8. The Success of the South West of the UK in Renewable Energy Generation: Benefits, Challenges and Implications for Other Regions

The south west of the UK is widely recognised as a regional leader in the extent and range of its use of renewable energy and in resource efficiency. In this region, more than a fifth of all UK renewables’ projects are being implemented, while solar, wind, wave and bio energy are well developed for both commercial and domestic use. The chapter discusses the governance arrangements in local and community-scale renewables that bring benefits to the region in the form of greater energy security, job creation and higher incomes. It provides insights into how the regional characteristics enable the extensive adoption of multiple forms of renewable energy and highlights the features of a collaborative approach employed by the local and regional authorities that support these activities.