The report is the proceedings of a
one day conference held at the First Hydro Visitor Centre, Llanberis,
on 19 September 2002. The conference was organised in order to
explore the potential of renewable energy in bringing environmental,
social and economic benefits to Wales. The positive and constructive
debate from our speakers and delegates indicates that such benefits
are likely to be considerable. It is suggested that Wales has
the potential to generate 20 per cent of its energy from renewable
sources by 2010, using a diverse range of technologies that could
generate up to 3000 new jobs.
The conference was organised with the assistance of Dulas and
the National Assembly Sustainable Energy Group. The Welsh Development
Agency, United Utilities, Edison Mission Energy and the Countryside
Council for Wales gave support for the conference and publication. |
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The report begins with two papers on climate
change. In the first, Professor John Houghton presents a global
perspective on climate change, and argues that, with sufficient
political will, we can stabilise global CO2 emissions. In the
second paper, Professor John Farrar highlights the impacts that
climate change will have in Wales. On policy issues, Professor
Phil Williams AM outlines the recommendations of the National
Assembly Economic Development Committee’s energy review,
while Lis Broome (Ecotec) and Brian Barrows (Welsh Development
Agency) examine the economic context and potential of the Welsh
renewables sector. A demonstration of a Geographic Information
System planning tool to aid the siting of renewable energy developments
is given by Dr Peter Minto (Countryside Council for Wales),
and options for supporting and promoting further renewables
development, particularly in the community sector, are examined
by Dan McCallum (Awel Aman Tawe). In addition, this report summarises
the deliberations of four discussion groups on the themes of
wind / tidal power, biomass, community renewable energy initiatives
and future technologies.
Price: £30 (discount to IWA members)
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