Building a Renewable Infrastructure Framework

What is a RIF?

• A Renewable Infrastructure Framework provides:– A technical baseline of the potential for renewable

and sustainable energy generation– An estimate of the inward investment potential

for the area– Practical steps to start to deliver this

infrastructure– A delivery network to undertake these steps

Do you need a RIF?

• Because large scale infrastructure projects are complex and involve diverse stakeholders

• Because to move forward together you need to have a common place to start

• Because focusing on investment potential unlocks capacity in the area

• Because creating a network means you have someone to take the work forward

Step 1: Find your Network

• We suggest a co-productive approach:

– Start by researching the groups, individuals who are already active around this agenda and bring them together

Step 2: Understand your context

• Be honest about the challenges that you face:– If the political context is difficult then say so– If you face local challenge then acknowledge it– Describe and communicate this context to all the

participants– Understand the level of technical knowledge in

the conversation– Share and describe the level of ambition and

targets

Step 3: Bring your network together• Build this framework with the people who will

use it

– Hold open meetings to shape the project approach

– Make sure they test and examine the technical approach for the baseline

Step 4: Create a technical baseline• The technical baseline has to:

– Describe what is possible technically– Filter this with respect to local planning

behaviours– Describe different ways to reach your targets– Describe the potential for inward investment

Step 5: Discuss it. A lot

• If you want people to use your RIF they need to be involved in creating it:

– This is not a consultation – hold open meetings with a community led agenda

– Get agreement for the baseline– Use these events to start to describe the

implementation plans

Step 6: Use digital

• A digitally led engagement strategy gives you a complete and open record of your face to face meetings and events

– Create a blog and talk about your progress and what you have learned

– Create a record of your events so people can see that you have listened

– Acknowledge the contribution of the network

Step 7: Bring it back together

• You should at this point have an accepted technical baseline and suggestions for implementation steps from the network

• You should then:– Shape these into an action plan– Start to communicate the process of political

agreement and the way to unlock resources

Step 8: Gather commitments

• As you enter the decision-making phase of the project ask the network to commit to implementation actions:

– Gather pledges and start to work in the implementation

– Get public statements of the level of ambition– Make it clear what the decision-making process is

Step 9: Make commitments

• Co-production is about all groups acting. As you get pledges from the community you need to start creating firm commitments from political decision makers

• Ensure that you know how you will support the network after the RIF is adopted

Step 10: Make it happen

• At the end of this process you have not only the RIF but a network of people ready to use it

• Don’t think of the end of the project as the end of the process – look beyond this to the network you have created

• Make sure that you know what happens next

What do you need to get started?

• Senior political and non-political support• Someone to champion the project• The right project team• An understanding of the level of ambition in

your area

Project team

• We suggest:

– Well known and respected Officers who can operate at senior and tactical levels in the area and across organisations

– Highly credible technical experts who can describe the technical baseline and investment potential

– Creative and agile Community engagement and communication support to help you shape the project dynamically

Interested in finding out more?

• You can find out more on the Sustainability East Website