Overcoming barriers to delivery of renewable energy - low carbon future for Cambridgeshire
We have signed up to the UK100 clean energy pledge, committing to secure 100% clean energy by 2050.
By signing up to the UK100 network we are pledging to secure clean energy, relegating fossil fuels to the past as much as it can, and for Cambridgeshire to become part of an exciting smart new energy system.
More renewable energy and battery storage is needed to support the Government’s net zero carbon commitments by 2050 and deliver on the County Council’s climate emergency declaration in May 2019.
We are already at the forefront of renewable energy investment, and have so far invested £19 million into energy projects including solar parks. With an investment programme of a further £55 million to deliver during the next few years, this will help Cambridgeshire move towards the new energy system our future needs.
Our MLEI vision
Our vision is to secure renewable and resilient energy supplies and infrastructure that can support local needs. We will do this whilst maximising commercial benefit for the Council and making best use of council assets to reduce carbon emissions and environmental impacts, reaching our aim of net zero carbon by 2050.
Our journey began in 2012 with a grant from Intelligent Energy Europe. This helped us to identify a framework for investing into energy infrastructure, to upskill staff and understand the risks and issues in developing energy projects.
Mobilising Local Energy Investment
The MLEI Cambridgeshire project has delivered more than £15 million worth of low carbon energy projects by the end of August 2015.
There are currently two types of investment projects:
- Building retrofits of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy to public sector sites: schools, offices, libraries, leisure centres and other buildings
- Larger scale renewables projects including a 12MW Solar photovoltaic farm to be built on county council-owned land.
By starting with county council and other MLEI Cambridgeshire partners own assets, we have expanded skills and experience in this kind of working, strengthening the local supply chain and demonstrating the possible return on investment. In the longer-term we plan to expand the scope of the investment programme, working with other public and commercial sector partners.
The MLEI programmes is made up of three strands, all of which deliver the council's climate change mitigation ambitions.
Contact the team by emailing climate@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
