First-of-its-kind strategic energy partnership between Coventry City Council and E.ON

Pioneering 15-year initiative aims to transform the city’s approach to reducing carbon while helping people to save money and boosting local economy  

The idea is to make best use of the skills and abilities of the two organisations, as well as Coventry’s position as an industrial and creative heartland, transforming the local economy and opening up access to private-sector investment worth hundreds of millions of pounds.

Photo by iankelsall1

By agreeing such a long partnership, the intention is to ensure a long-term and joined-up approach to decarbonisation and social projects. 

So far, the partnership has discussed projects such as the creation of a 30MW solar farm, providing solar power for schools across the city and decarbonising council depots and vehicles. There are also hopes to provide solar energy for public buildings, electrify transport with greater accessibility of EV charge points for residents, and improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses. 

Over coming months, the partnership will engage with the Coventry’s businesses, community groups, industry leaders and other stakeholders to help define the goals of the initiative. Earlier this year, the council published a draft Climate Change Strategy and Net Zero Routemap setting out plans for achieving net zero while creating a more sustainable and prosperous future for local people. Last year, the council added 50 new electric double-decker buses to its fleet, as part of what it called ‘joint efforts to help lead on the green industrial revolution.’ 

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, says: ‘This is really exciting and completely innovative. No other city in the country is doing this. It will help Coventry move ahead with a range of projects that the Council would not have been able to achieve on its own. 

‘E.ON is based in Coventry and has been for almost 30 years, and it brings expertise, knowledge and skills. The partnership will also bring finance from the private sector so we will be able to quickly move forward on a range of schemes to benefit the city. 

‘We are already spearheading a number of major green projects, including the installation of hundreds of electric charging points – the highest number of any city outside of London. We have also developed a state-of-the art new materials recycling facility and we are well on the way to becoming the country’s first all-electric bus city.’ 

Chris Norbury, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, adds: ‘The energy transition is a way to regenerate the local economy and we’re convinced we can make a difference in and with our home city. 

‘This is not about designing a new vision for the future, it’s about getting on and delivering Coventry’s response to the climate crisis – making improvements across the city that people want and need. That could mean better insulation for homes, more energy efficient public buildings, shifting from fossil fuels to locally-produced renewable energy and, perhaps most importantly, creating thousands of good jobs.’ 

Patrick Lammers, E.ON Global Board Member, says: ‘Our 33bn euro investment programme across Europe underpins our ambitions to play a leading role in shaping the energy transition in Europe. Coventry has been our UK home for decades and I am proud our colleagues around the country will be supporting the city’s efforts to decarbonise by delivering reliable energy infrastructure and sustainable customer solutions. 

‘We are already demonstrating what and how we deliver forward-looking energy concepts across Europe, in cities such as Berlin and Malmo, and proving how partnerships such as this are indispensable for climate protection, for more secure energy supplies and for the affordability of energy.’ 

Margot James, Chair of the Coventry Climate Change Board, former Executive Chair for WMG at the University of Warwick, and former Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, adds: ‘I’m absolutely delighted with this decision. I believe that the Council is really at the forefront of the drive to Carbon zero and there are very few cities that have embraced true partnership working in the way Coventry has. 

‘As chair of the city’s climate change board, and in my role at the University of Warwick I have worked with E.ON and have seen first-hand their commitment to the city. This new partnership will add value to a range of projects being developed in the city and will help to maximise government support – which will benefit communities, the local economy, and help in creating new jobs.’ 

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