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Vision Paper

Delivering Climate Neutral, Climate Resilient Districts

March 2020

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1.0 Project Summary – Developing a Pathway to Net Zero by 2030 by Delivering 100%

Renewable Climate Neutral, Climate Resilient Districts.

This innovative project will investigate the feasibility and deliverability of four ‘at scale’ integrated heat,

power, transport, adaptation and wellbeing projects at University assets across the central belt of

Scotland. The projects will develop and integrate heat, power, transport, climate adaptation and

wellbeing solutions that are socially inclusive and involve local communities. The solutions will aim to

directly engage with and solve the challenges faced in becoming climate neutral. The work will focus on

three climate ‘districts’ and will build capacity by being inclusive and by demonstrating change. If

successful the model will be rolled out to all University and local Authority districts. The solutions

identified will integrate new and innovative ways of thinking and planning, such as the use of emerging

smart energy systems like grid balancing, active network management and demand side response. The

infrastructure solutions will also bring together climate change mitigation with adaptation elements and

integrate them into the fabric and infrastructure of the different project areas, making them accessible

for all and seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at scale.

The schemes include the creation of a Climate Neutral Innovation District in Glasgow (GID) with climate

corridors that join up communities; a 13MW community solar array at Ross Priory in the Loch Lomond

and Trossachs National Park and low carbon transport and energy systems at the proposed new National

Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District

Scotland (AMIDS) close to Glasgow Airport, Renfrewshire.

Each project will ensure that there is a linkage provided between research, innovation and education as

a shared learning outcome for all participants and the community.

The Projects

1. Project 1 - Creating a Glasgow Climate Neutral. Climate Resilient Innovation District – Glasgow

City Centre

2. Project 2 - Creating a 13MW Community Solar Array, Energy Storage and Smart Grid System at

Ross Priory, Gartocharn, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park – Achieving Net Zero at scale

with in-built smart energy and transport systems.

3. Project 3 - The National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) and the Advanced

Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) - A Transport and Energy Carbon Neutral

Development, Renfrewshire.

4. Project 4 Stepps – The University playing fields and pavilion on the edge of Glasgow and North

Lanarkshire. A ground source, water source (minewater from former Cardowan Colliery) and

solar PV prospect. Working with Glasgow and North Lanarkshire LHEES.

The location of the projects is shown below. The solutions and infrastructure identified by the study will

be costed and prioritised so that they can be funded and also scaled up and replicated across the region

and the HE sector.

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2.0 Lead Partner, Partner Institutions and Businesses

This work is led by the University of Strathclyde in partnership with Glasgow City Council and other

stakeholders identified below. The contact for the University is Dr Roddy Yarr, Assistant Director

(Sustainability) e: roddy.yarr@strath.ac.uk

The work and scope of service noted here seeks to respond to the climate emergency by creating a

collaborative group of stakeholders who bring forward innovative approaches for making the step-

change in action needed and to help create opportunities of a new green economy.

The collaborating organisations in this bid are noted below. Letters of support from each contributor

have been included at Appendix 1.

• Glasgow City Council

• Renfrewshire Council

• Strathclyde Passenger Transport

• Sustrans – ‘Places for Everyone’ Group (University, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow City Council

City Deal team, Sustrans)

• Fraunhofer

• Scottish Water

• Climate Ready Clyde

• Local Energy Scotland

• Zero Waste Scotland

• Scottish Power Energy Networks

• Vital Energi

• Flexitricity

• Wheatley Group

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• Star Refrigeration

• Construction Scotland Innovation Centre

• Energy Technology Partnership

3.0 Project Start Date and Duration

A procurement exercise with a defined ‘scope of service’ to appoint a preferred technical consultant

team will take place in early 2020. A ‘Prior Information Notice’ for the design work has already been

issued and an excellent response from 55 companies and organisation has been received.

The aim is to commence work in February/March and allow 6 months for the detailed technical work to

be carried out. An interim report will be issued after three months in order to enable discussions with

SFC and stakeholders to begin and feedback to be obtained. This will include a period of community

consultation and engagement to ensure inclusivity.

Once all the solutions have been determined and understood in September, a final report will be

developed and this will be disseminated to SFC for discussion. The report will include a matrix of costed

and prioritised solutions. The solutions identified will include details of the financial models for each as

well as the Design, Build and Operate models that are possible. The report will include a set of

recommendations and a ‘next steps’ section that includes a delivery programme. After the report is

completed, there will be a three month consultation with partners. This will include a period of

community consultation and stakeholder engagement to ensure inclusivity. Workshops can be held

within the HE sector to share learning and obtain feedback. Once the period of consultation is

completed, feedback will be gathered and a final report created with a view to seeking funding for

implementation and delivery.

4.0 Project Summary

Project 1 – Glasgow Innovation District – Creating a Climate Neutral District

Development of this proposal. Collate the baseline data; identify the solutions, risks, constraints, plan a

roadmap for delivery, cost plan.

Project 2 – Creating a 13MW Community Solar Array, Energy Storage and Smart Grid System at Ross

Priory, Gartocharn, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park – Achieving Net Zero at scale with in-

built smart energy and transport systems.

Develop the proposal, identify the energy system solutions, risks, constraints, plan a roadmap for

delivery, cost plan. Including a cost for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and Environmental

Screening Opinion.

Project 3 – The National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) and the Advanced Manufacturing

Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) - A Transport and Energy Carbon Neutral Development.

Development of this proposal. Identifying the most innovative and effective combined energy and

transport solutions, risks, constraints, planning a roadmap for delivery, cost plan.

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Project 4 Stepps – The University playing fields and pavilion on the edge of Glasgow and North

Lanarkshire. A ground source, water source (minewater from former Cardowan Colliery) and solar PV

prospect. Working with Glasgow and North Lanarkshire LHEES.

Development of this proposal. Identifying the most innovative and effective combined energy and

transport solutions, risks, constraints, planning a roadmap for delivery, cost plan.

4.2 Funding

The University will deploy SALIX Development Budget funds to carry out this work and will also seek

funds from GCC (Project 1), Local Energy Scotland (Project 2) and others as appropriate.

1. The Energy Technology Partnership has offered up £10k of project support for the University’s

Energy Systems Research Unit (ESRU) and Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) to

support a preliminary study.

2. Local Energy Scotland has offered £15K in grant funding for the Ross Priory Community Solar Array

work. It is possible that there would also be support for the Climate Innovation District work also

as it will involves the communities at Townhead and Ladywell; Merchant City and Trongate; and

Drygate.

3. Places for Everyone (Sustrans Grant) – An existing active travel project with £100K design fees

already committed to the area around the University and City of Glasgow College that both fall

within the Climate Innovation District. Both institutions are partnering in this fund along with

Glasgow City Council. This funding is to develop active travel solutions and will enable investment

of £2M capital funding for urban realm works that will include some of the outcomes of the Net

Zero study.

4. University TIC 2 and Inovo 2 capital development plans and design fees will include the findings

from the Climate Neutral study into their project design and cost plans.

5. The University will deliver ‘in-kind’ assistance with the project by acting as the project lead for the

work being carried out. This will be given by a senior staff member as noted in the contact section.

5.0 Proposed Project and Context

5.1 Introduction

The schemes identified seek to ‘join the dots’ with other work underway in the region. For instance, the

LHEES work that Glasgow City Council, Renfrewshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Council are

bringing together. The ‘Ruggedised’ project in Glasgow led by Glasgow City Council. The ‘Places for

Everyone’ active travel work in Glasgow (University, City of Glasgow College, Glasgow City Council and

Sustrans). The ‘EnergyREV’ work carried out by the University with others.

The schemes proposed here can be scaled up locally and at a regional or sector level. If successful, they

could be replicated across the region and across the HE sector. The Climate Innovation District work

could be replicated at other Innovation Districts in Glasgow and elsewhere.

The strategic importance of this collaboration is that it responds to Scotgov targets for Net Zero by 2045;

the ‘Programme for Government’ and the Ministerial Letter sent to SFC and to the HE/FE sector. The

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work on Climate Innovation District also helps to deliver the city’s aspirations for the imminent COP26

meeting in Glasgow in August 2020.

5.2 Climate Emergency Strategic Planning

An increased understanding, awareness and need to tackle climate change and move towards a ‘net-

zero’ economy that ensures social inclusion will enable the University and the city region to positively

respond to this major societal issue. A deepening understanding of the importance of climate change

has caused a recent and rapid increase in the number of climate change or climate-related laws and

guidance that applies to the University and a need to take robust and radical action:

• Scotland – Climate Change (Scotland) Act (2009) set same targets as for the UK, but with an interim

target of 42% by 2020.

• New Scottish Climate Change Bill – Sets a new target of 56% by 2020, 70% by 2030, 90% by 2040

and net 0 by 2045.

• Programme for Government, September 2019 and the Ministerial Letter - contains clear reference

to decarbonisation and climate action. Through the Ministerial letter, Scotgov requires SFC to work

with Universities to develop a more ambitious agenda on climate change with increased sector

commitments on greenhouse gas emissions reduction, plastic pollution and contribution to the

SDGs.

• Second Scottish Climate Adaptation Programme – To deliver climate change adaptation solutions

that cope with a rapidly changing climate with intensive rainstorms; higher average and extremes of

temperature.

• Climate Change Plan - Policies and proposal to 2032; 50% of ‘all energy’ to come from renewables

(incl. heat and transport)

• The University’s Climate Change and Social Responsibility Policy

During the summer of 2019, the Scottish and UK governments declared a climate emergency and

brought forward a climate ‘net zero’ target of 2045 and 2050 respectively. Local Authorities where the

University has research and teaching facilities have all declared climate emergency (Glasgow City

Council, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire). Glasgow City Council has set out a ‘net

zero’ target for emissions by 2030. The University of Strathclyde is bringing forward a robust response

to climate emergency and net zero to be launched later this year. This response will build on the

University’s existing Climate Change and Social Responsibility policies. This funding bid forms part of

that response.

https://www.strath.ac.uk/sustainablestrathclyde/policyguidelines/

https://www.strath.ac.uk/media/ps/estatesmanagement/sustainability/sustainabilitytemp/SD_and_Cli

mate_Change_Policy.pdf

https://www.strath.ac.uk/media/ps/purchasing/procurementmanual/Socio_Economic_Impact_and_C

ommunity_Benefits_Strategy_200318.pdf.pagespeed.ce.018esqse9A.pdf

5.3 University Context for Net Zero and Climate Action

The declaration of a climate emergency noted above includes all greenhouse gases (CO2, Methane,

Nitrous Oxide, refrigerant gases) and if the timescales set out by government are to be met, this requires

radical change to occur rapidly and ‘at scale’. The University has sets out a net zero pathway with a 70%

reduction in emissions by 2025; 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040.

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The University’s ‘Vision 2025’ means that we are expanding our reach nationally and globally. Our

student and staff numbers are growing. Our estate is expanding (circa 40,000m2 by 2025). We require

more bespoke research and teaching space which is highly serviced in order to satisfy our future teaching

and research goals.

The University has an excellent track record of engaging with climate change mitigation and adaptation

and working with others to deliver positive change. The University is a member of Sustainable Glasgow,

led by Glasgow City Council. The University is a member of Climate Ready Clyde which consists of 15

private and public organisations dedicated to implementing climate adaptation solutions. The

University’ Energy Systems Research Unit is a partner on the Council’s pan European smart cities project

‘Ruggedised’.

The University also has a strong relationship with SFC and working together to deliver a range of

infrastructure projects such as the £20M Combined Heat and Power District Energy scheme. This major

infrastructure project has enabled financial and carbon savings and is a long term legacy for the city of

Glasgow to build on and to decentralise energy generation and to create a more resilient city and region

using renewable energy systems. It is hoped that the projects that will emerge from this collaboration

can similarly act as a catalyst for ‘at scale’ climate action and delivery in Glasgow, Renfrewshire and in

the West Dunbartonshire and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. As a socially progressive

University, we are determined to tackle climate change and to help to positively contribute to this hugely

challenging global societal issue.

6.0 ‘At Scale’ Climate Action Projects

Project 1 - Glasgow Innovation District – Creating a Climate Neutral, Climate Resilient

District

The ambition is to create a ‘100% renewable Climate Neutral, Climate Resilient’ Glasgow Innovation

District that integrates heat, power, transport, climate adaptation and well-being solutions that are

socially inclusive. This means the deployment of ‘at scale’ infrastructure such as heat pumps; smart grids

and systems that enable heat and power and transport flexibility for businesses and residents; smart

streets where pedestrians are prioritised and that are accessible for all and which encourage active

travel. This ‘whole systems’ approach is illustrated at Appendix 2.

The work includes urban infrastructure that is adapted to climate change and that is delivered as part of

planned major city infrastructure projects such as the City Deal Avenues at Cathedral Street, George

Street, High Street and the ‘Places for Everyone’ work that is already underway (Appendix 3). These

streets will integrate climate adaptation solutions and they will act as climate and energy corridors

where future infrastructure systems are deployed as part of large-scale urban realm plans (e.g. The City

Deal Avenues) and which enable the local community to benefit from distributed heat, power and active

travel systems, helping to relieve fuel poverty and enable societal change. The solutions will also tackle

air quality in the centre of Glasgow (Appendix 4). Circular economy construction solutions will be at the

heart of all new infrastructure, so that the use of resources is optimised.

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The footprint of the Glasgow Innovation District

This is a collaboration with Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Water, Doosan,

Fraunhofer, Zero Waste Scotland, Low Carbon energy companies (including but not limited to: Scottish

Power Energy Networks; STAR Refrigeration; Recirc, Vial Energi), Local Energy Scotland, Climate Ready

Clyde, SPT, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre and Sustrans. Glasgow City Deal Team, Wheatley

Group.

Extending from Cathedral Street, down High Street to the River Clyde, the Innovation District is a 170Ha

area in the heart of Glasgow. The site has direct access to the River Clyde, a huge river catchment of

3,200km2 with 1GW of heat potential. In this Air Quality Management Area, the partners will create a

climate neutral Glasgow Innovation District that mitigates and adapts to current and future climate

conditions. ‘Climate Corridors’ will be creating that will enable energy distribution to business and

communities, low carbon transport and adapted spaces.

Deliverables will include:

Heat, Power, Transport, Climate Adaptation and Wellbeing Solutions

• Developing a set of deliverable, ‘at scale’ 100% renewable climate solutions in the heart of Glasgow

using a ‘whole systems’ approach for heat, power and transport (Appendix 2).

• Consider the decarbonisation of existing electrical housing stock in the GID.

• Developing a smart grid in the city centre Innovation District and University campus.

• Developing ‘smart streets’ that are future-proofed with climate adaptation solutions and which act

as energy and active travel corridors that enable access for all.

• Developing large scale heat solutions by assessing the potential for a river source heat pump(s) in

the River Clyde; geothermal energy; ground source energy; heat from sewage solutions for the a a

climate ready Glasgow Innovation District to make any new buildings carbon neutral for energy and

to determine the heat potential available for local residents.

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• Assessing the potential for the University’s land assets to contribute to renewable or low carbon heat

solutions. For instance, a ground source array in the Graham Hills External Car Park and a heat

station contained in the University’s external car park on George Street.

• Assess if a heat system can also be coupled with a green fuel cell solution for the Glasgow Innovation

District to generate heat and power using clean fuels.

• Help strengthen and future-proof city district heating demand using the existing DH networks in the

city.

• Develop a low carbon heat and transport active climate corridor along High Street, George Street

and Cathedral Street to connect the Glasgow Innovation District and University with the wider

community.

Social Inclusion

• Determine if this new set of heat network solutions can integrate with the existing £20M Combined

Heat and Power District Heating scheme that the University has installed and which now supplies 18

buildings, reducing energy costs by 40% per annum. This scheme has been designed to enable

greater flow of heat through the network (up to 11MW). As part of wider city network, this could

theoretically be supplied to the local community at Townhead and Ladywell with 750 homes and the

Drygate development with its several thousand residents as well as the community in Merchant City

and Trongate.

Climate Adaptation

• Integrate green infrastructure with ‘living lab’ climate change adaptation solutions into planned new

infrastructure (City Deal Avenues; TIC 2; Inovo 2 etc), including rain gardens; attenuation systems

above ground; green walls; green roofing; tree planting; parklets for health and well-being.

• Carry out a climate change risk assessment and vulnerability assessment (CRVA) and adaptation plan

for the GID, building on the work already completed by Glasgow City Council. The CRVA will focus

on developing options to address key current and future climate hazards in the district, such as

overheating buildings, or surface water flood risk.

Pedestrianisation and Delivering Active Travel and Low Carbon Transport

• Integrate smart street systems and adaptation solutions within the City Deal Avenues and Places for

Everyone schemes of which the University is part. This work will include the creation of a ‘climate

corridor for energy (heat), transport and climate adaptation’ from the River Clyde, up High Street to

the George Street, Duke Street and Cathedral Street, connecting communities.

• Creating a ‘pedestrian first’ ethos across the Innovation District. Build on the existing Places for

Everyone work that the University is delivering in partnership with City of Glasgow College, Sustrans

and Glasgow City Council.

• Pedestrianise George Street from Montrose Street to High Street and create a climate neutral space

that exemplifies well-being and place making.

• Creating a solar powered EV and E-Bike Hub with energy storage in the Heart of the Campus

(Rottenrrow Gardens) and also the Glasgow Innovation District. Involve the community in this by way

of uptake of the infrastructure and systems installed.

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Communication and Dissemination

Learning will be disseminated in partnership with Glasgow City Council (GCC) through the UK Core Cities network (of which Glasgow is a member) but also the Scottish Cities Alliance, with whom GCC has agreed to lead on climate.

Climate Ready Clyde will also make sure that the project is included in knowledge exchange and dissemination activity that they undertake (e.g. COP26) and through visits from political delegations etc, annual reports etc.

Learning and Teaching and the SDGs

The climate response systems developed will integrate digital connectivity into the outputs and these

will be used for research and teaching purposes.

The impact of the work on the SDGs will be studied, monitored and reported by the University’s

Sustainable Development Working Group. The work will include the integration into existing Vertically

Integrated Projects at the University.

Circular Economy

Integrate circular economy solutions into the construction processes and built environment of the

Glasgow Innovation District and including the construction of TIC2 and Inovo 2 to ensure that resources

are optimised.

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Project 2 - 13MW Community Solar Array, Energy Storage and Smart Grid System at

Ross Priory, Gartocharn, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park – Achieving Net Zero

at scale with integrated smart energy systems.

A collaboration between the University, Scottish Water, Local Energy Scotland, SSE and the Local

Community (Gartocharn via the Kilmaronock Community Development Trust), SPT, Schools and

Colleges.

Ross Priory is a University facility in a rural setting that is adjacent to the strategically important Scottish

Water pumping station that provides the inhabitants of Glasgow and region with their drinking water

needs. This collaborative project will develop a number of integrated systems that will enable the assets

to be 100% renewable and carbon neutral for energy and which will also engage positively with the local

community at Gartocharn, a rural community in the heart of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National

Park.

Power, Heat, Transport and Community Solutions

• An ‘at scale’ solar array with integrated energy storage (battery and thermal) and smart grid

systems. The scale of the array can be reduced to suit site uses/constraints e.g. planning conditions

within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park (LL+T). Effectively makes Ross Priory carbon

positive and also potentially enables an offset of 50% of the University’s international travel

emissions.

• Decarbonises Scottish Water’s nationally important pumping station that delivers drinking water to

the Greater Glasgow area.

• Funding will enable an energy systems analysis combining a large scale 13MW solar PV array with

potential to generate up to 30GWh of zero carbon electrical energy (based on an existing technical

study by PBA), large scale Lithium Ion and ‘Flow’ battery storage, smart grid solutions in consultation

with SSE, thermal storage and EV and E-bike hub with energy storage. The detailed design work will

confirm this 30GWh per annum figure and inform the technology mix necessary.

• Note: funding will also enable the delivery of a formal Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment to

gain support from the LL+T National Park Authority.

• The work will deliver a grid connection assessment in association with SSE, the Distribution Network

Operator.

• Assess how climate change will affect the efficiency of the solar array.

Funding is needed to further develop the proposal, identify the energy system solutions, risks,

constraints, plan a roadmap for delivery, cost plan. In the order of £100K including a cost for Landscape

and Visual Impact Assessment and Environmental Screening Opinion.

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Aerial view of Ross Priory showing the Scottish Water pumping station and the potential sites for a

13MW community solar array.

Proposal for a 13MW community solar array in partnership with Scottish Water at Ross Priory on 75 acres

of rough grazing land. Taken from desktop study carried out in July 2019.

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Project 3 – The National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) and the Advanced

Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) - A 100% Renewable Transport and

Energy Carbon Neutral Development.

A collaboration with Renfrewshire Council; Scottish Power Energy Networks; Onyx Solar; Energy Savings

Trust; Greater Glasgow Colleges (Apprenticeships), SPT, Doosan, Zero Waste Scotland.

The University is constructing Scotland’s first National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland on the

AMIDS complex. The NMIS project is at RIBA Stage 4 and planning permission has been submitted.

https://paisley.is/invest/national-manufacturing-institute-scotland/

https://paisley.is/invest/amids/

Plan of the AMIDS site

RIBA Stage 3 Design Image for NMIS

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The AMIDS development site is currently a green field site adjacent to Glasgow Airport. In terms of

climate action, the University is already supporting Renfrewshire Council’s Low Carbon Infrastructure

Transition Programme (LCITP) project that is developing a zero-carbon district heating network for the

AMIDS site of which NMIS forms part. The scheme will use a water source ambient heat loop to

distribute heat to the AMIDS site including NMIS and MMIC. The heat source is the Scottish Water nearby

Laigh Park Sewage Treatment Works discharge effluent into the White Cart Water. The scheme is

currently moving through the next stage of funding approval of an investment grade proposal from

LCITP.

Meantime NMIS has been designed to be carbon neutral for energy using a combination of ground

source, air source and large scale solar PV roof array with EV hub and ‘smart’ interface with battery

storage. This element is being funded through the University’s SALIX investment fund.

This third project will develop low carbon integrated transport and energy solutions to supplement the

existing energy carbon neutral solutions for NMIS. These would include:

• Feasibility of deployment of an E-Bus link between the AMIDS site/NMIS and Paisley Gilmour

Street to deliver zero carbon rapid transport link at Day 1 and to reduce the scale of car use to

the site.

• Carry out a ‘whole systems’ analysis of 100% renewable solutions for heat, power and transport.

• Development of a Virtual Power Plant/Automatic Network Management technology solution for

AMIDS/NMIS working with SPEN and others.

• Deployment of an EV solar canopy and battery storage solution for cars, bus, bikes located at

NMIS and costings for the whole AMIDS site.

• Green infrastructure solutions to manage site drainage and enhance biodiversity.

• Seek to include Circular Economy systems within the buildings being constructed.

Funding will pay for further development of this proposal. Identifying the most innovative and effective

combined energy and transport solutions, risks, constraints, planning a roadmap for delivery, cost

plan. In the order of £40K.

Project 4 Stepps – The University playing fields and pavilion on the edge of Glasgow and North

Lanarkshire. A ground source, water source (minewater from former Cardowan Colliery) and solar PV

prospect. Working with Glasgow and North Lanarkshire LHEES.

Identifying the most innovative and effective combined energy and transport solutions, risks,

constraints, planning a roadmap for delivery, cost plan. Using the resource available on site and adjacent

on University land to create a climate neutral district and to determine how this can align with the North

Lanarkshire LHEES.

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Schematic showing the vision of a climate neutral district at Stepps Playing Fields

7.0 Collaboration Partners

Delivering this sort of vision needs partners who can work jointly to achieve the bold and challenging

outcomes that are needed. Discussions with stakeholders about these projects have been very positive.

The letters of support so far received encapsulate this positivity and form the basis of a highly effective

collaborative approach amongst the public and private sectors. The fact that the University and its

partners are already collaborating on a number of other projects and that the relationships are strong

mean that the potential for success in delivering these schemes is high.

Beyond the detailed feasibility work that will be carried out, is an underlying theme that involves bringing

together existing and future development plans and pre-funded schemes (e.g. The Avenues and Places

for Everyone urban realm an active travel) and integrating new and innovative solutions. These solutions

will combine climate change mitigation with adaptation and social inclusion and this is the key

additionality component of this bid. Engaging with communities to ensure that those who live and work

in the areas have access to positive environmental, social and economic benefits.

8.0 Project Management and Procurement

The University will be the Project Lead for this work and has a positive track record in managing design

teams, procuring contracts and delivering large scale infrastructure projects.

A procurement exercise with a defined ‘scope of service’ to appoint a preferred consultant team will

take place post award (if successful) in early December. A ‘Prior Information Notice (PIN Notice)’ for the

design work has already been issued and an excellent response has been received.

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The aim would be to commence work in March and allow 6 months for the detailed technical work to

be carried out. An interim report will be issued to SFC after three months in order to enable discussions

with SFC and other stakeholders to begin and feedback to be obtained. This will include a period of

community consultation and engagement to ensure inclusivity.

Once all the solutions have been determined and understood and ranked in July, a final report will be

developed and this will be disseminated to SFC for discussion. The report will include a matrix of costed

and prioritised solutions. The solutions identified will include details of the financial models for each as

well as the Design, Build and Operate models that are possible. The report will include a set of

recommendations and a ‘next steps’ section that includes a delivery programme. After the report is

completed, there will be a three month consultation with partners. This will include a period of

community consultation and engagement to ensure inclusivity.

The Ross Priory work will be subject to engagement with the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

Authority with whom there have been positive initial discussions.

A Communications Plan and an Equalities Impact Assessment are presented at Appendix 5 and 6

respectively.

8.1 Prior Information Notice - Process to Determine the Pathway to Net Zero

A Prior Information Notice was issued in July 2019. A strong response was received from 55+

companies and organisations.

Design Work Specification and Scope of Service for the Development of a Climate Neutral Innovation

District and 100% renewable and ‘smart’ Ross Priory and NMIS.

The design work will include the following elements:

• Determine the District’s baseline emissions so that the scope of ‘climate neutral’ can be

understood and measures planned accordingly including sequestration through green

infrastructure.

• Taking reference from the Glasgow Heat Map work, existing known projects (e.g. Gorbals Heat

Pump; Drygate Heat Pump and CHP solution; Collegelands geothermal concept etc); and the

current city development plan and University’s development plan (TIC 2 Inovo 2), LHEES etc; carry

out an assessment of the heat and power demands as well as the travel plan solutions needed

to make the district a net zero exemplar for energy and transport and active travel; Bringing in

Glasgow City Council’s ‘Ruggedised’ components where appropriate.

• Integrating a range of infrastructure elements to create an energy, transport, climate adaptation

and biodiverse, ‘climate neutral’ estate.

• Develop a Smart Grid* system for the Glasgow Innovation District by working with Scottish Power

Energy Networks and others.

• Develop a Virtual Power Plant** for the area

• Identify Active Network Management*** Solutions in association with the Distribution

Network Operator (DNO)

• Install a large multi-MWh battery within a city centre site to explore options for new electricity

arrangements exploiting the new renewable grid opportunities such as power purchase

agreements, renewable tariffs, grid services, EV charging etc. This study will look at what benefit

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there could be for installing such a system in Strathclyde – sited at the University Energy Centre

in John St. There would also be options for increasing the renewables generation forming part of

this scheme. One benefit of siting it at Strathclyde would be its availability for research and

innovation.

• Assess the deployment of a combination of large scale integrated heat pumps generating ‘low

grade’ heat (River Clyde, waste heat from sewage, ground source, Geothermal). This includes

creating an energy climate corridor along High Street and George Street.

• Determine if this system can integrate with the University’s existing £20M DH system to help

strengthen and future-proof city DH demand.

• Assess if a ‘green’ fuel cell be deployed to generate green electricity.

• Creating a solar powered EV and E-Bike Hub with energy storage in the heart of the Campus and

GID. Involve the community in this by way of uptake of the infrastructure and systems installed.

• Integrate smart street systems with Avenues and Places for Everyone schemes of which we are

part. This should include the creation of a ‘services database GIS solutions library platform’ that

can be used to inform city plans and able to be interrogated in future.

• Pedestrianise George Street from Montrose Street to High Street and create climate neutral

space that exemplifies well-being and place-making.

• Creation of a series of integrated energy, transport and climate adaptation ‘climate corridors’

such as High Street and George Street, integrating with the City Deal Avenues and Places for

Everyone works on both these streets so that they incorporate service corridors for heat and

power and climate adaptation solutions. Integrate rain gardens, green roofs, green walls and

other adaptation solutions into these ‘climate corridors’ in association with Climate Ready Clyde

and Central Scotland Green Network Trust.

• Carry out a climate change risk assessment and vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan,

building on the work already completed by Glasgow City Council. Tackling overheating issues in

the district that are related to rising summer temperatures.

• Determine the detailed emissions reductions for each solution chosen and for each project.

* Smart Grid - an electricity supply network that uses digital communications technology to detect and react to local changes in usage.

**A virtual power plant will combine a number of independent energy resources from the Glasgow Region into a network that provides reliable power 24

hours a day. Developed in association with a smart grid system.

***Active Network Management - connects separate components of a smart grid such as smaller energy generators, renewable generation, storage devices,

etc., by implementing software to monitor and control the operation of these devices. Normally operated by the DNO.

9.0 Long Term Sustainability and Outcomes – Vision to 2045

This technical work will develop a pathway to ‘Net Zero’ and will identify the cost, funding and

operational models and programme for what are major infrastructure projects. By integrating heat,

power, transport, climate adaptation and wellbeing aspects at scale, communities will benefit from

access to services that are carbon neutral and sustainable and most importantly, social inclusive. It is

hoped that carrying out this work will actually help to fast-track delivery so that the city region and rural

areas can meet the targets set out by 2030.

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10.0 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions

The Feasibility study will provide the detailed emissions reductions for each project. The attached table

is an estimate of the potential reductions.

Project Emissions Reduction

Comments

Project 1 - Glasgow Innovation District – Creating a Climate Neutral District

50,000 TCO2e Per annum. Estimate based on enough heat to supply all public buildings and homes in the District in Phase 1.

1GW of heat potential from the River Clyde and ground sources, providing a reduction of 5TCO2e per household per annum and reducing partner organisations gas usage for heat. Heat map and baseline for city heat to be re-examined.

Project 2 - 13MW Community Solar Array, Energy Storage and Smart Grid System at Ross Priory, Gartocharn, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park – Achieving Net Zero at scale with in-built smart energy systems.

7,800TCO2e per annum

Assumes a 13MW array.

Project 3 – The National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) - A Transport and Energy Carbon Neutral Development.

TBD Emissions reduction will be based on a reduction of car traffic to and from the site and from the integration of smart energy systems. Assume 35% less cars with a reduction of 4.6TCO2e/year for each car

Project 4 Stepps – The University playing fields and pavilion on the edge of Glasgow and North Lanarkshire. A ground source, water source (minewater from former Cardowan Colliery) and solar PV prospect. Working with Glasgow and North Lanarkshire LHEES. Development of this proposal. Identifying the most innovative and effective combined energy and transport solutions, risks, constraints, planning a roadmap for delivery, cost plan.

TBD MultiMW heat potential from deep minewater and GSHP, providing a reduction of 5TCO2e per household per annum and reducing partner organisations gas usage for heat. Geological and coal records vital to this prospect.

Dr Roddy Yarr

Assistant Director (Sustainability)

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APPENDIX 1 – LETTERS OF SUPPORT

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APPENDIX 2 – SMART WHOLE SYSTEMS APPROACH – 100% RENEWABLE HEAT, POWER, TRANSPORT

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APPENDIX 3 – PLACES FOR EVERYONE PLAN OF CITY CENTRE AREA INCLUDING THE GLASGOW INNOVATION DISTRICT

Map showing the scale of the ‘Places for Everyone’ partnership between the University, City of Glasgow College and the Glasgow City Deal team. The area includes

the Communities of Townhead and Ladywell and Merchant Coty and Trongate. The streets and lanes are those that connect with the City Deal Avenues project.

Note: Includes the pedestrianisation of George Street from Montrose Street to High Street as part of the Innovation District urban realm.

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APPENDIX 4 – GLASGOW AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT AREA

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APPENDIX 5 COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

Projects

1. Glasgow Climate Innovation District

2. Community Solar Array at Ross Priory

3. NMIS and AMIDS Energy and Transport Carbon Neutral Development

Main communication aims and objectives

• Raise awareness of and generate interest in the projects.

• Collate the data from the projects and make these available to stakeholders.

• At each project to create a learning experience so that people can engage with the initiatives e.g. a

demonstration space, visual display and engagement boards.

• Highlight the benefits of the projects for the local community.

• Share lessons learnt, build capacity and enable the achievements of the project to be understood.

• To ensure replicability during the project and after completion.

• Ensure that communications align with the Equalities Impact Assessment, October 2019 and

updates.

Key audiences to engage with

Project partners, including businesses, local council; Scottish Goevrnment, Scottish Funding Council,

Sustainable Scotland Network; University community including staff, students and alumni; local community,

including residents, local businesses and groups; local media.

Channels

• Engagement workshops targeted at each audience, such as E-Bike events for students, lunch and

learn sessions for business partners, information evenings for local residents.

• Internal communication channels within the University and partners.

• University and partner websites.

• Co-created social media campaign to share project statistics, milestones, case studies and positive

impact on the community, using images, video and infographics to share lessons learnt.

Risks and mitigation

Risk Mitigation

Information not shared effectively between project stakeholders

Form a Project Steering Group to facilitate regular information exchange

Limited reach, information not shared effectively between communications professionals within partner organisations

Form a Project Communications Network to facilitate information exchange between project partner communications professionals, using an online platform such as Slack.

Uncertainty around who is responsible for communicating this project

Assign a dedicated communications lead for the project, who attends the Project Steering Group meetings and is supported by the Project Communications Network.

Evaluation

Set goals for engagement: number of people attending the events, number of visits to project web pages,

social media reach and engagement. The lessons learnt will be shared with project partners and will help

set benchmarks and goals for future projects and campaigns.

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APPENDIX 6 – EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT

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APPENDIX 7 – STATE AID COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

European Commission’s State Aid Regulations have been considered in the completion of this bid.

This is to confirm that the work carried out as part of this proposal would not be subject to state aid rules.