Cheltenham Challenging Climate Change Conference, Monday 23 rd July 2007 Pete West Sustainable Energy Projects Manager Severn Wye Energy Agency Energy Solutions for Business

Severn Wye Energy Agency is an independent not-for-profit local Energy Agency and registered charity established in 1997 We actively promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, part funded by Local Authorities, the Energy Saving Trust, consultancy and EU projects Severn Wye Energy Agency 16,000 households given energy advice and 9,000 houses insulated in Gloucestershire

National Geographic Magazine, Sept 2004 North Pole summer ice coverage is shrinking by 9% per decade The Problem- Climate Change is already happening

“Today the cost of flood and coastal defence in the UK amounts to around £13 per person per year. By 2080 this could increase to between £300 and £1100 per person” Source- RTPI and RSPB “Planning for Climate Change”

Tewkesbury Moreton-in- Marsh The worst flooding in Gloucestershire in living memory. The insurance costs of UK flooding in June and July 2007 is estimated at more than £3billion – equivalent to nearly £60 per person Friday 20th July ,000 people have to spend the night in emergency rescue centres

Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change – October 2006 To reduce CO2 levels to avoid the worst impact of climate change will cost 1% of global gross domestic product. Without action the cost of structural, environmental and social damage due to climate change will be between 5% and 20% of the global economy. In perspective, 1% of UK GDP represents an investment of £17 billion per year, or £700 per UK taxpayer per year 20% of GDP will require an additional £14,000 per year from every UK taxpayer.

Sir Nicolas Stern, former Chief Economist at the World Bank, also said the green challenge was also an opportunity "for new markets, for new jobs, new technologies, new exports where companies, universities and social enterprises in Britain can lead the world". “Climate change is the biggest market failure of all time”

Business opportunities and challenges Saving energy Using renewable energy Construction sector Usually very cost Very little financial Building Regulations effective support available to businesses. Planning policies for new build (less than 5 year 5-25 year payback payback) Wind Low Carbon Buildings Biomass Programme grants Resource Efficiency Club Biofuels (RTO)

Energy Survey A practical way to reduce carbon emissions, tackle climate change and cut costs. As more and more businesses are discovering, the environmental and financial benefits of saving energy go hand-in-hand. By finding ways to use less energy you can reduce your company’s carbon footprint, combat climate change and lower your bills. We can help you start reducing your company’s carbon footprint with a free on-site energy survey*. Does your company qualify? We provide free surveys* to organisations with annual energy bills of over £50,000. Our carbon experts will visit your premises to identify energy saving opportunities and offer practical advice on how to achieve them, usually in the form of a 10-step action plan. Interest Free loans Interest-free, unsecured Energy-Efficiency Loans, for small and medium sized enterprises* looking to purchase energy-saving equipment. If you have any queries about the Energy-Efficiency Loans Scheme, please call us on

envision Business Support “Depending on your businesses size and location you may be eligible for subsidised business support in the from of 5 flexible days of dedicated support and high quality advice. Prices range from £100 upwards, depending upon the size and turnover of the business.To find out if your organisation is eligible click HERE.Envision provides dedicated professional mentors, working with you to develop a tailored programme of practical advice suiting your business operations and needs. Envisions flexible, step-by-step approach will fit your time scales allowing you to move on to the next step when your ready. An environmental audit identifies the use of resources, energy, water, waste disposal and transport to highlight business improvement and cost saving opportunities.HERE

Gloucestershire Resource Efficiency Club Environmental Business Support Programme

How the REC works BREW funding provides 75% of the costs, giving £6,000 worth of support to each company at a cost of £1,500 Other support from Business Link, Envirowise, Parklife and the Environment Agency Managed by University of Gloucestershire with Severn Wye Energy Agency

Who’s in the club? M W C

Gussing, South East Austria, town of 4000 population in a rural county of 10,000 inhabitants. Carbon neutral in heat, electricity and transport fuels jobs created in renewable energy related industries over 10 years. Solutions to climate change- real world examples

Sweden plans to be fossil fuel free by This wood chip fuelled power plant provides heat and electricity to a town of 20,000 people. There are more than 100 similar biomass CHP power plants in Sweden.

Some RE facts and figures from Germany 5000 plants produce electricity from biomass including 3000 biogas CHP plants 7.5 % of total energy supply in Germany is from renewable energy (2006) (n.b. - approx 2.5 % in UK. The European Union binding target agreed by the Council of Ministers in March 2007 is 20% of all EU energy requirements from renewable energy by 2020) Of the German 7.5 % energy from renewables, 16% is wind energy and 70% biomass. Currently there are 91,900 jobs in Germany in the bioenergy sector. Public subsidy to support 7.5% of energy from renewables in Germany is currently approx £16 per person per year.

Gloucestershire Wood Fuels Ltd- Severn Wye Energy Agency obtained a Defra grant to set up a local wood chip supply co-operative. Any woodland owner in the county can sell wood chip through the co- operative. The hire of a wood chipper is subsidised for 3 years.

Wood chip boiler supplying district heating, Rhone-Alpes, France

£200,000 installed cost for a 10 year old refurbished 550kW wind turbine- sufficient to supply average electricity requirements of 250 households. Income approx £60,000 per year. Electrical generation 1,100,000 kWh per year. Payback period 4 years including interest and maintenance.

Thank you for your attention ANY QUESTIONS?