1. News from...
12 January 2015
PR 5142
For immediate release
Communications Team
Town Hall
Peterborough
PE1 1HG
Peterborough benefits from Chinese strategic partnership
A strategic partnership between Peterborough City Council and AVIC, a
Chinese company with experience and expertise in renewable energy and
energy efficiency, will bring investment and regeneration to the UK’s
fastest growing city.
At a meeting on Monday 19 January, city council Cabinet members will be
asked to approve a strategic partnership agreement between the local
authority and the Chinese company.
Peterborough is the UK’s fastest growing city by population and has
ambitions to become the UK’s environment capital, actively pursuing
projects in renewable energy, energy demand reduction, regeneration
and carbon reduction. AVIC has a goal to acquire 100 megawatts of
renewable supply in the UK and achieve five per cent of global turnover
from the UK over the next five years.
Setting out the case for partnership, the city council believes the
agreement will deliver:
 job creation;

2.  education and training in the latest renewable energy technology;
 support for the development of an enhanced university/higher
education offer in Peterborough;
 a 'one-stop' solution to regeneration and development towards
creating a smart city;
 access to a new business network at state and government level
with China; and
 a final fabrication facility for smart meters, solar panels and street
lighting (once AVIC has an established UK market).
To realise these goals, Peterborough City Council and AVIC have identified
potential commercial opportunities within the city including:
 installation of solar PV canopies in certain car parks;
 installation of light emitting diode (LED) street lighting technology;
 installation of municipal Wi-Fi;
 development of an integrated, technology enabled transport
platform linking services such as CCTV, intelligent transport
information and real time passenger information (for example);
 development of roof-mounted solar and other renewable
generation opportunities; and
 development of an infrastructure platform to enable future
regeneration.

3. Peterborough City Council is the first local authority to propose such a
partnership with a Chinese counterpart. The agreement is in response to
the call for increased collaboration between the two countries at a joint
UK and People's Republic of China press conference on 17 June 2014.
Councillor Marco Cereste, council leader, said: “Peterborough is
committed to becoming the environment capital of the UK. Our
partnership with AVIC will give us access to expertise, infrastructure and
funding that will help us achieve this goal.
"We have already identified renewable energy schemes, energy efficiency
improvements, city-wide wi-fi, passenger transport improvements and
infrastructure investments that could all benefit from this partnership.
“AVIC has an ambition to generate 100 megawatts of renewable energy
in the UK. If we want to secure the future of our environment, and also
our local economy, this is an ambition that Peterborough should share. I
am excited about what could be available to Peterborough as a result of
this partnership and cannot wait to see what the future holds.”
Liu Xiaoming, ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United
Kingdom, added: "This is excellent news for Chinese investment into the
UK. I am happy with the deal between AVIC and Peterborough City
Council.

4. "I am also delighted that the initiatives of the government of China and
the UK on investment in technology, city regeneration and the
acceleration of the smart cities are now starting to take effect.
"I hope that this deal will continue to develop and will benefit the people
and the community of Peterborough for many years to come."
Two projects earmarked for potential investment this municipal year
include the installation of solar PV canopies in Peterborough car parks
and the installation of LED street lighting technology. Each project will be
supported by appropriate business cases and council approvals.
Ends.
Notes to Editor
A copy of the cabinet report, titled 'Strategic Partnership between Peterborough City Council
and AVIC International' is available here:
http://democracy.peterborough.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=116&MId=3351
Media contact: Martin Szybut, media officer - telephone 01733 452578 or email
media@peterborough.gov.uk
For news releases and information on council services, visit our website at
www.peterborough.gov.uk