Inside ClwydAlyn’s Zero Carbon Hub

Earlier this year, North Wales housing association ClwydAlyn launched a ‘Zero Carbon Hub’ to facilitate the sharing of information and expertise around decarbonisation in housing. We caught up with head of technical, innovation and climate Tom Boome to find out more.

Could you provide an overview of what the Zero Carbon Hub is and what you hope to achieve with it? 

The Zero Carbon Hub is a knowledge-sharing platform where organisations can share their decarbonisation experiences and the lessons they have learned. The hub portal will also have a ‘What-Car’ guide to technologies, which will help in comparing compatibility, life cycles, along with anecdotal experiences of using the various items. 

The main aims are to accelerate the decarbonisation of new and existing homes through sharing experiences and helping organisations make more informed choices.  

How did the hub come about, and how long has it been in the making? 

After completing a new-build scheme under the Innovative Housing Programme (a Welsh government initiative to increase innovative building methods for new-builds) in 2020, ClwydAlyn wanted to share some lessons learned that we would have benefitted from knowing beforehand, considering it was an innovative scheme. 

There was no vehicle to share these lessons in a wider way, so we applied for some grant funding and commissioned a report into what that vehicle could and should look like to benefit the sector. It was recommended that a Welsh zero-carbon housing performance hub be created. 

The Welsh government agreed to fund the hub for three years, if we could procure a delivery partner and administrate the contract of the hub. 

To what extent is the Welsh government involved in the project? 

The Welsh government funded the initial study and agreed to fund the creation and running of the hub for three years. Two Welsh government officers sit on the steering group and on various working groups set up for numerous deliverables. They are an active partner in the delivery of the hub. 

The hub is set to be ‘phased’ over three years. Will it end after this period? 

The hub is due to ramp up over the initial 18 months and then continue with specified deliverables for up to three years. This part will be funded by the Welsh government. 

After those three years, it will be for the delivery partner to come up with a funding model (approved by the steering group) that would make the hub self-sustaining. This may be from adverts (although the hub will always remain impartial), some form of membership or from other grant funding. 

What kind of engagement are you anticipating? 

Case studies are being submitted from housing associations and local authorities. It is anticipated that these organisations will contribute to but also benefit from the hub. We expect wider engagement with the sector, suppliers, education establishments, financial institutions, and eventually the private-ownership sector. 

How do you intend to measure the impact of the hub? 

The impact of the hub will ultimately be measured by how successful organisations within the sector are at decarbonising their new and existing homes. 

Where do you think decarbonisation currently places on the sector’s list of priorities? Should it be higher? 

Decarbonisation is quite high on the list of priorities for the sector in recent times, but there are also other pressures at play. 

I would say the highest priority of the sector is to deliver quality, affordable homes with a considered environmental impact. There are always budget and financial pressures, as the importance of decarbonisation is fairly new on organisations’ agendas.  

In your assessment, how well is the sector in Wales doing in terms of decarbonisation? 

I think Wales is on the right track with decarbonisation, especially in terms of aims and objectives set by the Welsh government. We are early on the journey, and everyone is at different stages, but the ambitious targets set by the Welsh government will drive the sector forward.

Main image: Tom Boome speaking at the launch of the Zero Carbon Hub