Paul Connell

UK Green Fund boosts waste heat projects with £22 million. A step forward for sustainable energy 🌱💡 The UK Green Fund has committed an additional £22 million to support projects that capture and reuse waste heat from various industrial processes. This initiative is part of the broader effort to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency across the UK, turning waste heat into a valuable resource for generating clean energy. 🔄⚡ -- £22 million is being allocated to waste heat recovery projects across the UK. -- These projects aim to capture heat from industries and redirect it for heating homes and businesses. -- Waste heat recovery reduces carbon emissions and improves overall energy efficiency. -- This initiative is part of the UK's plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. By focusing on the recovery of waste heat, the UK is not only improving energy efficiency but also making significant strides toward its net-zero goals. 🌍🔥 Waste heat, which would otherwise be lost, is now being harnessed to provide clean energy to homes and businesses, making this a key piece of the sustainable energy puzzle. Initiatives like this are essential for reducing reliance on fossil fuels and moving towards a more circular economy ♻️. The UK's continued investment in waste heat projects showcases the potential of innovative energy solutions to combat climate change while promoting economic and environmental sustainability. 🌿 #GreenEnergy #SustainableInnovation #WasteHeatRecovery #NetZero https://lnkd.in/gFbw86QA

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One of the first things this article in the New Statesman highlights is the lack of stability and coherent policy to shift the needle on retrofit. I'll add that in the last 20 months we've had: - The Liz Truss mini budget The chaos that followed meant we had to pivot our fledgling business. Others weren't so lucky, and homeowners with fixed rate mortgages ending have felt the pain acutely. - Rishi's green u-turn Having pivoted more to further develop and focus on our green offering, this announcement then deflated demand for green home upgrades in the private rented sector. Luckily we weren't dependent on government regulation and just this sector; other businesses who had invested to gear up for demand were. - The Rishi surprise early election This could have been called to coincide with the May elections (also saves a bit of money?), but instead it's likely to grab all the headlines for the next 6 weeks which could reduce sales activity in one of our busiest periods. Then the summer holidays will be upon us where activity tends to reduce. This is what me, my team, and every company operating in this space has had to deal with. All self-inflicted. All political. We'll be fine, and even stronger, because we have an excellent team, we're used to being punched in the face and getting back up, and we believe in what we're doing. I'm rather apolitical and try to look at who I believe has the best policies. But it would help enormously if whoever get's in at the next election gives the country more stability and less playing politics. British businesses and especially start-ups can then unleash their full potential. https://lnkd.in/e4hernjA #election #energyefficiency #strongandstable

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At a time of increasing need to retain and re-use buildings and ensure they are performing against energy, carbon and resilience considerations, Jack Earnshaw-Powell provides a helpful insight into the BREEAM-in-Use standard and how it can support the existing built environment on its sustainability journey. Some really important points in here Jack - nice work!

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Since we discussed the Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) last time, it seems only right that the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) is today’s feature for our “Funding Your Net Zero Journey” Linkedin series. PSDS provides grant funding for the installation of heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures. 🙋‍♂️ Who is eligible? 🙋‍♀️   Public sector organisations in England. Higher education institutions are independently governed and therefore ineligible, unless they are mainly funded out of public funds.    💲 How much funding is available per application? 💲   The carbon cost effectiveness of a grant application is calculated by dividing the requested amount by the lifetime direct carbon savings from measures funded by the grant alone. The maximum grant carbon cost is £510 per tonne of direct carbon saved by the grant-funded measures. All grant recipients must contribute a minimum of 12% of total final project value.   💻 How can I apply? 💻   The application portal for Phase 4 will open on Wednesday 9 October 2024 at 2pm and will close on Monday 25 November 2024 at 2pm. PSDS guidance, including application questions, has already been published on Salix’s website.   ✅ Our tip for success ✅   With heat network zoning regulations and the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) due to launch in 2025, it will strengthen your application to consider opportunities to connect to a local district heat network, either now or in the future. Heat networks are vital to the UK’s net zero goal and in cities, they are often the cheapest, low-carbon heating option. Having a viable plan to connect to a heat network in your PSDS application will go a long way in convincing the panel that your proposed works have longevity and investment value. #PSDS #netzero #heatnetworks

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Today's Guardian article "Thames Water's turnaround plan to be supervised by independent monitor" (7 August 2024) highlights a paradox in our water sector: despite widespread adoption of ISO 55000 standards, we're still facing significant market failures. As a Fellow of the Institute of Asset Management, I believe we must examine why our current asset management practices are falling short and how we can empower asset managers to make better decisions. The root of our current crisis lies not in a lack of standards, but in how they're implemented and the broader context in which decisions are made. I propose we focus on the following areas: 1. Aligning Incentives with Long-Term Sustainability: The current regulatory and financial framework often incentivizes short-term thinking, despite the long-term nature of water infrastructure. We need to redesign these incentives to reward decisions that prioritize long-term asset health and sustainability. This could involve:   - Longer regulatory periods to encourage more strategic planning   - Financial incentives tied to long-term asset performance metrics   - Penalties for underinvestment in critical infrastructure 2. Enhancing Decision-Making Tools and Processes: While ISO 55000 provides a solid framework, asset managers need better tools to make complex decisions in an uncertain environment. We should focus on:   - Developing more sophisticated risk assessment models that account for climate change and other long-term trends   - Implementing advanced data analytics and AI to improve predictive maintenance and investment planning   - Creating decision-support systems that better balance financial, environmental, and social factors 3. Strengthening Governance and Accountability: The recurring issues in our water sector suggest a need for stronger governance. Key levers here include:   - Mandating more diverse boards with expertise in long-term infrastructure planning   - Increasing transparency in decision-making processes and investment plans   - Implementing stricter accountability measures for asset management decisions These recommendations aim to address the underlying reasons why our current asset management practices, despite following ISO 55000, haven't prevented market failure. By focusing on incentives, decision-making tools, and governance, we can empower asset managers to make better long-term decisions. The challenges in our water sector run deeper than adherence to standards. We need a fundamental shift in how we approach asset management, one that truly aligns the interests of water companies, regulators, customers, and the environment. Only then can we hope to create a resilient and sustainable water sector that serves the public interest for generations to come. #AssetManagement #SmartRegulation #Governanance

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🚨With only one week to go to ‘Carbon vs Cost: Can you retrofit digital services for sustainability?’, techUK’s webinar sponsored by Transform, the discussion couldn’t come at a better time... With Scope 3 emissions reporting now mandatory across the EU (and looming albeit delayed in the UK), Technology organisations are waking up to their carbon footprint and the opportunity to reduce the carbon impact of their digital estate and operations. But how can organisations approach this? 🤔 The first step is often measurement, but simply understanding impact isn’t enough – we measure so we can improve. This session will really focus on what can we do to reduce negative impact and deliver environmental benefit. To help solve the climate crisis, it’s clear we’ll need to measure while acting – innovating on metrics and updating our capabilities as we go. 💡How can organisations optimise this process, learning from industry leaders? We’re bringing together 4 industry thinkers in an informal, conversational style webinar (no slides!), each one tackling this challenge from a different angle: *Claire Robinson – Director of Sustainable Business Consulting at Transform UK, passionate about the human side of technology transformation, who’ll lead the discussion. *Navveen Balani – GSF Co-Chair of Standards working group, who'll focus on the use of this ISO Software Carbon Intensity specification and the importance of Green AI. *Anne Currie of Building Green Software and CEO of Strategically Green, who’s trained thousands of engineers on the principles of Green Software, supporting many businesses to measure and optimise their estate. *Gerry McGovern – Inventor of the widely-used Top Tasks methodology and Author of World Wide Waste, a firm believer in holistic environmental measurement and degrowth. ❓The discussion will be framed around some of the burning questions in our industry: - Measuring Scope 3: how can we measure the impact of our digital estate? - Which metrics to use, their strengths, challenges and limitations with best-in-class industry examples - Can you use cost or performance as proxy metrics to carbon? - Could only focussing on carbon as a metric be dangerous? - ‘Retrofitting’ - What interventions have provably reduced negative environmental impact – practical examples across technology disciplines and industries - How can we minimise the environmental impact of generative AI? - Is Sustainable technology optimisation a measurement problem or a mindset one? Of course we’ll leave time for your burning questions, and would love to continue the conversation after the session. Sign up today, it’s free and open to everyone: https://ow.ly/lQvl50SewBh If you’d like a short primer on the topic before you attend the session, here’s a thought piece on Building Sustainable Services from Transform 👉 https://ow.ly/jaNI50SewBS

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I always think it suspect when public data that helps with better and more efficient planning of change is withheld. I always think who would benefit from no change and how they might try and influence.

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Want to be a supplier with the NHS? Then you'll need a Carbon Reduction Plan. Don't have one? Ecologi has got you covered with Ecologi Zero. Since April 2024 the PPN 06/21 policy means that all NHS suppliers are required to adopt Carbon Reduction Plans (CRPs) to mitigate their environmental impact and align with the NHS net zero ambition through to 2030. Book a FREE consultation meeting in with Joshua Rayner in our team today to get your business in shape

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👇 This is well worth watching. Clearly it's aimed at promoting Environment Bank's product (which is a good product for off-site solutions) but it also demonstrates how tricky, confusing and frustrating it is and will be trying to resolve #BNG on #smallsites. Even during this webinar there is info provided and statements made which are, I think, not quite right. Most #LPAs have yet to determine small site planapps since BNG became mandatory. When they start to do so I fear its going to be chaotic. 😱 #BiodiversityNetGain #Ecology #Planning

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New toolkit for council clean energy plans A​​​​​​​ new toolkit​​​ from distribution system operator UK Power Networks and local climate network UK100 aims to equip local authorities with the knowledge and resources for clean energy ambitions. ​​​Called Navigating the Net Zero Energy Transition: A toolkit for local authorities, it has been d​​​​​​esigned specifically for elected ​​​leaders​​​​​​​, cabinet members, and officers.​​ ​​​Local authorities across the UK are already witnessing changes, from a rise in local renewable energy projects to increasing demand for electric vehicle chargepoints and other green energy infrastructure. ​​ Now councils can collaborate and share insights with peers who are facing similar challenges and working towards similar goals. Read the full story on the Transport + Energy website: https://lnkd.in/eFm6g6Ak UK100 , UK Power Networks , Christopher Hammond , Lynne McDonald James Watson , Tracey Elsey #transport #energy #councils

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Really important that the Government's plans for growth through #PlanningReform also support delivery of its missions on #NetZero (and wider #EnvironmentalTargets) and opportunities for all (#GreenJobs). Key will be optimising outcomes across these missions, rather than trade offs.

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🏭 With nearly a thousand locations in Scotland alone producing waste heat totalling 1.7TWh which could potentially be captured and reused within heat networks, it is imperative that the means and methods on how to take meaningful steps towards accessing this huge resource are communicated. 🔦 With this mission statement, it was a privilege to play our part in shining a light into this slightly hidden corner of the energy transition solution through the publication of a waste heat guidance note. 📒 The guide takes the user through various key topics including the engineering technicalities, technology options, commercial considerations, procurement methods, contractual arrangements and financial supporting mechanisms. Scottish Enterprise The Scottish Government Fife Council Glasgow City Council Zero Waste Scotland Scottish Futures Trust #arup #lowcarbonheat #heatnetworks 👉 https://lnkd.in/eUhaExvW 👉 https://lnkd.in/eaXmSSBx

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The Scottish Climate Intelligence Service (SCIS) is now on LinkedIn! 🎉 The #SCIS is a climate change capacity-building programme for local authorities in Scotland, combining a national digital platform and a support service co-designed by the delivery partners and local authorities from across the country. Our digital platform - ClimateView - will collate area-wide emissions data to create standardised emissions inventories across all 32 of Scotland's local authorities. It will also calculate and visualise the emissions reduction impact of particular projects and interventions taken by local authorities in delivering their own area-wide emissions reduction strategies. Through workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions and 1-2-1s, our tailored support service will help local authorities to build the skills, knowledge and influence to use this data to better plan, monitor and deliver #climateaction at the scale and pace required for achieving their #netzero targets. The SCIS is delivered by a partnership between Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, ClimateView and the Improvement Service. This partnership brings together expert climate knowledge, practitioner insights and a track record of successfully supporting local authorities to deliver high quality, efficient local services both in Scotland and across the world. Follow us here to stay up to date with the SCIS journey and share this page with any colleagues and contacts who might be interested! If you have questions about who we are and what we do, you can contact us at [email protected]. COSLA Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) Sustainable Scotland Network #climatechange #localgovernment #NetZero #collaboration #knowledgesharing #

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“You can’t improve what you don’t measure”. Do you know your company's carbon impact? Do you need to align with the UK Government’s commitment to reduce #carbonemissions by 2050? A #carbonfootprint measure is often seen as the first stage in reducing your impact, and that's where our tool comes in... Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eGi-jhZA #carbonreduction

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Do you need to submit a Carbon Reduction Plan in line with PPN 06/21? Planning to work with the NHS or public sector on a Framework Agreement or large tender? 🏥 Finding it challenging to handle data collection and emissions measurement on your own? 🤔 Public sector Framework Agreement submissions now require a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP), which must include scope 1, 2, and a seb set of 3 emissions data. At Ecologi | B Corp™ we’ve got you covered! Our Ecologi Zero tool and expert team can simplify the process and assist with your submission. To view a sample report and discover how we can support your submission, click the link below: https://lnkd.in/gVvq44NT #sustainability

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Any business with multiple site, multiple project operations can benefit from an industrial symbiosis approach. If interested in how this methodology could be applied to your own business then please get in touch #circulareconomy #netzero

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The next Social Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway Network meeting will feature the Rural Social Enterprise Network, Social Enterprise Strategy for Scotland Overview - New Action Plan, and the Social Enterprise Census 2024. For more and to book: https://buff.ly/4ep69Ao

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Looking forward to attending and speaking at the Net Zero North East England Annual Summit on day 2 ( tomorrow ), considering how waste and recycling can contribute to regional #NetZero goals and how policy can help or hinder that delivery. The Environmental and climate change committee reported from their 2022/23 session that 5.6Mt of carbon savings were vested in moving biowaste away from landfill, reducing food waste and increased recycling and 4.7Mt was vested in reduced waste arisings by 2035. This together with the indirect support secondary resources gives to other industries decarbonisation journeys (8.3Mt by 2035) means waste and resources are central to #NetZero and #OneWorldLiving and a more #CircularEconomy. Getting policy right to deliver these goals and more is essential, but we have so much policy change in the sector, will they work together like a well drilled orchestra or compete for attention and be a cacophony of noise ?

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