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 CO2 saving

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

6

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’.

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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 2010Presented by Jonathan Mills, Environment & Sustainability Manager

 

Feasibility Assessments since 2007 Funding from HEFCE won in April 2009 Project Team - July Work Starts Aug 2009

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

Best wind resource, best location on campus, least constraints, furthest from residences

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

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

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!

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.

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