Devon Climate Emergency Response Group Meeting, 21st June 2022

Attendees

Doug Eltham Devon County Council (Environment Group)

John Amosford Public Health Devon

Mark Kentell North Devon District Council

David Eaton Teignbridge District Council

Charlotte Brown Devon Climate Emergency

James Cooper Environment Agency

Polly Frost Devon County Council (Economy and Enterprise)

Emily Reed Devon Climate Emergency

Alex Gandy Dartmoor National Park Authority

Emmanuelle Marshall Plymouth City Council

David Edmondson Torbay Council

Victoria Hatfield Exeter City Council

Keir Duffin Devon County Council (Economy and Enterprise)

Adam Williams South Hams and West Devon Councils

Claire Gibson Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership

Harry Barton Devon Wildlife Trust

Angus Berry South West Water

Jason Ball Mid Devon District Council

Donna Sibley Torridge and North Devon District Councils

Sarah Fear University of Plymouth

Richard Pemberton University of Plymouth

Apologies

Phil Norrey Devon County Council

Janet Williams Torridge District Council

Mark Clapham Devon Association of Local Councils

Andrew Butler National Farmers’ Union

Rebecca Miller Plymouth City Council

Sara Gibbs Public Health Devon

David Bartram Exeter City Council

Neil Hamlyn Local Resilience Forum

Chris Clarke Wales and West Utilities

Bruce Newport Environment Agency

Drew Powell South Hams and West Devon District Councils

1. Low-Carbon Marine Propulsion

The Group received a presentation from Richard Pemberton and Sarah Fear from the University of Plymouth. A summary of which is:

In autumn 2020 the UK’s first electric passenger ferry named E-Voyager became operational in Plymouth. Powered by lithium batteries.

In addition to this, the Mountbatten Ferry was converted to electric propulsion using lead-acid batteries. This launched early 2021. It can run for 3 days without a full charge – just relying on solar panels trickle charging the batteries. This has been in operation without any major issues.

Three electric charging stations have been installed. The Barbican has a 25kW charger. MDL Marina has a 75kW charger. Mountbatten Landing Stage has a 150kW charger.

Technology projections suggest vessels under 12m will be electrified. Above 12m will need a hybrid approach. The Green Tech Boat Show showed that there is a full supply chain of SMEs looking at propulsion and funds.

Comments from the Group:

Claire explained how this agenda fits within the Local Enterprise Partnership’s Ocean Future’s theme. There’s an aspiration for a charging network along the south coast so that vessels don’t have to return to their home port.

Emily asked about sail propulsion for larger vessels. Richard said the industry is developing this approach but there needs to be more appetite from ship operators. The design work for sail power tends to be focused around the Solent. Richard added that there is a local company in Devon providing hydrogen injection tech to improve fuel burn being used on some trawlers out of Brixham.

Polly noted that Devon County Council has awarded an innovation grant to EV Parts in North Devon to look at developing technology for smaller vessels.

David Edmondson asked how long the chargepost installations took. Sarah said they took 7 months, with most of the time being focussed on legal agreements. Depending on the issues at site (e.g. sub-station capacity or listed status or heritage assets) the costs per charge post can range from £9k to £400k.

Alex asked what the business case looks like vs internal combustion. Sarah said that the business case is still in favour of internal combustion but that it will develop. Maintenance costs are significantly reduced which will be attractive to commercial operators particularly.

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting were AGREED as a true record of the discussion.

3. Project Progress Report

The Group accepted the Progress Report.

4. Partner Updates

Alex said that Dartmoor National Park is part of a project with Defra to prepare carbon footprints for each of the national parks. The Park is also looking at setting science based targets for its geography.

Appendix 1 – Project Progress Report

Period: May to June 2022

Status Indicator Key:

? [RED] = Significant issue that requires Response Group intervention;

? [AMBER] = Minor issue that will initially be managed by the secretariat, but the Response Group should be aware;

? [GREEN] = No issue.

1. Partnership Update

1.1 General Project Communications [GREEN]

1.1.1 Following

Growth was 1% over the past month. Charlotte Brown, the project’s new Climate Engagement Officer, will be developing content to get the following increasing at a faster rate.

Figure 1.1. DCE Social Media Following

1.1.2 Campaigns

County Show

Plans are developing. The focus will be on resources in partnership with Recycle Devon, highlighting the work of community action groups on repair cafes and share sheds.

Cycling campaign in September

Collaboration with Active Devon, Travel Devon & Devon CC’s Environment Group to deliver a month-long campaign around cycling this September
There will be community rides lead by community cycling groups, development of re-usable assets and opportunities for cycle confidence training

Devon-Wide Community Engagement

At its latest meeting in May, the Community Engagement Sub-Group heard from Devon Communities Together about its Asset-Based Community Development model. The Sub-Group learned that the approach is very similar to the Community Action Groups model run by Devon CC. The Sub-Group has nominated Devon County Council and Plymouth City Council to bring a proposal back to them to enhance this activity across Devon. A meeting occurred on the 10^th June to progress this.

Separately, Plymouth City Council has submitted conglomerate application between six partners to the Local Government Association’s Behavioural Insights Programme to receive funding to trial a behaviour change intervention about home energy efficiency.

1.2 Partners’ Notable Activity

Activity is recorded centrally on the Taking Action pages of the Devon Climate Emergency website. Lots of activity to report this month!

University of Exeter has received £943k from Research England to decarbonise a new research facility.

East Devon heat network project awarded £10.7 million

The University of Exeter is part of an exciting new partnership that will help decarbonise the electricity system in Great Britain and accelerate progress towards Net Zero.

New study shows benefits of floating offshore wind for the south west.

Improvements to Paignton and Preston seafronts in response to rising sea levels

Mid Devon District Council retrofitting three leisure centres with £2.8m grant

Under-track railway crossing for flood prevention in Feniton

The UK’s first shore-side charging facilities for electric maritime vehicles has been unveiled in Plymouth

Public sector partners in Torbay have committed to following the principles of a new Community Wealth Building approach to encourage sustainable growth

A 400-strong fleet of hireable electric bikes will be ready and available on the streets of Plymouth by 2023.

2. Net-Zero Task Force Update

2.1 Devon Carbon Plan [GREEN]

The Economy and Resources section of the Plan has been redrafted and circulated to partners to identify any remaining fundamental issues or inaccuracies. Comments need to be received by the secretariat by the end of June.

The Centre for Energy and Environment at the University of Exeter has started re-modelling the Action Diagrams.

We remain on schedule to have the Devon Carbon Plan available for organisations to consider adopting from the end of August 2022.

2.2 Citizens’ Assembly Resolutions [GREEN]

The full consultation report is online, having been signed-off by the Response Group in May. The partnership’s proposals will be incorporated into the final Devon Carbon Plan.

3. Climate Impacts Group Update [AMBER]

The evaluation of the tender to recruit a consultant to help prepare the Adaptation Plan has completed. Plymouth City Council assisted with the evaluation. The successful contractor will be notified imminently.

The Adaptation Strategy is expected to be completed within 6 months of awarding the tender.

4. Devolution Update

We continue to wait for a response from government on the first application stage. Doug Eltham has been asked by Team Devon to start developing the ideas submitted in the application into fuller proposals. This is going to need external support, which is currently being explored. The additional detail is required by the end of July. Partners will be approached over the next 6 weeks to assist with this.