Hydrogen powered car could be built in Peterborough
September 14, 2009 by administrator
Filed under Energy, Energy Management / Efficiency
Hydrocar H2
Peterborough is on the road to becoming the home of a futuristic car.
Discussions are ongoing as to where the new hydrogen-powered Riversimple car will be built and today manufacturers said that Peterborough was high on the list for a manufacturing base.
The city could also become home to a 50 vehicle pilot scheme in 2012 to test how successful the two seater cars would be on the roads.
Peterborough is top of list because of its close proximity to the Midlands, where Riversimple is based and because of its flat roads.
Chief designer Hugo Spowers said: “We are delighted at the level of support we have received in Peterborough and will certainly look forward to entering further discussions. There will certainly be a case for the plant being in the same region as the pilot scheme.
Using state-of-the-art technology, the car will only produce water emissions - but will still have a range of more than 300 miles per gallon.
The news that Peterborough is still in the running to manufacture and test the new car was welcomed by the deputy leader of Peterborough City Council and cabinet member for environment capital and culture, Matthew Lee.
He said: “Hydrogen-powered cars are the future of the automotive industry and I would be delighted if they could be produced and manufactured in Peterborough. It would be a major boost for the city from a commercial point of view and in our drive to be the UK’s environmental capital.
From: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Hydrogenpowered-car-could-be-built.5638335.jp
PECT helps local businesses cut their costs
August 18, 2009 by administrator
Filed under Business Support, Company News, Sustainable Products and Services
Environmental charity Peterborough Environmental City Trust (PECT) has helped 17 local businesses to reduce their environmental impact, including Peterborough United Football Club.
The help has been provided as part of a project called Resource Efficiency East which has been funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The scheme has provided a range of local firms with in-depth environmental support to reduce their carbon footprint and costs.
Rachel Huxley from PECT visited 17 businesses to provide tailored advice on key areas each business should focus on. According to Rachel this varied depending on the nature of the business, “The key environment issues for a manufacturing firm are different from those of an office. This project aimed to help a variety of businesses identify how they could operate in a greener way, whilst at the same time saving them money.”
“This ranged from finding ways to reduce the amount of energy used, or managing waste more effectively so it doesn’t end up in landfill. We were able to save one firm over £2,000 a year just by suggesting they switch to energy saving bulbs.”
“Simple actions really can make a big difference, for example heating costs go up 8% each time you increase the temperature by just one degree.”
Each firm received a review of their premises looking at all the areas the business could save money and reduce resource use. After the visit to each firm they also received a bespoke report detailing which areas to prioritise and how much money they could save by taking various actions.
Some of the suggested ‘quick wins’ for POSH include:
- Replacing light bulbs with energy efficient ones with an estimated saving of £2, 180.00 and 11.5 tonnes of CO2 every year
- An education campaign to ensure lights are switched off in rooms not being used with an estimated saving of £860.00 and 3.5 tonnes of CO2 every year.
Longer term improvements include rainwater harvesting for pitch irrigation, and even for use in toilets and urinals. This could save over 1.5 million litres of water and around £2,000 a year. It is estimate that an ongoing environmental awareness campaign with staff to reduce paper used and waste created would result in further 10% reduction in costs.
From: http://www.pect.org.uk/news/161-3-august-posh-goes-green
Exporting Environmental Goods & Services - Master Class Workshop
August 7, 2009 by administrator
Filed under Uncategorised
The environmental sector is the fastest growing area of industry and commerce today. Markets across the globe, in both developed and developing countries, are investing heavily in cleantech, renewable energy and environmental services. Businesses of all sizes who can provide these environmental solutions stand to gain as a result.
However, it is predicted that as the market matures there will be a massive consolidation with both winners and losers. Those companies which operate on a global scale will be the winners as they will be more likely to survive this change in the market.
This workshop is intended to help you understand the benefits of bringing an international dimension to your business, as without a significant international presence there is a risk that your business may lose out to competition, including those in the home market.
Experts from Austria, China and France will present the opportunities for the trade of environmental goods & services into their home markets, and will be on hand for one-to-one discussions with participants.
The event will be held at the Peterborough Showground on the evening of Tuesday 15th September 2009.
To express interest in attending this event please email k.horne@cambscci.co.uk
Greenwoods Solicitors LLP launches enviroassist
April 24, 2009 by administrator
Filed under Company News
This Spring sees an exciting new development - the launch of enviroassist - a new package of services for businesses in the environmental goods and services sector from Greenwoods Solicitors LLP.
enviroassist not only offers legal services but as Associate, Alastair Gunn explains: “It will enable businesses in this sector to access - through enviroassist - a network of professional service providers who can help provide funds, give effective tax advice, protect intellectual property and who have strong experience of the issues and challenges faced by this sector.”
Key partners involved in Peterborough’s drive towards achieving Environment Capital status attended the launch of enviroassist at Greenwoods on 26 March 2009. The discussion at the event focused on the strong progress being made towards securing Environment Capital status for Peterborough, the strength of the cluster of environmental goods and services businesses in and around Peterborough and the high level of innovation those businesses are delivering.
As part of the launch Greenwoods partnered with Marshall Honda to promote enviroassist and the new - Honda Insight - billed as the ‘world’s most affordable hybrid’ this innovative petrol-hybrid looks set to cause a stir in the marketplace.
Greenwoods has a strong history of supporting Peterborough’s environment future through work with PECT and the establishment of the Eco Innovation Centre. Karin Horsley, Director confirmed: “We are looking forward to working closely with the growing environmental goods and services sector - it is exciting for us and great for Peterborough to be home to - in many cases - world leading innovation.”
To find out more about enviroassist contact Karin Horsley or Alastair Gunn on 01733 887700.
Collaborations
March 11, 2009 by Gareth Jones
Filed under Uncategorised
Peterborough Eco-Innovation Centre: CleanTech and Environment Innovation Workshops
Peterborough Eco-Innovation Centre (EIC) is keen to bring out latent inventiveness in the Greater Peterborough area. We’re inviting groups of two or more people with ideas on how resources can be used more sustainably to use our facilities for Innovation Workshops which will create exploitable intellectual property for the group.
Regardless of how developed your ideas are, this is the chance to develop them further. We are particularly keen to encourage technology innovation, but would also welcome groups with ideas on improved design, services and policy.
A meeting room at the EIC in central Peterborough can be booked free of charge for this purpose. It is equipped with an interactive Smart Board™ which enables touch screen control of a computer, so that handwriting and hand graphics can be manipulated and stored electronically, and professional drawing and design documents can be viewed, amended and stored. There are also the usual white boards and flip charts. Wifi and wired access internet access is available. Coffee on tap will keep you going!
The Centre for Sustainable Engineering, which manages the EIC, has specialist skills in cleantech science and engineering, facilitation of ‘ideation’ workshops, protection of intellectual property, collaboration agreements for exploiting IP, and business planning. CSEng may be interested in being part of a consortium, or otherwise offering these services for a reasonable fee.
If this attracts you, please contact Phil Sheppard on 01733 294524 or at p.sheppard@cseng.org.uk
Green Festival 2009…it’s all about food!
The 18th Green Festival launches on Saturday 23rd May in Peterborough City Centre where the streets will be bustling with free activities, games and events for the whole family to enjoy.
This year the Green Festival theme is Food and the City Centre will host three activity packed hubs - grow it, cook it, eat it. Bridge Street will be transformed into a garden where people can plant vegetables and pick up tips from gardening experts. Step into the Cathedral Grounds and you’ll see cooking demonstrations using delicious locally grown produce. There will be games like ‘ready steady lunchbox’, cooking workshops, recipe cards from Riverford Organic Vegetables to take away, and the chance to win pots, pans and other kitchen equipment.
Finally, in Queensgate and Long Causeway you can taste local produce from East Anglia - think watercress soup, cheesy spinach and tomato tart, rhubarb crumble and elderflower Champaign! You’ll be able to meet local farmers and talk to them about why buying local is the best option for your health and your wallet.
The Festival launch will also see Junk Band Green Beats, who regularly play at the Eden Project, perform for Festival goers. The band will be running workshops for the city’s youngsters to learn about making music out of rubbish. There will be fruit tree planting at the Green Backyard on London Road, and the chance to win a garden shed!
Janine Starling from Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) is organising the Green Festival 2009, she says: “The food theme for this year is great because it’s relevant to everyone. The environmental and health benefits of eating locally produced food are no secret.
“People are starting to think about what they are eating and about the carbon emissions involved with flying food in from all over the world that could easily be produced on our doorstep.
“We want to get people growing their own food, buying local produce, eating more fruit and veg, and having fun with it. The Green Festival is all about free family fun for two weeks where people can get involved with nature and their local environment.”
After the launch on 23rd May people can enjoy two weeks of events and activities around Peterborough from an eco-supermarket sweep at Tesco in Hampton, to an eco-fashion show in Queensgate, bike rides round the Green Wheel, and nature walks for children.
Festival highlights:
- Launch event (free, ideal for families), Saturday 23rd May, City Centre.
- Wet and wild at Flag Fen (learn about nature, ideal for families), 24th and 25th May.
- Swishing (posh clothes swap), Tuesday 26th May, Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery.
- Eco-fashion show, Thursday 28th May, Queensgate Shopping Centre.
- Professional bike race, Thursday 4th June, City Centre
- Green Festival finale party hosted by Riverford Organic Vegetables, Sunday 7th June, Sacrewell Farm.
Find out more:
Visit www.pect.net to find out more or call Lisa Taylor on 01733 568408. You will be able to pick up your copy of the Green Festival programme at the beginning of April from Tourist Information, Peterborough Museum and your local Library.
Green Festival 2009
March 9, 2009 by John Pickstone
Filed under Events
| May 23, 2009 | to | June 7, 2009 |
The 18th Green Festival launches on Saturday 23rd May in Peterborough City Centre where the streets will be bustling with free activities, games and events for the whole family to enjoy.
Festival highlights:
- Launch event (free, ideal for families), Saturday 23rd May, City Centre.
- Wet and wild at Flag Fen (learn about nature, ideal for families), 24th and 25th May.
- Swishing (posh clothes swap), Tuesday 26th May, Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery.
- Eco-fashion show, Thursday 28th May, Queensgate Shopping Centre.
- Professional bike race, Thursday 4th June, City Centre
- Green Festival finale party hosted by Riverford Organic Vegetables, Sunday 7th June, Sacrewell Farm.
Find out more:
Visit www.pect.net to find out more or call Lisa Taylor on 01733 568408. You will be able to pick up your copy of the Green Festival programme at the beginning of April from Tourist Information, Peterborough Museum and your local Library.
Peterborough City Council to back £250m incinerator
January 15, 2009 by John Pickstone
Filed under Company News, Energy, Renewable Energy, Waste Management and Recycling, Waste Management, Recovery and Recycling
A £250 million plan to burn rubbish using the latest “green” technology has been given vital backing.
Councillors voted in favour of the state-of-the art energy park, which would be built on a site off Storeys Bar Road in Fengate, saying it would bring a number of positive benefits including new jobs and new technology and will produce clean, green energy.
If the plan is endorsed by the council’s cabinet on February 2, it will almost certainly clear the way for the Government to give it the go-ahead. But, Peterborough could eventually have two incinerators just yards apart, as the council plans to build its own to cope with the city’s rubbish.
However, planning officers, while broadly in favour of the plan, said more information was needed in vital areas, including road access issues, safety concerns regarding the proximity to gas pipelines, and justification on developing the site in the countryside close to Flag Fen.
Councillor David Harrington said: “We are almost 10 years into the 21st century and have missed out on a whole generation of technology, including nuclear power, already. We need to support this scheme.”
Councillor Charles Swift said: “We should support this project unanimously and I hope the cabinet takes on board our comments.”
Speaking in favour of the scheme, Richard Olive, who is a member of Friends of the Earth, added: “I believe we have now run out of time to eliminate climate change and we have to embrace this technology.”
However, two members of the public stood up to express concerns about potential health problems from emissions.
Mr Donne Buck, of Gildenburgh Avenue, Eastfield, Peterborough, said: “A great number of vulnerable children would be subject to the discharge that would come from the chimneys and other airborne toxins.”
Fiona Radic, who is a member of the Green Party, added: “We have a landfill problem; soon we will have a sky-filled problem.”
Today, managing director of PREL Chris Williams said: “We felt that last night’s meeting was a great success.
“We will work night and day in the coming weeks to ensure that the information and clarification asked for on matters such as transport and highways, gas and environmental detail are provided in full.
“Only in working together can Peterborough realise its goal to become the environmental capital of the UK.”
Despite agreeing to the energy park proposals, councillors were still in favour of £38 million plans for a council incinerator, which would be built just 400 yards from the PREL site.
