RENEWABLE energy is an integral part of the Government’s strategy for reducing carbon emissions.

But can developers afford to go green? Many of the large-output processes used to harness and distribute renewable energy require intensive infrastructure in the form of power stations and land.

Inevitably, this infrastructure has an impact on the economic viability of a development, particularly in an industrial project where the return on the floorspace is less than in homes, for example.

Recent reforms shift the onus on developers to take a proportion of their energy from low carbon technology.

But for developers installing any renewable energy source, particularly in a commercial building, expense is a key factor.

Technologies are improving, but their maintenance and fitting require specialist contractors, pushing up costs. If the building is to be let commercially, it may be difficult to recoup these additional costs as well as pass on responsibility for the maintenance.

Planning policy now requires developers to provide 10% of energy from a renewable source. This policy has already been implemented in many planning authorities and proof of renewable energy sources in development schemes is being requested more often. Compliance with the policy is usually required as a condition of planning consent. Until this consent is signed off, a development will not be legal.

There are several documents that can be used to work out energy consumption to ensure the 10% target is met. These include the Energy Use Benchmark and guides that have been produced by the BRE (Building Research Establishment) for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The guides give an energy consumption per square metre for various building types. You can then work out the building’s total carbon consumption, from which the 10% can be determined.

There are several ways of meeting the requirement. If green energy measures are to be included in the building, such as energy efficient lighting and extra insulation, this will reduce the carbon footprint of the building, thereby reducing the 10% requirement.

It is usually more cost effective to cut the energy consumption of a building than to provide renewable equipment. However, some does not need much infrastructure. This includes biomass heating, solar, photovoltaic and small wind turbines.

Julie Hunter is a town planner at Ward Hadaway law firm in Newcastle.