Bluefield announces renewable energy circular economy research project with Lancaster University
This Global Recycling Day (18th March), Bluefield is launching a new phase of its research programme with Lancaster University, which will focus on the circular economy for renewable energy assets.
The programme, which has been funded in part by the FTSE-listed Bluefield Solar Income Fund (BSIF), of which Bluefield Partners LLP act as investment manager, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will gather insights from the industry, supply chain, and academia, to identify current best practices and challenges related to recycling, reuse, and the design of renewable assets for a circular economy. This information will be used to create a roadmap for future research, innovation, and collaboration that can accelerate the transition to a circular renewables industry.
Bluefield and Lancaster University plan to share the results of this research this summer.
Georgia Whitehouse, Group Senior ESG Analyst, said: “Bluefield is committed to finding solutions that not only avoid the waste of precious resources and materials, but also drive operational efficiencies and create new forms of value. The circular economy could be the organising force that brings these considerations together, supporting long-term resilience for the sector. Our collaboration with Lancaster University on this research will help the renewables industry turn challenges into opportunities and could revolutionise standards.”
Professor Ana Costa, Lancaster University, said: “Academia and Industry need to join forces to address waste throughout the lifecycle of PV panels. Significant progress has already been made in terms of PV recycling, but further research and innovation is needed. It is great to collaborate with companies like Bluefield that are willing to find the most sustainable solution for their assets and consider the value of materials from extraction to end-of-life. We live in a finite planet, and we need to be resourceful.”
Giovanni Terranova, Founder and Managing Partner, said: “Whether we are investing in a new build sites or repowering existing assets, it is increasingly important to have a plan for the end-of-life management of the equipment used. This issue has become more relevant as early renewable energy infrastructure approaches maturity, globally. At Bluefield, we are proud to have established partnerships with two universities, Lancaster University in the UK and the University of Catania in Italy, to help us assess the best ways of maximising the re-use and recovery value of assets at the end-of-life stage, and we look forward to continuing to work with them.”
Emma Silcocks, Group Head of ESG, said: “Bluefield’s platform means we benefit from in-house expertise across the asset lifecycle, from development and investment, through to operational asset management and maintenance. This supports an integrated approach to ESG, where we drive sustainability considerations across our investment and operational business practice. It is our ambition to ensure that BSIF’s assets remain sustainable throughout their lifecycle and taking a pro-active approach to sustainability challenges and opportunities – such as end-of-life – is an essential component of this.”
For further information:
Bluefield Partners LLP
Liam Wyatt, Associate Marketing Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 7719 523 416
www.bluefieldllp.com