EIR_25-098 Electricity generation assets
Date of response: 25 April 2025
We have now considered your request of 08 April 2025, for the following information:
I am particularly looking at utility-scale assets, e.g. solar farms, wind turbines and waste to energy plants, rather than small-scale, behind-the-meter assets (e.g. rooftop solar installations). I’d be grateful if you could answer the following questions: -
Question 1. Do you own or operate utility-scale electricity generation assets which export to the grid?
Clarification received 08 April 2025:
‘For the purpose of this FOI request I would define a Utility-Scale Asset as having a capacity of >1MW.’
Our response:
Yes.
Question 2. If so, what technologies? And are they ‘co-located’? E.g., a solar farm with a battery.
Our response:
2 x Gas fired Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants.
Question 3. How much electricity (in kWh) would you expect to be exported, from each asset, per year? And how much revenue would you expect to earn from the export in FY25/26?
Our response:
Exception – Regulation 12(4)(a)
Regulation 12(4)(a) is cited in relation to some of the requested information in relation to the amount of revenue we would expect to earn for FY 2025-26, we do not hold any recorded data for this.
We have therefore concluded that, at the time the request was received, UEA did not hold the requested information for the purposes of the EIR.
Question 4. When was each asset commissioned?
Our response:
The University’s original CHP engines were commissioned and set in place in the early 2000’s and replaced in 2017.
Question 5. What is the current contractual arrangement to sell the power, to whom is it sold and what is the contract end date?
Our response:
Our export arrangement is tied in with our power procurement contract (with Smartest) which ends in April 2026.
Question 6. Do you partake in any government subsidy scheme in relation to the electrical output from the asset? E.g. Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROC) or Contracts for Difference (CfD).
Our response:
Yes.
We pay Smartest for a renewables uplift, which includes Renewables Obligation Certificates.
Question 7. Does your Universities have any plans in place to acquire, build or invest in electricity generation assets in the future?
Our response:
Yes, long term we aim to review our plans to acquire, build or invest in electricity generation, towards the end of 2029.
Question 7a If Yes , what is the:
- Type of Assets (e.g. Solar)
- Estimated Size of the assets in terms of electricity production
- Estimated dates of completion
- Organisations that are constructing the assets (if known)
Our response:
| Type | Estimated size | Estimated dates of completion | Organisations constructing assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar | 5 MWpeak approximate output | Exception – Regulation 12(4)(a) | Exception – Regulation 12(4)(a) |
Regulation 12(4)(a) is cited in relation to some of the requested information, namely the estimated dates of completion or organisations constructing any future electricity generation assets, as it was not held by the University at the time that the request was received.
Whilst the University does plan to review current energy production, in the next few years, we have not agreed to acquire or build any new assets as of the date of your request, and so we have no estimated date of completion, nor do we have the names of organisations constructing any new assets we may acquire or build in the future.
We have therefore concluded that, at the time the request was received, UEA did not hold the requested information for the purposes of the EIR.