Brighton & Hove-Schools pull together to reach Net Zero by 2050
Happy half-term to all Brighton & Hove school teachers and home-schoolers out there. We hope you are getting a well-deserved screen break and some rejuvenating outdoor Nature. You’ll need that extra energy, as it’s time for solar schools to pull together!
BEC Solar Schools Reach For The Sun
In 2019 Brighton Energy Co-op rolled out a programme of Free Solar For Schools throughout Brighton & Hove. There are now 10 local primary and secondary schools benefiting from reduced fuel bills and carbon emissions thanks to our ethical investors, the BEC members. Our pilot project consisted of 372 solar PV panels on Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) which created a 100kW system that saves the high school academy over £5800 on its energy bill each year. BEC’s community funded solar system provides PACA with cheap, green renewable electricity all year round. You can see a 3D model of the solar installation here. The 10 BEC Solar Schools are; Woodingdean, Rudyard Kipling, Coldean & Carden Primaries, Balfour Infants & Juniors, Hertford Juniors, Hove Park Lower, Hove Park Upper, PACA and Blatchington Mill secondary school. We’ll be announcing our 11th Solar School in Brighton & Hove next month!
Learn how our BEC Free Solar For Schools project works here. We need more schools to pull together and reach for the sun to help the UK reach Net Zero by 2050. Help your school sign up for free solar by speaking with your head teacher and then contact us.
Watch This Before You Buy An Electric Vehicle
Brighton Energy Co-op is joining the Electric Vehicle revolution though our community charge point roll-out this year, hear from our expert BEC Director, Gerard Sauer, who talks all things EV (electric vehicle) with Roger Bisby of Skill Builder and LBC Radio. We’re always blown away by his breadth of knowledge! Watch the full interview on YouTube here. Want to know more about our solar-linked charge points? Click here.
Still got a question for us? Get in touch with noeleen@brightonenergy.org.uk
Paid Project Development Intern Opportunity
Why are we looking for a Project Development (PD) intern? BEC is growing and looking to develop new renewable energy sites. We want to expand our PD staff and start brining through the future generation of community energy workers. Our interns are paid national living wage rates.
Full job vacancy details and application form here. Deadline for applications: 5pm Fri 12/Mar/21
Women Empowered By Solar In Yemen
In Yemen, opportunities for women to earn an independent living are few. One group of women have found ongoing employment by building a solar microgrid providing energy for their rural community. The 10 women, who live in the Abs district in the north of the country close to the border with Saudi Arabia, set up the 26.8kW-capacity microgrid in January 2019. Now, it is providing the women with a sustainable income and allowing them to develop professional skills. In rural Yemen, many people have no access to power or are reliant on polluting diesel generators. A project is working to change that, while empowering women. Read the full story in Positive News here.
In other good news…
2021 Ashden Awards (UK) open for entries now
Entries for the 2021 Ashden Awards have opened – with new categories promoting innovation in green skills training, UK climate innovation and green community initiatives. The awards, which bring winners a grant of £10,000, will also uncover outstanding initiatives delivering energy efficiency, green buildings and reduced industrial waste. The prestigious Ashden Awards highlight trailblazing climate solutions in the public, private and charity sectors. As well as three UK-focused categories, the awards will feature four categories celebrating innovation in developing countries. Lean all about the awards here.
COP 26 – Glasgow – 1 Nov 2021
All eyes will be on the UK this November when we host the climate ‘Conference of Parties’ (COP) 26. There will be much lobbying and work going on in the build-up to this event. Read more about this in the South East Climate Alliance’s (SECA) useful blog here.
The Background:
UK Climate Change Act (2008)
UN Paris Climate Agreement – COP 21 (2016) = Net Zero 2050 (GHG emissions)
UK Clean Growth Strategy (2017) – ½ emissions across public estate by 2032
Green Recovery – climate policies to support a resilient recovery from COVID-19
It would be great to see strong support for climate action being pushed by those who want this to happen – that’s us and all of you. Please write to your MP this year, and get involved with a local campaign or group. You will make a difference!
Whatever you’re doing (or not doing!) this half-term, rest assured that Brighton Energy Co-op are beavering away in the background to bring you more community owned local solar energy generation, that moves us closer towards Net Zero 2050. We’ve got some big projects in the pipeline!
Thank you all, as always, for your continued input and support. We couldn’t do any of it without you!
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Best wishes,
Brighton Energy Co-op
