Decision ref
0066 2023/24
Decision date
08/01/2024
Portfolio
Environmental Services & Climate Change
Wards
Peasley Cross and Fingerpost
Title
Hardshaw Brook Depot Substation Upgrade
Summary
Commission the construction of a new 1000kVa double substation at Hardshaw Brook depot to replace the existing 500kVa installation in order to facilitate transition to a decarbonised recycling fleet.
Purpose
Hardshaw Brook Depot is home to the council fleet, and a fundamental part of our recycling service provision. The depot is also the council’s largest energy user, consuming over 1.5m kWh of gas and 310,000 kWh of electricity per year, amounting to nearly 400 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The recent Resource and Waste Strategy document highlights the need to decarbonise our fleet operations, with a strong desire to move away from fossil fuel vehicles and towards renewable vehicles as vehicles age out of service. The electricity consumption at the depot will only increase as our fleet vehicles transition away from diesel fuel. The recent purchase of 30 electric vans and 2 electric RCVs, alongside the installation of 20 new EV charge points at the depot, exemplifies this commitment.
However, the electrical capacity at the depot is likely to become a significant roadblock to deployment of further electric vehicles, with a limited capacity for additional charging infrastructure for future electric fleet vehicles. Once the new electrical fleet elements arriving before the end of the year are in regular use, there will be no free electrical capacity to install further EV charging stations. There would also be no spare capacity to install more efficient electrical heating systems at the depot to displace the large volume of gas currently in use in buildings on site.
Following discussion at Place Services DMT, the recommendation to commission a new substation at the cost of £368,000 with contingency up to £32,000 was accepted to facilitate the Recycling and Waste Strategy (2023).
Background
The Resources and Waste Strategy highlights the need to transition the entire recycling fleet to alternative fuels over the medium term if we are to meet our 2040 net-zero goal. This will also reduce air pollution across the fleet's operating area, and substantially reduce the council fleet operation bills over the medium term given the relative costs of diesel and electricity. This transition cannot take place without a central charging location for these vehicles. Hardshaw Brook depot is the ideal location for such charging to occur - indeed, 20 new EV charge points have recently been installed here to support the recent purchase of 30 EV vans and 2 EV RCVs.
The next purchase of EV vehicles is likely to occur circa 2025, and the lead time on installation of a new substation is circa 18 months. The current substation does not have capacity to charge further electrical vehicles. If we are to ensure a successful deployment of further EV vehicles in coming years, electrical capacity at site must be expanded in the immediate future.
Conclusion
The movement of our fleet toward net-zero is a vital component of our Waste and Resources Strategy and our Climate Action Plan. Pending approval of this DED, the next step would be to produce a tender for the contestable elements of the electrical work and the brickwork, whilst accepting the SPEN quote for non-contestable elements. Ideally this would be done before the close of 2023 to ensure that when the next elements of the RCV fleet are due for renewal in 2025 the depot has enough charging capacity to enable the purchase of further electric RCVs as opposed to diesel alternatives.
Risk Implications
Commissioning of new substation will involve electrical works at Hardshaw Brook Depot which may, during the process, cause unplanned outages if any errors occur leading to loss of power at the site.
Measures to Redress Risk
Ensure that contracted qualified electricians conduct all works and that adequate understanding of the extant electrical installation is gained prior to any works commencing. Ensure that ground surveys are conducted before any groundworks are conducted.
Declarations Of Interest
None
More information
Please contact Michael Wolffe on
