Banter 31: Peterborough Accelerated Net Zero Project, 07Aug23, Gemma Birley

Meeting Summary for Great Collaboration Banter session 07Aug23

Aug 07, 2024 11:44 AM London ID: 834 5460 8536Quick recap

Andrew, Kirstin, and Gemma discussed the importance of collaboration with local authorities, the progress of their project, and the need for clear communication and community engagement. They also explored the Net 0 program, the development of new tools for local authorities to manage their carbon footprints, and the potential for East Cambridgeshire District Council to get involved. Lastly, they discussed the challenges and potential solutions for heat pump adoption, the development of local area energy plans, and the potential of a community-based project, the Earth Cooperative, to address climate problems.

Next steps

Andrew to invite Gemma back in 6 months to a year for a project update on PANS.

Andrew to add water energy to the list of topics for future presentations.

Andrew to organize a session on heat pumps, including discussion of government funding and efficiency.

Gemma to share updates on the PANS project as it develops.

Andrew to follow up with the Department of Energy regarding the 6 billion pound retrofitting pilot in Greater Manchester and West Midlands areas.

Andrew to discuss the strategic umbrella concept with other collaborators on September 17th.

Peter Anderson to send information on the Earth Cooperative project and other relevant materials to Andrew.

Andrew to explore the possibility of creating a larger collaborative framework with Peter Anderson and other partners.

Gemma to continue developing tools and frameworks for local authorities to track and take action on net zero goals.

Andrew to investigate the potential for cross-boundary collaboration on projects, as suggested during the meeting.

Summary

Collaboration With Local Authorities and Project Progress

Andrew and Kirstin reviewed their productive meeting with Cambridgeshire County Council and underscored the importance of further collaboration with local authorities. They agreed on the need for clear and concise information to facilitate the work of these organizations and considered the creation of county-specific promotional materials. They also discussed the progress and challenges of their project, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and community engagement. Lastly, they talked about the need for formal endorsement from Nelson and the potential challenges of coordinating with other organizations.

Net 0 Program and PECT Presentation

Andrew, Kirstin, and Gemma gathered for a meeting with the expectation of Peck discussing the Net 0 program. Andrew informed the group about the absence of Graham due to his sailing trip and shared updates about the company's first-year return and his upcoming departure. The group also engaged in a light-hearted conversation about their personal experiences with water sports. Andrew welcomed everyone to the 31st banter session and introduced Gemma Purlie from PECT, who presented on the development of PECT and their current program towards net zero.

Gemma's Introduction and Peterborough Accelerated Net 0 Program

Gemma, a new recruit to the charity based in Peterborough, introduced their 30-year-old work focused on climate and nature emergencies, carbon reduction, and community engagement. She highlighted their recent project, the Peterborough Accelerated Net 0 program, funded by Innovate UK, aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The program involves partnerships with local authorities, tech developers, and consultancies to overcome financial, capacity, and resource barriers. Gemma also mentioned their climate education program for schools and an investors in the environment scheme for businesses.

New Tools for Local Authority Carbon Management

Gemma discussed the development of new tools to help local authorities understand and manage their carbon footprints, with a focus on district heating and heat pumps. She highlighted the importance of visualizing and analyzing data to set targets and track progress towards net-zero emissions. Gemma also mentioned the creation of an online planning toolkit to share best practices and potential funding models. The discussion also touched on the ongoing rural heat pump project, aimed at enabling heat pumps in rural areas. Andrew noted the potential for further questions about community engagement and the toolkits for local authorities.

East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network Discussion

Peter Bates, the chair of the East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network, discussed the potential for East Cambridgeshire District Council to get involved in utilizing tools developed through an Innovation UK-funded project. Gemma confirmed that the details of tool access and usage are still being developed and discussed. Peter also highlighted the district's efforts to promote community energy development. Kirstin shared her experience with rural heat pumps and suggested using community buildings as demonstrations to promote the technology. David proposed a presentation on analytical and intelligence tools to help County Councils find a suitable solution.

Funding Needs and Local Energy Planning

David proposed analyzing the funding needs for upgrading houses without SAP schools in his parish and suggested utilizing an action planning toolkit to address problem areas. Andrew agreed to explore this toolkit's potential at the district and county level. David also recommended presenting evidence to support the implementation of heat pumps, which Andrew noted as a good suggestion. Gemma discussed the Pans project's goal to understand funding mechanisms and the potential for local community crowdfunding. Simon from the Forester Dean District Council expressed interest in the tools being developed and asked for advice on developing a local area energy plan and aggregating projects for viability. Gemma offered her assistance and suggested potential opportunities for joint purchasing and contracting.

Heat Pumps and Retrofit Solutions Discussed

Cllr raised concerns about the limited consideration of heat pumps in discussions and suggested that room-by-room air conditioning could be a more sellable proposition. The team agreed that a retrofit combining heat pumps with insulation could be a cost-effective solution and discussed the challenges and potential solutions for heat pump adoption. Concerns were raised about the high cost of gas and the misleading perception that heat pumps are cheaper, with suggestions for financing options and long-term contracts to reduce costs. The team agreed to continue discussions on heat pumps and government funding.

New Ministers, Energy Plans, and Funding Models

Andrew, Wendy, and Peter discussed the involvement of new ministers in government departments, the potential for generating power from rivers, and the development of local area energy plans. Peter Anderson shared insights on the energy consumption of a heat pump and suggested considering legionnaire settings when installing heat pumps. The team also discussed the challenges and potential solutions for funding models in the context of carbon-saving initiatives, with a focus on transparency and flexibility in government funding. Lastly, they announced the next speaker for their project, Abby Charlesworth from the carbon literacy project, and discussed a funding bid and a toolkit developed by Peter Anderson.

Earth Cooperative Proposal and Strategy

Peter Anderson presented a proposal titled "Earth Cooperative," aimed at developing solutions based on community needs. The project, currently without funding, includes a comprehensive infographic outlining various components such as mapping assets, understanding strategic plans, and assessing air, water, and soil quality. The goal is to provide people with a clear understanding of their area's health and to offer a toolkit with potential solutions. Peter and Andrew discussed their approach to community engagement and the adoption of solutions, agreeing on a systematic strategy, with a focus on joining up solutions to problems and working with town and parish councils at a local level. They also discussed the importance of community democracy and organizing in solving climate problems, the need for decision-making frameworks, and the potential for collaborative projects across communities.