Energy Island 2017 Outcomes of the Workshop

ENERGY ISLAND 2017 OUTCOMES OF THE WORKSHOP

Cornwall Energy Island - Summary Diagram

Y M O AL N SU S U O S A C ES E IN US D B

E CARBON

L JOBS WAGES HEALTH EDUCATION FOOTPRINT L

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ENERGY ISLAND 2017 OUTCOMES OF THE WORKSHOP

25 OCTOBER 2017 CORNWALL ENERGY ISLAND 2017

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 3 2 KEY EVENTS IN CORNWALL SINCE ENERGY ISLAND 2015 4 3 THE PROGRAMME 5 4 SPEAKER SESSIONS 6 5 WORKSHOP SESSIONS 8 7 ACTION COMMITMENTS 14 8 NEXT STEPS 16

2 Outcomes of the Workshop BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING

ENERGY ISLAND 2017 OUTCOMES OF THE WORKSHOP

1 INTRODUCTION

On Monday 3rd July 2017, 80 people gathered at the Eden Project to discuss the progress on the Cornwall Energy Island initiative that has taken place over the last two years, following the Energy Island 2015 event. Two years ago, 130 people attended for two days, thinking deeply together about what Cornwall’s energy future should look like. We wanted to bring that community back together and see what had happened. This report presents the outcomes of the workshop, as a contribution to the ongoing energy vision for Cornwall. Many thanks to all of the participants for bringing energy and enthusiasm to the day, to our lunch sponsor Cornwall New Energy and event sponsor Good Energy.

Photo of the participants at the end of the day

“ THROUGH THE ORIGINAL ENERGY ISLAND WE SOUGHT TO HELP CORNWALL ORGANISE ITS ENERGY INDEPENDENCE. THERE WERE ALREADY MANY GREAT INITIATIVES, AND THE CONTINUED PACE OF COORDINATED CHANGE SINCE THEN HAS BEEN INSPIRING. WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS SHARED GOAL.” ROGER NICKELLS, PARTNER BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING

2 KEY EVENTS IN CORNWALL SINCE ENERGY ISLAND 2015

There has been significant progress on • Ambitious targets for Cornwall’s low carbon energy in Cornwall since the Energy Future published by Cornwall Energy Island 2015 event: Council, including: • Cornwall Council and the Isles of Scilly • Reduce fuel poverty to 5% (from (CIoS) have secured a Devolution Deal 15%) with a strong energy theme, including • 50% locally owned generation support for community energy, grid reinforcement, geothermally heated • 100% electricity demand met by Enterprise Zones, and locally delivered renewables energy efficiency. • 30% of energy spend retained in • ERDF low carbon investments totalling the Cornish economy circa £91.8m have been invested into • 4000 green jobs low carbon initiatives across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, including £24m • 20% reduction in fuel bills of match funding, and 200 jobs created • A number of innovative pilot projects to date: have been developed, for example the • CETO Wave Energy UK Ltd £14.7m Sunshine Tariff trial in Wadebridge, with WPD, RegenSW, WREN and • Local Energy Market £13m Tempus Energy. • Cornwall New Energy £6.5m • Cornwall Council has commissioned • Jubilee Pool Geothermal Heat a number of studies relating to £1.8m sustainable energy, including: • Smart Islands £11m • A county wide strategic heat opportunities study • Wave Hub cable extensions £3.2m • Energy storage masterplan • Marine Technology RD&I Hub £9.3m • Cornwall Council has started the process of setting up a Cornwall • United Downs Deep Geothermal Energy Company. £10.6m • Successful joint funding application from BEIS to deliver a 3 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) energy strategy with the Heart of South West LEP and Dorset LEP.

4 Outcomes of the Workshop BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING

3 THE PROGRAMME

The day started with a welcome from Councillor Bob Egerton, the new portfolio holder for Planning and Economy. He set WELCOME: Cllr Egerton, Cornwall Council the scene in terms of Cornwall Council’s WORKSHOP SESSION 1: What has happened in Cornwall’s energy ambition and the progress that has been development since 2015, and where is more progress needed? made at a Local Enterprise Partnership and Council level in the past two years. SPEAKER SESSION 1: We then wanted to give participants the • Hazel Williams – Regen chance to share their reflections on what • Sophie Orme – Centrica has happened in the past two years. This first workshop was structured around • Diana Mompoloki – Isles of Scilly Council the seven key actions identified in the • Andy O’Brien – Zero Carbon West of England Cornwall Energy Island 2015 White Paper and to highlight what further action is • Lunch Sponsor: Christine Coonick – Cornwall New Energy/BRE National needed. Solar Centre Following the first workshop session, we Event Sponsor presentation: Will Heinzelmann Good Energy heard from people involved in cutting- SPEAKER SESSION 2: edge energy projects in Cornwall, with speaker sessions before and after lunch. • Tim Sawyer - Carnegie Clean Energy Limited Each of the speaker sessions was following • Helen Fitzgerald - Wales and West Utilities by a panel discussion and Q&A session • Ben Smallwood – BuroHappold Engineering with all the presenters. • Lucy Cotton – Geothermal Engineering Ltd We ended the day with a focus on action. This included an interactive session where • Peter Armstrong – Mixergy participants voted for the actions they WORKSHOP SESSION 2: Identifying priorities for action thought would be most strategic, based upon the first workshop session, and then ACTION COMMITMENT made a personal commitment to take SUMMING UP AND CLOSE action following the event. Finally we closed with some summary reflections.

4 SPEAKER SESSIONS

Participants heard from twelve speakers SOPHIE ORME, CENTRICA ANDY O’BRIEN, ZERO CARBON through the day, each providing a concise WEST OF ENGLAND INITIATIVE Sophie spoke about Centrica’s Cornwall ten minute summary about their projects, Local Energy Market project, which is Andy described the Zero Carbon West of followed by discussion with questions trialling an ‘ebay style’ platform for selling England initiative, a collaboration aiming from the chair and from the audience. A and buying flexibility on the distribution to accelerate the transition to a low carbon short summary of each speaker’s talk is network. This aims to put consumers at society in the West of England area. This is provided below. the heart of reducing grid constraints, bringing together renewables developers, enabling greater renewable capacity community groups, the four West of COUNCILLOR BOB EGERTON, to be connected. Centrica are working England local authorities, financers, CORNWALL COUNCIL with delivery partners Wester Power lawyers, IT specialists, PR companies and Distribution, National Grid and the other interested parties. There has been Bob reflected on the task of progressing University of Exeter. They are learning a positive response to the project, and the low carbon agenda, and the progress by doing to try to build a future energy care is being taken not to re-invent the that has been made since 2009. The 2030 system, and make it easier for consumers wheel but rather to build on the work of target for 100% renewable electricity is to access DSO, TSO and wholesale existing organisations. An early win for a challenging target. If it is to be met, market revenues. Key challenges include the initiative is an agreed appetite to re- marine renewables and deep geothermal current regulatory constraints, planning assess the feasibility of the Atlantic Array will have to be successful and the permission for new renewable energy and offshore wind farm which was previously government’s restrictive planning rules having sufficient grid capacity to trade mothballed. The first meeting of the sub- relating to onshore wind will have to be flexibility. group for this will take place shortly. changed. Even if Cornwall achieved 100% renewable electricity, there would still be a demand for oil and gas in heating DIANA MOMPOLOKI, ISLES OF CHRISTINE COONICK, BRE and transport. Cllr Egerton also promised SCILLY COUNCIL NATIONAL SOLAR CENTRE, to promote the outcomes of the Energy CORNWALL NEW ENERGY – Diana talked about the Smart Islands Island workshop within Cornwall Council. LUNCH SPONSOR initiative for the Isles of Scilly. The IoS has the highest carbon intensity in the Cornwall New Energy is a part funded HAZEL WILLIAMS, REGEN UK, high fuel poverty and the highest ERDF project being delivered under the rate of domestic electricity usage at ESIF Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Hazel described the Sunshine Tariff trial, 6,610KWh in 2014. The smart island project provides support to businesses a research project carried out with WPD, project is developing a replicable model and community groups in Cornwall and WREN and Tempus Energy. This looked at for Cornwall, the UK and beyond, with the Isles of Scilly to develop, promote incentivising people to use more electricity solar panels on 100 homes, pilot of 10 and install renewable energy solutions. during the day in summer months, when smart homes with heat pumps, solar PV It also ensures that CIOS enterprises and solar output is greatest. Key insights from and batteries, two solar gardens, updated communities benefit from more local the trial were that customer recruitment energy controls for 200 businesses with ownership and operation of energy was very challenging. Households' support and energy efficiency advice, generation and supply. More information perception of swift in demand was bigger and island-wide energy control system can be found on the Cornwall New Energy than the actual, with around a 13% shift providing cheaper, reliable connections website: www.cornwallnewenergy.com on average. She also described Regen’s for renewable power. This will alleviate work on local supply models with a focus a number of current ‘pain points’, and on the options of a local energy club and provide opportunities for work and STEM a Cornwall generation tariff. There was skill development for young people. also discussion of Regen’s ongoing work in relation to electricity storage and the commercial market for this.

6 Outcomes of the Workshop BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING

WILL HEINZELMANN, GOOD HELEN FITZGERALD, WALES LUCY COTTON, GEOTHERMAL ENERGY – EVENT SPONSOR AND WEST UTILITIES ENGINEERING LTD Good Energy is a 100% renewable Helen presented Wales and West Utilities Cornwall offers the best deep geothermal electricity and green gas supplier helping work studying future energy scenarios. resource in the UK. GEL is exploiting this UK homes and businesses to be part This includes modelling electricity and by developing a 1MWe deep geothermal of a sustainable solution to climate heat supply and demand together, with an power plant at United Downs, using change. Last year, Good Energy launched hourly simulation for Swansea, including natural permeability and existing Selectricity, the UK’s first peer to peer electric vehicle charging profiles and wind fracture networks to create a reservoir. platform allowing business customers to tidal and solar generation; a previous case This is a system with a 2500m injection purchase 100% renewable electricity from study for a renewable Cornwall using wind, well and 4500 production well, hoping local generators. solar, geothermal and battery storage; for 175°Cinjection temperature and the ‘Freedom Project’ testing hybrid gas/ 80°Creturn temperature. The system will Battery storage will be key to enabling electricity domestic heating systems in 75 produce electricity, and a large amount a transition to a smart, flexible energy homes in Bridgend; and evaluating the of heat as a by-product. This heat could system. Domestic battery storage systems potential for green gas feedstock which be used for bathing, aquaculture, process are likely to be underutilised as they could meet 33% of domestic heat demand heat, greenhouses, space heating, or other have a storage capacity that far exceeds in the UK. Overall, with a combination purposes. It is a challenging project due the needs of the average household. of hybrid heating, and green gas, and to lack of policy support for geothermal A ‘community’ storage system would hydrogen, there is a potential for 87% electricity generation in the UK, its take advantage of different individual carbon reduction from domestic heating perception as risky by private investors, consumption profiles and allow a smaller and uncertainty about public perception. battery to be installed and worked harder. This is a three year project part funded Community storage would help the BEN SMALLWOOD, by the EU, and work on the first well is local grid and allow a greater range of BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING expected to take place in the first quarter households to leverage the benefits of of 2018. storage through a range of ownership Ben talked about Cornwall’s strategic models. opportunities for heat. Challenges include Cornwall’s constrained gas and PETER ARMSTRONG, MIXERGY electricity infrastructure, with a high TIM SAWYER, CARNEGIE CLEAN summer demand imbalance for electricity; Peter presented the mixergy tank, ENERGY LIMITED the poor thermal efficiency of Cornwall’s an advanced hot water tank which is buildings stock which has the highest optimised to absorb surplus renewable Tim described the CETO 6 wave project level of pre-1990 housing in the UK, electricity. It has high levels of insulation, being developed at the Wave Hub site, and high proportion of houses with no reducing heat losses, avoids mixing of which includes a single 1MW CETO central heating or no gas central heating. hot and cold water, leading to a stratified unit in stage 1 in 2018, to be expanded There are opportunities to make use tanks, which maximises the amount to 15MW in 2021. The second stage is of Cornwall’s heat resources, including of useful hot water stored and avoids planned to prove economic viability. Tim deep geothermal, abandoned mines, bacterial growth at the bottom of the also outlined a number of case studies water source heat pumps and waste heat tank. They estimate that an additional in Australia, including the world’s first from industry. This could make use of 50% of solar PV connection would be wave integrated renewable microgrid on district heating, with viability strongly enabled through the use of intelligent and an island; an off grid solar/storage/diesel affected by pipework costs and the type stratified hot water tanks, which provide power system; and several grid-connected of system being replaced. There may distributed energy storage to the system. microgrid projects combining a variety be opportunities for heat networks to Hot water is an effective type of storage as of technologies including storage and aid electricity grid balancing. A number demand is relatively constant throughout renewables. of opportunities have been identified, the year. including in Porthleven, Bodmin, Falmouth and Camborne/Pool/Redruth, which are shown on an interactive map.

5 WORKSHOP SESSIONS

The day was bookended by two interactive THEME 3 INFRASTRUCTURE THEME 6 PROVIDE FUNDING workshop sessions. In the first session, PLANNING AND FINANCE TO PROJECTS participants were invited to reflect on what progress has been made in Cornwall Develop a detailed understanding of Ensure availability of development in the last two years, framed around a future energy system in Cornwall to funding, address the cost of capital, the seven key actions identified in the incorporate demand, generation and interest levels on loans, and support small Cornwall Energy Island White Paper. distribution. This study will inform a projects to access larger pots of funding strategic plan alongside detailed research through aggregation. into the future management of these systems such as funding, legislation and ownership of electricity, gas and heat to 5.1 ACTION THEMES address the issues of the status quo.

THEME 1 CREATE A THEME 4 TRAIN, ATTRACT THEME 7 POLICY AND POWERFUL VISION FOR A AND RETAIN MORE SKILLED REGULATION REFORM CORNWALL ENERGY ISLAND WORKERS Identify the ways in which policy and FUTURE Colleges and universities play an regulation blocks the Energy Island vision Stories are powerful, and this story important role in developing the next and find solutions. Also identify pro-active should be told consistently by Cornwall generation of skills. There is also a ‘demand policy that does and could support the Council, the LEP, community energy side’ challenge to overcome: the low Energy Island vision, at national and local groups, businesses investing in the wages, lack of public transport, distance levels. region, and others, in the media and from the rest of the UK, and cost of living through publications and public speaking make it difficult to attract and retain skilled opportunities. people in the county.

THEME 2 BUILD ON THE THEME 5 JUST DO IT STRENGTH OF COORDINATED Develop a series of projects which support LEADERSHIP the actions and help to deliver project- There are many people leading the based progress within Cornwall. Working creation of Cornwall’s energy future. The collaboratively on projects is an excellent involvement of a diversity of stakeholders, way to build relationships and develop a and the distributed nature of leadership strategic understanding through learning is a strength, but greater data sharing about other’s perspectives. and coordination would be valuable. Coordination activities should be valued and resourced.

8 Outcomes of the Workshop BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING

5.2 WORKSHOP APPROACH

Each action was presented in two During the speaker sessions, the post-it posters, one reflecting on what has been note comments on the ‘What progress is happening, and the second considering still needed’ posters were grouped into what progress is still needed. Each poster themes. In the second workshop session, included information from the outputs of each participant was given five sticky the 2015 Energy Island event. dots and invited to use these to vote for the actions on the ‘What progress is still In the first workshop session, participants needed’ posters that they thought were were invited to write on post-it notes to most important. They could either vote identify what has been happening since for individual post-it note comments or for the first Cornwall Energy Island Event and themes. what still needs to happen in this space. the image below shows the completed poster for Action Theme 1.

Posters for Action Theme 1: Create a powerful vision for a Cornwall Energy Island future

5.3 OUTCOMES OF THE WORKSHOP SESSIONS

Overall, 234 unique comments were made across the seven action themes both NB THIS IS COPIED DATA AND IS NOT LINKED! in terms of what has been happening and what needs to happen. A total of 145 sticky dots were placed as votes, on the ‘still needed’Action themeactionsPrioritisation identifiedWhat invotes has happenedWhat is stillpost-its needed (beenratio happening still needed/total AND still comments needed) participant comments.1. Vision 10 16 30 46 1.88 2. Coordinated leadership15 11 16 27 1.45 The posters with the greatest number 3. Infrastructure planning28 10 19 29 1.90 of votes were Funding and finance; Infrastructure4. planning;Train, attract Policy and and26 retain skilled13 workers 18 31 1.38 regulation reform;5. Just anddo it Attract and13 retain 13 14 27 1.08 skilled workers.6. Funding These are and therefore finance28 16 13 29 0.81 the areas of 7.action Policy which and regulationworkshop25 reform 7 38 45 5.43 participants considered most important to take forward. This may be because the other action themes have already made good progress over the past two years.

Total number of comments and votes per action theme 50

15 Number if comments/votes 10

0 1. Vision 2. Coordinated 3. Infrastructure 4. Train, attract 5. Just do it 6. Funding and 7. Policy and leadership planning and retain finance regulation skilled workers reform

What has happened What is still needed Prioritisation votes

Total number of comments and votes per action theme

10 Outcomes of the Workshop BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING

The following sections summarise the post-it note contributions to each theme.

THEME 1 VISION THEME 2 COORDINATED LEADERSHIP

The Cornwall Energy Island vision has Cornwall Council continues to be at the • Vertically, between local and national been well developed over the past two centre of coordinated leadership in energy organisations. In particular, achieving years, with several comments noting in Cornwall. It has coordinated the low both appropriate levels of devolution Cornwall Council’s 2030 energy targets carbon ERDF calls for CIOS LEP, developed and a supportive national policy and and others commenting on energy in the ambitious plans for Cornwall’s Energy regulatory framework are important CIoS Devolution Deal. Also mentioned Future, and coordinated with other South for local energy development. This were the summary document from Energy West LEPs to secure funding from BEIS fora involves having good relationships Island 2015, a powerful vision with active regional energy strategy study. Committed with central government, BEIS and partnership and buy in on the Isles of Scilly councillors have helped to drive this Ofgem. and a new environment strategy in the agenda forward. In the Isles of Scilly, there By bringing people together and Truro Diocese. is a partnership of all major stakeholders continuing to develop a collegial identity with a shared vision and the early talks Most of the actions proposed were about among the individuals working towards for the Hitachi smart islands project disseminating and sharing the vision that this agenda in various organisations, have brought people together. Cornwall has already been created and has broad the Energy Island Initiative supports this Council has supported the Wave Hub, and consensus. This included general public coordination. WWU has developed energy scenarios for awareness, and disseminating the vision Cornwall and elsewhere, inspired by the through adoption by other organisations last event. such as research institutes. There is also a need for greater buy-in to the vision from Ongoing collaboration and coordination is elected Council members and the LEP. This needed at three levels: vision can also be powerful in promoting • Within Cornwall, where suggestions the unique identity of Cornwall as a centre for next steps included setting up of energy leadership. an ongoing ‘energy board’ or ‘forum’ that could continue to coordinate and support progress. This needs to be structured to foster openness and collaboration, in a context where competitiveness is incentivised. • Horizontally beyond Cornwall, with other localities and peers. Organisations with wider geographical remits are well-placed to share learning across different localities. This is happening already, through organisations which operate both in Cornwall and elsewhere, e.g. WWU study in Swansea and Leeds and with the planned strategic energy study across three South West LEPs.

THEME 3 INFRASTRUCTURE THEME 4 TRAIN, ATTRACT THEME 5 JUST DO IT PLANNING AND RETAIN SKILLED WORKERS Infrastructure planning has moved There are training courses for sustainable A lot of ‘just doing it’ has been happening, forward substantially in the last two energy and construction in several partly thanks to the ERDF low carbon years, with several studies and monthly educational institutions in Cornwall, projects which are now under way. These updated maps published by WPD; an including Exeter University, Cornwall include new initiatives and physical infrastructure plan published and adopted College and the Eden Project. This projects. by the Isles of Scilly; long term scenarios includes apprenticeships and local New initiatives include PRP and National for South-West electricity infrastructure college programmes, degrees in Solar Centre’s Cornwall New Energy developed by WPD in collaboration with renewable energy, public guidance on project; Centrica’s Cornwall local energy National Grid; the development of a whole energy efficiency, and training in deep market; WREN, WPD, Tempus and Regen system energy model by WWU; and an geothermal engineering at Rosemanowes. SW’s Sunshine Tariff; and Hitachi and Isles energy system and storage masterplan Potential future training opportunities of Scilly Smart Islands. The United Downs and a strategic heat opportunities study include new courses at the Eden Project , deep geothermal project has obtained published by Cornwall Council. and training opportunities in sustainable funding and electric vehicle charging and traditional construction in St Participants felt that further progress infrastructure has been developed Austell through a townscape heritage was needed on storage, data sharing, throughout Cornwall as part of the Drive programme. and further studies building on the work EV project. There are now 16 rapid charge that has been carried out so far. Further There was strong support in the workshop points and 25 fast charge points. studies proposed focused on integration for a greater focus on higher education, Future projects could include biogas heavy and coordination in a number of areas, including STEM degrees and promoting goods vehicles; vehicle-to-grid technology between: the work of the Energy Policy Group at for electric vehicles; compression of green the University of Exeter, as well as more • Different forms of energy demand gasses into gas grid storage facilities; industry-academia partnerships. There was hybrid heating (such as the WPD and • Energy and other issues also a suggestion for specialist training in WWU FREEDOM project); and further fast smart networks and power systems. • Renewable, fossil fuel and nuclear charging point installations. energy. Participants also noted the challenge of Implementing physical projects and retention of talent and job security to initiatives is essential to drive the Energy encourage people to relocate to Cornwall Island agenda forward. This is where new or remain and build a life in Cornwall jobs are created, where energy system following training. This involves having actually changes and the energy system a thriving energy sector rather than becomes low carbon. Projects also individual jobs, with jobs in different provide opportunities for development of organisations that people can move collaborative relationships, learning and between. Many R&D roles are dependent data collection, which can be shared and on short term project funding, and these lead to new initiatives. need to be longer term, beyond two to three years, to provide stable lifestyles for skilled people.

12 Outcomes of the Workshop BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING

THEME 6 FUNDING AND THEME 7 POLICY AND FINANCE REGULATION REFORM

In the past two years, Cornwall has seen The policy context for sustainable There has been good progress on policy at £90m invested in ERDF low carbon energy has changed substantially since a local level: projects. Cornwall Council has also signed the first Energy Island event in March • Cornwall Council have published an ECO contract with SSE and WPD has 2015. Following the general election in challenging Cornwall Energy Future contributed innovation funding to the May 2015, policy announcements from 2030 targets and renewable energy ‘sunshine tariff’ project in Wadebridge. national government reduced support for planning guidance The Energyfund Cornwall crowdfunder onshore renewable energy, community raised £100,000 for community energy energy, and energy efficiency. Support • In the Isles of Scilly there has been projects. These funds have provided jobs has been focused on nuclear, shale gas coordination with the Environment and enabled a step-change in energy and offshore wind. The community energy Agency, Ofgem and Marine innovation in Cornwall. sector has been searching for new viable Management Organisation as part of business models due to a much reduced the Smart Island project. However, the Brexit process creates Feed-in-Tariff. The 2016 Brexit vote leads uncertainty for inward grant funding for Participants voiced strong desire for to uncertainty in the UK’s approach to Cornwall. Proposals for future funding national policy continuity and consistency energy policies that have historically been included consideration of both revenue and concern about lack of joined up developed in the context of EU directives streams and capital funding. In terms of thinking between BEIS, Ofgem and DEFRA. including on renewable energy, energy revenue, there is a need for stable income There were also comments about local efficiency and smart meters. streams and innovation to create viable policy and devolution, with a desire for business models in the current context. On a more positive note, the reduction in greater devolved powers and community support for renewable generation has led led policy. Suggestions for sources of future funding to a focus on the system level in electricity. and finance included Green Bond The policy and regulatory reform with This includes innovation in smart, flexible issues; use of crowdfunder expertise; the strongest support from participants system operation, storage and demand further funding from BEIS; potentially related to energy market rules. This response. The community energy sector attracting funding by setting up an energy included changing the remit of Ofgem to has been forced to innovate, and it is storage centre of excellence in Cornwall. include climate change targets and focus becoming clear that local supply and local Consistent and long term development on universal access to energy services energy markets are needed for viability in and R&D funding is needed, as well as rather than the unit price of energy. a post-subsidy world. Brexit may lead to rapid funding availability and flexibility in There was also support for changing the opportunities for greater local devolution funding that recognises the shifting nature energy regulations to allow local supply of energy, with potential for changes in of innovation projects. and support a more decentralised energy procurement rules and energy market market. Directing existing and future income rules to provide a greater focus on the into investment in energy projects could local economy. Minimum EPC standards also be a way forward. A Cornwall Energy have been set for rental properties. Company could be part of this, as well as locally owned private developments, and potentially some form of localisation of profits from the electricity and gas networks.

6 ACTION COMMITMENTS

At the end of the day, participants were invited to write postcards to their future selves, making a commitment to taking action inspired by Energy Island 2017. Thirty three participants wrote on postcards, which were sent back to them in October 2017.

Word cloud of participants responses

ANONYMISED EXAMPLES OF THE COMMITMENTS

“Follow up on all projects from today to see how they're progressing” “Join up more with other ERDF Projects” “Work out how to include a schools outreach programme in our project” “Look up the case studies to understand them in more detail” “Finally switch my electricity provider to Good Energy. Long overdue” “Explore heat as a separate resource to electricity ”

14 Outcomes of the Workshop BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING

Continuing with ongoing work was a regular theme in the action commitments but there were also a large number of commitments relating to new studies, initiatives, projects and groups. Outreach and education was a theme mentioned by seven participants, echoing the strong prioritisation of outreach in the workshop sessions. Seven participants committed to following up a new connection with a person or organisation they met at the Energy Island event. Some made personal commitments, including never buying another water bottle, switching to a renewable energy providor and home retrofit.

FigureAction 1 commitment—5 Action commitment themes themes

7 NEXT STEPS

The workshop responses suggested DATA SHARING FUNDING some next steps that could be taken by The potential for integrative studies Securing steady and flexible sources of the community brought together by the that build on the exiting work can be funding is difficult to address directly, as Energy Island events. These are as follows: substantially enhanced through strong it is affected by national policy, subsidy data sharing across different organisations. regimes for fossil fuels and renewable SHARING THE VISION ERDF funded projects could share their energy, and the outcomes of Brexit in outcomes and learnings openly with terms of access to regional development We already have a strong vision for Energy Island stakeholders in Cornwall, funding. These issues should be borne in Cornwall’s energy future, supported and the gas and electricity utilities could mind in national policy lobbying activities by Cornwall Council’s Energy Future participate in ongoing data sharing, and could be coordinated with regions 2030 and studies carried out by several building on existing trends. outside Cornwall. organisations. Now, we need to share this vision widely within and beyond Cornwall, to the general public and key stakeholders. POLICY AND REGULATION CAREER SECURITY Securing buy-in and adoption of this There is a need for a combination of Job security would be supported by a vision by key stakeholders could be a way greater and more consistent support thriving energy sector in Cornwall, which forward. for sustainable energy transition from a the other actions would create. Plans national level, and removal of restrictions for additional training and education STUDIES to local initiatives through greater are under way. Key issues highlighted devolution of energy powers. At the included the need for a diversity of jobs in Many studies carried out over the past national level, this could include changing the energy sector, so that skilled workers two years are clarifying pieces of the the remit of Ofgem to include climate would be able to make a life in Cornwall puzzle. Now what is needed is to bring change. At the local level, this could knowing that there would be work beyond them together, looking at heat, electricity include providing a right to local supply. a single organisation or research project. It and transport in an integrated way, and is important to avoid creating monopolies, considering the interactions of multiple and for companies operating in Cornwall energy vectors. It is also important to link STORAGE to provide apprenticeships, training and energy to community, economy and jobs, jobs for local people. As the context for developing new and other infrastructure and resource renewable electricity generation has systems. become increasingly challenging, attention has been focused on storage and system-management initiatives. Developing storage is a future ‘just do it’ action with a lot of promise.

16 Outcomes of the Workshop BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING

HOW TO DO IT There are already organisations in Cornwall contributing to this agenda, including As we progress towards developing the ‘environmental growth strategy’ Cornwall’s energy system, we need actions developed by the Local Environment that are commensurate with the scale of Partnership and others. It is important for the problem of climate change. This is a an ongoing energy island organisation big challenge, and building momentum to find its niche, to add something to the towards a more sustainable energy system existing organisational ecosystem rather is in all of our interests. than competing with what is already The Energy Island initiative has built there. Please get in touch if you would like on a long history of sustainable to be part of an ongoing energy island energy development in Cornwall, and community, and if you have any resources contributes a gathering-space to a thriving to offer in to that process (e.g.hosting, pro community. To continue to take this bono, sponsorship, time). forward, a more ongoing and directed approach may be needed as a next step. Continuing the coordination that is provided by the Energy Island community could be done at a variety of different levels: • An informal network for whoever wants to join, to share information, framings and narratives and coordinate activities. This could include an email discussion list. • Creating a website as a central holding place for relevant studies by different organisations, which could be part of the network e.g. WWU, WPD, EnergyIsland, Cornwall Counc • Setting up an Energy Island steering group for Cornwall and IoS • Commissioning a study into options for ongoing governance of an Energy Island organisation in Cornwall. This process would probably have parallels with the Zero West initiative in the West of England presented by Andy O’Brien • Setting up a data sharing repository, which could be used for integrated studies.

Copyright © 1976-2017 BuroHappold Engineering. All Rights Reserved 17 www.burohappold.com/energy-island/ ENERGYISLAND 2017 OUTCOMES OF THE WORKSHOP CORNWALL ENERGY ISLAND e FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: mail: [email protected] C ON Adam Poole Adam T AC T