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Learning the lessons from the Revolving Green Fund, including a case study from Lancaster’s wind project EAUC Conference Workshop – 22 nd March 2010. Format for the workshop. Introductions Jont Cole, Associate, Inbuilt
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Learning the lessons from the Revolving Green Fund, including a case study from Lancaster’s wind project EAUC Conference Workshop – 22nd March 2010
Format for the workshop • Introductions • Jont Cole, Associate, Inbuilt • Jonathan Mills, Environment and Sustainability Manager, Lancaster University • You • Background and progress to date of the RGF • Lessons learnt and recommendations • Lancaster University wind turbine project • Workshop discussion • How good practice should be generated from projects • How to encourage regional support networks • Delivering sustainability behavioural change within HEIs
What is the Revolving Green Fund? • The aim of the RGF if to reduce CO2 emissions • £20m from HEFCE and £10m from Salix & £5m+ funding contribution from HEIs • Recoverable grant – ISP aimed to be recycled x3 • Partnership with Salix (and the Carbon Trust) • 57 English HEIs have received funding (out of 130)
Brief for the evaluation • Evaluation required to report: • Progress of each strand • Lessons learnt to date • Potential for additional RGF funding • Good practice dissemination • Met through: • Interviews with stakeholders, successful and unsuccessful applicants, and non-applicants (25+) • E-survey of practitioners (100+)
Progress to date • Institutional small projects (ISP) • Nearly 400 projects committed (at 31st October 2009) • 1/3 of £25m committed • To date over 0.2 million tonnes lifetime CO2saving committed / implemented (2006 sector emissions were 2.1 million tonnes) • Recipients report acceleration in CO2 reduction • 3 transformational projects • Transformational 0.33 million tonnes lifetime CO2 saving • Expenditure of approx. £20 million • Projects are high profile
Lessons learnt • Available staff resource major barrier to application for both strands • Capacity particularly in smaller institutions • The transformational application process was ‘well timed’ for many that applied. • Projects can be transformational without being ‘innovative’.
Lessons Learnt – ISP • Application encouraged by: • Ability to ID project and supporting data • Production of carbon management plans • Support during application • Changes to application process recognised • Projects involving insulation show some of the cheapest lifetime £/tCO2 • Application discouraged by certain: • Project compliance criteria • Financial considerations • Aspects of post award monitoring and reporting
Lessons learnt - good practice • Use of existing networks to share good practice is valued • Some small institutions don’t have access to networks • Case studies and regional networks are valued
Recommendations – good practice • Need to support the production of both concise and in-depth case studies • Need to distribute existing ISP material more widely • Need fund more behavioural change projects • Institution / consortium / sector bodies could coordinate dissemination through existing routes • Encourage regional networking • Above to complement work of AMHEC
Future funding – requirement • HEFCE should try and secure additional RGF funding • Funding should be primarily directed at ISP • Consider how CIF2 can encourage sustainability in new build and retrofit • HEFE support mechanisms to encourage applications from smaller institutions • E.g. pump prime funding clusters to recruit shared energy manager, substantively funded by savings achieved
Future funding - enhancements • HEFCE and Salix to revisit project compliance requirements • Consider mechanisms to allow application from institutions who don’t have the required 25% contribution • Consider making the innovation related criteria elective • Increase length of notification of opportunity and requirements • Pump prime funding and spread funding over annual rounds
Lancaster University Wind Turbine Project EAUC Conference April 2010 Presented by Jonathan Mills, Environment & Sustainability Manager
Wind Turbine Project - Background • Feasibility Assessments since 2007 • Funding from HEFCE won in April 2009 • Project Team - July Work Starts Aug 2009
Why Wind Turbines? • Climate change • Resource depletion • CRC • LU needs to cut carbon • Emissions • Part of LU CMP & SIMP • Will Cut LU Carbon • Emissions by 5,700t • Payback 5-10 years
Why Hazelrigg? • Best wind resource, best location on campus, least constraints, furthest from residences
What’s Been Happening #1? • Environmental/technical surveys undertaken during autumn – noise, visual, shadow flicker , radar, EM, ecology etc to assess environmental impact. • Turbine locations - Nov 09 • Temp met mast erected & acquiring data. • EIA prepared. • Engineering assessments undertaken and design commenced • Community Consultations Dec 09 & /Jan 10
What’s Been Happening #2? • Planning application and EIA submitted 15 Jan • Grid connection agreed • Turbine acquisition put out to tender • Landscape/ecology mitigation proposals being finalised. • Mitigation plans for site users being developed • Planning decision anticipated April 2010
Generating Good Practice • Project a learning experience for all project team • Integrated internal and external project team • External project manager • Expertise/experience on type of project essential • Prepare for unusual features – turbine manufacturers • Public procurement rules? • Visit other similar projects • Prepare for a lot of reasons why you can’t do it!
Encouraging Regional Support Networks • Good idea if others are doing it before you! • Best to see/discuss other implemented/ongoing projects • National support networks more relevant at present • Senior level support networks AUDE, VC’s etc important • Turbine acquisition put out to tender.
Sustainability – Delivering Behavorial Change • Major transformational schemes demonstrate commitment of HEE • Highly visible • Show commitment of funding body (HEFCE) • Enthuse students, offer research/project opportunities • Brings efficiency improvements ‘home’ – (its our energy!)
Workshop discussion • How should the sector address the following three objectives: • Generating more good practice case studies from RGF-type and other sustainability projects • Encouraging regional support networks • London Universities Environment Gp; CO2 Sense; Northwest Uni network and East Midlands Uni Ass • Funding sustainability behavioural change projects within HEIs