Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of City Development on Climate Change with an emphasis on evaluating options for installing LZC (Low and Zero Carbon) energy as part of the corporate estate, with a focus on small medium and large scale projects.

Referring to Minute 35 of the meeting held on 1^st September 2009, the Director of City Development submitted a report on Climate Change with an emphasis on evaluating options for installing LZC (Low and Zero Carbon) energy as part of the corporate estate, with a focus on small medium and large scale projects.

Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Renewable Energy Technologies’ (Appendix 1 refers) for the information/comment of the meeting.

The following officers were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:-

Tom Knowland, Head of Sustainable Development, City Development

Peter Lynes, Group Manager, City Development

Jon Andrews, Emas Officer, City Development

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• the concerns expressed that in relation to the process of feed-in tariffs, the amount being paid was too low

(The Group Manager responded that, in general, the industry perceived that the feed-in tariffs that HM Government had recently announced were in line with others in Europe, and may prove a positive incentive to LCC and others to consider installation of photovoltaic arrays more closely)

• clarification of the kinds of measures LCC were taking to reduce CO2 emissions in the operational estate

(The Group Manager responded and referred to LCC’s actions in relation to Local Indicator NI185, regarding “C02 emissions from local authority operations” as illustrating LCC’s overall strategy. He outlined the potential to reduce emissions through changes to energy sources –“supply-side management”, for instance in a possible Energy Services Company (ESCo) in the Civic Quarter producing District Heating from renewables. It was possible that there may be electricity generation and waste heat from the Residual Waste Management Scheme. While reducing Carbon emissions, supply side schemes were unlikely to generate real cash savings. “Demand-side management”, on the other hand, through reducing LCC’s overall energy take by improving efficiency of use would yield real cash benefits from such investment, as well as ensuring that LCC may need less renewables into the future)

• clarification of the Council’s current position in relation to renewable forms of energy

(The Group Manager responded and made specific reference to solar thermal items, photovoltaic arrays and wind turbines in schools,  and the successful introduction of a 15Kw wind turbine at the John Charles Centre for Sports)

• the concern expressed that in relation to opportunities for large scale renewables, the figures outlined in Section 3.4 of the report were quite high and of the need for reports of this nature to be put in lay men’s terms

(The Group Manager responded and outlined the scale of the figures quoted, in terms of the LCC’s emissions from its operational estate)

• clarification of the timescales in relation to a report on this issue going to a meeting of the Executive Board
• the need for a further report to be submitted to this meeting in April on what the authority was doing in relation to addressing CO2 emissions in Council owned buildings

RESOLVED-

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That a further report on CO2 emissions in relation to Council owned buildings be submitted to the next Board meeting in April for consideration.