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Posted 2 years ago | 3 minute read
Carbon cutting potential of complex public sector sites
Complex public sector sites – such as hospitals, prisons, and military barracks – could achieve a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2032, a two-year innovation pilot has found.
The innovation project involved 42 sites responsible for 294,000 tCO2e – equating to 8% of Ministry of Defence, 17% of Ministry of Justice and 6% of NHS sites. It sought to explore how to decarbonise the public sector estate through developing repeatable methods that allow for large, campus-style sites to meet commitments as part of the transition to net-zero. On average, it found that for sites such as these to achieve a 70% emissions reduction by 2032 at a capital cost of £12.6M per site.
Detailing the findings, the Energy Systems Catapult outlined how the Modern Energy Partners (MEP) innovation programme focused on “learning by doing”, and testing the practicalities of scalable decarbonisation, including through testing rapid deployment of data-gathering technologies and analysis techniques to appraise future net-zero progress across 36 of the 42 sites, and by developing a systematic and repeatable appraisal approach for the decarbonisation of campus-style public sector sites at 24 sites.
It also worked intensively with four “pathfinder” sites to test out different commercial deployment routes. This saw over 20,000 LED bulbs installed, 176,990m2 of buildings being controlled with Smart Building Management Systems, building fabric improvements being introduced, and over 9GWh, 2,400tCO2e and £970,000 saved annually.
The report noted the importance of decarbonisation strategies in helping to simplify processes and cut timelines. But it said a public sector-wide reporting framework alongside appropriate carbon valuation would further incentivise action. It further stressed that appropriate resourcing, capacity-building and prioritisation is urgently needed, which would include the capacity building of roles that focus on coordinating the planning and delivery of decarbonisation strategies into existing asset life replacement programmes on site.
GridBeyond Business Unit Manager – Delivering Net Zero, Jeff Power said:
“It is heartening to see a focus on the scalability factors required along with the opportunity for carbon savings that are available, but the report also highlights the lack of strategies in place at local level.
“This can be the pinch point that hinders the accountability for delivery and will allow a short-term outlook to prevail. This is reinforced through the focus of capex in isolation of opex and rate of return. Net zero and carbon reduction strategies need to be focused on a long-term outlook and the cost of these measures can be mitigated through high rates of return. The public sector has an opportunity to lead by example with the transparency in these to lead the urgency of change with a roadmap to delivery.
“This long-term approach will instigate the change that needs to happen now to bring about innovation through efficiencies and to use their energy strategy (from purchasing through to consumption) as a key tool to not only manage costs but to boost resilience, carbon reduction and gain new revenues through energy optimisation techniques.”
Learn more about how GridBeyond can help the healthcare and public sector industries to participate in Demand Side Response and energy services without impacting operations.
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