An independent publication from futurescot.com Distributed with The Times Scotland 19 September 2018

GreenEconomy

Exasperation at cling film has created an eco-business and given purpose to inmatesP6

Mobility as a Service2 Wright, Johnston

& Mackenzie LLP3 Natural Power4 Blooming

Heather7

It’s a wrap

GreenEconomy is an independent publication by Canongate Communications distributed in The Times Scotland. All rights reserved. Neither this publication or part of it may be stored, reproduced or transmitted, electronically, photocopied or recorded without prior permission of the Publisher. GreenEconomy is published and exclusively distributed in The Times Scotland. We verify information to the best of our ability but do not accept responsibility for any loss for reliance on any content published. If you wish to contact us, please include your full name and address with a contact telephone number. Tontine, 20 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5NA / 0141 465 7640 / www.futurescot.com

In association with

Exasperation at cling film has created an eco-business and given purpose to inmatesP6

Influencing travel behaviour

Agritech firm unveils vertical farm

The MaaS Scotland network is recognised as the largest of its kind in Europe

BY ALASTAIR MCINROY

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) officially arrived in Scotland earlier this year with the completion of Scotland’s first MaaS demonstrator project. The NaviGoGo project, led by ESP Group, a MaaS Scotland member, piloted the use of a MaaS platform among 16-25 year olds living in Dundee and North Fife.

During the innovate UK funded trial (https://navigogo.co.uk/), which ran from October 2017 to March this

year, trial participants were be able to access streamlined and personalised information, payment, and fulfil-ment for trains, taxis, bike schemes, buses, car clubs and walking – all in a single hub. The trial was a huge step towards the delivery of MaaS in Scot-land, generating for the first time, evidence of the impact that MaaS provision can have on passenger travel behaviours.

Looking ahead, the Dundee MILL initiative (http://themill.scot/), an innovation hub which has been es-tablished in Dundee to allow the city’s infrastructure to be used for testing, demonstrating and showcasing new technologies in mobility, will provide further opportunities for real world demonstration of future mobility so-lutions. Projects within this initiative

Scottish technology will ‘revolutionise global horticulture’

BY WILLIAM PEAKIN

Intelligent Growth Solutions, (IGS), the Scottish agritech business, has unveiled its first indoor vertical farming demonstration facility, based at the James Hutton Institute in Perthshire.

The IGS facility uses ground-breaking power and communi-cations technologies to address key challenges facing the indoor farming industry. Power and labour costs, and the inability to produce consistent and quality produce at scale, have inhibited the sector’s expansion.

Vertical farming offers huge reductions in water wastage, the elimination of the use of pesticides and a huge reduction in food miles. It allows produce to be grown locally and on de-mand, which could reduce fresh food waste by up to 90%.

IGS will not be producing crops for sale, but will be col-laborating with growers, retail-ers, and international organisa-tions to deliver the hardware and software platforms to revolutionise indoor growing environments.

Approximately 150 jobs are expected to be created in by 2021 in areas such as software, data, engineering, robotics, and

2 GREEN ECONOMY MOBILITY AS A SERVICE 19 September 2018

IGS’s facility at the James Hutton Institute

automation. Significant de-mand is already being realised among growers, retailers, and national governments aiming to address food security issues and alternative methods of production in their regions.

IGS has developed a pat-ented IoT-enabled power and communications platform com-prising electrical, electronic, and mechanical technologies managed by software and arti-ficial intelligence. It promises to cut energy consumption in half, reduce labour costs by 80%, and increase yields by up to 200% compared with traditional indoor growing environments.

“The opportunity to unveil

Scotland’s first vertical farm, and arguably the world’s most technically advanced indoor facility, is a hugely exciting one for the whole team,” said David Farquhar, IGS’s chief executive. “As a Scottish-founded and led team we have captured horticul-tural, engineering and software skills from within Scotland to make this business flourish.

“The global horticulture market is crying out for new approaches to enhancing food production in terms of yield, quality and consistency. It is also searching for ways to reduce power consumption and labour costs and our technology has been designed to fundamentally address this.”

will look at shared mobility, advanced parking, use of big data and city-wide bike sharing. Projects are expected to begin this year.

Both initiatives were presented at MaaS Scotland’s Annual Confer-ence which attracted more than 130 attendees from across the UK and Europe (https://digit.fyi/maas-scotland-2018-2/). Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from Humza Yousaf MSP, the then Scottish Government Minister for Transport & the Islands, who announced the formation of an Intelligent Mobility Working Group, to be led by Trans-port Scotland.

The group will examine the role of disruptive technologies and new business models on the future of Scot-land’s transport provision, including

the impact on areas such as environ-ment and social inclusivity. This was in response to papers submitted earlier this year by MaaS Scotland (Mobility as a Service – Positioning Scotland for an Emerging Global Opportunity) and the SCDI Connectivity Commis-sion (Scotland’s Big Mo: Industrial Strategy, Inclusive Growth and the Future of Mobility). MaaS Scotland, SCDI, and Transport Scotland are now in early discussions exploring the formation of this group.

The MaaS Scotland network continues to grow and, with nearly 70 members from across the MaaS sup-ply chain, it is now recognised as the largest network of its kind in Europe. We look forward to the next few years with great optimism and a belief that delivery and upscale of MaaS solutions

could accelerate at an unprecedented rate, fuelled by the impact evidence from early demonstrators and a greater focus on mobility through the UK Industrial Strategy.

With the additional attention of Scottish Government and Transport Scotland, both now seriously exploring the opportunities available through this disruptive approach, MaaS Scotland will continue to drive the MaaS agenda, supporting its members and other key stakeholders in order to fully deliver on the MaaS promise and ensure its benefits are felt across the whole of Scotland.

Alastair McInroy is Senior Programme Manager at Technology Scotland.

www.technologyscotland.scot

Trial was a huge step towards the delivery of MaaS in Scotland

GLASGOWT: 0141 248 3434

DUNBLANE T: 01786 822296

INVERNESS T: 01463 234445

For more information visit wjm.co.uk and click on Renewables or call:

wjm.co.uk

RENEWABLES

EDINBURGHT: 0131 524 1500

LAW FOR YOUR BUSINESS

SERVICE, EXPERTISE & EXPERIENCE

• Private wire and ICP expertise

• Lifetime extension and repowering strategies

• Structures to enable subsidy-free projects

WJM RENEWABLES TEAM OFFERS:

• Scotland’s leading renewables planning team

• Joined-up, whole of project advice

• Outstanding partner-led service

• Market-leading individuals

WRIGHT, JOHNSTON & MACKENZIE LLP IS AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY. FCA REFERENCE NUMBER 231170.

Reasons to be cheerfulSmart operating and resilience could help brighten the prospects for onshore windBY ESME MACFARLANE

After a rocky period, the onshore wind industry in Scotland has a creeping sense of optimism again. The shock outcome of the Brexit referendum capped a bleak spell following the Tories’ surprise majority in the 2015 General Election and their subsequent decisions to accelerate the closure of the Renewables Obligation and exclude onshore wind from future CfD auctions. After a sustained time of industry growth since the 1990s, these setbacks caused some developers to drop out of the market altogether or, for those who could, to mothball proj-ects until prospects looked brighter.

That time could be close at hand. As reports highlight benefits for consumers, increased employment and investment, Lord Deben, the UK Government Chair for the Committee on Climate Change, expressed support for Scottish onshore wind, underlining the economic viability of wind farms as the cheapest form of renewable energy generation. These are welcome signs of a reversal of fortunes.

Encouraged by this, we are seeing fresh commitment from developers to new schemes. They are mindful though that this is a new economic environment for their projects. The 2017 CfD auction round for offshore wind set a target price for renewable developments which has onshore wind developers working to establish proj-ects that stack up as subsidy-free.

Without subsidies, maximising efficiency and driving down costs has become ever more crucial. Shared infrastructure, co-location with bat-tery storage and alternative routes to selling electricity are all featuring in updated project models. Our team is now heavily engaged in private wire and ICP cable arrangements as devel-opers seek capital savings on network connections. On the planning side, de-velopers are seeking increased turbine tip-heights. The challenge remains to achieve that within constraints that are acceptable to planning authorities (and a sympathetic public).

The focus on maximum return is also impacting existing, operational projects. By making small techno-logical adjustments and addressing environmental and external impacts on existing developments, wind farm operators can both extend the life of their assets and maximise their energy yield. As seen in mainland Europe, sites could experience considerable

increases in production as turbines are replaced by newer models and project layouts reconfigured to install fewer yet more efficient turbines. Whilst positive for the industry, the arguments against larger turbines are likely to continue as balance is sought between an efficient, low-carbon economy and protecting the beauty and nature of the Scottish landscape. Nevertheless, repower-ing and replanting existing projects remains a rich seam of future energy production as developers capitalise on already viable sites in prime locations.

The optimism is not limited to developers. The technological advances driving cost savings on new develop-ments are also good news for investors holding existing projects. With the first UK wind farms approaching the end of their initial life cycles, the opportunity to optimise performance and extend lifetimes has the secondary market fo-cusing on the right moment to repower and replant for maximum, continuing return.

As optimism in the industry grows, it is worth keeping an eye on political progress too. The Scottish Parlia-ment recently set a target of reducing Scotland’s carbon emissions by 90% (from 1990 levels) by 2050 whilst news is awaited on whether, post-Brexit, the UK will adopt the EU’s revised target for energy from renewable sources of 32% by 2030.

It has been and remains a challeng-ing time for the industry but, with some smart operating and resilience, onshore wind might have reasons to be upbeat again.

Esme Macfarlane is an Associate at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP. Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie is a full-service, independent Scottish law firm, with a history stretching back over 160 years, operating from offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Dunblane. Further information on WJM can be found at wjm.co.uk

GLASGOW: 302 St Vincent Street, G2 5RZ. TEL: 0141 248 3434 EDINBURGH: The Capital Building, 2nd Floor, 12-13 St Andrew Square EH2 2AF. Tel: 0131 524 1500INVERNESS: The Green House, Beechwood Park North, IV2 3BL. Tel: 01463 234445DUNBLANE: 61 High Street, FK15 0EH. Tel: 01786 822296

“Repowering and replanting existing projects remains a rich seam of future energy production’’Esme Macfarlane

3GREEN ECONOMYWRIGHT, JOHNSTON & MACKENZIE LLP19 September 2018

Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP’s annual Renewables conference will be held on Thursday 8th November at the Principal George Hotel Edinburgh. For further updates and to book your place email: events@wjm.co.uk

A clear route to market for renewables and effective carbon pricing are vital for consumers By William Peakin

Cheaper forms of electricity are being held up from reaching the market, thus pushing up energy prices for consum-ers, according to industry analysts. Several gigawatts of new, subsidy free, onshore wind and solar power are ‘in limbo’ because of the lack of a clear route to market, they say.

“We now have renewables tech-nologies, in wind and solar, that are the cheapest forms of new build energy that it is possible to acquire,” said Jeremy Sainsbury, Director of Natural Power. “But the way in which the wholesale market is structured and regulated pro-vides a very poor signal for investment, which is disappointing for a country that is believes in the free market.

“We, as a sector, are ready, we are able, and the energy is cheap. The issue is the structure of delivering that for the consumer in the most advanta-geous way for the consumer, especially in a Brexit scenario where we want our economy to be as cost effective as possible.”

The UK has made significant prog-ress in redirecting investment towards cleaner sources of power since the Cli-mate Change Act was passed in 2008, said Sainsbury, with the switch from coal to gas and the number of offshore wind and solar installations multiply-

ing. The cost of renewable energy is falling quickly; with onshore wind now recognised as the cheapest form of new build generation available in the UK.

Despite this progress, he said, there are worrying signs that investment may have stalled in the last two years, threatening our ability to meet our fourth (2023–2027) and fifth (2028–2032) carbon budgets. Recent figures show that clean energy investment has fallen dramatically since 2015. In cash terms it fell by 10% in 2016 and by a further 56% in 2017. Annual clean energy investment in the UK is now the lowest it has been since 2008 and the rate at which we are installing new renewable capacity is slowing.

The design and productivity of windfarms has improved dramatically, and the demand for electricity is rising, driven part by increasing use of electric vehicles and air source heat pumps. The UK is undergoing a transition in the nature of its energy source, said Sainsbury, as carbon is removed from heat and transport, as well as electric-ity, and electricity generated from renewables is what will fill the gap left by the removal of carbon.

“That brings us to the issue of the price of carbon. The Government has a carbon tax, but a tax mechanism is only effective if it is applied with consis-tency. Sadly, the way the tax escalator works has been changed, effectively freezing it at the lower rate.

“It is also not clear about what will happen with the ETS (the Emissions Trading Scheme; the European carbon market) under Brexit. The UK has said

4 green economy Natural Power 19 September 2018

it will sign up to phase three of the ETS but it has not said anything about phase four. The best scenario, for ev-eryone including the consumer, would be to remain part of the ETS.”

BrexiT uncerTainTy also sur-rounds people, and their freedom to provide services in support of equipment deals, and the movement of spare parts, and currency exchange rates. “This in turn creates uncertainty in terms of investors,” said Sainsbury. “The irony is, however, that our targets for renewables were set by the UK, 10 years ago, so the message ought to be consistent, in or out of Europe.

“To make the swift transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy, billions of pounds of infrastructure investment are needed in clean energy, transport, homes and industry. This will require public and private finance, but given the scale of the challenge, harnessing private sector capital will be crucial.

“To attract this capital the Govern-ment must set out a clear route to market which is reliable in both a Free Trade Agreement or hard Brexit scenario. Least regrets infrastructure investment is a good way to keep an economy moving in a down turn; and a good way to grow a domestic supply chain in the event of a hard Brexit.”

On a more positive note, added Sainsbury, Westminster recently an-nounced £570m for pot two CfD (con-tracts for difference) auctions to secure a flow of offshore wind investment for the next 10 years. This provides a good structure for the development

of the offshore market and pipeline of projects; which is good news for the UK supply chain. This same vision is needed to establish a new route to market for formally Pot 1 technologies under a new banner of subsidy free or market transitional contracts.

“It is clear that Brexit is an imme-diate issue to manage, but that the longer-term pathway to a clean energy future remains virtually unchanged whether we are in or out of the EU. It is time for the Government to act now to provide clear routes to market for our cheapest clean technologies. Our future economy will rely on cheap reli-able clean power. It is in the interests of consumers, industry and Govern-ment to make sure this delivered as efficiently as possible.”

Natural Power is one of the partners on what is believed to be the UK’s first subsidy and support mechanism-free wind farms. Acting on behalf of developer Energiekontor, it has been appointed as owner’s engineer for the construction phase of the Withernwick Wind Farm Extension, a four-turbine, 8.2 MW, addition to the existing nine-turbine Energiekontor wind farm built in 2013, located in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

“As our industry continues to evolve, and deliver better and more cost-effective renewable energy, we are working hard to be at the forefront and support our clients by providing comprehensive services delivered by our experienced and knowledgeable team to guide and advise our clients in delivering successful projects,” said Sainsbury.

Natural Power is one of the partners on what is believed to be the uK’s first subsidy and support mechanism-free wind farms

Achieving a clean energy future

“It is clear that Brexit is an immediate issue to manage, but that the longer-term pathway to a clean energy future remains virtually unchanged whether we are in or out of the eu” Jeremy Sainsbury

Big tech signals a way forwardBuying wind power direct makes sense for some companies

By William Peakin

Earlierthismonth,Googlean-nouncedthatithadsigneda10-yeardealtobuyrenewableenergyfromthreenewwindfarmsthatarebeingbuiltinFinland.Theenergywillpoweroneofitsdatacentres,situatedinaformerpapermillbuiltoriginallyinthe1950sandwhichuseswaterfromtheBalticSeaforcooling.

Windhasbecomecompetitivewithconventionalpowerinmanycountriesandlargecompaniesaremanagingvolatileenergyexpensesbylockinginelectricitycostsatafixedprice.GooglesaidthattheFinnishdealisthefirstwhereitisbuyingpowerfromEuropeanprojectsthatwillnotreceiveanygovernmentsubsidies.

“Inagrowingnumberoflocations,thecostofnewrenewableenergyiscompetitivewiththecostofpowerfromthegrid,”MarcOman,Google’sheadofEUenergy,saidinablog.

It’saviewthatchimeswithGilesDearden,DirectorofGlobalDueDiligenceatNaturalPower:“Bigcompaniesareincreasinglylookingtosecurecheaprenewableenergytomanagecostsandreducetheircarbonfootprintthroughcorporatepowerpurchaseagreements(PPAs).”

5green economyNatural Power19September2018

About Natural PowerNaturalPowerprovidesindependentadviceandservicestoawiderangeofrenewableenergyclientslookingtoinvestin,develop,build,oroperatearenewableenergyasset.Itsteamofmorethan350expertshavetheknowledge,toolsanddirectiontomakeprojectssuccessful.

Formorethan20years,NaturalPowerhasprovidedtrustedandimpar-tialadvicetoaglobalclientbasein37countrieswithinterestsinwind,solar,hydro,heat,andinfrastructure.IthasgrownfromasmallGlasgow-basedplayertotheUK’sbiggestrenewableenergyconsultancy.

NaturalPower’srenewableen-ergyconsultantsincludeengineers,analysts,environmentalexperts,andprojectmanagerswhoworkcloselytotacklethemostcomplexandchal-lengingissues,wherevertheprojectislocated.

NaturalPowerworksacrosstheprojectlifecycle;frominitialfeasibil-ityallthewaythroughtooperationsandrepowering,andsounderstandsthebigpicture.Thisenablesittoworksmarterandreducetherisksassociatedwitharenewableenergyorinfrastructureprojectfromdayone.

Astheindustrymovesincreasinglytowardsasubsidyfreemarket,itisalsoabletoadviseonwherebesttoreducecostsacrossthelifeofanasset.

www.naturalpower.com Natural Power is sponsoring the Best in Practice category at the Scottish Green Energy Awards www.scottishrenewables.com/events/sgea18/

Scotland; a world leaderScotlandisaworldleaderinsourcingitselectricityfromrenewables,afterarecordyearin2017with68.1%ofitselectricitycomingfromrenewables;anincreaseof26%onthepreviousyear.

TheScottishGovernment’sScottishEnergyStrategysetsouttwotargetsforthenation’senergysystemby2030;theequivalentof50%oftheenergyforScotland’sheat,transport,andelectricityconsumptiontobesuppliedfromrenewableresources,anda30%increaseintheproductivityofenergyuseacrosstheScottisheconomy.

Scotlandhasanestimated25%ofEurope’soffshorewindresourcesandthereforehassignificantpotentialforoffshorewinddevelopment.TheGovernmenthasbeenconsultingonaSectoralMarinePlanthatwillidentifylocationsforlarge-scaleoffshorewinddevelopments.

“Exploitingoffshorewindtechnol-ogyinanenvironmentallysustainablewaywillenableScotlandtoleadtheworldinthetransitiontoalowcarboneconomyoverthenextfourdecades,”saystheGovernment,“andwillhelpmeetScotland’swiderobjectivesonclimatechange,generatingsubstantialneweconomicactivity,jobsandpros-peritypotentialforScotland.”

ThefirstcommercialscaleoffshorewindfarminScotland-RobinRiggintheSolwayFirth–cameintooperationin2010,withaninstalledcapacityof174MW.AsofMaythisyear,Scotlandhad246MWofinstalledoffshorewindcapacity,withafurther4.2GWincon-structionorconsentedandawaitingconstruction.

Thepaceoffutureoffshorewinddevelopmentwill,toaconsiderableextent,begovernedbytheavailabilityofContractsforDifference(CfD),thesubsidyregimeintroducedbyElectric-ityMarketReform.AstheCfDregimeisUK-wide,ScottishoffshorewindfarmprojectsbidcompetitivelywithotherUKprojects.

InconjunctionwithScottishEnterpriseandHighlandsandIslandsEnterprise,theGovernmentissup-portingthedevelopmentoftheScot-tishoffshorewindindustryandsupplychains.

Anumberofportsarealreadysup-portingtheconstructionofBeatriceOffshoreWindFarmincludingWick,Nigg,CromartyFirth,andBuckie.PeterheadandAberdeenhavealsoprovidedimportantconstructionsupportfortheEuropeanOffshoreWindDeploymentCentre.PortssuchasMontroseandDundeehavemademajorinvestmentstosupportoffshorewindconstructionandoperationsandmaintenanceactivityontheEastCoast.

Significantoffshorewinddevelop-mentwillalsorequiredevelopmentofthenationalelectricitygrid,withinScotlandandbetweenScotlandandEngland,andnumberofprojectstoprovideimprovedconnectivityarecur-rentlybeingtakenforward.

Lookingaheadtothemid-2020s,asopportunitiesinnear-shoresitesareexhausted,deep-watertechnologiesarebeinginvestigatedwhichcouldtakeadvantageofScotland’soilandgasindustryandreduceenvironmentalimpactsassociatedwithcloser-to-shoresites.

The UK’s insTalled capaciTies41GW (equivalent to 20m homes powered), comprising:l Onshore Wind 12.5GWl Offshore Wind 8GWl Solar 12.6GWl Hydro (large & small) 2.4GWl Biomass 2.9GWl Other (LFG, AD, EfW) 2.5GW

scoTland’s insTalled capaciTies circa10.5GW (equivalent to 5.1m homes powered), comprising:l Onshore Wind 7.8GWl Offshore Wind 246MW (includes recent Hywind floating offshore project)l Solar 12.6GW 350MWl Hydro (large & small) 1.7GWl Biomass 250MWl Other (LFG, AD, EfW) 200MW

poTenTial growTh in capaciTiesl Onshore Wind in system: UK 12.5GW, Scotland circa 10GWl Offshore Wind in system: 7.7 GW of consented projects already for CfD round in May 2019, and government commitment for delivery of another 10 GW through CfD allocation by 2030 within UK waters as a wholel Solar in system: UK 2GWl Biomass / EfW in system: UK 2GW

Natural Power’s control centre is the biggest independently operated 24/7 control room in the uK, managing more than 175 renewable energy assets across the uK, Ireland, and the uS

Solarpricesaredownthankstoscale,technologicalinnovation,manufacturingexperience,andtheinfluenceofChinaonthemarket.Thereisa28.5%pricedropeverytimescaledoubles.Thecapitalexpenditurecostofaphotovoltaic

(PV)siteisexpectedtoroughlyhalfby2035.

Windturbinepricesaredown32%since2010.Globalaveragecapacityfactorhasincreasedfrom16%(1400h)in2000to~31%(2700h)in2016.Expectedtoreach

35%-58%(3050h-5050h)by2040.Thedriversforthisarelargerrotors,higherhubheights,moreefficientcontrols,andoperationalefficiency(throughsensors,smartdata,etc)tooptimiseproductionandreducecosts.

TheyallowfirmssuchasGoogle,Facebook,andMicrosofttobuydirectlyfromtheenergygenerator.Lastyear,thenumberofnewcorpo-ratePPAs,primarilywindandsolar,reachedarecordwithmorethan5GWcontracted,upalmostathirdfromthe2016level,theInternationalRenewableEnergyAgencysaid.

SomeEuropeancountries,mostnotablyGermanyandtheNeth-erlands,haverecentlyattractedzero-subsidybidsfromwindprojectdevelopers.

“Renewablesisgettingtoapricepointwhereitiscomparable,orindeedcheaper,thanaveragegridprice,”saidDearden.“Inthatsense,onceyouhavesortedintercon-nection,andstorage,whichisalsodroppinginprice,yougettoapoint

wherehydrocarbonsforthepur-posesofelectricitygenerationarenolongereconomic.

“Overthenext10years,renew-ablesaregoingtobecomethemajor-itydriverinthemixofgeneration.DemandforelectricityinEuropehasbeenstatic,ifnotdropping,aspeoplehavebecomemorefrugalintheirconsumption.But,probablyforthefirsttimeinthepast10years,wearegoingtoseeanincreaseindemandforEuropeanelectricityaspeoplemovetoelectricvehiclesandrenewableheat.

“Again,itwillgettothepointwhereit’snotgoingtomakeanysenseputtinghydrocarbonsintovehiclesanymore.”

Fortheindustry,lessonslearnedonshorearebeingappliedoffshore.“InordertomeettheParisAgree-mentforcarbonreduction,Europeisgoingtohavedoubletheamountofelectricitycomingfromrenew-ablesinnext10years,”saidNancyMcLean,NaturalPower’sHeadofOffshore.“It’sgoingtohavedoublewhathastaken25yearstogetto.

“Todothat,athirdtoahalfmaycomefromoffshore.WeareworkingwithoffshoredevelopersinScotlandtochangeandmodifytheirconsent-edenvelopestoenabledeploymentofbiggermachines.We’reworkingwiththosedeveloperstomaketheirprojectsmorecosteffective.AtNatu-ralPowerwehavelearntalotfromassetmanagementonshorethatwecanapplyoffshore.”

Falling costs of renewables

“It will get to the point where it’s not going to make any sense putting hydro carbons into vehicles anymore”

Building a circular city More than 30 businesses in Glasgow have taken part in ‘Circle Assessments’In 2015 a study of Glasgow analysed the city’s economic and political landscape, while mapping its resource flows from consumption to waste, in a bid to determine the sustainability of the city’s economy.

The Circular Economy Scan, com-missioned through a partnership led by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce with, Zero Waste Scotland, Glasgow City Council and global experts Circle Economy, found that by adopting circular models the city could create jobs, increase efficiency of resources and reduce CO2 emissions.

The study also highlighted ways the Chamber could directly support local

organisations in adopting circular models; including new collaborations, market opportunities, significant finan-cial savings and generating increased profits.

2018 has seen Circular Glasgow implement a number of initiatives with the aim of positioning Glasgow as one of the world’s first circular cities.

From 90-minute Circle Assessments to determine how by products can be repurposed, to a global Circle Lab online challenge on major events that received solutions from 13 countries across the world; organisations across a variety of sectors are being encour-aged to collaborate and innovate to support a circular economy.

The initial scan found that the manufacturing sector had the greatest circular potential, with the food and drink industry as the starting point. As a result, a number of pilot studies were

identified. Partnerships between bak-ers and brewers saw a number of new craft beers being made from leftover bread.

Building on this success, over 30 businesses across Glasgow have now taken part in their own Circle Assess-ments. As a result, a number of pilot projects are being developed, helping to inspire other businesses in adopting more circular strategies. St Enoch Centre, a flagship retail shopping mall in the heart of Glasgow, is the latest to showcase its work, spotting an op-portunity to repurpose coffee grounds which were previously seen as waste.

Glasgow’s thriving event scene was also identified as having potential to adopt more circular business strate-gies. Using online platform, Circle Lab, Glasgow was the first city to host a challenge, exploring how local busi-

a leading circular city, the role of Cir-cular Glasgow is to be able to support the city’s businesses in exploring new ideas and partnerships that will both benefit the individual organisation while supporting the economic growth of the city. Using a portfolio of tailored support mechanisms, we’re delighted to see that many businesses are already transitioning towards adopting more circular practices.”

Circular Economy Hotspot Scotland, Glasgow, 30 October – 1 November

www.circulareconomyhotspot.scot

Mark Laidlaw, SEC, Stuart Patrick. Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, Annerieke Douma, Circle Economy, Alison McRae, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

“We’re delighted to see that many businesses are already transitioning towards adopting more circular practices” Alison McRae

Something green for your lunch box?Exasperation at cling film has created an eco-business and given purpose to inmates BY SHONA FORBES

With three young children I decided it was time to give up my job as a land-scape architect and become a full-time mum. As the children reached school age my days seemed filled with making packed lunches and wrapping them up in cling film. I hate cling film. The plastic waste and the fact it is impos-sible to cut - never an ideal way to start a Monday morning!

It was back to the drawing board and time to come up with a solution. The inspiration goes back to tying your lunch up in a spotty handkerchief, Dick Whittington style. Re-Wrap-It and The Wrapper were born. The outside is made from poly-cotton and the liner is a low-density polyethylene which

conforms to EU food regulations.The Wrapper seals with a Velcro

strap, so is flexible in size. It fits sandwiches, wraps, rolls, toddler finger food, or even cheese and cold meat. When the Wrapper opens out it becomes a hygienic place mat, so ideal if you are out and about, lunch in the car or at work. It also makes a great waterproof seat if you are out for a Scottish picnic!

I started selling them at school fairs and the response was fantastic – so it was time to start scaling up! I used Business Gateway and then Entrepre-neurial Spark for business advice and mentoring. This help was invaluable. A friend helped to make them, but sales were growing, and I needed to increase production.

As an eco-product I wanted them ‘Made in Scotland’, but it was tricky: quotes were sky high, or companies wouldn’t get back to me. I contacted Kilmarnock Prison on the off chance they could make them for me and BINGO! I took a sample and they had a

6 GREEN ECONOMY REDUCING WASTE 19 September 2018

go at sewing. We had a solution and the Wrappers are now ‘Made in Scotland’

The inmates do the sewing. They learn a skill, gain qualifications which improve their chance of future employ-ment plus they get paid for working, so there is a sense of worth. I met a lady last Christmas; her nephew had been an inmate at Kilmarnock and when released he set up a business making curtains, based on the skills he had learnt in prison. That was a great moment.

Most of the sales are through my web site www.re-wrap-it.co.uk but I also retail them at events such as the Royal Highland Show, BBC Good Food

Show, and Kirsty Allsopp’s Handmade in Britain Fair. I sell them at trade price to schools and they sell them through the eco-committee or enterprise club as a PTA fund-raiser; great for the Green Flag Awards!

Thanks to David Attenborough and Blue Planet there has been a massive rise in interest in reducing plastic waste. Re-Wrap-It and the Reusable Sandwich Wrapper are just one small step towards a better, cleaner planet. If everyone takes small steps, we will make giant strides.

Shona Forbes is Director of Re-Wrap-It.

The outside is made from poly-cotton and the liner is low-density polyethylene which conforms to EU food regulations

“Thanks to David Attenborough and Blue Planet there has been a massive rise in interest in reducing plastic waste” Shona Forbes

nesses can improve the legacy of major events and conferences. As a result, over 200 ideas were submitted from 13 participating countries. The process concluded with three winning solu-tions, each of which has now entered an implementation phase, with the aim of developing pilot projects within city-based event venues.

As the end of 2018 approaches, Cir-cular Glasgow will look at the circular opportunities within the construction and finance sectors as it hosts a Mini Summit ‘Glasgow: Towards a Circular City’. This event aims to encourage and inspire industry leaders to consider incorporating circularity principals into new or refurbished developments within the city.

Alison McRae, Senior Director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “As Glasgow moves to position itself as

These are blooming greatPromoting environmental awareness through a passion for ‘grown not flown’ flowers

By Jane MacDonalD

I’ve always had a passion for flowers and for years I would channel my cre-ative energy into designing bouquets and arrangements for friends and family occasions alongside my day job as a geologist and environmental man-ager working on renewable energy de-velopments. I was always keen to learn more so, when my daughters turned 10, I took a 10-month career break and went on some intensive floristry career courses leading to the launch of Blooming Heather in 2016.

Two years on and Blooming Heath-er is more a labour of love still and I’ve continued working in renewables. I’m a chartered environmentalist (CEnv) which brings with it a responsibility to promote sustainability and environ-mental awareness - it therefore made sense to me that Blooming Heather would follow the same ethos.

To reduce flower-miles I try to use seasonal ‘grown not flown’ flowers, preferably locally grown without pesti-cides and herbicides. I love the variety of British flowers and often find more

unusual flowers compared with the commonly imported varieties which are grown to a ‘standard’ uniform shape and often have no scent. Local small-scale flower farms don’t have the same level of potential ethical and environmental impacts associated with large scale single variety floriculture. My favourite place to source flowers is the Dear Green Flower Farm, a social enterprise / not-for-profit flower farm in the west end of Glasgow run entirely by volunteers.

Using British flowers is definitely a growth area; it’s great for the farmers, the rural economy and wildlife but more awareness and dedication are re-quired from both florists and consum-ers. In my experience sourcing British flowers requires more leg work and logistics than the one-click ordering and door to door delivery of imported flowers through on-line wholesalers or taking a quick trip up to the suppliers at Blochairn in Glasgow.

Instead, to source locally grown for a big event you are likely to need to go to more than one grower to get the quantities required, delivery might be to different pick up points across the city and often using some imported flowers is unavoidable if the particu-lar flowers needed for that event are simply not available (we are at the mercy of the unpredictable Scottish climate!). I am a member of Flowers from the Farm, an organisation which brings together growers and florists

rial and contains formaldehyde. I try to reduce single-use plastic through wrapping bouquets in paper and avoid-ing the plastic message card sticks, synthetic ribbons, bows and the likes. Prior to oasis being invented, florists relied on old school techniques using moss and chicken wire and I’m really

encouraged to see more and more on-line forums and florist social media groups sharing information on eco-friendly techniques.

Jane MacDonald runs Blooming Heather

www.bloomingheather.co.uk

“Using British flowers is great for the farmers, the rural economy and wildlife” Jane MacDonald

7green economyRedUcing aiR miles19 September 2018

and its membership is increasing year on year, suggesting that the market for British grown flowers is getting stronger.

The florist trade also traditionally relies heavily on plastic cellophane and wet foam (‘oasis’) which is made from a non-biodegradable plastic mate-

For chartered environmentalist Jane macdonald, it’s a labour of love

The electric revolution is hereMoving from centralised power stations to local, distributed renewable generation

By Frank Mitchell

Electric car sales are accelerating. They’re flying out the car showrooms, and the latest sales infor mation from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed a 90% increase in sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in August this year compared with last year.All of this is driven by more efficient battery technology, falling prices and the focus by government – both at West-minster and Holyrood – on chang ing consumer behaviour to cut air pollu tion and meet climate change targets.

Just this month, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced in her Pro-gramme for Government that millions would be spent on installing electric chargers in people’s homes, in busi-nesses and in council premises; that the Low Carbon Transport Fund would be raised to £20m; and there would be the

creation of 20 “electric towns” by 2025. And Prime Minister Theresa May also launched a £106m package for projects developing green battery, vehicle and re-fuelling technology.

However the public switch to EVs is happening far more rapidly than anyone predicted - and the forecasts for the years ahead will see that move continue to gain pace. All of which is undoubtedly good news. The bad news though, is there is a problem in ensur-ing that this change can be accommo-dated by the local electricity grid.

Current capacity can handle one house in every eight having a charge point fitted, after that further rein-forcement and SMART charging technologies will be required to ensure the overall cost through customers’ electricity bills are kept to a minimum. So there needs to be investment in the wider electricity infrastructure to ensure that as the number of electric chargers increases, the necessary local grid capacity is available.

Distribution Network Operators like SP Energy Networks (SPEN) can deliver that work efficiently but we require the support of Ofgem, the

energy regulator, to allow us to do the work ahead of demand to ensure the whole electric revolution doesn’t stall and that costs are minimised.

At SPEN we operate the electric-ity network for central and southern Scotland – as well as in Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and North Shropshire – transmitting and distribut-ing electricity to millions of customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And we want to deliver a better future, quicker for the communities that we serve.

We believe all parts of society should benefit from this low carbon revolu-tion, access to electric vehicles and the health benefits of low or zero emissions. Which is why we’re at the forefront of decarbonising our energy system.

We have already connected 7GW of renewables to the network – which is more than the peak demand for the whole of Scotland – which shows we have the capability, but in order to be

local, distributed renewable generation. The next revolution will be in trans-port and Ofgem has to move from centralised decision making and start to enable all communities to meet the challenges of this revolution at their own pace.

At SPEN we’re already in discussions with politicians in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Liverpool about empowering them as Smart Cities, not only to be ready to make people’s electric dreams a reality, but to be ahead of the game.

SPEN is ready to work with the Scot-tish, Welsh and UK governments to de-liver their plans for a greener Scotland and UK, and to meet the challenges of the low carbon revolution. We hope they can work with us in making that regulation change happen, for the benefit of us all.

Frank Mitchell is chief executive of SP Energy Networks.

it is vital energy network companies are able to invest in infrastructure ahead of consumer demand

able to turn these positive, government announcements around EVs into a real-ity, there needs to be fundamental shift by Ofgem and its understanding of our emerging energy system and its needs.

The existing tools and framework used by Ofgem do not take account of regional differences, nor do they allow investment in infrastructure before the consumer demand exists. If we are to realise the energy revolution and decar-bonise our transport sector, it will be vi-tal that energy network companies are able to invest in the required infrastruc-ture, ahead of consumer demand, so that people can be confident that they will be able to charge their cars when they need to. Without that investment, it would be like today’s drivers getting to the petrol station on an empty tank and finding the pump dry.

Over the past ten years our energy system has moved from large, cen-tralised power stations to much more