Network Update – January 2016

Happy New Year! Kicking off 2016… Sustainable travel and hospitality events; Big Lemon bonds; Energy Technology List consultation; Climate change mapping; Ringmer College case study visit; Can solar still make sense?

Electric vehicles roll on

There were 40,000 plug-in vehicles on UK roads in 2015, compared to 3,500 in 2013. The trend in growth is set to continue helped in part by the extension of the Plug-In Car Grants until at least March 2018, but more due to continued development by the big car manufacturers. The latest Nissan Leaf has a 155 mile range and rapid charges in 4 hours for example.

At the top end, Tesla’s latest Model S can drive out of the garage on its own (and close the door behind it!) and rumours have it that technology giant Apple are designing their entry into the electric car market. You can test drive an electric car at our next seminar.

Event: Sustainable Travel 26th January, Crawley

Explore sustainable travel and how businesses can reduce emissions and costs and improve employee well-being. We’ll hear about (and be able to test drive!) the latest electric cars, vans and bicycles, as well as travel planning and eco-driver training. 09:00 to 11:00, free to attend. A Green Growth Platform event. Details and bookings.

Renewables: What Next? 2nd February, Brighton

A free seminar led by Michael Ware of BDO for commercial developers, community energy groups and other organisations planning, or interested in large scale renewable energy projects, but uncertain about market conditions, subsidies and the political landscape. 09:30 to 11:30. A Green Growth Platform event. Details and bookings.

Can solar still make sense?
New Feed-in-Tariffs announced

Following the cuts, the latest Feed-in-Tariffs for solar PV can be seen in the table. The tariff for systems 10 to 50 kW in size (around 40 to 200 panels) got away the lightest. A size suitable for such as warehouse, factory or school roofs, can solar still make an attractive investment?

Take an 80 panel 20 kW system for example, at a business that will use 60% of the power generated and currently pays 10 p/kWh for their electricity. If 19,000 kWh are produced each year, the business will save £1,140 on their electricity cost plus receive £872 and £367 Feed-in-Tariff and export tariff payments respectively. A straight forward installation may cost around £30,000, therefore providing a basic payback of 12.6 years. Perhaps most interesting to those who own their building or have a long lease.

Calling all hotels, event venues, tourist attractions….

There is still time to book onto our free seminar next week at South Lodge Hotel near Horsham, exclusively for those in the hospitality, tourism and events industries. As well as hear from our hosts about their biomass boiler and CHP plant, we’ll explore practical measures to improve energy and water efficiency and reduce waste and environmental impact of events. A Green Growth Platform event. Full details.

Big Lemon Bonds

Brighton’s most recognisable bus company The Big Lemon is looking to raise £100,000 which along with a government grant will allow them to purchase their first fully electric bus. Launched in 2007 the social enterprise currently runs its fleet on bio-diesel produced from local waste cooking oil. They are offering a 6% two year bond and hope members of the local community will invest. Find out more

And finally…

Flooding and fuel poverty mapping tool – Climate Just website
Compare vulnerability to climate change at a neighbourhood scale.

Energy Technology List Consultation – Complete on-line
Government seeks your views on the effectiveness of the Energy Technology List to encourage businesses to invest in energy efficient plant and machinery.

Environmental Technology Verification – Article
EU launches a new programme and a new standard, ISO 14034, is expected next year.

Masters students available to help with environmental projects – Details
From the University of Brighton, offering 30 days’ work part-time over five months.