RAPID calls for projects to embrace renewable energy

The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) has highlighted the need for water companies to evidence how whole-life carbon emissions will be driven down in projects proposed under the RAPID scheme.

RAPID comprises Ofwat, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).

At the first assessment stage in the gated system, submissions contained a degree of uncertainty around carbon implications of the projects. However, with schemes moving towards gate two, the alliance has called on companies to share evidence of how the frameworks and approaches being followed are driving down whole-life carbon within the project design. The group said it wanted to see schemes: “embracing innovative designs and opportunities to generate or be powered by renewable energy and/or sequester carbon and exploring joint opportunities with other sectors,”.

In its final decision paper following gate one assessments, RAPID said it may seek evidence on whether projects had focused on carbon reductions as a means to drive down costs and that it expected the level of uncertainty associated with carbon assessments to reduce as projects progress through the gated process.

Reflecting thinking shared in Ofwat’s net zero position paper last week, the alliance stressed that offsetting should only be used as a last resort and all solutions should be considered by water companies within their wider carbon plans and net zero commitments.

In December RAPID approved 15 schemes to progress from the first gateway to be shovel ready for work to commence in 2025-30.

Affinity, Anglian, Cambridge (South Staffs), Severn Trent, Southern, South West, Thames, United Utilities and Wessex have collaborated on the schemes to capture, recycle, reuse water as well as to move resources from areas of surplus to drier parts of the country.