Solar panels on an Ambleside roof
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Renewable energy

Renewable energy is quickly replenished by nature, does not run out and is replaced at the speed it is used.

Saving energy

Loft and cavity wall insulation are two easy ways to reduce your gas and electricity bills. Heavy curtains are as effective as double glazing at keeping heat inside.

Loft insulation is particularly effective as so much heat is lost through your house’s roof. You can buy other loft and hot water tank insulation materials from DIY shops.

Solar thermal

Solar-thermal systems create hot water using sunlight. In Cumbria they are effective from late February to late October. And even on sunny winter days they pre-warm the water. You need a roughly south facing pitched roof - 40 degrees is ideal - and to store the energy you capture in a hot water cylinder.

Solar voltaic

Solar panes in Keswick Conservation Area

These systems generate electricity from sunlight. They are currently more expensive than solar thermal systems, but the cost is coming down as the technology becomes more widely available.

You do not need planning permission to install solar-thermal or photovoltaic systems, as long as they do not extend more than 200mm from the roof profile or they are on a listed building. However as we'd like to record how popular solar energy is in the Lake District National Park, please let us know if you're installing solar panels or photovoltaics.

Small scale hydro electric schemes

There are streams and becks all over the Lake District National Park that may be suitable for small-scale hydro schemes.

Biomass wood burners

These are generally wood fuel heating systems. Stand-alone stoves or boilers are both available that you can fuel with pellets, logs or chips. A really useful guide which we've co-funded is the Warmth from wood booklet (opens in new window). It gives details from real-life installations such as cost, heat output and number of radiators fuelled.

Small-scale wind turbines

Modern wind turbines vary in size and power output. It is best to have the turbine high on a mast or tower, but small-scale building-integrated wind turbines are becoming available.

Ground source heat pumps (GSHP)

These transfer heat from the ground into a building to provide space heating and can also pre-heat domestic hot water. There are a number of considerations when installing a GSHP, and you may require planning permission, depending on the size.

Air source heat pumps

Air source heat exchange systems vary in size, but can be as small as a standard bathroom or kitchen fan. They are relatively easy to install, energy efficient and extract heat from the air outside for space heating inside, like a refrigerator in reverse.

Older and historic buildings

Living in a conservation area doesn’t automatically mean you need planning permission to install renewable energy schemes. However, if you live in a listed building or within the Article 4 area of Keswick you will require planning permission and possibly Listed Building Consent.

English Heritage have produced guides to help historic building owners to improve energy efficiency or add renewable energy in a sympathetic way:

Will I need planning permission?

Hydroelectric pump at Derwentwater YHA

The General Permitted Development Order 1995 (GPDO) applying to dwelling houses allows a certain amount of development without planning permission. This can include putting photovoltaic tiles on your roof, installing a biomass boiler or a combined heat and power unit.

Installing a ground source heat pump often involves excavating a large area which requires planning permission. Wind turbines, depending on their height and location, or any energy installation located away from your dwelling may also need permission.

To save time and expense, please check with our planning team before installing any type of renewable energy technology.

What funding is there towards renewable energy?

We have the Lake District Sustainable Development Fund which may help a scheme with wider community benefit.

Also you can contact your local District Council and the County Council, or the following websites:

Useful links

The following links to websites are offered in good faith. The Lake District National Park Authority has no control over the content of the sites and no endorsement of any of the products or services contained on the sites is implied.

All links open in a new window.

How do I contact the planning team?

Please call our Duty Planner on 01539 724555 or email planning@lakedistrict.gov.uk

National Parks - Britain's breathing spaces