Energy - Renewable

Business Activity around Climate Change: Case Studies Required

Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance would like to build up some good case studies of business activity around climate change. This might be a specific project or how you are achieving your ongoing company targets and goals. Please complete the form: it's been left pretty flexible as there is a huge range of activity taking place across Cheshire and Warrington on both mitigation and adaptation.

 

Please note the focus is on business activity rather than local authority or community � but if you are a business working in partnership with local authority or community groups then that�s still a great example.

 

Case studies will be included on the Cheshire and Warrington section of the Climate Change Northwest website. Kate Radford would like to have them within the next 2-3 weeks (ie, by 3-10 Dec '09) if possible. Feel free to add/remove/ignore sections to make the form to make it more relevant to your project.

 

 

 Bio energy grants

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have announced that the following bioenergy grant schemes will be reopening. Full details will appear on the hyperlinked websites closer to the launch dates.

 

Bio-Energy Infrastructure Scheme -  Round 3 will open at the end of October 2009

 

Bioenergy Capital Grant Scheme � Round 6 will open at the end of November 2009

 

 

There has historically been a low number of applications from the Cheshire and Warrington area - although Cumbria and Lancashire secured a fair amount of funding in the last rounds.

 

Last year Nigel Blandford of MerseyForest ran a workshop for people interested in bidding and if there is enough demand he is happy to do this again. So if you are thinking of bidding and would like some advice and support, or would like to attend a workshop please do email or call Nigel to register your interest and he'll keep you posted. Contact Nigel at nigel.blandford[at]merseyforest.org.uk, 01925 859617

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hydro power comes to Stockport!

Two hydro power schemes have been given the go-ahead in Stockport. Otterspool Weir and Stringer Weir are archimedian screw setups which together will generate over 500MWh/yr.

 

 

 

 

Social enterprise Water Power Enterprises (H2oPE) is developing the two sites for construction in 2010. This follows on from a feasibility study produced by Stockport Council last year.

Social enterprise Water Power Enterprises () is developing the two sites for construction in 2010. This follows on from a feasibility study produced by Stockport Council last year.

Social enterprise Water Power Enterprises () is developing the two sites for construction in 2010. This follows on from a feasibility study produced by Stockport Council last year. Social enterprise Water Power Enterprises () is developing the two sites for construction in 2010. This follows on from a feasibility study produced by Stockport Council last year.

Social enterprise Water Power Enterprises () is developing the two sites for construction in 2010. This follows on from a feasibility study produced by Stockport Council last year.

Both schemes will be owned by the community with surplus profits funding further environmental schemes in Stockport. H2oPE aims to set up 6 community owned hydro sites each year.

These schemes will save 220 tonnes of CO2 every year and will return over �1 million back to Stockport over their lifetime.

The schemes are to be funded by a mixture of grants, a share offer and bank loan. Share prospectus are due out early 2010 and there will soon be a web site for your to register your interest in receiving a copy.

H2oPE is funded by the Co-operative Group, Joseph Rowntrees Charitable Trust and Key Fund Yorkshire. Otterspool Weir received a £100k grant from the NWDA Carbon Challenge Fund.

For more information, contact Steve Welsh (steve.welsh[at]h2ope.co.uk)

See http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/environment/sustainability/renewableenergy for a 2005 Hydro-Electricity Feasibility Study for Stockport.

 

 

 

 

Northwest Rural Carbon Challenge Fund launching in spring 2010!

A ground breaking new £4m fund will be launched by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) later this year to support renewable energy projects in rural areas of the region focusing on wind, water and woodfuel. The projects will be funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and through funding provided by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).The aim of the fund is to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector, the quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy and the living conditions and welfare of those living in rural areas.

It will demonstrate what can be achieved at a community level by creating exemplar supply chain partnerships. On the supply side it will support micro-enterprises to set up or expand a renewable energy business and to gain new skills through training. On the demand side it will support communitygroups and social enterprises with the capital cost of producing energy in community buildings and with technical support, feasibility studies, training and establishment costs.

In partnership, the Energy Saving Trust and Envirolink Northwest - as the delivery agents for the fund - will help address market failure in this sector by supporting applicants from start to finish. They will help micro-enterprises, social-enterprises and community groups forge alliances to submit joint expressions of interest and develop and deliver the outputs of their projects.

For more information, contact Lee Allman on 01925 813200 or L.Allman[at]envirolinknorthwest.co.uk