EA plans to begin large scale renewable energy generation on its land

The Environment Agency has announced proposals to generate its own renewable energy – enough to power a city the size of York – at its sites across England and Wales.

As part of the plans, up to 80 wind turbines could be built on Environment Agency owned land across the country, developing around 200 megawatts of renewable energy capacity – enough to power 90,000 households and save around 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

In addition the turbines will generate up to £2.4 million of revenue every year – money that will be ploughed back into protecting and improving the environment, and adapting to climate change.

Speaking ahead of the Environmental futures 08: creating the climate for change conference on Monday, Dr Paul Leinster, Chief Executive at the Environment Agency, said: 'The development of renewable energy will play a major part in the UK’s response to climate change and a key role in meeting our future energy needs.

'By developing these renewable energy projects we are helping to limit and adapt to the effects of climate change, reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and help develop a low-carbon economy. We are identifying the main contributors to our own carbon footprint – such as major pumping stations – and looking at how we can generate renewable energy to power them.

'We will also be reviewing possibilities of using land we own to develop opportunities to generate renewable energy for the national grid. It is fitting that the Environment Agency is taking a leading role in the public sector development of renewables.'

Welcoming the announcement Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State at the new Department of Energy and Climate Change, said: 'By installing their own renewable projects the Environment Agency, working with Partnerships for Renewables, will boost the amount of renewable energy generated in this country, helping to cut carbon emissions and secure more home grown energy. The move also makes financial sense for the Environment Agency.

'We want even more homes, communities, businesses and public sector organisations to join in this national effort to play their part in defeating climate change. That’s why we’re putting in place a feed in tariff to make smaller scale generation more financially attractive to more people.'

The Environment Agency will be working with Partnerships for Renewables, a company created by the Carbon Trust to develop and operate renewable energy projects for the public sector. Partnerships for Renewables will cover the costs of the development process and use its expertise to ensure that only environmentally appropriate sites are developed.

Stephen Ainger, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Renewables, said: 'This initiative is about tackling climate change head on. I believe that the leadership shown by the Environment Agency to proactively fight climate change, rather than purely concentrate on the many challenges resulting from it, sets an important example for other environmental protection agencies around the world to follow.

'The Environment Agency has taken a bold step and we are delighted to be working in partnership with them on such a positive initiative.'