Extra funding will support three projects to increase flood resilience

Rail Minister Andrew Jones reiterated the Department for Transport’s commitment to cleaner and greener rail journeys today (22 July 2019), as he visited a pioneering government-backed project which will develop a modern, zero-emission steam-powered system onboard a train.

Steamology, based in New Forest, Hampshire, received £350,000 earlier this year as part of the government’s £3.5 million ‘First of a Kind’ competition. The firm is using the investment to develop its Water to Water (W2W) system – a zero-emission compact steam generator that runs on oxygen and hydrogen to drive a turbine, which will charge battery packs onboard trains. They believe that the W2W system could be used as an environmentally friendly way to power trains in the future.

The First of a Kind competition has been set up to support world-leading innovation projects that can improve the railways, deliver low-carbon train journeys across the UK rail network and ensure Britain is at the heart of a low-carbon economy.

Other government-funded projects include drones capable of inspecting railway infrastructure for damage, a sound-bending wall to cut noise pollution and using artificial intelligence to predict where lineside vegetation could cause delays on the tracks.

Rail Minister Andrew Jones said:

We are committed to decarbonising our rail network, ensuring our trains are cleaner and greener for passengers. As a part of this we are funding innovation grants to help cutting edge businesses develop high tech solutions.

Steamology is a fantastic example of this, and it has been great to see how our funding has made a difference in helping them develop their ideas.

We are ambitious for our rail network and for the role it can play in improving our environment for the country.

Matt Candy, Steamology said:

We are delighted to have received a share of £3.5 million to support decarbonising our railway system.

Steamology is an innovative and transformative project which uses steam from hydrogen to power our trains, making the network more efficient and cleaner.

Simon Edmonds, Chief Business Officer at Innovate UK said:

Under the First of a Kind competition, we have backed pioneering projects such as Steamology’s hydrogen technology which can deliver real benefits to passenger and freight operators and for the environment. The programme can also help innovative companies succeed, both at home and in export markets.

The UK’s rail network is a vital economic asset to the nation, providing an environmentally sustainable system for the movement of both passengers and freight. By supporting new projects we can do more to boost the reliability of the network and to make it even greener.

Launched in 2017, the first round of the First of a Kind competition saw ten projects win a share of £3.5 million to develop ideas to improve passenger experience and demonstrate tomorrow’s trains.

The second round focused on schemes aimed at cutting the carbon footprint on the UK’s railways, and enhancing stations for passengers. These also saw another ten projects offered a share of £3.5 million.

Last month the third round of the competition saw 24 winners win a share of £7.8 million to strengthen the resilience of railway infrastructure and operations. Winners included 4Silence’s plan to develop a noise-reducing wall that works by diffracting sound waves from passing trains upwards and Amey VTOL’s development of a drone system that could carry out track inspections from the skies avoiding the need for people to set foot on railway infrastructure.

The visit coincides with the department welcoming the work of the Rail Industry Decarbonisation Taskforce, who today published their report into how the industry can decarbonise the railways by 2040.

The Department for Work and Pensions has developed the training for Jobcentre Customer Service Managers with guidance from expert organisations, including Crisis, Homeless Link and Shelter.

The new coaching is aimed at ensuring people experiencing homelessness, and those at risk of becoming homeless, get access to all relevant services offered by the department.

The managers will also act as a point of contact for partner homelessness organisations in their local area, focusing on building relationships with them and ensuring people are signposted appropriately to additional, expert support.

This is in addition to the support already available, which includes helping homeless people to verify their ID to set up claims for benefits, assistance with opening bank accounts and pausing requirements to look for work so they can concentrate on finding stable housing.

Will Quince, Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, said:

“People experiencing homelessness are some of the most vulnerable in society and we are determined to help them access the best possible support and improve their lives.

“Our jobcentre work coaches do an excellent job providing a tailored service for homeless people, including finding secure housing and helping them claim Universal Credit. Our newly trained Customer Service Managers will be instrumental in sharing best practice and building crucial links to local organisations and to ensure a joined-up package of support for our claimants.”

John Sparkes, Chief Executive at Crisis, said: “Homelessness is something we know can be ended across the country with the right policies and solutions in place. The Jobcentre Plus network has a pivotal role to play in this; especially in identifying and responding to people’s housing needs quickly, ideally before they become homeless in the first place.

“The roll out of training to all staff represents a positive first step in ensuring people facing homelessness receive the right support at a time when they need it most. By helping to shape this training we hope it will ensure that front line jobcentre staff are better equipped work with people experiencing homelessness. This also provides a good foundation for potentially growing housing and homelessness expertise amongst dedicated staff in local jobcentres where there is greatest homelessness demand.”

Training will be fully completed across Great Britain by the end of August.

Jobcentre Customer Service Managers provide crucial support to customers with complex needs and will support work coaches to identify and recognise the needs of people who are experiencing homelessness.

The delivery follows a pledge to do so in the government’s rough sleeping strategy.

Last year DWP created 2 guides specifically to help people experiencing homelessness access Universal Credit.

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Today the Environment Agency has published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2018-2019 outlining what has been achieved in the last financial year.

This report outlines the great progress being made on the goals set out in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan which has a clear ambition for our generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.

One of the key priorities is to reduce the impact of waste crime on local communities and to ensure a level playing field for legitimate businesses. The Environment Agency now closes at least 2 illegal waste sites every day and has been granted new powers to lock up sites, force rogue operators to clear them up, and seize and destroy vehicles being used in waste crime.

Over the past year the Environment Agency has gone even further to align its core values and mission to protect and enhance the environment with the bold vision set out in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

This year also marks the launch of a new draft strategy for dealing with flooding and coastal erosion in a changing climate. The strategy outlines an agile approach to ensure the country is preparing for a range of climate futures, including a 4°C rise in global temperatures, while developing new standards of flood resilience.

Leaders in work place wellbeing

The Environment Agency is extremely proud that its inclusive culture continues to make it one of the best places to work, with specific recognition again this year of the Environment Agency’s record with regards to people living with mental health problems, having now won the Gold Award at Mind Charity’s Workplace Wellbeing Index 2017-18 for the second year in a row.

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:

Over the past year, the Environment Agency has shown how committed it is to addressing both the causes and impacts of the climate emergency, while demonstrating the links between sustainability and business opportunities by mirroring the vision set out in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This report demonstrates how we are also achieving the goals of the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan by enhancing habitats and protecting communities from flooding, while creating better places for people and wildlife, regulating industry and supporting economic prosperity.

This year’s annual report also highlights considerable progress the Environment Agency has made towards fulfilling the goals set out in our Action Plan up to 2020.

Over the past year the Environment Agency has:

• invested £1.4 billion into protecting and improving the environment
• launched and consulted on a new draft strategy for dealing with flooding and coastal erosion in a changing climate
• signed up 12,700 new customers up to our Flood Warning Service reaching 1.5m properties
• better protected additional 50,754 homes from flooding during 2018-19
• created created more than 1100 acres of new priority habitats, exceeding the target of 1000 acres
• enhanced the water quality for people and wildlife along 44 km of the River Thames
• responded to a record 329 dry weather incidents
• exceeded our target of 6,500 people trained and ready to respond to environmental incidents
• brought 77 successful waste crime prosecutions resulting in 8 prison sentences & fines of £440k
• reduced our carbon footprint by 48% against our 2006-07 baseline year

You can access the full report on Gov.uk

Outlining the EA’s achievements over the last financial year.