North East Renewable Energy Group
Chair :
Ian Burdon
Secretary :
Will Adams
Group Aims and Objectives »
The group carries out work related to the renewables sector. The group brings together representatives from government agencies, local authorities, traditional and renewable energy industries, NGOs and environmental groups, universities, industry, developers, communities, and business and energy support and advice organisations. The group numbers around 70 members to date but will consider further requests to join from interested parties who can add something to the regional consideration and delivery of renewables.
The group aims to increase understanding, acceptance and to facilitate the delivery of renewables within the region. In particular the group aims:
- to enable the Region to meet the targets set out in the North East Renewable Energy Strategy, i.e. 10% of electricity consumed in the Region to be generated by clean and renewable sources by 2010, rising to 20% by 2020
Group Terms of Reference »
NEREG takes the regional lead for co-ordinating activity in developing renewable energy installations and industry in the North East. In particular, it:
- encourages and monitors the development of renewable energy technologies and implementation of schemes in the Region
- highlights barriers to development and implementation of schemes and, where appropriate, examines potential solutions
- acts as a source of expertise and advice on renewables and their implementation issues at the regional level.
- shares information and experience on renewable energy technologies and implementation projects, covering both electricity and heat generation
- raises awareness and encourages better mutual understanding of renewables issues across the Region
- scrutinises submissions for projects associated with the stimulation of renewable energy schemes in the Region, also prioritising and securing resources for such projects
- monitors the delivery of project outputs
- reports on its activities to the NE Energy Policy Partnership and disseminates information and project results throughout the Region.
Due to the variety of different issues covered by NEREG and the number of organisations that feed into it, NEREG has set up a number of smaller groups and tasked them with investigating particular subject areas and technology themes. Details of the groups and activity can be accessed by following the links on the thematic titles below. In some instances, formal subgroups have been set up by NEREG, but in other cases technology support networks already exist and NEREG cooperates with these to inform its wider Regional work. To manage and oversee activity, NEREG has a core executive group which regularly meets and which considers reports from the chairs of the subgroups and from the external support networks and also from the county councils who feedback on regional activities.
Renewables Executive (REx)
Outputs to date »
- in 2003, the group developed a renewable energy strategy for the North East entitled 'Towards a Renewable Energy Strategy for the North East', later renamed the 'North East Renewable Energy Strategy'. This has recently been updated in both March and November 2005. These were developed in collaboration with the Government Office for the North East and the North East Assembly. These can be downloaded below
- In developing the Regional Renewable Energy Strategies, landscape sensitivity studies for wind energy development were carried out. A report entitled "Landscape Appraisal for Onshore Wind Development" was prepared by Newcastle University in 2003 on behalf of NEREG. The report describes the methods and findings of the study undertaken to assess the landscape sensitivity for onshore wind energy development in North East England. This is downloadable below.
- commissioned PB Power to carry out a scoping study entitled the Regional Energy Activity Scoping Study, to assess how the region is moving forward and to identify any gaps in activity and the region's plans and the barriers that need to be overcome to develop the renewable resource in the North East. The Study provides further direction to future work programmes in the North East and helps to direct funding support and effort towards activities to successfully deliver the North East energy targets
- produced with the Government Office for the North East, guidance in March 2004 for local planning authorities to enable renewable energy developments to be taken forward. The guidance entitled ‘Guidance for Local Authorities in taking forward Renewable Energy Developments, June 2004’ can be used as a planning guide for local authorities for handling renewable energy developments. See link below.
Dates of meeting »
NEREG meets annually, howver the Renewables Executive (REx) meets quarterly. Subgroups' meetings are decided by the group chair and membership.
