Posts

A major breakthrough…
( A direct quote from our very own Steve Martin)

Hundreds of solar panels will be installed on the roof of a Cambridge University chapel, despite objections.

Cambridge City Council approved the application to install 492 photovoltaic panels on the lead roof of the 15th Century chapel at King’s College.

”the plans would serve as a symbol for climate change”

Councillors

Historic England was among those against, saying the panels:

”would harm people’s appreciation of the chapel’s extraordinary architectural character”

At a planning meeting on Tuesday,
Details of which can be read here:

(https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=181&MId=4173),

Councillors were told by a college representative that the panels would meet the chapel’s entire energy demand. The panels would contribute a 1.4% reduction in carbon consumption across the estate, they said.

The chapel’s 150-year-old lead roof would be stripped, melted down and reused over the next few months, the university said.

The plans had been recommended for refusal by city council planning officers. Their report stated the panels would “detract” from the architectural character of the roof

“important views of the chapel would be harmed”

‘‘The benefits of the carbon reduction were considered on balance to be “not sufficient” to outweigh the “less than substantial harm” to the Grade I-listed chapel.”

City Council Planning officers

However, the councillors said they believed:

”the benefits of the scheme did outweigh any harm”

Read more here:

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/solar-panels-put-kings-college-26184985

Looks like an extension of the universities plans to decarbonise. These already include :

”All 33 Cambridge Colleges will be largely powered by two solar farms located within a 30-mile radius and the remaining volume will be sourced from solar generators across the UK.”

https://www.smartestenergy.com/en_gb/industrial-and-commercial/our-customers/the-consortium-of-cambridge-colleges/

Some highlights from Community Energy England’s Newsletter.
We expect their full newsletter to be posted on their website in the near future but for now here’s some highlights we’d like to showcase:

https://communityenergyengland.org/pages/newsletter#CEE%20Member%20Newsletter

Urge the government to ‘turbocharge’ community energy

”The Net Zero Review recommended the government “turbocharge community energy”. The Chancellor will make his Spring Statement on 15 March and there are rumours of a Green Investment Plan.

There are opportunities for the government to turbocharge community energy, with a National Community Energy Fund, reinstating Social Investment Tax Relief and other measures. But they will need prompting.”

There is a template letter and tweet, that can be used to contact relevant MP’s asking them to champion community energy:

Harness your MP :
https://communityenergyengland.org/pages/harnessing-our-mps#Sample%20MP%20email/letter

We’ve Tweeted Our MP :

There are also some excellent resources on the upcoming Onshore wind reforms:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGk5FFrxRp0

https://www.regen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Regen-Briefing-Note-Planning-Reforms-for-Onshore-Wind-February-2023.pdf

Steve, John and Richard from Sharenergy visited Nenplas a couple of weeks ago and we were very well received by the CEO, financial director and accountant.

They were given a full tour of the factory which was reported to be extremely interesting. 

‘’The CEO and directors are very keen to reduce their carbon footprint in anyway they can.’’

Says John Taylor Board Member

A board meeting was held in February to make some decisions on the proposed installation in partnership with DDCE.

‘’The mood at our meeting was very positive and I think that we all came away with the impression that things would progress.’’

We are all hoping this turns out to be a great partnership going forward !