Energy from renewable sources

Introduction

Renewable energy comes from continuously available sources that do not rely on exhaustible, polluting fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. The main sources of renewable energy in the UK are:

• wind - both on and offshore;
• sunlight - solar photovoltaics and thermal;
• water - conventional hydro, and the developing technologies of tidal stream and wave;
• biomass - including wood chip and energy crops.

Bristol City Council were one of the first authorities to purchase green electricity generated from renewable sources, when contracts were negotiated by the Energy Management Unit for the CREATE Centre and the Records Office (B-Bond) in April 1998.

Properties that are supplied by 100% renewable electricity have been progressively added to meet the target set out in the Energy Policy of purchasing 15% of the council's electricity from renewable sources by 2010. The city council are well on target to meet this, with 14% of green electricity currently being procured.

A significant step in reaching this target was supplying Bristol’s 34,000 street lighting lanterns with green electricity, effective from January 2007.

The list below shows the main sites supplied by green energy:

• CREATE Environment Centre;
• Bristol Records Office & Property Division;
• Amelia Court Council Tax Office;
• Great Western Refuse Transfer Station;
• Wilder House;
• Council House;
• Colston Hall;
• Romney House;
• St Anne's House;
• Brunel House;
• Trenchard Street MSCP;
• City Centre Water Feature.

It is generally considered that green electricity purchase is a good thing as it stimulates the market to provide more and moves the UK forward in meeting its target to have 10% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010.

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