European Green Capital Award 2015 Bristol UK Technical Bid

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1 European Green Capital Award 2015 Bristol UK Technical Bid Chapter 10 Eco-Innovation and Sustainable Employment A. The Present Situation Recent studies show that Bristol city region s environmental goods and services sector contributes 2,400m (Bristol City 1,100m) to the economy and employs over 19,292 people (Bristol City 9,100) in over 1000 companies. Bristol s low carbon economy is growing far more quickly than the underlying national trend. Bristol City Council (BCC) has a 500m climate plan to reduce CO2 emissions. Strong partnership working is critical to success. BCC and the surrounding municipalities, universities, businesses and communities are working together to achieve environmental and social sustainability. There is a particular emphasis on: innovation, green jobs and businesses, inward investment, developing supply chains, knowledge transfer and skills, showcasing eco innovation projects that widen community engagement and build awareness of the smart eco city. Bristol's strongest partnerships include: Bristol City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) The strategic economic partnership for the City Region includes business, municipalities and Universities. It has a dedicated Low Carbon Sector Group and aims to create new jobs by 2030 and attract 1 billion private sector investment over the next 3 years. Low Carbon South West (LCSW) Established as a partnership between Bristol City Council, universities and green business - with 3,000 members. It is now an independent body and is one of the largest environmental technology trade networks in Europe. It is supporting its members through training, sector promotion and developing feasibility studies and business cases for eco business investment. Environmental Technology Innovation Network (inet) A knowledge transfer and innovation partnership between the Universities, Bristol City Council and others. It provides tailored business innovation and growth support to 250 companies in key environmental technology sectors. 1

2 BCC is also working with other partners, for example: REGEN South West on marine renewable energy Centre for Sustainable Energy on domestic energy efficiency Western Power on smart grids Toshiba Europe Research Labs on smart cities The Schumacher Institute, working with businesses and public bodies to prepare for change, from climate change and resource depletion. The Green Register on sustainable construction The Architecture Centre and the Bristol Constructing Excellence knowledge exchange network on sustainable building design and construction 2

3 A1. Innovations that address material security and/or resource efficiency and reduce environmental impacts; Bristol s partnerships are stimulating private sector investment, for example: Composite materials to replace highly engineered metal parts of wind turbines. Advanced anaerobic digesters are now processing food waste from Bristol producing methane to contribute to the national natural gas network and for transport. A Bio-Bug (converted VW Beetle) is powered by the gas and used to promote eco awareness. Figure 1: Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste and the Bio-Bug visiting a school An innovative construction system using straw bales formed into prefabricated panels in a portable Flying Factory this allows superinsulated, high-performance, low energy passive buildings to be built using renewable, locally sourced, carbon sequestering materials that include straw bale and hemp to create a less than zero carbon construction system. This was piloted in Bristol in a community centre with support from the city council. 3

4 Figure 2: Modcell Straw Bale Community Building and Flying Factory 4

5 A2. Awareness raising and training to encourage the development and take-up of environmentally friendly technologies, particularly through training in industrial and business settings Bristol has a diverse programme for businesses to raise awareness and enable take up of environmentally friendly technologies. A list of activities from 2012 are shown in Table 1 below. Activities Lead Organisation Period Training Protecting intellectual property for environmental businesses Programme for businesses on marketing environmental technologies Carbon accounting for environmental businesses Improve Your Resource Efficiency Programme reducing energy and waste. Procurement and supply chain innovation seminars Project management for green businesses Knowledge Transfer inet and Business West Several 2012 inet and Bristol Business School July and September 2012 inet and University September 2012 Business West Annual programme Forum for the Future Several 2012 inet and Bristol Business School November 2012 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Universities On-going Bespoke market research for environmental businesses inet and Universities Customer responsive Renewable Energy Survey and Report LCSW and Deloitte Awareness Raising and Networking: Bristol Port Green Industries LCSW Quarterly Forum UK Offshore Renewable Energy Conference Green Mingle Network Evenings forum around green agenda with business and community stakeholders Sustainable Business Breakfasts Smart Grid Symposium business opportunities of smart grid City Region Carbon reduction Challenge Environmental Business Networking evenings Bristol and Bath Science Park Bristol Green Capital Partnership Annual in third year April 2012 Monthly Bristol Green Capital Monthly Partnership & IMS Consulting LCSW July 2012 Forum for the Future LCSW Annual Quarterly Promoting Hydrogen opportunities inet October 5

6 Activities Lead Organisation Period to local businesses A3. Social innovation and stakeholder participation Bristol has a comprehensive 10m programme that is successfully engaging stakeholders and the local community in developing entrepreneurship, innovative social action, alternative modes of organisation and sustainable development See Table 2. Some examples are: BCC has supported a social enterprise Bristol Green Doors to enable enthusiastic green citizens to open their homes to visitors to demonstrate energy saving and renewable energy savings measures. 70% of visitors were "more likely to install related solutions" after visiting the homes (right). BCC has supported the Knowle West Media Centre, based on a municipal housing estate, engaging individuals and communities in innovative projects such as a European smart metering pilot with Toshiba. Devolving power, sharing resources, empowering community led change Devolution of Environmental Decisions and Budgets Self-Build Eco- Homes Straw-built Community Centre Enabling local communities to determine funding priorities on environmental and other issues. Local planning framework encouraged sustainable building schemes with several sites under consideration BCC innovation helped achieve a straw bale community centre which a Bristol based company is now a UK leader in straw bale building. Community Green Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship Support Green Enterprise Start-ups in Disadvantaged Communities and Green Entrepreneurs Sustainable Food BCC & ERDF support to community led environmental sector growth including furniture recycling and an innovative community business development in the green and digital sector Community Challenge Fund encourages local initiatives with seed funds. Bristol Food Network Bringing together community and commercial interests to promote innovative use of land, 6

7 distribution of local food and improving access to healthy food for disadvantaged communities. BCC is supporting the network and also providing land for community allotments, community orchards, school gardening clubs BCC has promoted local food retailing innovations such as farmers markets and slow food markets. Bristol is a pilot European food city. Local Community Energy Bristol Energy Network: A network of grassroots initiatives in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. BCC s 50,000 Catalyst Fund interest free loan fund to stimulate innovative social energy enterprises Bristol Community Energy Development Agency (bidding with BCC support for ERDF Competitiveness Programme start-up investment) Community Local Finance Bristol has a successful Credit Union providing local savings and low cost loan schemes for low income households Bristol has a new local currency - The Bristol Pound. Whole community stakeholder participation events Festivals and Events Big Green Week - Bristol s festival of sustainability in Bristol established in 2010 complementing European Green Week Bristol Festival of Nature is the largest science festival in the UK Table 2: Community environmental innovation 7

8 A4. Does the city budget identify funds dedicated to support environmental R&D (with particular reference to eco-innovation) by public and private entities? UK municipalities are not responsible for research and development funding. Despite this lack of statutory responsibility Bristol City Council has close partnerships with industry, academia and the community to directly participate in environmental technology research and development programme. Examples include the UK Low Carbon Network smart grid project, the Technology Strategy Board's Future City programme and the EU Framework 7 programme. EU Structural Funds are also used to enable SME participation in R&D activities. Bristol is also a member of the European Network of Living Labs. Some examples of projects are given in Table 3 below. Project Key Aims/ Actions BCC Budget Total Budget inet Encouraging and 150,000 supporting innovation by small and medium sized environmental businesses inet Innovation Supporting high potential 200,000 Accelerator environmental businesses Green Deal Pilot New home energy 200,000 2,000,000 Project efficiency measures Smart City Demonstrating smart 24,000,000 Demonstrator technology at city scale Electric Vehicles Development ICT for 250,000 electric vehicles Hydrogenesis Research, build and 225,000 operate the UK s first hydrogen powered ferry to in the heart of Bristol City Bristol Community Energy Development Agency Support growing Bristol community energy sector. 175, ,000 Green Business Park development Purpose built centre for eco-businesses Table 3: Examples of Environmental R&D 6,000,000 12,000,000 8

9 A5. Number of jobs created in green sectors in total and as share of total jobs in the city and total jobs created during a period of one year. Green jobs account for over 4% of total jobs in the city. From 2010 to 2011 green jobs grew by 2.2% whilst total employment declined by 2.1%. The rate of growth is accelerating reflecting the growing attractiveness of the city for the green sector, supported by the city s approach to sector development. In 2009/10 sales of green sector goods and services totalled 1,145m. Key sectors are alternative fuels ( 266m), building technologies ( 169m), alternative fuel vehicles ( 121m) and water and waste water supply and treatment ( 99m). Sustainable Employment: Green Sector Jobs Growth in Bristol Year Total Jobs ,700 Annual Growth Green Sector Jobs Green Sector Jobs Share of All Jobs Green Sector Annual Growth % % % Not Available , , , Table 4: Green sector job growth A6. Share of hybrid or fully electric cars sold in total stock of vehicles owned by the city The city has successfully reduced carbon emissions from business travel by 32% since 2003/4. Currently, less than 1% of the BCC fleet is hybrid or electric. Bristol has tested a range of electric vehicles, including scooters, cars and a small bus. A network of EV charging points has been established in the city. A Freight Consolidation Centre has been developed near to the Port utilising an electric heavy goods vehicle as an alternative to numerous separate delivery vehicles. 9

10 Figure 3 example of Freight Consolidation Electric Lorry in use. BCC is working with other public sector bodies to increase the use of electric mobility. The local health authority created a Zero Petrol Team using a combination of electric cycles and cars. This has led to a new social enterprise which is developing a shared corporate and public car club fleet serving the Council and other public bodies. (GO LOW 2012) Bristol City area has over around 700 H&EVs (2011) and this has increased by 374% in for years faster than the UK. Word count for Indicator 10A =

11 B. Measures implemented over the last five to ten years B1. Initiatives aimed at increasing eco-innovation and sustainable employment. Bristol s commitment to eco-innovation and sustainable employment is core to the Bristol Community Strategy (2003, updated 2010) - developed and endorsed by the business, public, community and voluntary sectors in the city. Partnership In 2006 Bristol established Low Carbon South West, referred to in Section A In 2010 Bristol set up the inet referred to in Section A, BCC is now a partner in a proposal for a 4milllion extension of the inet. In 2011 BCC established a new team of officials Bristol Futures which is developing an integrated economic, technology and sustainability programme. BCC has: implemented environmental policy to drive innovation its Zero Waste to Landfill policy procuring an advanced gasification and pyrolysis waste to energy plant; supported demonstration projects, e.g. the electric freight consolidation centre and Hydogen Ferry; developing new standards boosting eco-innovation e.g. requiring all new development to have 20% on-site renewable energy; provided support services for SMEs, e.g. with free environmetnal advice; promoted international cooperation, e.g. sharing best practice through the EGCA; supported the development of emerging skills, jobs and training, e.g. a 4m programme with local colleges providing green building and refurbishment skills. 11

12 Figure 4 Naming ceremony for the innovative new hydrogen powered ferry now operating in Bristol Harbour. 12

13 Environmental Business Clusters Bristol City Council has focused on business clusters implementing more sustainable business practices, e.g. Cater Road Business Park (2002-7): o Business-to business use of waste as raw material o Tailored resource efficiency training o Common infrastructure and waste services investment Avonmouth and Severnside a major UK industrial area in Bristol has: o An industrial Symbiosis network transforming waste into resources o A Knowledge Transfer Network focussing on waste reduction and recycling for heavy industry. o Current feasibility study of a Heat Grid. Green Public Procurement BCC implemented a Sustainable Procurement Strategy in 2009, to embed sustainable procurement into all BCC 400m procurement. BCC has: Audited its activity and mapped Carbon Dioxide emissions from its procurement. Trained its staff and developed effective procurement processes addressing environmental and social issues Integrated the EU Green Public Procurement Guidance into its own Corporate Procurement Guidance, and subjected all contracts to Eco- Impact Assessment Promoted Green Public Procurement through conferences and a regional best practice network. B2. How have national policies been transferred into policy action at the city level Bristol has actively implemented EU and National Policies to stimulate ecoinnovation and create green jobs. A few examples are: EU Landfill Directive Bristol s approach has reduced waste arisings (27%), high quality recycling (50%) through source segregated collections and a new gasification and pyrolysis plant leading to zero waste to landfill. EU 20:20:20 Targets Bristol is working with the European Investment Bank to develop a 140m investment programme, cutting the city s carbon emissions and creating 750 green jobs. EU Competitiveness Programme Bristol has supported new green business start-ups, created social enterprise recycling initiatives, set up a 13

14 community energy development agency, increased SME trade, and is developing a significant new green business park. Smart Metering and Grids Bristol is piloting the rollout of smart meters and girds with EU and UK demonstration projects. UK Green Deal Bristol is a pioneer for the UK Government s Green Deal home energy efficiency programme which creates an innovative new financing and delivery mechanism. B3. The publication of reports, such as green accounts, revealing the timely implementation of planned initiatives. Bristol City Council publishes an annual sustainability report for the city and for every neighborhood measuring progress against the goals of the Community Strategy. Bristol is also publishing a new set of Green Accounts using the indicators of the European Green Capital Award. Key Bristol organisations are also reporting their corporate environmental performance, e.g.: Bristol City Council Corporate Environmental Report. EMAS accredited report of the Council s environmental performance and implementation of planned activities. The Carbon Challenge business club. Annual reporting of collective progress to achieving carbon targets, highlighting best practice. Bristol Hospitals, Universities and other public bodies report environmental performance publicly. Word Count for Indicator 10B =

15 C. Short and long term objectives In keeping with its overall strategy of bottom up development, Bristol s ecoinnovation and sustainable employment plan concentrates on building small & medium sized (SME) enterprise. More recently, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which is the overall economic development body for the area, has established a strategic framework of job creation and inward investment that focuses on the low carbon economy and sustainable growth. The resultant plans build on the themes of the EU Eco-Innovation Action Plan and national policies. For over 10 years, the city s strategy has been to promote entrepreneurship through its support of networks and partnerships and this remains central to the strategy. The Bristol Green Capital Partnership is the overall umbrella partnership body linking action community groups and social enterprise with the low carbon business sector, developing links that benefit community organisations as well as business. 1. Municipal Policy and Standards BCC policies will be used to create new opportunities, e.g. all new development to have 20% on-site renewable energy all Council buildings built to high environmental standards over 50m investment in new energy technologies such as LED lighting and biomass CHP. 2. Bristol s Climate Plan Sustainable energy and transport are priorities for the City and this plan aims to: Reduce energy use by 30% by 2020, by advanced energy efficiency investment in homes, businesses and transport Generate 10% of the city s energy from low carbon or renewable sources BCC has committed funding for 200m and is developing investment proposals for a further 150m to kick start this opportunity. 3. Green business clusters The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which is the overall economic development body for the area, has established a strategic framework of job creation and inward investment that focuses on the low carbon economy and sustainable growth. In the medium term, this body will deliver its showpiece objective of a 80ha Local Enterprise Zone in the heart of Bristol that is being designed as a carbon neutral business district. There are a further 5 Local 15

16 Enterprise Areas, which will be linked to the LEZ by high-speed broadband connectivity and public transport. Figure 6 schematic of the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone Avonmouth and Severnside Green Industries Cluster: a private sector led cluster that has developed circular economy techniques to reuse commercial waste. Avonmouth and Severnside Thermal Energy Grid: a 100m Thermal Energy Grid, providing industrial heating and cooling and potential to connect to residential areas. Bristol Green Business Park: a new 12m centre for an ecoinnovation and sustainable employment in a deprived neighbourhood, coupled with skills development and training. Marine Energy Park: exploit key renewable resources and create trade and export opportunities in marine and offshore energy. 4. Public private partnerships and networks Three key partnerships were described in Section A. Bristol will continue to support and develop these partnerships as well as other business networks including: Bristol Green Capital Partnership Bristol Tidal Energy Forum Bristol Solar Forum Bristol will also develop new public, private and academic initiatives, for example: The inet Innovation Accelerator Programme: A 4.8m programme to focus the learning from the existing inet on 20 environment sector firms to create new products and services. It will create or safeguard 360 jobs and 240 new products or services. 16

17 Green business tackling deprivation: Entrepreneurship support for citizens of a disadvantaged community to create 20 new green businesses employing 50 people. 5. Demonstration Projects Bristol will demonstrate new technologies and innovations using the city as a living laboratory, including: Source Bristol - Electric Vehicles: European Pilot project to deploy charging points and develop innovative new ICT solutions to help electric vehicle drivers and create integrated systems. Go-Low: Arrangements to deploy electric vehicles in public and private business fleets. 17

18 6. Smart City Bristol The Bristol Smart City programme is addressing the challenge and opportunities arising from increased urbanisation through smart meters and grids, smart mobility and open data. Key parts of the 32m initiative are: Smart Metering: several projects to develop and pilot smart metering systems and user interfaces, working with municipal housing tenants, schools and offices Smart Grids: pilot projects to integrate solar energy into the electricity grid and test local battery storage to deflect peak tine grid usage Smart Energy Planning: for a new city enterprise zone creating sustainable workspaces Smart Open Data: giving entrepreneurs and innovators access to municipal data on everything from building energy use and air quality to topography data enabling the creation of new applications and services. Smart Transport: from electric vehicle user ICT systems for individuals to traffic control systems for city managers. 7. International promotion Bristol is working internationally to promote eco-innovation and create green business opportunities. Our active participation in the European Green Capital Awards process is part of this. The City has sent or received delegations from a dozen nations this year, including European countries, China, and Japan. Word Count for Indicator 10C =

19 D. References n_aw_3_lores.pdf Bristol Smart City (2011) Film, the Covenant of Mayors made a film about Bristol s smart city work BIS, Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Report (2011) ( low-carbon-environmental-goods-and-services pdf) Green Sector Economy and Jobs Growth, Bristol Futures Working Note (2012) Herbert-Golden and Usmar. Electric Vehicles Working Note Bristol Futures (2012) Herbert-Golden Bristol Urban Enterprise Framework and COG Reports, Bristol Futures ( ) West of England Green Economy Report by Miguel Mendonca - 0NGM4LWJlMmUtYWI4N2ZjNTMwMTE2/edit 19