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 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 31 st October 2009) – 1/3 of £25m committed – To date over 0.2 million tonnes lifetime CO 2 saving committed / implemented (2006 sector emissions were 2.1 million tonnes) – Recipients report acceleration in CO 2 reduction 3 transformational projects – Transformational 0.33 million tonnes lifetime CO 2 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 £/tCO 2 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 2010 Presented 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; CO 2 Sense; Northwest Uni network and East Midlands Uni Ass – Funding sustainability behavioural change projects within HEIs