Green-city technology ready for UK-wide roll-out

A report called Smarter, greener cities: ten ways to modernise and improve UK urban infrastructure was released Wednesday by the GIB, outlining  solutions for dealing with infrastructure problems caused by the UK’s continuously growing cities. 

The technologies are already in use in at least one UK city and have the capability to be rolled-out immediately at scale across the country.

They include anaerobic digestion, district heating networks, LED street lighting, combined heat and power schemes, low carbon transport and building energy efficiency.

World Class

The GIB says investment in these technologies will help cities and the wider UK to meet its environmental commitments by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, cutting landfill waste, recycling more, and increasing the amount of renewable energy produced by cities.

They will also lower air pollution, traffic congestion, lower energy bills, and strengthen energy security.

“Across the UK we have some world class examples of innovative green energy infrastructure,” GIB chief executive Shaun Kingsbury said.

“Our challenge now is to take these technologies, which can be used in any city, and roll them out in every city. Investing in this type of infrastructure will have a transformational impact on the competitiveness and livability of our cities.”

Business Opportunity 

In related news, Smart Green Cities released a report identifying a number of key city-improvement recommendations to both the UK and Chinese governments.

It draws on a year-long study by the China Prosperity Strategic Programme Fund, which identifies ways to build a long term collaborative partnership between the UK and China. 

The report calls for the development of a data sharing platform, which through new applications, could contribute to greater efficiencies, reduction in carbon emissions and greater satisfaction levels amongst citizens.

Strategic Links

The study also provided the opportunity for a number of UK based small businesses to present their proposed green city solutions and technologies for uptake in China.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, which has been involved in the project, said “Manchester has been strategically linked with Wuhan since 1986. Building these collaborations not only strengthens our long standing relationship, but also provides opportunities for Manchester businesses to compete more effectively on a global stage”.

British Ambassador to China, Barbara Woodward said “The agreements reached during the project, including those between Manchester and Wuhan provide a strong basis for UK and Chinese cities and UK and Chinese companies to combine design, manufacturing and technology expertise to develop efficient, low carbon cities for us all to enjoy living in the near future”.

Lucinda Dann