Resource efficient,low carbon cities ktn

Resource Efficient,
Low Carbon Cities

From the Environmental Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Network

Future Cities| September, 2012

Resource Efficient, Low Carbon Cities
The Grand Challenge:

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is not the only pressing issue to be addressed for a city of the
future. An expanding population with improving standard of living, migrating into cities means that we
will not be able to ensure access to the key resources. This includes food and water, minerals and
metals, oil and power. The effective use of resources, energy and social capital is key for long-term
economic success. In promoting innovation we take account of the ‘triple bottom line’ of
environmental, social and financial sustainability.

A future city will be an economically successful, resource efficient, positive place to live

The Context:

Using Backcasting techniques a stakeholder workshop identified five aspects of a Resource Efficient
Low Carbon Future City:

Figure 1: Five aspects of a Resource Efficient Low Carbon Future City

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1. Best Practice Deployment
A city of the future would comprise a number of Symbiotic systems e.g. integrated water/waste
water/energy generation. City infrastructure would be Sustainable (in line with the 3Ps of
sustainability), resilient and flexible. This could be in the form of a “resilient” energy infrastructure or
procurement practices which focus on the desired outputs, not the method of delivery, thus allowing
the easier deployment of new technologies and business models as they are developed.

The City will have functioning networks of “green” infrastructure providing essential eco-system
services. The development of best practices in technology and other areas will ensure that all
resources are used to maximum potential throughout the life cycle. It will be easy to move material
resources around the city using low carbon transport infrastructure (both for first life and end of life
usage and distribution).

2. People Focused

The future City will be a pleasant place for the occupants to live and work. It will have a stable, slow
growth population of “Happy” people. It will create a culture that means everyone contributes to the
vision and people will want to make the city attractive to live in.

Technology will enable Citizens to have access to data to choose the “right thing” and this “self
interest” will drive economic and competitive uses of resources. Good sustainable urban planning will
mean that People will live near to good local services and facilities to reduce transport needs and
minimise congestion.

3. Effective use of Energy and Heat
In our City we are capturing fugitive heat and reusing it as heat or power. (From processes and
services which are generating lots of waste heat e.g. data centres). This, combined with effective
energy recovery from waste materials, will provide secure energy for the city. In fact some cities may
even be self-sufficient or even export energy.

It will have climate sensitive buildings. Energy use in buildings will be much reduced through: building
insulation, low energy lighting, newer buildings. Materials and energy currently treated as waste will
be used productively.

4. Commercial Brand Image
The city of the future will be attractive to investors and new residents. It should be commercially
vibrant and also have the infrastructure and facilities to attract new business and the staff /
customers. It will be more competitive by virtue of being more resource-efficient. The effective use of
physical resources and utilities will lead to lower costs for business operations and residents. The cost
of resources and understanding of their true value will drive efficiencies. e.g. “Another thing that
should not be belittled is that Amsterdam Smart City has succeeded in branding Amsterdam as a
forward thinking city with smart ideas, and has made Amsterdam an international example in which
other cities can find inspiration.”

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5. Efficient Use of Material Resources
Natural Resource flows will be driven to optimise resource consumption, minimisation of waste. There
will be a zero waste culture; materials which cannot be economically recovered elsewhere in the value
chain will be used in energy generation.

Utilisation of “waste” energy will be a driving factor in the issuing of planning permits. For example
new commercial enterprises will need to use renewable or district heating grids. Wastes are
reprocessed to generate electricity / heat and low carbon fuels (biodiesel and gas), this include food
wastes and waste water solids. The city will be part of a complex system comprising many interlinked
“closed loops”.

In the move towards a more “circular economy” in product life cycles, the “end of life” management
of materials and products will have a significant role to play in the creation of new products and
production of resilient water and energy supplies.

In order to use resources more efficiently, it is essential to consider the lifecycle of the resource, which
may encompass multiple product lifetimes. The opportunities to improve the resource efficiency and
decrease the carbon intensity of products are not limited to a specific stage of the lifecycle, and
improvements at one stage may have an adverse impact on another.

The greatest benefits accrue by moving from the traditional “linear lifecycle”;

(extract  consume  waste) to a closed-loop /circular process as shown in the diagram.

Extract

Manufacture
Extract Manufacture Consume Dispose
Dispose

Consume

Figure 2: Linear and Circular economies

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However, as cities are always going to be importers of resources, the model is more like a vortex
shape of almost closed loops, each extracting maximum value from a resource before it exits to the
next loop.

Resources In
Extract maximum
value from resources

Waste Materials Out

Figure 3: Vortex

Top Priorities for the Catapult to Focus on

The themes identified were separated into “technical” and “non-technical” topics and a number of
these “technical” topics were further explored in the second workshop.

From this exercise the following challenges were identified and expanded.

• Efficient Use of Resources / Maximising Value of Resources

• Resource Efficient Communities / Smart Neighbourhoods

• Data Collection and Modelling

• Heat movement and storage

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The Challenge: Efficient Use of Resources / Maximising Value of Resources
A significant area of discussion focused on the areas of “traditional” resource efficiency which are
often highlighted in workshop around this topic. These have included improved recycling technologies,
waste collection and separation strategies and technologies, sustainable design, remanufacturing
through to energy from waste.

Although phrases such as “closed loop” and “circular economy” are becoming popular ways to
describe some resource efficiency concepts, they are not necessarily the correct way to describe this
within a city system. Due to the nature of a “city” there will be a net import of materials and
resources. What is required is the extraction of maximum value from these resources. These materials
will have an associated cost to them on entry to the city system it is vital that the full value of them is
“realised” within the city.

Resource flows will be driven to optimise resource consumption, minimisation of waste. There will be
a move towards zero waste culture; materials which cannot be economically recovered elsewhere in
the value chain will be used in energy generation and soil enrichment.

The city will be part of a complex system comprising many interlinked “closed loops”, which will
effectively make a spiral of the value chain until maximum value has been extracted from the
materials.

Some of this valorisation of materials feeds into “effective utilisation of energy” as energy recovery is a
valid use of materials.

The real innovations to be had in this area are around the integration of the disparate systems
currently in place in many systems which deal with the various waste streams and under different sets
of regulation. E.g. household waste water, municipal solid waste, industrial / business waste /
industrial waste water etc.

There is also the opportunity to redesign products and services to be more resource efficient and
contribute to the “circular economy” model. UK businesses have a significant market opportunity to
develop products and services that make better use of materials in a world that is already facing
increasing competition and prices for these resources. Better resource management not only helps
conserve materials, but also contributes to the low-carbon economy through the management of
‘embedded carbon’.

In recent years there has been considerable progress made in areas such as recycling and material
recovery as much as 80% of material flows in the UK economy are still based on the linear model of
‘take-make-dispose’, according to data from WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme). This
recovery rate and the recovery of materials at a higher level in the value chain could be increased by
adopting innovative new designs and resource efficient business models; for example, research
suggests that around 33% of electronic products are still functioning when they are discarded.
Extending product lifetimes however, requires not only measures targeting changes in product design
and manufacturing, but also complementary measures aimed at changing consumer behaviour and
business models.

To address the issue of maximising value of “post consumer” goods and materials the idea of
“remanufacturing and industrial resource parks” was suggested.

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These could embrace a number of the following concepts;

• Repair and refurbishment of products -
• Remanufacture of products –
• Recovery and reuse of components – on site and off site
o Also reuse of construction and demolition waste to create new construction materials
on site
• Recovery and reuse of materials - on site and off site
• Recycling of material for use on site and off site
• Heat recovery and waste derived fuels
• Production of compost and soil improvers

The Challenge: Resource Efficient Communities / Smart Neighbourhoods
This is interlinked with the issue of “Efficient Use of Resources / Maximising Value of Resources”. The
effective integration of housing and community services could make a significant contribution to
resource efficiency and the carbon footprint of the city.

The focus of this work stream is not the deployment of photovoltaics, insulation and renewable
energy sources in the community, which we have assumed would be par for the course in “future
cities” and will also be addressed to some extent in the “resilient energy” area, whether retro-fitted or
new build. It is more focused on a new approach to the use of resources and materials within the
community.

There is a need for large scale deployment of a number of the concepts below at “community scale” or
wider. These residential areas would be fully monitored to measure the resource flows in and out,
energy consumption and production, environmental scale of the impacts and social impacts on
residents.

The resources that have been identified include a range of currently available technologies as well as
concepts requiring further development;

• Development and deployment of water saving technologies;
o Rainwater harvesting – and quality improvement where required to British Standard for
rainwater Harvesting
 Flushing
 Washing machines
 Garden irrigation
o Grey water reuse – and quality improvement where required to British Standard for Grey
water
 Dishwashers
 Washing machines
 Showers etc..
o Waterless technology

• Integration of waste water/sewage systems with food waste disposal

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o For treatment by localised Anaerobic Digestion plants 1 which could provide heat and
power back into the community as well as source of soil improver.

• New logistics models and responsibility for delivery of goods and collection of waste.
o Collection of recyclables by shopping delivery service
o Waste collection on demand – “smart” systems to enable householders to have waste and
materials collected when needed.
o Incentive based recycling systems – ways to reward good behaviour in consumers e.g.
local reverse vending machines

Why is this a priority challenge area? Why is this a complex challenge?

This is a priority area as people and communities are the real reason that cities exist and can
potentially have a significant on the overall impacts of the city on the surrounding environment.
However, the impact of the citizens can also be mitigated by the type of resources/ products that are
purchased, the way they are delivered, the way that they are used and disposed of. This creates a
complex structure of interlinked challenges ranging from product design, technical integration of
services through to behavioural change.

Who are the stakeholders for this challenge?

Stakeholders in this area are diverse

Product and service design
- Product designers
- Manufacturers,
- Retailers and distributors
- Consumers

Design of resource efficient technologies
- Innovative SMEs
- Universities and research centres
- Large business

Integration and deployment of Technologies
- Energy and water utilities
- Construction companies
- Planners / local authority
- Waste companies
- ICT companies
- Consumers

1
http://www.recyclingwasteworld.co.uk/cgi-bin/go.pl/article/article.html?uid=93697;type_uid=49

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Additionality – how will the Catapult add value over and above work that might be carried out
elsewhere?

Some of the innovation in these areas lies in the combination and deployment of existing technologies
alongside new ideas. Many of these have been demonstrated at small scale, but there is a great
opportunity to build a large scale demonstration of a combination of the state of the art concepts.

The catapult can provide the mechanism to bring these diverse stakeholders together and facilitate
joined-up thinking to address these problems.

The planned monitoring, modelling and observation capability of the Catapult will be essential for the
collection of real time data on the material flows, impacts and emissions within these activities.

Where are the overlaps with other themes in the Future Cities SIG?

This area is heavily influenced by the attitudes and behaviours of the occupants of cities. It is essential
to educate, empower and employ “people” in order to move towards Resource Efficient Communities
/ Smart Neighbourhoods. This can be achieved through the engaging citizens work stream and the
connecting city systems. The effective movement of “materials” and “resources” around a city is also
part of a resource efficient community and this will feed into activities in the Increasing population
without increasing congestion work stream.

The Challenge: Data Collection and Modelling (Energy and Resources)
Participants commented that technological solutions to many resource efficiency problems already
exist but that their deployment and, as such, their propagation and further development, are hindered
by lack of data and models and by the difficulty of overcoming ‘institutional inertia’; contrasting with
countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Germany where, it was perceived, “They just get on and do
it.”

In all groups much was made of the need for detailed mapping of resource flows, including energy. It
was considered that the development of comprehensive models would permit analysis leading to the
identification of potential areas of synergy. It was perceived that there were problems associated with
the ownership and security of data, interoperability of data (calls for an Internet of Things for energy)
and the availability of maps and models for use by third parties (would they be open-source
platforms?)

Some participants called for research into the dynamic use of energy data based on real-time building
and appliance use. This would require collaboration and cooperation between energy providers.

Similarly, it was proposed that mapping and modelling of materials flows and patterns of use might
enable more resources to be reused and wastes diverted from disposal to secondary uses or recovery
of constituent materials. Without obvious initial benefit or value to individual organizations it will be
necessary to establish the ownership, governance and financial structures associated with the data
gathering and modelling.

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Why is this a priority challenge area?

It is a well-known adage that ‘If you can’t measure it you can’t manage it’. By providing the data and
information on how cities operate now it is possible to generate models and thereby look at linkages
between variables. With comprehensive (robust) models it is possible to look at how changes to inputs
might impact on other aspects of the city performance in the future and to trial different options to
determine what is favourable.

Pilot-scale interventions can be measured and monitored and their impacts compared against city-
models to establish whether the projected impacts accord with reality. By having a city-wide, multi-
dimensional model it is possible to fast-track developments that can be shown as beneficial and avoid
costly mistakes.

Why is this a complex challenge?

Cities are large and complex entities and there are many interrelated variables. Cities already collect
much data but this is held in a number of different formats and on different platforms. Disparate
entities within cities will collect data and generate information that is unknown to others. Even within
city authorities there is rarely a ‘governing mind’ analogous to a brain and there are often vested
interests that prevent collaboration or disclosure. Questions of data ownership and storage,
protection of personal or commercially sensitive interests and the potential for misuse of data are all
factors that mitigate against the development of such widespread monitoring and measurement.


Because of the wide scope of this ‘challenge’ the stakeholder community is hard to define. Certainly
City Authorities have an interest in the potential to simulate interventions and determine whether
policies will be effective before they are implemented. Similarly a real-time monitoring system will
allow them to ‘fine-tune’ or optimize existing systems. Obviously the manufacturers of monitoring
and data collection devices will be key to the development of low cost and robust systems of
measurement. Similarly, the IT consultancies that will devise and maintain the models and databases
have a central role as do game designers who might be involved in providing virtual environments
(serious gaming). Social scientists should be heavily involved, given the ‘Orwellian’ overtones of an all-
seeing environment or ‘panopticon’. Without the engagement and consent of citizens it might prove
difficult to justify the necessary expenditure.

elsewhere?

The Catapult will, in the first instance, act as a space in which all parties can come together to explore
the concept and work out details. Catapult staff will act as moderators of discussions to ensure that
vested interests do not dominate. Catapult funding will enable participants to engage without
incurring full cost.

The potential impact on the challenge and timescales of impact

By undertaking a trial project it will be possible for the host city to obtain a clearer view of the
workings of its component parts, enabling it to manage better the use of resources (material and
energy). The time to implement such a programme is likely to be significant due to the ill-defined
nature of the proposals and the requirement for widespread consultation ahead of implementation.

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Capability and resource requirements to address the challenge: e.g. technical expertise, capital
facilities and equipment, etc.

In order to undertake projects in this space it will be necessary to engage the expertise of multiple
parties, including; suppliers of IT infrastructure - both hardware (sensors, wireless networks) and
software (database, serious gaming); resource efficiency/industrial symbiosis expertise (e.g.
NISP/International Synergies) in order to facilitate dialogue and design the experimental set-up, city
authorities to ensure buy-in from potential participants and allow access to public sector facilities;
energy utilities; material suppliers and waste handling companies as well as attendant logistics
providers. Importantly, it will be necessary to support the development of any pervasive data
collection and handling with appropriate social science expertise.

Ahead of a funding call to refine the project specification it is difficult to determine precisely what will
be required by way of capital, facilities and equipment. It is likely that there will be a significant need
of RFID tags or similar to track the movement of materials and substantial investment in the
development/integration of wireless networks. A suitably-scaled and representative domain in which
to apply the measurement and modelling is necessary. This might consist of a borough, a campus, a
village or something similarly discrete in order to be able to identify and delineate the parameters to
be measured and monitored.

Example projects or activities

- Virtual environment for the trading of waste products incorporating third-party tracking and
brokerage as well as one-to-one interaction
- Distributed, pervasive monitoring and mapping of energy usage and waste heat generation.
- Modelling of stand-by generation capacity for use in periods of peak demand.
- The application of serious gaming technology to model the user interface in a virtual
environment through a number of scenarios

Headline Business Case for activity – Predicted impact on UK businesses, activity, jobs, etc, and
inward investment opportunities; How much investment for this kind of impact? Who would
benefit? What are the opportunities for UK industry? Is this an opportunity for UK to take a global
lead?

The main drivers for the many calls for greater measurement and monitoring were the need for
greater efficiency of city systems and the ability to track resources such that they can be readily
captured for re-use, thus saving cost, reducing emissions of CO2 and minimizing waste.

If it were possible to demonstrate that it is feasible to develop meaningful information from the
accrual of mass datasets on the material and energy resources in a city then it is possible that UK
based consultants can sell the expertise globally however it is not readily apparent where the scope is
for the development of a significant technological component that might result in the establishment of
manufacturing facilities or licensing opportunities.

What are the opportunities for SMEs and how do they enter the market?

SMEs are unlikely to be the main ‘players’ in this market initially, although they will almost certainly
feature in the supply chains of the large consultancy companies that will undertake the data
management and modelling. However, it is likely that some of the computer gaming and virtual

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environment design will be carried out by SMEs and SMEs will certainly benefit from the efficiency
gains resulting from implementation of the measurement and modelling.


This area is heavily influenced by the attitudes and behaviours of the occupants’ of cities. It is essential
to educate, empower and employ “people” in order to be able to collect the required data. This can be
achieved through the engaging citizens work stream and the connecting city systems. The effective
movement of “materials” and “resources” around a city is also part of a resource efficient community
and this will feed into activities in the Increasing population and without increasing congestion work
stream.

The Challenge: Heat movement and storage
There was much discussion at both workshops of the problem of waste heat energy in urban areas:
both the impacts of fugitive heat and the need for cooling but primarily the capture, storage, transport
and deployment of heat energy. Examples were given of large industrial heat sources (extant or in
planning) that are (or will be) located remotely from the parts of the city that require heat or the
energy that might be recovered from it.

Examples were given of schemes where heat was being scavenged (e.g. PepsiCo in Leicester) and it
was agreed that the technology exists to capture and re-use heat locally, however heat transport over
significant distances is problematic due to losses via temperature gradient and because of the very
high costs of trenching for pipe laying.

It is evident that an expensive and carbon-intensive resource is being wasted in cities the world over
and that cost and environmental impact could be minimised by devising policies and mechanisms to
encourage and enable its reuse. By establishing a viable market in heat the producers of heat would
benefit by selling their ‘waste’, those involved in the capture, storage and transport would benefit by
selling the heat and those in the construction and technology sectors who facilitate the whole
transaction would benefit through the development of equipment and systems that could be
replicated globally.

Specific comments from the workshop on the 5th September include:

• ‘Look at best practice for energy and heat mapping (e.g. Nottingham City Council, Sheffield
University/NERC)’
• ‘Grades of “waste” heat mapped to enable co-location of possible users’
• ‘Policies for the geographically appropriate siting of industry (e.g. industries with large cooling
demand in colder areas)’
• ‘Look at planning policy and zoning to reduce energy wastage – create standards’
• ‘Examine existing District Heating Schemes (Sheffield and Birmingham in the UK, global best-
practice e.g. Copenhagen Heat Networks) to look at the constraints and examine where
improvement is required.’
• ‘Look at failed schemes to learn lessons for the future.’
• ‘Need for effective Low and High grade heat storage technologies.’
• ‘Putting wasted (heat) Energy to use.
• Establish network to identify partnering opportunities

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• Develop credible models to evaluate the cost & benefit to both parties (supplier & user)
• Include environmental & social cost/benefit.’
• ‘Look at imaginative uses for waste heat, e.g. saunas.’

Why is this a priority challenge area?

The problem of what to do about waste heat is a priority challenge because it represents both a
hugely expensive wasted resource and a significant environmental impact. Moreover, the Urban Heat
Island effect (to which waste heat is a contributing factor) is a significant factor in urban poor health
issues and has a knock-on environmental impact in that it encourages the use of cooling devices such
as air conditioning; in themselves very energy intensive and generators of waste heat.

Why is this a complex challenge?

The complexity lies in the fact that waste heat is generated in many parts of the urban environment
and similarly potential users of waste heat are widely distributed. Heat energy is generated in a variety
of forms (low temperature, high temperature, hot air, steam etc.) and does not always lend itself to
capture. Waste heat is generated continually even when the demand for it from potential users is
reduced.


Stakeholders include the (mostly large industrial) producers of waste heat, potential users including
other industries, office and domestic accommodation and swimming pools, city authorities who have
responsibility for the infrastructure through which waste heat might be transported (roads,
pavements, public spaces) and technology providers. Energy utilities have often been involved in the
delivery of combined heat and power systems and would most likely be key stakeholders in this
challenge. The construction sector would need to be involved in order to work on the problems
associated with pipe installation.

elsewhere?

Because the issue does not belong to one group of stakeholders it is a knotty problem that no one is
keen to ‘own’. By pulling stakeholders together in a research project and demonstrating a workable
model for assessing, modelling, allocating, storing and transporting waste heat the Catapult can
accelerate the development of a market and as such the provision of technological solutions to
address that market.

The potential impact on the challenge and timescales of impact

Combined Heat and Power systems exist but are not commonplace and are generally designed from
scratch. This represents an opportunity to make inroads into the use of a distributed resource by
establishing the economic viability, technical feasibility and ‘do-ability’.

An exercise in mapping heat sources and sinks across a medium-sized city such as Leeds or
Nottingham might be achieved in 6 months with a further 6 month modelling period.

Trials of trenchless pipe-installation techniques might reasonably be achieved within one year.

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The investigation of alternatives to heat transfer in pipes could be undertaken inside 6 months
although the development of appropriate infrastructure and transport media/vehicles might be a
long-term project (1-2 years)

Capability and resource requirements to address the challenge: e.g. technical expertise, capital
facilities and equipment, etc.

In order to address this challenge it will be necessary to work with a city that has one or, preferably,
more large heat sources and potential users of the waste heat. It will be necessary to involve
manufacturers and installers of thermally insulated pipework (assuming that is considered the optimal
means of transporting the heat energy) or manufacturers of equipment for the recovery of low grade
heat for the generation of power (e.g. Rankine Cycle engines). It will require academic input to design
experiments and undertake measurement, analysis and reporting and will need strong central co-
ordination and facilitation to ensure all parties remain engaged.

Example projects or activities

- Comparison of different heat transport media.

- Exploring the use of road/rail transport of heated media to get around the expense and
difficulty involved in the installation of (underground) pipe networks.

- Analysis of heat recovery and transport versus direct recovery of heat energy as electric power
and re-use via the grid.

- City-wide mapping of heat sources and potential sinks including real-time inputs

- District-scale modelling of heat generation and needs and subsequent construction of heat
distribution network using novel, low-cost technology and trenching/trenchless techniques.

Headline Business Case for activity – Predicted impact on UK businesses, activity, jobs, etc, and
inward investment opportunities; How much investment for this kind of impact? Who would
benefit? What are the opportunities for UK industry? Is this an opportunity for UK to take a global
lead?

The business case lies in the recovery of what is currently a wasted resource. By capturing and reusing
a substantial energy source, cities can reduce the costs of operation for businesses, making them
attractive places for companies to locate (including overseas companies) and thereby stimulating city
economies. If widely developed, the reduction in energy demand generally will contribute to the
competitiveness of UK plc and contribute to the reduction in CO2 emissions required by government.

There are opportunities to use waste heat for heat-intensive nascent industries such as city-farms or
biorefineries for the production of algal-derived fuels and other chemicals/chemical feedstocks. These
sectors have struggled to get off the ground to date because of the high energy costs but represent
potentially high-value industries, contributing significantly to city economies.

By reducing the emissions to the low atmosphere of waste heat it will be possible to impact on the
reduction of the heat-island effect and thereby making a general contribution to well-being in cities.

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For the companies involved in manufacturing of equipment and devising methods of deploying novel
technologies there is the opportunity to be First Movers and to export those skills and equipment
since this is a global issue. If it were possible to demonstrate low-cost and efficient means of moving
waste heat around an urban environment, the potential implications for UK manufacturing and
consulting would be significant.

What are the opportunities for SMEs and how do they enter the market?

Opportunities for SME involvement are not immediately apparent however the establishment of a
market will inevitably generate supply-chain roles in servicing the requirements of large infrastructure
engineering companies. It is unlikely that such a novel market sector could be delivered using only
existing technology and methods of working.


There are numerous potential overlaps/interfaces between this challenge and those being addressed
by others in the SIG and the associated KTNs: Resilient energy, effective use of resources, energy
generation and supply and the Energy SIG.

Potential Role of the Catapult

In the areas addressed under the theme of Resource Efficiency, much of the potential innovation in
lies in the combination and deployment of existing technologies alongside new ideas. Many of these
technologies have been demonstrated on small scale, often as the result of funded research projects
but there is a great need to build large scale demonstrators with a combination of the state of the art
concepts.

The Catapult can provide the mechanisms to bring these diverse stakeholders together, access funding
and facilitate joined up thinking to address these problems. Lending its brand to the project(s) will
help get around the issue of ‘not invented here’ syndrome or parochialism.

The planned monitoring, modelling and observation capability of the Catapult will be essential for the
collection of real time data on the benefits, impacts and emissions within these activities.

Recommendations to the Technology Strategy Board
The UK has enjoyed decades of growth in wealth and wellbeing, based on a linear consumption
pattern, fuelled by intensive use of resources. However there is now a dual challenge of stimulating
the growth needed to provide jobs and well-being to its citizens, and of ensuring that the quality of
this growth leads to a sustainable future.

To tackle these challenges and turn them into opportunities the UK economy will require a
fundamental transformation within a generation – in energy, industry, transport systems, and in
producer and consumer behaviour.

The creation of a Future Cities Catapult, with a strong focus on “Resource Efficient – Smart
Neighbourhoods” will enable this transformation in a timely, predictable and controlled manner and
will allow us to develop our wealth and wellbeing, whilst reducing the levels and impact of our
resource use.

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In addition, becoming more resource efficient will lead to lowering carbon emissions. A city’s carbon
emissions could be characterized as in-manufacture, in-use and at point of disposal (the carbon
footprint of a city). The opportunity exists, therefore to establish systems and business models that
require fewer initial inputs, which maximise efficiency in use and that recover as much as possible
post-use. Specifically, it is recommended that projects be procured which address the use, reuse and
recovery of materials and the capture, transfer and reuse of heat energy at a pilot-scale. Both of these
initiatives would require a significant element of data capture and modelling in order for them to be
considered of significant benefit.

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Appendix 1: Key Stakeholders: Who should the Catapult engage with?

Some suggested stakeholder representatives.

Affiliation Experience/Expertise
Marks and Spencer plc ESKTN Board Member
Sustainable retail / Sustainable food supply
Sustainable construction / Plan A
SITA External Affairs director at SITA UK
Veolia Managing Director at Veolia Environmental Services plc
ASDA Head of Corporate Sustainability
Sustainable retail / Sustainable food supply
Waste management
Independent Sustainable retail / Sustainable food supply
consultant – Retail
Sector Waste management

Geneco (Wessex General Manager, Geneco
Water)
Wastewater, Sustainable transport (bio-gas for
transport)
Carillion Chief Sustainability Officer
Sustainable construction, Building services
Halcrow Global Leader, Tunnel engineering
Below-ground infrastructure
Balfour Beatty Global Head of Sustainability
Peel Holdings Director of Sustainability
Transport
Communities / Retail
Waste / Energy
Ellen Macarthur Chief Executive
Foundation (Partners
= B&Q, BT/Cisco, Rethinking the economy
Renault and National
Grid The Circular Economy
Towns (and cities) in transition
Transition Towns Co-founder of Transition Town Totnes and of
Movement the Transition Network
Coordinated the first eco-village development in Ireland
to be granted planning permission.

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Affiliation Experience/Expertise
Professor of Trustee of Urban Mines, Chair of the Academy for
Sustainable Spatial Sustainable Communities. Vice-President of the Town
Development at the and Country Planning Association, Hon-Chair of the
University of Leeds Regional Studies Association,
Birmingham City Head of Climate Change & Sustainability
Council

Independent Ex Director of Biffa Waste Services Limited, Chair of
Consultant Waste2Tricity renewable energy
WRAP Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Development
(Design and Waste Prevention)
Energy Innovation Denise heads up the world-class Energy Innovation
Centre Centre, taking the lead in assisting individuals and
businesses in getting their ideas to commercialisation
Energy Technology Chief Executive
Institute

Forum for the Future?
AECOM consulting Technical Director District Energy and Sustainability
engineers
Milton Keynes Interim Dean, founded Smart Cities Institute
University
Severn Trent Water Water Strategy Manager
EON Energy Sustainable Cities Initiative
Yorkshire Water Head of Innovation Delivery
Arup Global Head of Water
United Utilities Innovation Manager
Marks and Spencer Sustainable Raw Materials Specialist
Balfour Beatty Global Head of Sustainability
CBI Policy Advisor, Sustainability
Strathclyde University Former Head of Energy Policy Scottish Government, all
round guru on energy and cities
http://www.strath.ac.uk/economics/staff/bellinghamric
hard

18


Appendix 2: Examples: List of examples of best practice from around the world

• Centre for Low Carbon Futures – Resource Efficient Cities
http://www.lowcarbonfutures.org/projects/smart-infrastructure/future-cities

• Sustainable Urban Environments – multi-university long term initiative in UK
http://www.urbansustainabilityexchange.org.uk/ISSUESSueProgramme.htm and subsidiary
consortia - http://www.urbansustainabilityexchange.org.uk/ISSUESSueConsortia.htm

• Sustainable Cities Research Institute, University of Northumbria

• King’s College MSC Sustainable Cities http://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/sustainable-
cities

• Helsinki – Low to No
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation2012/1st_forum/presentations/day1/session_3_
1_justin_cook.pdf

• Sheffield EWF plant and district heating - http://www.chpa.co.uk/chp-with-district-
heating_187.html http://www.veoliaenvironmentalservices.co.uk/Sheffield/What-happens-to-
your-waste/District-Energy/

• Bristol http://www.sustainablebristol.com/topics/resources/

• Birmingham – district heating http://tinyurl.com/6nktc7d

• Masdar City http://www.masdarcity.ae/en/ - UAE

• Various EU cities participating in Biogas Max project http://www.biogasmax.eu/ deriving biogas
from organic wastes and using it as a fuel for municipal transport.

• Various EU cities participating in Eco-City project demonstration sites http://www.ecocity-
project.eu/ especially Trondheim http://www.ecocity-project.eu/TheProjectTrondheim.html

• Melbourne City as a Catchment ‘total water cycle management’ -
http://wsud.melbournewater.com.au/

• Vancouver 2020 – greenest city initiative http://vancouver.ca/greenestcity/ with a ten-point
action plan summarized in pdf documents such as ‘Clean Water’, ‘Zero Waste’ and ‘Lighter
Footprint’. University of British Columbia Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability.

• Hamburg Ecocity - http://www.ecocity.de/en a smallish development in the docks area of the city
showcasing developments in material use, water management and energy

• Thirteen French cities in the Eco-City (Cities of tomorrow) initiative http://www.dialogue-
ecocite.fr/

19


Appendix 3: Resources: List of available resources e.g. research papers, reports, UK research
centres

• Sustainable Cities http://sustainablecities.dk/ - Denmark

• Sustainable Cities International (inc. Sustainable Cities Network) – Canada
http://sustainablecities.net/our-info/our-story

• Sustainable Cities Collective (information source rather than actual initiative) – USA
http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/all/6540?ref=navbar

• Worldchanging http://www.worldchanging.com/

• Sino-British Sustainable Cities Collaboration http://www.eco-cities.org.uk/background/index.php

• European Urban Knowledge Network http://www.eukn.org/France/fr_en

• EcoAP forum on Eco-Innovation in the sustainable construction value chain
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation2012/1st_forum/presentations.html

• Transition Network - http://www.reconomyproject.org/?cat=33

• San Francisco Foodshed Project – e.g.
http://www.farmland.org/programs/states/ca/Feature%20Stories/SanFranciscoFoodshedProject.
asp

• EcoInnovation Observatory - http://www.eco-
innovation.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=280&Itemid=212

• The Crystal - a sustainable cities initiative by Siemens that explores how we can create a better
future for our cities.http://www.thecrystal.org/_html/about/about.html

20


Appendix 4: Engagement Activities: List of engagement activities carried out and participating
organisations.

Full report of Stakeholder round table and back casting exercise - attachment.
Outputs from 5th September Large workshop - see below

Manufacturers
Local Authorities
Waste / water/
energy management
company Resource efficient Retailers
Waste CHP – district Integrated recycling
heating + electricity facility
Supply Chain
Integrated Food Waste is minimised,
supply and waste reused &recycled in
disposal Closing the Materials Loop What is not
the city.
recycled is used for
T2 Heathrow, reuse Energy recovery
Integrated water of demolition/
and waste construction
Transport
recycling materials on site
Providers

Construction Waste collected on
Refunds / incentives
Companies demand and pay as
for recycling materials
you throw

Barrier Politicians
Public mandate HK Gov - Planned integrated
Financial + waste management
short term
accounting models (acknowledge limitations of
for efficiency underlying philosophy)

Policy
Barrier Design for disassembly –
Planning Process Local Authorities
clear materials streams
and Objectives separation. Effective &
Residents are conscious
not to waste – enforceable policy and
behavioural change regulation

Retailers

Technology Solution Illegal / illicit supply /
Education of demand
providers
Media
people

Communication / education
People
Provision of high tech for Solution Schools
Further farmers in rural areas? Action & Adaption of
Provide information Education
Education
21


Group 2 Efficient Use of Resources

SMART Neighbourhoods

SMART Housing *** Give individuals the ability to
have waste and recycling bins
Inc. water conservation, emptied on demand through
rainwater harvesting, waste ICT
recycling & treatment, energy
efficiency etc..

Large Scale Food Waste
Small scale, urban located Disposal + sewage trail. Fully
CHP using residential waste monitored e.g Milton Keynes
feeding local electricity & heat east or west expansion **
demands *

Enabling Research
Demonstrate effective co-waste
Grades of “waste” heat water / organic food waste
Planning Policy framework for
mapped to enable co-location disposal to sewer for downstream
“smart” business/industrial
of possible users AD energy recovery; decentralised
estate framework *
energy production

Retro-fitting of local grids for
“Tri-Generation” + (tools?)
Planning Policy framework for On a whole city basis, what is the
decentralised off-grid power optimal balance of separation vs
generation aggregation

Bio-remediation creating fuel Local vs central
crops - can it be done
(safely)? AD vs incineration vs remanufacture
vs compost *

Evaluation /Proper Measurement
Database of “resource” research 1. development indicators to
measure the benefits of
- NDTP sustainability resources
- Wastenet 2. Efficient allocation of resources in
- Universities sustainability context **
- EU
- SMART Futures

LCA vs ecofootprint vs
carbon calc **

22


Social / Behavioural change
Equity in access to scarce
resources. Ensuring benefits of
Developing a “benefit corporate sustainable cities benefit the
structure” in the UK disadvantaged

Fund a “resources Czar” **

Transparency of waste costs
“new media” at a household level
Behavioural change to save 1. stamp issues?
energy and resources * 2. “waste file” weekly TV
(country file) *

Integrated Resources Centre
How to use recyclates.

Local recycling to create Materials Research ***
employment and products

Integrated Waste Recycling
Landfill mining and resource
centre
recovery
Proper “remanufacturing
Facility” – upping value of Resource Recovery
recyclates before leaving site *
- materials
- RDF

Biomass use before and Energy From waste, using novel
following energy recovery ** technologies at an industrial
Valorising Waste scale *

23


Exercise 2 – group 1

Planning and Design

Develop more effective standards for
integrated city design and management

Establish effective governance for
sustainability. ********

Circular Economy

Develop standards and practical measures
to drive the end of life materials / circular
economy via improved design for reuse /
disassembly ***

Knowledge Networks

Develop international learning networks to
share good (and bad) practice between
cities *

Accounting and Management Systems

Design integrated, life cycle led, financial
and resource management system. ***

24


WATER Adding value to waste
Food + biodegradable
Stakeholders waste to landfill ban
(resources)
Food Waste
Waste / waste water Water Conservation - Householder
- Manufacturers Collecting coffee grounds (from
Co-disposal options to - Food prep
cafes) and converting them to
AD - Roads (drainage /flooding)
boards + soil improvers Bioremediation + fuel
Adding value to waste
Solid and liquid wastes. crops i.e. growing biomass
(resources)
Water management Changing attitudes in Using segregated waste on land that cannot be
favour used for anything else.
Bioremediation + fuel Collecting coffee grounds (from
- CIWEM crops i.e. growing biomass cafes) and converting them to
Water meter - OFT on land that cannot be boards + soil improvers
programmes used for anything else. Food Waste

Resources Using segregated waste streams

Imperial College

Public Centres to see + try Severn Trent “carbon neutral” Mini food waste
innovative resource or zero carbon HQ composting
Source control, not end
management
of pipe
Broad Mill “energy Farm.
Matching resource flows across
industry – networks of resource Israel – capturing
Community owned wind and Decentralised low
flows energy from trucks to
solar farm carbon power
Short coppice willow or power houses!
generation
miscanthus on poor quality land Resource recovery for organics / Good practice – Nottingham
or contaminated land non-organics City homes have “better homes
scheme, which is changing
tenant behaviour
Stakeholders Build guidance on waste
Local Authorities management and storage
- National Government Good practice – Nottingham
- Utilities City Council have Energy
- EU consumption Map of city
25


Stakeholders

- Universities
- Schools /FE Finland – changed planning
- Companies /HR regs to allow innovation
- NGOs
- Gov Agencies Mapping of heat sources Problem People – 60% of
and demand (uni Sheffied – UK population don’t
NERC) believe in global warming Birmingham City council – CHP Streamlining
+ district heating network processing
Build guidance on waste
management and storage Public Education & Mapping CO2 and VOCs in full
2
Community energy share awareness at m scale – measurement
European pathway
schemes rather than assumptions Baseline long term common programme
Information and data flow to governance
Ethical Investment models those who implement
innovation
City Governance – Political Drivers – EU
1. Start up capital models to Footballs - elections directives
Understand “true
ensure innovation
2. PPI investment models value” of materials

Education / Local Authority Planning – New corporation types
Finance & investment

for environmental
Maximise stakeholder value, Best and worst benefits – benefit
Communication

Policy
not shareholder value companies and
stakeholders (California)
Reconciling quarterly profits SMART business estates –
reporting vs. long term planning / land lords
Stakeholders
investment requirement for
infrastructure - Universities
- Schools /FE Planning policy – zoning to
- Companies /HR reduce energy
- NGOs
- Gov Agencies

26


27


Effective Utilisation of Energy
Urban Small Scale AD networks –
Energy (Heat) Storage + Movement manage organic waste + fully
utilise all outputs  energy,
Effective Energy Storage How to store Low transport fuel, fertiliser
Low and High
Systems grade Heat more How do we find funding for Urban growing + agriculture
grade Heat
effectively innovative clean technologies? Utilise existing heat sources
storage
(PV+ water H2 Crowd funding? Identification of City
technologies
H2 +O2  water + energy Systems that (can?)
Technology Efficiency Can systems balance interact and share energy
micro gen and macro gen sources
How do we store How can innovative effectively?
energy more technologies overcome the
Putting wasted (heat) Energy to use.
efficiently? ‘valley of death’ in terms of Decentralise vs centralised.
2.1.1 | establish network to identify
partnering opportunities their deployment? How do we balance their
3.1.1 | develop credible models to development?
Effective Integration and
evaluate the cost & benefit to both Energy Storage Solutions How do we manage and
control of networked
parties (supplier & user) Invest in SMART grids How do we overcome split How best to operate between them?
energy sources (CHP,
4.1.1 | include env & social and alternative storage incentives between investors create green EFW, BioFuel etc)
developers, utilities, citizens infrastructure?
etc.?
Energy Systems
Facilitate public-private co-working
Secondment of public sector and
utility staff between each others’
Data & Modelling offices to enable people behaviour
Who collects, stores,
manages and distributes
and technology transfer Enabling Instruments
all the data?
Dynamic use of energy data
1.1.1.1 | Integrated building appliances
How to optimise ‘People’
City systems data – investment in energy-
to feed into data gathering exercise saving measures for
ownership, security, – requires integration between Governance
standards and buildings and
energy service providers. infrastructure Reduce fuel
interoperability, 2.1.1.1 | Based on building use (real • ‘optimum’ governance consumption in
monetisation, business time) provide advice to end users • Creative partnerships transport. Encourage
models on efficiency • Regulation v. incentives cycling to work and
mobility managers
Data governance – how
Access to city urban data Envisioning what a Minimize energy use
to manage/govern data
in open way but taking Energy Models future city really (Maximize use of How do we get people
generated by energy
account of privacy means for people passive technology) who will live in these
monitoring
• New systems to care?
conceptualization
What are the social justice
Lack of integrated energy • marketisation
models and social equity issues of
(engineering/commercial) creating sustainable future
cities?

28


Please select the area you are
Company interested in:
Waste / Low Waste / Energy
ESKTN from Waste
Sustainable Construction iNet Energy Efficiency and Heat
Severn Trent Water Best Practice Deployment
CEGE University College London from Waste
Cranfield University from Waste
Amey from Waste
WAMTECH from Waste
University of Northampton from Waste
Halcrow Group Limited from Waste
Resource Efficiency Pathway from Waste
CAG Best Practice Deployment
Zero Waste Scotland Energy Efficiency and Heat
New Economy Energy Efficiency and Heat
Nottingham City Council Energy Efficiency and Heat
Boots Energy Efficiency and Heat
Clicks and Links Ltd Energy Efficiency and Heat
The University of Northampton from Waste
Manchester City Council Best Practice Deployment
Argenta Europ Ltd Best Practice Deployment
Cranfield University Best Practice Deployment
Dan & Adam Ltd Best Practice Deployment
Carbon Trust Energy Efficiency and Heat
Greenwatt Technology Energy Efficiency and Heat
leit-werk Best Practice Deployment
Balfour Beatty plc Energy Efficiency and Heat
CO2Sense CIC from Waste

29


Brunel University Energy Efficiency and Heat
Brunel University Energy Efficiency and Heat
University of Reading Energy Efficiency and Heat
York Environmental Waste / Low Waste / Energy
Sustainability Institute from Waste
ADMEC - Nottingham Trent from Waste
Product Design, Nottingham
Trent University Energy Efficiency and Heat
Independent Best Practice Deployment
AdvEnTech Group Ltd. Energy Efficiency and Heat
Nustone Ltd Best Practice Deployment
Wolverhampton University Best Practice Deployment
University of Westminster Best Practice Deployment
Oxford Brookes University
Energy Efficiency and Heat
Creative Health Lab Waste / Low Waste / Energy
from Waste
AquamatiX Ltd Waste / Low Waste / Energy
from Waste
De Montfort University Energy Efficiency and Heat
None from Waste
EcoVentures Energy Efficiency and Heat
Andrew Kluth Associates Best Practice Deployment
Plan Bee ltd Best Practice Deployment
ESKTN from Waste
urbedDesignerUrbed Energy Efficiency and Heat
University of Salford Energy Efficiency and Heat
energy4evolution Energy Efficiency and Heat
Nottingham Trent University Best Practice Deployment
CoverCare Energy Efficiency and Heat
Abiliti Best Practice Deployment
WYG Group plc from Waste
Space Synapse Systems Ltd Best Practice Deployment

30



Doug Marriott Associates Ltd Energy Efficiency and Heat
EHV Engineering from Waste
Opportunity Peterborough Best Practice Deployment
Smart Cities institute, UCMK
(University of Bedfordshire) Best Practice Deployment

31

Contact Details
Environmental Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Network

University of Oxford C-Tech Innovation Ltd
Begbroke Science Park Capenhurst Technology Park SCAN THE QR CODE TO
Kidlington Capenhurst REGISTER ON _CONNECT!
Oxford Chester
OX5 1PF CH1 6EH

Telephone: +44 (0)1865 610500
Fax: +44 (0)1865 610501
Email: esktn@earth.ox.ac.uk
Website: www.innovateuk.org/sustainabilityktn
32

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