Blueprint for greener Greater Cambridge unveiled
New report sets out vision for combining inclusive growth with net-zero by 2050
A major new report has set out a blueprint for how Greater Cambridge can become a global leader in sustainable and equitable energy innovation, while addressing growing energy demands over the next 25 years.
Titled “The Infrastructure Gap: The future of sustainable energy in Greater Cambridge” and produced by Anglia Ruskin University’s Global Sustainability Institute and Cambridge Ahead, the report presents a bold vision for achieving regional inclusive growth while meeting national statutory carbon reduction targets.
Energy demand across Greater Cambridge is projected to at least triple from a 2021 baseline by 2050, by which time the city must become net-zero.
The report is based on a Call for Evidence, where the report’s authors asked local researchers, employers and communities how best to decarbonise energy production and distribution while also delivering poverty reduction and community inclusion.
Respondents shared current schemes that could be scaled up within Greater Cambridge to position the area as a world-leader in innovative and equitable energy solutions.
Initiatives highlighted in the report include the Cambridge City Centre District Heating Network, the potential Cambridge East Thermal Energy Storage System, microgeneration innovations such as building mounted wind turbines and air/river source heat pumps, alongside the rollout of air-source heat pumps, and introducing the Passivhaus standard for new buildings to ensure high energy efficiency.
To help Greater Cambridge realise its vision, the report calls for the creation of a multi-agency, cross-government working group on energy to deliver on 12 key recommendations, which cover the public and private sectors at local and national level.
Private sector organisations should be encouraged to share best practice of innovative funding models they have used in schemes such as retrofits and new energy generation infrastructure, create strategies to reduce carbon emissions, for example encouraging changes in transport use amongst their staff, and use procurement as a tool to incentivise local investment.
Local government should work with regulators and national government to forward-fund local energy infrastructure and target grant funding to de-risk innovative approaches, such as community-owned projects, and attract private investment. They should also develop an Energy Masterplan focusing on energy storage, smart grids, demand-side management, and energy efficiency, and integrate this with other regional planning and growth strategies.
Additionally, local government need to strengthen policy frameworks and adopt a Risk-Opportunity Analysis approach to capture the long-term and indirect costs of inaction, improve local building efficiency by requiring new developments to meet the highest standards, and ensure energy investments involve early and inclusive community engagement, for example through co-operatives.
The national government should proactively engage with local authorities and the private sector around development plans in Cambridge, put Local Area Energy Plans on a statutory footing so they are prioritised for funding and become local partners of national delivery vehicles like GB Energy. Furthermore, they should help forecast local “green” skills requirements to support residents in accessing jobs in the green economy.
“The Cambridge region has a unique opportunity as it plans to grow significantly over the next decade while meeting its climate obligations.
“If leaders from across our organisations can work together to develop a comprehensive vision for our energy infrastructure, we can both demonstrate the capability of new technologies developed here, attract inward investment and tackle poverty. Creating a living laboratory with our communities at the heart of decision making can show the world that a future of renewable energy can be inclusive.”
Professor Aled Jones, Director of the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University
"Greater Cambridge stands at a pivotal moment in its pursuit of sustainable, equitable growth. The energy infrastructure report highlights the critical need to align local ambitions with practical solutions for decarbonisation and innovation. As energy demand is projected to triple by 2050, we must address key challenges such as grid capacity, skills shortages, and policy barriers.
“By fostering leadership, securing investment, and promoting inclusion, we can position Greater Cambridge as a globally leading city region in clean energy. Our region’s research institutions, businesses, authorities, and communities are well-equipped with the expertise and creativity needed to turn this vision into a compelling reality."
Dan Thorp, CEO of Cambridge Ahead