Bristol – British energy innovations leader

Bristol

British energy innovations

leader Not only has the city council set ambitious energy transition objectives – reducing energy use by 30% and CO2 emissions by 40% between 2005 and 2020 – but the fi rst results are extremely encouraging, with a 20% drop in energy use and an 18% decrease in CO2 emissions recorded in 2013. Inspired by the experience of the German Stadtwerke and with European funding from the ELENA programme, Bristol designed an ambitious strategy to take back control of energy at the city level. This strategy led to the setting up of a municipal energy company, Bristol Energy in 2016. The fi rst priority for Bristol Energy is to tackle fuel poverty by delivering fair prices to the population. In the future, the municipal company intends to develop local renewable energy production and energy effi ciency services. As a complementary approach, Bristol also emphasises the contribution of community energy projects.

THE CITY OF BRISTOL IN ENGLAND IS KNOWN FOR BEING A BREEDING GROUND FOR LOCAL AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN FAVOUR OF AN ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION, WHICH EARNED IT THE TITLE OF “EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL” IN 2015.

In 2010, the city helped create the Bristol Energy Network, an organisation supporting community renewable energy initiatives, which in turn developed a local community strategy for energy in 2013 (Bristol Energy Network, 2013). The city then launched a fund to fi nance renewable community projects, the Bristol Community Energy Fundand took an active part in setting up the Bristol Energy Cooperative, a community cooperative which has already raised 10 million pounds for local projects.

All actions implemented by the city of Bristol can be found in our database of best practices.

: Community Strategy for Energy

The Strategy was launched during the Big Green Weekon Friday 21st June 2013 by Bristol’sMayor, George Fergusonand Iris Eiting of Re: Work Ltd on behalf of the network. Alongside the strategy George also launched Bristol Solar City, an initiative to make Bristol the UK’s solar capital.It has been hugely infl uential with elements incorporated into the then coalition governments national community energy strategy in 2014 as well as being recognised as contributing to Bristol’s European Green Capital year in 2015.

Our vision is for“a city where everyone has access to suffi cient aff ordable low-carbon energy for their needs; where wise and innovative use of energy empowers citizens and enhances the economy, with active communities across the city generating and managing a signifi cant amount of their energy need.”

TheBristol Community Strategy for Energyis set out along fi ve themes:

1. Community resilience and fuel poverty 2. Understanding energy and behaviour 3. Energy effi ciency and low carbon technology 4. Renewable energy generation, and 5. Local economic development.

Under each theme broad goals are stated and indicative steps outlined.

This strategy envisages a future for Bristol where energy is seen by individuals, communities, organisations and businesses as a valuable - and measurable - resource. More and better training, education and development programmes bring a better understanding of energy demand and build empowerment. Energy is used more effi ciently helping to save money and address fuel poverty. Increased deployment of renewable energy generation at a community level empowers individuals as active users of energy.

These things help to make Bristol a place where:

· People understand energy use and are active, engaged consumers and conservers of energy · Carbon emissions are reduced through enabling and encouraging changed behaviours, energy efficiency and the use of low-carbon technologies · Energy efficiency is part of everyday life, making energy supply more secure for future generations · Renewable energy resources are used so that Bristol is less reliant on precarious external energy sources · Fuel poverty is eliminated and there is less inequality · There is a strong low carbon local economy, with new business and training opportunities

Renewable energy generation Local economic development

Energy offi ciency & low carbon technology poverty Understanding energy & behaviour & less fuel recilience Comunity

: Ecosystem support

Stakeholders Included below is an indicative list of stakeholders needed to carry forward this strategy. Projects, initiatives and schemes will likely involve varying partnerships and interactions as they evolve and develop over time. In the following list we suggest the various categories of stakeholders and give examples of who these include.

· The Community: residents and building owners, neighbourhood partnerships and other generic, non issue-specific community infrastructure organisations; wider communities outside Bristol · Bristol City Council · Centre for Sustainable Energy · Community groups of all sorts: faith, heritage, mother and baby, etc. · Local energy and transition / sustainability groups:

Bristol Energy Network, Transition Bristol · Social enterprises and co-ops: Bristol Power Co-op,

Bristol Energy Co-op, Bristol Solar Co-op · Landlords (social and private) · Agencies: Regen SW, Low Carbon South West · Commercial sectors (installers, building trades, finance providers,): Installer networks, Green Deal Providers,

Green Deal Advice Organisations · Local (and national) media and arts organisations · Education and training institutions: Schools, Further education colleges and Universities · Partnerships organisations: the Local Enterprise

Partnership, Bristol Green Capital Partnership · National government departments: DECC, CLG, DEFRA · Large energy companies

: Bristol Community Energy Fund

Bristol Energy Network have been working with Bristol City Council and Quartet Community Foundation to set up and run theBristol Community Energy Fund. There have been 5 rounds of the fund so far and after the fi rst 3 rounds, wecarried out an evaluation of how well it has been working. The report headlines are that:

· collaborations between new (non-energy) groups and more experiencedBEN members worked well · the fund was successful in reaching areas with higher levels of deprivation · the application process was clear and support offered was helpful · reporting and data collection could be more streamlined · events to share experiences would be welcome

: Grants Funding

Our grant programme supports activities with one of the following aims:

· To support local people to reduce their energy use (e.g. their use of electricity or gas) · To support local people in moving toward cleaner renewable sources of energy · To support local people to take measures that ensure they can afford to meet their energy needs

The grant programme can support all costs relating to your project or activity, including: core costs (e.g. staff , offi ce costs), project costs (e.g. venue hire, project worker) and capital costs (can support the cost of a renewable installation).

: Our achievements in Bristol

OurEnergyServiceiscreating a cleanenergystrategy to benefi t localcommunities.

: So far, the Energy Service has

· helpedover 2,000 private and council-owned homes to become warmer and healthier through upgrades to their energy efficiency · delivered a multimillion pound solar investment programme on our corporate and community buildings, by installingover 8 Megawatts (MW) ofsolar PV acrossthe city, enough to power 8000 homes · established a best-practice community energy fund, to support over 50 local community groups with sustainability and energyefficiencyprojects · investednearly £2m in energy efficiency refurbishments across council-owned buildings, which helps us save £1m annually on ourenergy bills · becomethe UK’s first local authority to build and manage our own large-scale wind turbines, having created a 6.8 MW council owned and managed solar and windfarm in Avon mouth which could generate enough clea nenergy to power over 14,000 homes · launched the first section of out law-carbon and lower-cost heat network in Redcliffe and Temple Quarter, as well as several mini heat networks for social housing across the city · set up Bristol Energy, one of the UK’s first municipalenergy companies which is helping customers who find it difficult to heat and light their homes, by offering a simple, fair and transparent alternative to the largest energy providers in the country · met and exceeded our target to reduce carbon emissions by 60%, three years early · We’v ecommitted to Bristol becoming a carbon neutral city by the year 2050

: Solar Investment Programme

Our Energy Service is responsible for delivering a multimillion pound solar investment programme which has installed over 8 MW of solar PV acrossthe city. We’ve installed solar panels all over the city, from our municipal buildings such as offi ces and schools, to large solar farms and installations on some of Bristol’s most iconic buildings like Ashton Gate Stadium and the Central Library.

Our Solar Investment Programme has saved the city millions of pounds through reduced energy bills, whilst making a massive reduction in our carbone missions and reinforcing Bristol’s position as the UK’s most sustainable city.

We want everyone in Bristol to beable to access cleanenergy and have the ability to reduce their carbone missions – that’s why we are off ering access to the solar investment programme to all organisation across the city

: Why use the Solar Investment

Programme?

There are a multitude of reasons to use our Solar InvestmentProgramme to delivery our solar projects, including:

· No UpfrontCost – 100% of the installation cost will be covered up front by Bristol City Council. · No Maintenance Cost – Bristol City Council will cover operation and main tenance costs over the twenty year duration of the project, including cleaning, replacement parts and labour. · Cost Savings – Each unit of solar generated electricity used on site costs less than what you usually pay, meaning you achieve savings from day 1 of the project. · Supporting Bristol – Working in partnership with the local authority connects your company to the city and our path towards carbon neutrality, raising the profile of your project through joint promotional opportunities. · Job Creation – You’ll also be stimulating demand and main taining jobs in the UK shighlys killed solar PV industry.

Solar PV systems are quick to install, have minimal disruption to normal daily operations, demonstrate your commitment to sustainability and reduce your energy bills. All provided at no cost to your organisation.