The Corporate Director – Communities, submitted a report, seeking Cabinet approval for Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) to be part of a consortium looking to prepare and submit a proposal to the UK Government to meet the requirements of its Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF), as part of the Prospering From The Energy Revolution Programme.

The Head of Neighbourhood Services advised by way of background information, that  ‘The Prospering From The Energy Revolution’ was part of the UK Government’s Clean Growth Strategy, and is an ambitious blueprint for lowering carbon emissions, protecting the environment. The Energy Revolution Challenge was also designed to address many societal challenges linked to energy, such as those referenced to in paragraph 3.1 of the report.

He added that the energy system was currently undergoing rapid change, due to a number of factors such as those exampled in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

The Head of Neighbourhood Services further added, that the Government were committing a considerable amount of funding in the investment of low carbon innovation, up to 2021. 10% of this would be allocated to the development of smart systems designed to provide cheap and clean energy across the heat, power and transport sectors. A breakdown of government funding on low carbon innovation was shown in paragraph 3.3 of the report.

The Prospering from the Energy Revolution Programme was designed to be business led, to be delivered through an ambitious and innovative consortium, which would comprise of the following:-

·         Project Developers;

·         ICT Specialists;

·         Technology Developers;

·         Local Authorities;

·         Energy Sector Companies;

·         Research Institutions, and

·         Multi-disciplinary Consultants

The Head of Neighbourhood Services explained that the Proposal will be led by Cenin Renewables, a company based at the Parc Stormy site.

A Digital Master Plan would detail how digital technology will develop integrated solutions for the decarbonisation of heat, power and transport, that will have benefits across the entire energy system.

The proposal for the ISCF was subject to commercial confidentialities due to the role of the private sector within the proposal, with the intention being, that the Cenin Renewables site near Porthcawl, could utilise its power generation capability to become a decarbonised hub.

The Head of Neighbourhood Services further explained, that discussions had also been held at a City Deal level and the Bridgend proposal would be a pathfinder project for the Capital Region, where learning and supply chain opportunities can be generated for the region. Especially, if City Deal Monies could be leveraged into the scheme sometime in the future.

The Head of Neighbourhood Services finally concluded his submission, by outlining the report’s financial implications.

The Cabinet Member Communities advised that he was very happy with the proposals of the report and that BCBC was part of this illustrious project.

There would be in total £120m of funding made available between 3 participating Authorities, ie Bridgend, Manchester and Newcastle. BCBC would therefore make an appropriate bid for £40m as part of the project, which was an unprecedented amount of money as part of the consortia.

Being part of the Prospering From The Energy Revolution Programme, would enhance further, Bridgend’s growing reputation as being positive, proactive and a major force in the UK when it came to delivering alternative and more improved energy methods under its Energy Strategic Plan, which would cover a period up to 2050.

The closing date for bids he added was 28 July 2018.

He moved the report (which was duly seconded and carried unanimously) as a flagship project that would see Bridgend as one of the few elite areas of the country in delivering improved energy systems in the future.

He was proud of this, and thanked the team supporting the project in BCBC, as this was a very small section delivering both a vast and excellent project(s).

The Leader echoed this, and added that the overall Programme was awe inspiring, and would put Bridgend clearly on the map as one of just 3 locations within the whole of the UK that would be involved in the development of this prestigious programme, with all the funding for this coming from an external rather than an internal source. 

RESOLVED:                  That Cabinet gave approval for Bridgend County Borough Council to participate in the Prospering from the Energy Revolution ISCF proposal.