Heat and the City: Comparing the trajectory of sustainable heat and energy conservation in the municipal communities of Glasgow and Edinburgh
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Institute of Governance
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Lovell, H
(2011)
Workshop report: Leadership and Governance for District Energy
Janette Webb (Author)
(2011)
Heat and the City
Hawkey, D
(2012)
Workshop report: Financing District Heating Initiatives
Hawkey, D
(2012)
District Heating in the UK - new subscribers' perspectives
Hawkey, D
(2012)
Heat and the City: a Local Affair or Not?
Hawkey D
(2012)
District heating in the UK: A Technological Innovation Systems analysis
in Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
| Description | Increasing numbers of UK municipal authorities are recognising the opportunities associated with District Heating (DH) and Combined Heat and Power (CHP): benefits for local people and local economies; potential to reduce the cost of transforming energy infrastructure; effective climate change mitigation and energy security. Historically the UK has done very little of it. This is changing, and local authorities are key actors, despite limited powers and limited access to energy project finance. In our case studies, lead officers are committed to action within their sphere of control to mitigate climate change, improve energy security and tackle fuel poverty. Their investigations identify two areas for change: improving the energy efficiency of the building stock, including retro-fitting micro-renewables; and establishing community scale district energy. In densely populated urban areas, district energy provides affordable heat, as well as energy and carbon saving. Because heat networks can use heat from multiple sources, including waste heat, they provide greater local control over energy security. In the right places, they contribute to local economic regeneration and public welfare. Local authority (LA) leadership is key to maximising potential for heat networks with capacity for expansion. For most authorities, however, the scale and complexities of district energy pose major challenges. While community enterprises, housing developers and other public bodies are also developing DH, the statutory functions of LAs (as planning authorities and service providers) mean they can give strategic direction. LAs provide long-term contracts for heat and power supply, which stabilise business revenues; as well as having prudential borrowing powers, they can act as guarantor to reduce costs of long term loan finance; they can ensure that heat tariffs are fair and transparent; and they can assist in developing consumer protections and service standards. DH is inherently local, and needs actors with long-term commitment to the area; this requires local knowledge about opportunities, their timing, and potential for integration with other developments. An effective means of governing and managing district energy is to set up a special purpose Energy Services Company (ESCo). The ESCo ensures clear accountability, sharp focus, ring-fenced budget and risk-sharing for project planning, development and delivery. The type of ESCo depends on local priorities, and can be a private enterprise (Birmingham District Energy Company), a joint public-private company (Thameswey Energy Ltd) or a not-for-profit company (Aberdeen Heat and Power Ltd). Benefits of DH and CHP are recognised by the UK Government as cost effective means of reducing CO2 emissions, required by climate change legislation, but LAs pursuing DH have to deal with the inertia of existing energy systems. Despite recent policy measures to support investment, DH and CHP remain on the margins of UK and Scottish energy policy, which focuses on electricity markets, and is designed around the structures of large centralised generators. The absence of clear incentives and directive planning measures means that targets for investment are being missed. However, both Scottish and UK Governments are developing a more supportive policy framework. |
| Exploitation Route | Development of energy policy and regulatory frameworks for sustainable, affordable heat; development of business and governance models for localised energy services for low carbon, efficient space heating and hot water in buildings; project management of inter-party coordination of urban retrofit for sustainable low energy heating. |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| URL | http://www.heatandthecity.org.uk/ |
| Description | Research findings have had impacts in the following areas: 1. Energy policy and regulatory frameworks for sustainable, affordable heat i. UK Government Dept of Energy and Climate Change 2013, The Future of Heating: Meeting the Challenge, URN: 13D/033, Chapter 2; also invited presentations to DECC Heat Team and Heat Networks Delivery Unit officials. ii. Invitation to advise Scottish Government Special Working Group on Regulation of District Heating, resulting in report on European Comparative Regulatory Structures for District Heating, which has formed a component of Scottish Government Heat Expert Commission evidence and reporting. iii. Invitation to present oral evidence to UK Parliament Energy and Climate Change Committee evidence gathering on heat. iv. Invitation to dinner (autumn 2015) hosted by Imperial College/British Institute of Energy Economics for UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to discuss energy policy options; heat and energy efficiency was a discussion theme. 2. Development of business and governance models for localised energy services for low carbon, efficient space heating and hot water in buildings: i. Scottish Futures Trust Guidance on Delivery Structures for Heat Networks, Case Studies 1 (p.13-20) and 6 (p. 36-41) http://www.districtheatingscotland.com/sites/default/files/SFT%20DH%20Delivery%20Structure%20Report%20%28v1%20-%2016%20Mar%2020015%29_0.pdf ii. UK HM Government Treasury 2015 Valuing Infrastructure Spend; Supplementary Guidance to the Green Book. Section 3, Valuing Interdependence and Resilience, p.21 Box 3.E. iii. Project evidence and analysis used by both Edinburgh and Glasgow city councils in internal energy project development documents (documents not in public domain). 3. Project management of inter-party coordination of urban retrofit for sustainable low energy heating. Evidence to inform capacity building networks, partnerships and reports as follows: i. Scottish Government Heat Network Partnership member - http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0042/00423849.pdf ii. UK Energy Research Partnership - Economic Resilience of UK Cities: the Role of Cities in the UK Energy Agenda http://erpuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ERP-Report-2015_EconomicResilienceUKCities_Summaryv2.pdf iii. UK District Energy Vanguards Network, http://www.heatandthecity.org.uk/dh_vanguards_network iv. Association for Public Service Excellence: Local Authority Energy Collaboration http://www.apse.org.uk/apse/index.cfm/local-authority-energy-collaboration/ |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | District Heating UK Local Authorities' Vanguard Network - response to DECC Heat Strategy Consultation 2012 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | HEAT AND THE CITY RESPONSE TO ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE CALL FOR EVIDENCE ON LOCAL ENERGY |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Heat and the City |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | UK Government DECC. The researchers organised knowledge co-production event in Feb 2013, at the request of UK Government DECC officers, to evaluate Local Authority responses to proposed heat policy measures for publication Spring 2013. |
| Description | Heat and the City |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Invitation of research team member to give oral evidence to UK Parliament Energy and Climate Change Committee as part of their enquiry into heat. |
| Description | Heat and the City |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Heat and the City |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | UK Government DECC. March 2013 Report commissioned by DECC on 'Research into barriers to deployment of district heating networks in suitable locations'; the results of the report are widely referred to in the March 2013 UK Government DECC Heat Strategy: 'The Future of Heating: Meeting the Challenge', Chapter 2 pp.37-61 (see chapter footnotes). The Policy and Report are published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-future-of-heating-meeting-the-challenge |
| Description | Heat and the City |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Appointment of research team members to Scottish Government Heat Networks Partnership |
| URL | http://www.districtheatingscotland.com/content/district-heating-scotland |
| Description | Heat and the City |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Appointment of research team members to Scottish Government Heat Networks Partnership |
| Description | Heat and the City |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Appointment to Scottish Government Expert Commission on District Heating |
| Description | Heat and the City |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Appointment to Scottish Government District Heating Loans Advisory Panel |
| URL | http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/businesses/getting-support/district-heating-loan |
| Description | Heat and the City submission to UK Parliament Energy and Climate Change Committee in response to its call for evidence on heat. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Response to UK Parliament Energy and Climate Change Committee call for evidence on heat |
| Description | Heat generation in Scotland. Invited suggestions to Scottish Government on development of scenario modelling to support Heat Generation Policy Statement |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Substantially shaped the specification used by the Scottish Government in its tender for consultancy work developing heat scenario models. |
| URL | http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/03/2778 |
| Description | Infrastructure and Interdependencies: Valuing Investment for Passive Provision |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Contribution to UK Treasury (Infrastructure UK) Revised Supplementary Green Book Guidance on Infrastructure and Interdependencies: Valuing Investment for Passive Provision; case study of heat network investments |
| Description | Joint Consultation with, and Report to, Scottish Government on Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies and Regulation of District Heating |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | Evidence from our research on governance and business models for sustainable heating systems in urban areas has been used by Government in development of new energy policy on local heat and energy efficiency strategies and potential regulation, including proposed new statutory powers for local governments in energy planning at area scale, and regulation and licensing of district heating operators. The research evidence is incorporated into the policy consultation document, and we are running, jointly with Government, two public consultations on the proposals; our report to Government on the outcomes will be part of the decision making process on final measures. |
| URL | https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/local-heat-and-energy-efficien... |
| Description | Local Engagement in Energy Systems Development |
| Amount | £48,951 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2013 |
| End | 01/2014 |
| Description | Cascade |
| Organisation | CASCADE Project |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Participation in peer learning events with municipal governments in Genoa (Italy) and Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in, organising of, and learning from peer learning events with municipal governments in Genoa (Italy) and Amsterdam (Netherlands). Other cities were also involved as there were multiple learning sessions to which different "peer cities" were invited. |
| Impact | Peer learning reports compiled from learning exchanges by CASCADE |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Cascade |
| Organisation | City of Edinburgh Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Participation in peer learning events with municipal governments in Genoa (Italy) and Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in, organising of, and learning from peer learning events with municipal governments in Genoa (Italy) and Amsterdam (Netherlands). Other cities were also involved as there were multiple learning sessions to which different "peer cities" were invited. |
| Impact | Peer learning reports compiled from learning exchanges by CASCADE |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Scottish Heat Networks Partnership Practitioners' Group |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Knowledge Exchange for Sustainable Heat |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge Exchange for Sustainable Heat |
| Impact | Commencing November 2014 so no direct outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | TEDDINET |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | TEDDINET is an EPSRC funded network primarily supporting the work of the 22 individual (Build)TEDDI projects, ensuring that they achieve more than the sum of their parts and leave a strong legacy for industry, government and society. |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | HEAT AND THE CITY RESPONSE TO ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE CALL FOR EVIDENCE ON LOCAL ENERGY |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Evidence Submission to UK Parliament Select Committee Contribution to UK Parliament Select Committee Report on Local Energy |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Heat Networks Investment Conference - UK Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | UK BEIS ran a conference to engage the investment community with ongoing district heating development, bringing together financiers with project developers and local authorities. David Hawkey and Mags Tingey presented results from 'Heat and the City', 'Local Engagement with UK Energy Systems' and 'Reframing Energy Demand' to give and overview of and insight into patterns of district heating development in the UK and issues shaping prospects for further expansion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Heat and the City - New research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Radio interview about the research project on better ways to heat city buildings and homes, BBC Radio Scotland News programme Followed up by BBC Radio Scotland News journalist with further questions and interest |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Low Carbon Heat: Research Gaps and Opportunities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Rc-UK Heat and the City: Research in Progress presentations fed into Report on Future Research Agenda for Low Carbon Heat Report on Future Research Agenda for Low Carbon Heat |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXhHZV1d3qw&feature=youtu.be |
| Description | Ministerial Invitation to join Scottish Government Special Working Group on Regulation of District Heating |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Ongoing; initial report of Expert Commission resulted in Scottish Government District Heating Action Plan and Draft Heat Generation Policy Statement Initial report of Expert Commission resulted in Scottish Government District Heating Action Plan http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/06/7473 and contributed to Draft Heat Generation Policy Statement http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/03/2778 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Oral HEAT AND THE CITY Evidence TO ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE CALL FOR EVIDENCE ON LOCAL ENERGY |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | UK Parliament Energy and Climate Change Committee questions and discussion Oral evidence: Heat, HC 743 Tuesday 29 October 2013 Oral evidence: Heat, HC 743 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmenergy/180/180.pdf |
| Description | Research Councils UK (RC UK) Energy Programme: Heat and the City Project www.heatandthecity.org.uk Submission to UK Parliament Energy and Climate Change Committee in response to its call for evidence on heat. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Written evidence submitted by Dr David Hawkey on behalf of the RC UK Heat and the City project. Contributed to Report of UK Parliament Energy and Climate Change Committee on its inquiry into heat. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/energy-and-climate-change... |