) bringing together reps of majority of Cornwall's existing microgeneration businesses meets on quarterly basis to share information and discuss common issues.

Series of information events held for developers and installers.

CSEP stand at RCS 2007 & 2008 profiled over 16 RE businesses in 'Green Energy Village'.

CSEP has created a web-based sustainable energy retrofit toolkit aimed at UK social housing providers - it promotes Cornwall's expertise in the retrofit market. EIBG members are carrying out final checks of the toolkit, which is planend to go live this autumn.

Initial recruitment process carried out over summer 2007. Interviews held in September 2007 but no appointment made. Job description & person spec revised Dec 07, interviews held 04/02/08 with Stuart Farmer appointed.

The CSEP Bio-energy working group has been renambed the Land Based Energy Group to reflect its focus on energy derived from land based activity rather than domestic and commercial and industrial waste.  The group is still chaired by David Rodda of the CAC and has recently visited a 3MW woodchip fuelled boiler at a nursery near Liskeard to see renewable energy in practice.

The CAC are currently undertaking a study into the economic feasibility of on-farm Anaerobic Digestion in order to ascertain whether this scale is economically viable.  The study is being funded using Objective One EAGGF and DEFRA funds.  It is studying 8 scenarios including various sizes of dairy farms, a vegetable farm. a pig farm and a unit that could supply heat and power into the proposed extension of the Tolvaddon Energy Park.  Whilst the report is theoretical the scenarios are real so we are hopeful that sound businesses cases can be made for some installations.  The report is being carried out by the German Biogas Association and will be made publicly available once complete.  The CAC would be willing to present the findings to the CEF if required.

Under the RDPE the RDA are proposing a South West Agricultural Resource Management Programme (SWARM).  This will include activity that will provide advice to farms about reducing their energy requirements and will also provide advice about soils, air and water related issues.  The Programme will also include small capital grants for any investments that may be required as a result of the advice given.  It will also include a challenge fund to support more innovative waste management solutions.  It is hoped that the Programme will dovetail with exisiting programmes such as The Catchment Sensitive Farming Programe and Envision.

Planning consents acquired summer 2007. Four wave energy device developers secured for initial phase. Supply chain events held in the region. PRIMARE research institute established between University of Plymouth & University of Exeter.