Paper - Special Paper 1: "Energising masterplanning – an integrated approach to masterplanning for sustainable energy" by Kate Henderson / 2015
SPECIAL Project Expert Papers - Part of the legacy of the SPECIAL is a series of six Expert Papers written by six different partners in the project. Five of these papers are already available as downloads. Ranging in topics from Masterplanning and Energy, to Policy frameworks and Transport, the papers are primarily targeted at town planners working at the local level.
Published by the Town and Country Planning Association, June 2015
Foreword
The aim of this SPECIAL project Expert Paper is to illustrate how sustainable energy can be integrated into the masterplanning, design and development of both new communities and urban regeneration initiatives. The paper identifies opportunities to implement sustainable energy systems and considers the role of the planning system, communities, politicians and other stakeholders in such implementation. Across Europe there is a growing body of examples of low-carbon or carbon-neutral developments, as demonstrated by the SPECIAL project. Some of these developments focus on reducing energy demand, while others include new or more established energygenerating technologies such as solar and wind energy and district heating supplied by combined heat and power systems. Many include a combined approach. In other places, innovative mechanisms have been used to deliver low-carbon energy generation and supply networks on a city-wide scale. This timely Expert Paper demonstrates what is already being achieved in communities across Europe, highlighting case study examples from England, Germany and Switzerland. The case studies show how various low- and zero-carbon energy technologies can be integrated into different types of development, and highlight some of the policy approaches that have made integration possible.