Environmental

Advanced Instumentation Skills for Technology
Grants and Funding
Case Studies

Advanced Instumentation Skills for Technology

This workshop takes place on the 8th December at 5:00pm at the Middle Aston Leadership Centre, Oxfordshire. To reserve your place contact Steve Bannister, 07825 123528, or email steve.bannister@pera.com. The forum will cover the tools to design safe machinery in accordance with European Union Machinery, and assocaited Directives, and to declare complaince by CR Marking.

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Green Technologies.

An article has been written to highlight the political and commercial drivers for green technologies. Understanding the direction of travel for this largely state sponsored sector can assist companies in aligning the medium to long-term strategic planning for future growth. The article stresses a few facts and opportunities to position activities in the new green landscape.

Click here for full article.

Energy by Nature ...

Bioenergy Technology Ltd is a locally based company supplying and installing Biomass Boilers.

Having recently been awarded the Microgeneration Accreditation, Bioenergy are now one of 39 in the UK and the only company in this area.

Biomass based energy production has major benefits - it is energy efficient, carbon neutral heating (no greenhouse effect) and it is renewable energy which will help us to overcome our dwindling supplies of fossil fuels.

Government grants and incentives are increasingly available to assist with biomass boiler installations and renewable based energy generation is exempt from the Climate Change Levy.

Biomass boilers can reduce one's carbon footprint by up to 65% and can be inter-connected with current fossil fuel systems. These systems show large cost savings for not only domestic users but for schools, hospitals and local authorities.

See Bioenergy at the 2009 Bentley Weald Woodfair 18-20th September.

For more information visit www Bioenergy.org

CO2 Efficient join the Hub

CO2 Efficient is a new Hastings company which provides training and information on renewable energy technologies. They launched on 1st July as the first company in the South East to be accredited in this field and offer recognised certificated training.

The new business has been set up by Rob Layne, formerly Head of Building and Engineering Services at Hastings College. CO2 Efficient has a range of services aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of domestic renewable energy technologies. They run training from short introductory courses on specific technologies to a full two day renewable energy awareness course, certificated by the British Plumbing Employers Council (BPEC), which provides an overview of the full range of technologies.

The short courses topics include Heat Pumps; Solar PV; Solar Thermal; Wind Power; Biomass and Micro Hydro. As well as providing an overview of the technology, the course also covers information on design and planning considerations, installation, available grants, costing and payback on investment.

Rob Layne explains: “Our short courses are suitable for anyone wishing to find out more about a particular technology – we train construction professionals, designers, surveyors and architects; there’s also a lot of interest from business owners, landlords, local authorities and housing associations. Individuals can also benefit - homeowners and DIY enthusiasts.”

CO2 Efficient also offer home surveys to help householders decide which renewable energy sources would be worth investing in, including expected energy savings and how long the technology would take to pay for itself.

To find out more, please visit www.coefficienthome.com.

Spring into Action!

The Shell Springboard Awards, a competition that rewards businesses for coming up with innovative ideas to tackle climate change has reopened to entries. The Shell Springboard Awards 2009-10 offer cash prizes ranging between £20,000 and £40,000 for UK-based companies to come up with commercially viable products, services or ideas that will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gases.

For more information on how to enter, please go to www.shellspringboard.org

Enterprise Hub launches Environmental Cluster

The East Sussex Enterprise Hub has succesfully launched an Environmental Cluster for the the South East region. The network was launched at a suceesful event at the Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne towards the end of last year. The cluster continues to go from strength to strength, with our Advisory Group made up of leading players in the sector meeting regularly to decide on priorities and actions.

Membership Directory: To view a directory of the current members of the East Sussex Enteprise Hub Environmental Cluster, please click here.
Support Organisations: For a comprehensive look at support organisations aimed at the environmental sector, please click here

Hub director Jim Christy states:

“This sector advisory group has been collaboratively developed by Sea Space and the East Sussex Hub to inform and advise the partners about opportunities, trends and issues within the sector and a local ‘Green Cluster’. This industry driven group provides useful insight and feedback into key issues like skills, training requirements linked to raising awareness of the sector and providing networking workshops, topics for events and strong links to the knowledge base The partner group interaction can also stimulate events about key sector issues like funding opportunities and application rounds, sourcing R & D, knowledge transfer, training, HEI support and new product development. The Hub can also link activities to finance, export and support organizations to the developing cluster”

Members include:

Geoff Fox, SolarUK Ltd: SolarUK is a leading designer, manufacturer, supplier and installer of solar water heating systems. It's UK designed and manufactured solar hot water systems can be used for domestic water heating, swimming pool heating and industrial process water heating.
Paul Hales, Hales Energy Group: Paul Hales is an ex Heating Engineer, ex Design Engineer, who holds patents on marine propulsion, renewable energy with several in process and likes to use the hands on and find out approach to research started this new design project as a follow on from tidal energy research in the USA (US patent number 5,324,169.).
Martin Osment, EVRS: Martin has spent the last 5 years researching recycling of non-hazardous waste. As a result, EVRS now have unique designs for 100% recycling of general business and home waste, without sorting at source. Nothing goes to be buried or burned, and there are no discharges to air land or water, and no health hazards. The key is a process whereby after removal of recyclates, (metals, glass, plastics, etc), everything is steam super-sterilized. This reduces the residue to a sterile cellulosic fibre.
Peter Adlington, Plastipack Ltd: Plastipak is a specialist manufacturer of swimming pool and water storage cover materials that are sold in roll form to fabricators around the world for commercial and domestic use.
Gillian Browning, GoPlastic: Specialises in the supply and distribution of 'Govaplast' products. Govaplast is made from high quality, pure recycled plastic (polypropylene/polyethylene) by Govaerts Recycling N.V, who has been leading the field in environmentally-friendly products for over 40 years.
Karen Amsden, Brighton-Hove City Council: Currently supporting a cross-party panel of councillors to undertake a scrutiny review to look as how environmental industries can be supported and developed in the city.
Helene Mogelhoj, Destination Development Manager, Sea Space: Project manager for the Innovation Exchange with focus on renewable energy and Environmental Technology.
Dr Kevin Nicholson, Business & Enterprise Manager, Sea Space: Responsible lead for business enterprise, innovation, education, skills and broadband.

Grants and Funding

For up to date information about grants and funding oppurtunities please see below information or click here to download a PDF version.

The information below is focused only on current opportunities for Environmental Technologies. If you would like any information or assistance with regards to funding and support for your business in general, please get in touch with us at the Enterprise Hub.

Carbon Trust

Applied Research Grant Scheme

Deadline: 17th September!
Grants available up to £500,000 for business and academia developing low carbon technologies.
Applications can be submitted to Finance South East.

Energy Efficiency Loans

Available for between £3,000 and £400,000 at 0% interest for new energy saving equipment for your business.

Incubator Programme

Financial assistance (up to £70,000) in the form of consultancy and business incubation.
www.carbontrust.co.uk

Technology Strategy Board

Low Carbon Vehicles

The only competition currently open. Deadline for applications is 22nd September. Proposals for short term, feasibility studies projects exploring technologies that might reduce CO2 emissions from the UK vehicle market.
www.innovateuk.org
For further documentation and information on how to apply, please go to www.technologyprogramme.org.uk.

WRAP

Food Waste Collection Fund

Closing date for expression of interest is 26th October 2009.
Support for local authorities on the separate collection of food waste. Can be from individual authorities or from partnership with business. £3.5 million total available for the scheme.

Mixed Plastics Capital Grant

Closing date 10th September!
Financial assistance towards facilities that will be capable of sorting, recycling and reprocessing mixed plastic packaging.
Grants of up to £2million.

Intellectual Property Rights Support Scheme

Can provide up to £20k grant towards obtaining IP protection.
www.wrap.org.uk

Ashden Awards

Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy

Up to £20,000 grant available for schemes that have been running for at least a year, that are technically excellent and improving the lives of the local population.
This is a retrospective grant for already proved projects.
Deadline for application is 27th October.
www.ashdenawards.org

Power Programme

Power Interregional Programme

Call for projects opens 15th October 2009.
€5.8million programme aimed at driving low carbon economies in 7 European regions including South East England.
12 international projects involving joint stakeholders from the different regions will be awarded funding.
www.powerprogramme.eu

EU: Eco-Innovation

Eco-Innovation

EU funding scheme supporting innovative product services and technologies that make better use of natural resources and reduce ecological footprint.
Deadline for application is 10th September.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/index_en.htm

BP

Alternative Energy Ventures

Invests in growth stage companies accelerating innovation in low carbon and secure energy technologies.
Click here for more information.

Shell

Game Changer

Equity funding for innovative ideas in: increasing energy production; carbon management; energy conversion, storage and distribution; and fuelling transportation.
Have previously invested up to $100,000.

Springboard Awards

Awards between £20,000 and £40,000 prizes to UK companies with commercially viable products or ideas that will reduce green house gases.
Deadline: 6th November.
http://www.shell.com/home/content/innovation/bright_ideas/game_changer/

EPSRC

Responsive Mode Funding

Open funding application for a grant that fits the remit of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
www.epsrc.ac.uk

Up and Coming Environmental Events

Hybrid & Electric Vehicles: Advanced Battery Technology

• 8th September 2009
• Westminster London
• http://awbriefing.com/events/09-09-08.php

Cambridge Climate Conference 2009

• 14th September 2009
• Cambridge
• http://cambridgeclimate.eventbrite.com/

Recycling and Waste Management Exhibition

• 15th – 17th September 2009
• NEC Birmingham
• www.rwmexhibition.com

Renewable Energy Finance Forum London

• 21st – 22nd September 2009
• Millennium Gloucester, London
• www.euromoneyenergy.com

Innovate 09 – Technology Strategy Board

• 13th October 2009
• Islington London
• www.innovateuk.org/newsevents/events.ashx

Renewable Energy Technologies for 6* Sustainable Homes

• 23rd October 2009
• University of Brighton
• www.brighton.ac.uk/ctc/courses/course_6star.htm

Sustainable Innovation 09

• 26th – 27th October
• Farnham Castle, Farnham
• www.cfsd.org.uk/events/tspd14/index.html

Case Studies

We support a large number of environmental companies, helping them to bring their products to market, raise finance, protect their ideas with IP advice, networking and lots of other support. Below are listed a small selection of the environmental companies that we support and some of the things that we have done to help:

Tiger Enterprises.

What they do: Reclaim unused building materials from building sites and then resell to the general public or small trade builders.

How we helped: Helped client secure a EFG loan from bank and to obtain funding to expand operation from Envirobusiness. Promoted client and got press for him in a large range of National newspapers. Helped client apply for various business awards and he was voted runner up young entrepreneur in SEEDA business awards.
EVRS.
What they do: Have spent 6 years in developing a new environmental recycling system that uses an innovative steam hydrolysis system to break down all organic matter into glucose, and condenses it back into pure cellulose or ethanol. Requires £1.2M to establish first plant, which opens a pipeline to over £20M in prospective orders.

How we have helped: Arranged for IP advice that identified that they have 4 or 5 patentable inventions, none of which have been protected. Then helped company apply for and secure £20k WRAP grant to cover IP filing costs. Arranged for them to pitch to a room full of business angels in an event we paid for and they generated significant interest. Attempted to forge collaboration with U. Brighton and to secure FSE Commercialisation funding.
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Solar UK

What they do: UK manufacturers on the most efficient solar panels available. Their turnover has increased rapidly and they are expanding into a super eco friendly building with a unique 17-sided design just outside Battle, East Sussex.

How we have helped: Promoted the new building to the press and this resulted in a very positive piece of PR on the BBC news. Helped to apply for a GBI grant to help finish the building and fitting of the new head office.
Cyclix Systems
What they do: Company has exclusive rights to use an environmentally friendly biocide based on the lactose peroxidase system for post harvest applications and has already shown it to be effective against a range of bacterial and fungal infections. Company requires the funds to perform regulatory testing to gain EU certification. Recently raised €100,000 for phase 1 field trials in Belgium, and secured exclusive pre-harvest license worldwide.

How we have helped: Arranged for company to pitch to a room of 30 business angels, 5 of whom are interested in taken the opportunity forwards

Bottle Alley / Lighting Force
What they do. Manufacturer bespoke ornamental glass from recycled glass bottles. Designs lighting systems for large houses, hotels and other commercial outlets.

How we helped. Put in touch with a designer who created special tiles using the recycled glass product. Show cases products at a number of events. Looked into SFIE grant application for client to expand business and purchase more kilns.
Vonron Roofing System

What they do: Client has designed a novel plastic roof tile that has a number of advantages over existing slate based tiles including ease of assembly, lightness (cheaper to ship, less danger) and better insulation properties.

How we have helped: Helped develop clients business plan with him, provided access to a patent attorney to help with prosecuting his patent. Introduced and supported client while negotiating with a large plastics manufacturer, Marshall Tufflex, that we suggested he speak to.
U Brick

What they do: Have developed a new concrete construction system. Essentially an interlocking, mortarless building block. U-Brick have recently developed the machine that can easily produce these bricks. Requires no skilled labour and reduces building costs by 60%. Protected by UK patent, pending in USA. Can be constructed and deconstructed in record time, ideal for emergency and military situations and low-cost public housing.

How we have helped: Helped to secure FSE Pocket fund, arranged and organised testing for building regulations with BRE and Oxford Brookes University.
The new UK registered
company Hales Energy Ltd has been formed to research and promote news forms of Marine renewable energy and forms of etration and storage of this vast energy source. The company is in the process of of constructing a special test tank and operate a Marine Energy test Centre on the Sussex Coast to test our own patented designs as well as encourage other designers and investors to use th test facility.