Camco

Working with NaREC and Econnect, Camco led the way to undertake sustainable energy assessments for all the designated employment land across the 24 local authorities in the North East on behalf of the Regional Development Agency (RDA) One North East. Over 500 sites were assessed at high level for their renewable energy potential taking into account local resource availability and specific site constraints.

Ten priority sites were identified by the project team for a more detailed low carbon and distributed energy studies that would maximise the potential for sustainable energy strategies. The work not only looked at demand and supply issues but also considered network constraints and the deliverability of the proposed interventions.

The site energy assessments had to be carried out according to a methodology that was jointly developed by the project team and the client, this included;

• Assessing the distributed energy ‘success factors’ relating to each scheme and how each could be maintained and exploited with regards to low carbon and distributed energy systems.
• Considering other energy initiatives that may influence deliverability of proposed scheme energy strategies.
• Setting-out realistic low carbon and distributed energy scenarios for the schemes with conclusions as to best and most realistic scenario.
• Preparing a forward delivery plan for stakeholder engagement with key scheme development milestones where levering influence/introducing an intervention would have greatest effect.
• Identifying the main barriers associated with energy provision, including fuel supply implications and grid connection.
• Recommending how to facilitate the delivery of the energy strategy for each scheme including the required interventions over suggested timescales.

The results from the assessments had shown that numerous factors have a bearing on what made a successful project including public, private or public-private ownership, the presence of local champions, existing energy supply infrastructure and the availability of excess process heat nearby.