APPENDIX 12
Memorandum submitted by the Institution
of Professionals, Managers and Specialists
INTRODUCTION
1. The Institute of Professionals, Managers
and Specialists (IPMS) is a trade union representing 75,000 specialist,
professional and technical staff in the Civil Service, research
councils, other public bodies and an increasing number of private
sector companies. IPMS members are directly involved in a range
of sectors and functions for which environmental issues are of
significant professional concern. Within the Civil Service, IPMS
has a wide and diverse membership across policy, research and
executive functions in the Department of Environment, Transport
and the Regions (DETR) and the bodies linked to it. We also have
a wide-ranging membership in research councils and conservation
bodies, including English Nature and the Countryside Commission,
the Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage.
On the energy side, we mainly represent scientists, engineers
and other specialist professional staff in the nuclear industry.
Our members are engaged in operational management, research and
development and the establishment and monitoring of safety standards,
environmentally and in the workplace.
2. IPMS has taken a leading role on energy
and environment issues within the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
As long ago as 1989, IPMS supported a resolution which led to
the establishment of the TUC's Environment Action Group. In 1997,
Congress adopted an IPMS resolution that called for targets on
CO2 emissions to be met by means of a balanced energy policy,
giving greater emphasis to renewable energy sources. IPMS is currently
actively involved in the work of the Trade Union Sustainable Development
Advisory Committee (TUSDAC); a committee jointly chaired by the
Environment Minister and John Edmonds on behalf of the TUC which
works in parallel to the Advisory Committee on Business and the
Environment.
3. We would emphasise that science plays
a crucial role in both helping to understand the damage caused
to the environment by human activities and in identifying the
necessary action. Science and technology also have a major role
to play in developing cleaner technologies. However, we focus
in this submission on the issues specifically identified in the
terms of reference for this inquiry.
TECHNOLOGICAL VIABILITY
4. There is real potential for electricity
generation from tidal barrages and wave energy, as investigations
have already shown. For example, an assessment funded by the EC's
Joule programme suggested that there was a theoretical resource
around the British Isles of up to 60TWh/year. A re-evaluation
published in ETSU R-122 in March 1999 suggested a potential of
36TWh/year from six potential sites. Another study of wave energy
potential in Ireland, sponsored by the universities of Cork and
Limerick, estimated total Irish wave energy resource as being
of the order of 42 TWh. However, barrages are very expensive.
Harnessing coastal wave power may be a more promising route through
as shown by the sinking of the Osprey off the north of Scotland;
the technology is demanding and equipment will need to be very
robust. An additional consideration is the level of risk associated
with installation and maintenance work at sea.
COMMERCIAL VIABILITY
5. IPMS supports development of a balanced
energy policy on a level playing field. All energy processes should
be held accountable for their environmental and socio-economic
impact. However, it is clear that if renewables are to make a
commercial contribution to the fuel balance, a new approach will
be needed in the UK which in recent years has conspicuously lacked
a coherent, long term energy policy. Proper long term planning
will be needed to manage the future fuel mix and the lead times
for research, development and implementation of alternative energy
production are such that action is needed immediately in pursuit
of those plans. This is in stark contrast to the short-term and
"cheapest is best" mentality that has driven the UK
to its current position.
6. Specifically in relation to wave technology,
the UK/Irish Atlantic coastline is widely seen as one of the world's
best wave energy climates. ETSU R-122 concluded that the economics
of wave energy have improved, with several devices having estimated
generating costs of 5p/kWh assuming success of R&F and longer
term deployment. However, the technology needs to be successfully
demonstrated to prove both the survivability and reliability of
the first generation devices. Tidal stream energy has received
less attention and is at an earlier stage of development. However,
a review of ETSU suggests a total resource based on six reference
areas of 10TWh/year.
CURRENT PROJECTS
7. The inclusion of wave energy within the
third round of the Scottish Renewables Order has resulted in an
increased level of interest, with three wave energy projects securing
contracts under the order with bid prices of between 5.9 and 7.0p/kWh.
One of these projects, the Limpet, is under construction. This
is the fruit of R&D into oscillating wave columns. In addition,
the Irish Marine Institute has co-funded the development of the
WaveBob—a floating modular device operating in deep water.
The wave energy programme launched in 1999 should encourage further
interest in this area. IPMS is also aware of wave projects being
developed elsewhere in the world, in Japan, Norway and Alaska.
RENEWABLES STRATEGY
7. There is no doubt that insufficient support
has been given to the development of renewable energy sources
which, although unlikely to make a major contribution to total
energy needs over the next 20 years, have an important role to
play in ensuring balance and diversity. IPMS therefore supports
the Government's target of generating ten per cent of energy from
renewables sources by 2010 though in practice this may prove to
be over-optimistic given the current low baseline of 1.5 per cent
of electricity generation in England and Wales and 2.8 per cent
in the UK as a whole. Scotland, with 10.8 per cent of electricity
generated from renewable sources, is much closer to meeting the
target. The lead-time for large-scale renewable technologies,
such as tidal schemes and wave power, is probably at least 10
years. IPMS believes that an action plan should be produced that
provides opportunities for development of a range of renewable
sources. Targets may be more readily achievable if there was greater
co-ordination across government.
RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
8. There is an urgent need for increased
research and development, in particular on renewable sources that
have not been tackled adequately by the private sector. At present,
price competition is taking priority over fuel balance and environmental
objectives. More profit needs to be reinvested into research and
development in order to improve efficiency and protect the environment,
and alternative energy provision systems should not be neglected
simply because they cannot compete on the fuel price. Some renewable
sources are near to achieving economic competitiveness, and the
decision by some regional electricity companies to introduce "green"
tariffs should assist in this regard. However, for wider promotion
of renewable sources—including wave and tidal energy—it
will be important to establish a supportive market framework,
including assigning a clear economic value for environmental benefits
and resolving some of the planning difficulties that currently
exist.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
9. There are some environmental difficulties
arising from renewable energy sources. However, these need to
be assessed both against their positive contribution to achievement
of the climate change targets adopted by the Government and a
wider range of sustainability principles. Consideration should
be given to a new consensual planning-led approach involving all
stakeholder groups, either at regional or sub-regional level,
in identifying renewable energy opportunities. Such planning groups
could be charged with contributing to the Government's target
for renewables, taking account of all appropriate opportunities
and constraints. Such groups would need to take account of the
potential impact of establishing, operating and decommissioning
renewable energy schemes. IPMS agrees with English Nature that
there must be appropriate management systems to maintain Sites
of Special Scientific Interests (SSSI) in a favourable condition
and that there should be continuing monitoring and evaluation
of new developments, with a view to mitigating any adverse impact.
The Non Fossil Fuel Obligation contracting process should take
full account of the Government's broader environmental policy
framework.
10. Specific challenges for wave and tidal
energy include safeguarding the habitats of the large population
of marine mammals in the Pentland Firth and Channel Islands, which
are prime sites for tidal stream energy, as well as impact on
fishing grounds. Consideration should also be given to the visual
impact on the landscape of new power transmission lines from shoreline
terminals.
February 2001
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