Decentralised Energy Systems ~ Minor Development

. Policy NZ.8 Decentralised Energy Systems ~ Minor Development This policy applies to all minor development proposals including residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, leisure and mixed use. Where viable, development should comply with the following measures. A. Decentralised Energy Measures Minor development should incorporate, where feasible and proportionate to the scale of development, decentralised energy measures including: • Rooftop solar PV or solar thermal • Individual heat pumps • Shared communal heat pumps for small clusters • Battery storage • Smart controls and demand side response capability • Low-temperature heating systems in new dwellings • Design that enables future connection to heat networks, where located within or near heat network zones • Consideration of embodied carbon in material and system choices • Passive design measures to reduce heating and cooling demand Where minor development is within a heat network zone, it must be designed to enable future connection unless demonstrated to be unfeasible or unviable. B. Safeguarding and Co-location Development should support the efficient integration of decentralised energy systems within sites and across adjacent developments where feasible and viable. Proposal for co-location of decentralised energy infrastructure will be supported where they do not result in unacceptable impacts on amenity, environmental quality, landscape, or infrastructure capacity. C. Design, Amenity and Environmental Consideration Decentralised energy infrastructure must be sensitively designed to minimise impacts on: • Landscape and townscape • Heritage assets • Noise and vibration • Air quality • Biodiversity • Flood risk • Residential amenity Policy Justification 6.1.33 Policies NZ.7 and NZ.8 support the NPPF requirement for local plans to secure radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, supports renewable and low carbon energy and identified opportunities for decentralised energy networks. 6.1.34 Applying the policy to all major development, including commercial, industrial and institutional schemes is essential because: • Non-residential buildings often have high and consistent heat loads making them ideal anchor loads for heat networks • Commercial and industrial development can generate waste heat that can be captured and reused • Large non-residential schemes can place significant pressure on local electricity networks requiring coordinated grid planning • Embodied carbon in non-residential buildings is often substantial and must be considered in whole life carbon assessments. 6.1.35 Decentralised energy systems – including heat networks, communal heat pumps, microgrids and energy storage, play a crucial role in achieving net zero, improving energy resilience and reducing peak demand. Thermal masterplanning ensures that opportunities for heat networks and waste heat recovery are identified early and safeguarded. 6.1.36 The feasibility and viability requirement ensures that decentralised energy solutions are deliverable and proportionate while preventing over reliance on fossil fuel systems that would undermine long-term decarbonisation. The order of preference for heating and cooling systems ensures consistency with the Councils net zero policies and avoids lock in high carbon infrastructure. 6.1.37 Future proofing measures ensure that development can adapt to future technological and regulatory changes, including the transition to low temperature heat networks and increased electrification of heat and transport. 6.1.38 Local energy resilience is increasingly important due to grid constraints and the need to manage peak demand. Requiring storage, flexibility and coordination with DNOs helps prevent capacity shortfalls and reduces risk of outages. Safeguarding land for heat networks and grid reinforcement avoids the future sterilisation of land and ensures long term deliverability. 6.1.39 Embodied carbon is a significant component of whole life carbon emissions. Requiring consideration of embodied carbon ensures that decentralised energy infrastructure delivers genuine carbon benefits and avoids unintended consequences. 6.1.40 Minor development also has a role to play in decentralisation, and the policy provides clear expectations while maintaining proportionality. 6.1.41 The policy is positively prepared. It provides flexibility through feasibility and viability testing while ensuring development c