The renewable energy company had originally forecast that revenues would rise to around £5 million during 2011/12, but strong demand for solar panels by domestic customers and a number of significant commercial contract wins saw the company achieve turnover of £6.4 million.

The Liverpool based company has also seen its headcount increase from 12 to 50 during the past 12 months.

However, with the government’s feed-in-tariff incentives again due to be cut from 1 July, Eco Environments plans to focus on the commercial side of its business and the wide range of renewable energy technologies offered by the company.

Eco Environments managing director, Mike Clarke, said: “Solar PV and feed-in-tariffs have dominated the news agenda for the last couple of years, but the focus going forward will be far more about energy efficiency in the face of ever rising energy costs.

“Eco Environments is not a provider of solar panels; it is a business which offers customers the full range of renewable energy solutions of which solar panels happens to be one.”

The company designs, installs and commissions technologies including solar PV, wind turbines, solar thermal, air source heat pumps and energy efficient lighting.

David Hunt, the company’s sales and marketing director, said: “While the FTSE companies and large PLCs all have sustainability policies in place, this is much less the case among the SME community.

“Many owner managers still think that renewable energy is about saving the planet when in fact harnessing the right technologies could actually help grow or even save a business at a time of ever rising energy costs.

“New research from the Forum of Private Business has revealed that energy costs are now one of the biggest issues facing small business owners.”

In 2011 Eco Environments moved to a new office and warehouse space that is more than six times the size of its previous premises. It also established regional offices in Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Carlisle and St Asaph.

Also in 2011 Eco Environments opened a new wholesale division after signing agreements with Kingspan Solar and Wind, German solar manufacturers K2 Systems and WINAICO, and Hyundai Solar – the first deal of its kind with a UK renewable energy company.

The minister was at the university’s Energy House to present certificates to graduates of the Academy’s first course, a continual professional development (CPD) course in the use of infrared thermography.

The two-day course is designed to give participants the skills they need to master infrared technology and use it to monitor heat loss from buildings. It is part of a new suite of programmes for professionals working in the building and housing sectors.

Students on the course ranged from architects and builders to insulation workers and energy assessors. The first to be presented with a certificate was Mike Hughes of construction company, Hughes Brothers Ltd, based in Leigh.

Mike said: “We’re pioneering new methods of construction so this course gives us the skills to use new types of technology.

“Prevention is much better than acure, so constructing buildings which lose less energy is far more effective than installing renewable energy sources afterwards.”

During his visit Mr Hendry also toured the ERDF-funded Energy House – a unique, fully rebuilt terraced house inside a climate controlled lab, which is used to test the very latest technology and behavioural science in domestic carbon reduction.

Awarding the first certificate, the minister commented on the uniqueness of the scheme and said: “This is an outstanding example of a university working with business to tackle one of the biggest national challenges we are facing.

“When dealing with energy efficiency, consumers want independent verification, and this is what this programme is delivering.”

The collaboration between the university and Envirolink aims to provide a range of courses to address the massive task of reducing carbon emissions from the UK’s building stock by 80% from 1990 levels. The courses also represent a significant step in providing the skills needed to retrofit an estimated 21 million homes with insulating and energy efficient technology.

Envirolink chief executive, Nick Storer, said: “The minister’s visit shows the quality of the facilities and training we’ve been able to develop alongside the university. We’re proud of our first graduates and looking forward to working with the university to ensure this collaboration becomes a market leader in the provision of CPD training in the energy and built environment.”

Professor George Baxter, Director of Research and Innovation at the University said: “The work being carried out by Salford and Envirolink is addressing an issue of key national importance, so we’re glad that the minister came to see what we’re doing.

“We firmly believe that combining cutting-edge research and business expertise can make a huge difference in combating fuel poverty and reducing carbon emissions.”

The company was founded in 2008 by husband and wife team Islam and Judy Pearson. It designs, installs and services a range of renewable energy, heat and power generation technologies across Cumbria, Lancashire and the Scottish Borders.

Turnover at the company has grown rapidly in the last year, hitting £920,000. Sales have grown to £1.8 million for 2011/12. Seventeen staff currently work alongside a network of specialist subcontracted engineers and a growing team of sales representatives.

The funding from the North West Fund for Energy and Environmental (NWF4EE) will be used to increase the company’s reach across the North West.

The fund is managed by CT Investment Partners and is part of the £185 million North West Fund, which is provided jointly by the European Investment Bank and European Regional Development Fund.

CT Investment Partners also advises the Carbon Trust on its venture capital activities and is one of the most experienced investors in this area.

Judy Pearson, director of EcoLogicLiving, said: “We pride ourselves on delivering high quality customer service which helps us to remain at the forefront of energy solutions.

“The funding will not only provide us with the injection of cash flow crucial to grow our business financially, but it will help support the development of our executive team.

We expect to create a significant number of extra jobs over the next three years to support our growth.”

Adam Workman, partner at CT Investment Partners and fund manager of NWF4EE, said: “The North West region is rapidly developing into a centre for low carbon industries. Many businesses are now seeking out innovative cleantech methods and we have noticed a dramatic increase in market consolidation within the renewables sector.”

Envirolink has worked regularly with EcoLogicLiving and the company was advised on the deal by Envirolink member Semple Fraser.

Where the club’s Maine Road stadium once stood is now the site of Maine Place, a new eco-friendly housing development.

Jacob Eco-Energy installed a 49.6 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system of 207 panels on the development’s landmark curved roof.

This will generate 952,000 kWh of renewable electricity over the next 25 years, enough to make 9.52 million cups of tea and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 500 tonnes.

The environmental benefit roughly equates to a pine forest the size of 70 football pitches.

The renewable technology, supported by the government’s Feed in Tariff incentive, is also expected to deliver a financial return of £434,170 over 25 years.

Chris Franks, managing director of Jacob Eco Energy, said: “This was a major installation, which required our specialist knowledge of construction and roofing structures to carry out the installation. As a ‘City’ fan it was a real privilege to be involved in bringing new life to the site of the former stadium.”

Maine Place has been developed by Prospect (GB) Ltd, which has opened the first phase of the 330-home development, together with a new community school.  

A range of houses and apartments are available for sale, combining the advantages of renewable solar power with advanced eco-friendly construction. The contemporary homes also have excellent ‘Secure by Design’ security features.

Maurice Palfreyman of Prospect (GB) said: “Our residents have some of the greenest homes in the city thanks to our ambitious solar scheme. We are very proud of our sustainable housing development and the contribution we are making to reducing Manchester’s carbon footprint.”

Jacob Eco Energy was the first business in Salford and central Manchester to become an official Microgeneration Certification Scheme approved installer of solar PV technology. 

The company is exhibiting at the Greenbuild Expo in Manchester (9-10 May). Visit stand F5 for an opportunity to win a solar powered radio

Envirolink has joined up with the University of Salford in a major new initiative to deliver cutting-edge skills to people working in the energy and buildings industry. 

The collaboration will deliver a range of courses and workshops to help individuals and organisations of all sizes reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs from buildings.

A new continuous professional development centre (CPD) will deliver the training, which will focus on sectors such as housing, construction and energy management. 

The CPD – the Envirolink & University of Salford Energy Training Collaboration – aims to offer high quality training to the full supply chain from suppliers to end users, helping companies adapt to the fast growing and changing market demands. 

Much of the training will be carried out at the university’s unique Energy House – a full-size reconstructed house built inside a climate controlled lab.

Unlike other training provision supplied within the sector, the new CPD centre will bring together the world-leading built environment and energy research and teaching base at the university with the industry knowledge and insight that Envirolink has developed over the last ten years. 

The first short courses are already taking on students. Amongst the first are training on the use of thermal cameras and on air tightness tests to help reduce energy loss, with more courses on a variety of related subjects in the pipeline.   

Envirolink chief executive, Nick Storer, said: “This exciting new collaboration brings together two leading organisations that will deliver a unique and high-quality training service.

“We are looking forward to working with the University to ensure this collaboration becomes a market leader in the provision of CPD training in the energy and built environment.” 

The collaboration is hoping to reach around 400 students in its first year and will be adopting a tailored approach to many of the courses – for example there are plans to create training for specific organisations such as housing associations who are working to promote energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty among their tenants. 

George Baxter, the university’s director of research and innovation, said: “This collaboration will go a long way in training the thousands of professionals we need to implement policies like the Green Deal and meet our energy and carbon targets. 

“With Salford’s facilities and researchers and Envirolink’s huge experience, the training we will provide will be at the very forefront of addressing this major and pressing need.”

The events will held in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and are being hosted with partners across the country, including Envirolink. 

They will bring together key industry players to promote the development of specialist supply chains, maintain confidence in the market and boost the drive to increase offshore renewable manufacturing opportunities in the UK. 

Key industry figures will come together to examine a range of supply chain components, from workforce skills and infrastructure, to the regulatory environment, which will together provide the building block for the offshore wind industry’s deployment. 

The timely development of an effective supply chain will be essential to realising the UK’s ambitious offshore renewable energy targets.  

The UK already has a world leading offshore wind programme, producing around 1.8GW a year. By 2020 and beyond the industry could offer a pipeline of projects delivering over 8GW. 

This presents a substantial opportunity for investment and the creation of new jobs.

Research by Renewable UK estimates that UK wind industry jobs will total some 57,000 by 2020. The European Wind Energy Association estimates that by 2020 the number of jobs in the EU wind industry will more than double from 154,000 to 325,000, which could lead to significant opportunities for the UK to export expertise internationally. 

The Crown Estate’s position at the centre of the industry puts it in an ideal position to facilitate a series of events that provide a global view of the UK offshore wind programme, delve into the specific details of individual projects and enable networking through supply chain themed seminars and exhibitions.

Rob Hastings, director of energy and infrastructure at The Crown Estate, said: “This is a huge opportunity to play a role in providing new jobs, and inward investment to ensure that we remain the world leader in offshore wind deployment.

“We encourage businesses to attend from across the industry, where the anticipated scope of manufacturing and jobs growth is akin to that of oil and gas service industry.”

The 2012 UK dates are:
Wales: Thursday 10 May Llandudno
Northern Ireland: Tuesday 15 May Belfast
England: Thursday 17 May, Newcastle
England: Thursday 31 May, Birmingham
Scotland: Thursday 24 May All-Energy Day 2, Aberdeen

More information:
Wales – Della Pritchard, Welsh Government, della.pritchard@Wales.GSI.gov.uk
Northern Ireland – Sam Knox, Invest NI, sam.knox@investni.com
Scotland – Linda Gosden, Scottish Enterprise, Linda.Gosden@scotent.co.uk or Elain Cameron, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, elain.cameron@hient.co.uk
England (Newcastle) – Caroline Lofthouse, NOF Energy/Energi Coast, CLofthouse@nofenergy.co.uk
England (Birmingham) – Offshore Wind England, Rachel Hayes, rhayes@regensw.co.uk

The plant at Fleetwood will generate up to 10 MW of electricity and up to 20 MW of heat annually.

Reform has named MW Power as its technology supplier. The company will supply its highly efficient combustion technology to deliver maximum electricity and heat output, combined with world class cleaning systems to clean flue gases and ensure the plant meets air quality standards.

The plant will be fueled by around 75,000 tonnes per year of commercial waste processed from a waste transfer station already on the same site, helping to divert materials which would otherwise go to landfill. Recyclable materials will be removed first.

The Fleetwood plant is the first of a series of energy recovery installations planned in the UK by Reform Energy.

A spokesman for Reform Energy explained: “Reform’s planned energy recovery power plants are environmentally friendly and efficient and provide a practical solution for energy production using sustainable fuels and reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.

“Using MW Power’s proven technology, the plants offer high combustion efficiency and low NOx and CO2 emissions.”

Planning permission was granted by Lancashire County Council in December 2011 and construction and commissioning of the plant is scheduled to be completed in the autumn of 2014.

Tom Higginbottom, Dr Greg Whitfield, Mattias Fiest (L-R)

The Irish Sea Conservation Zones project was runner up as work placement of the year at the recent 2012 National Council for Work Experience Awards.

The Irish Sea project was hosted by Envirolink and worked to recommend parts of the Irish Sea for a new form of marine protection called Marine Conservation Zones.

Work placement student Tom Higginbottom, who studies physical geography at Manchester Metropolitan University, worked as a GIS Officer on the project for close to a year, creating computer generated maps of the Irish Sea and the surrounding area.

The detailed maps proved vital as the project worked to find the best locations in which to recommend Marine Conservation Zones to the government.

Tom said: “Envirolink was a fantastic place to work during my placement year. I really felt like part of the team and the work was interesting and innovative. There were challenges and opportunities that helped me to develop skills that will serve me well in the future.”

The annual National Council for Work Experience Awards are designed to reward organisations that offer outstanding placement opportunities. They encourage work experience and graduate internship providers to continue to raise quality standards.

The awards recognise employers for the thought, time and effort they have put into helping students or graduates to get the very best from their placement, giving them a better chance of finding a good job.

They also highlight the business benefits that students have brought to a company.

Irish Sea project manager, Dr Greg Whitfield, said: “It was incredibly encouraging to watch Tom develop his skills and see him grow in confidence. Having a work placement student in the team also provided us with a great opportunity to increase our work capacity.”

“I would encourage anyone to engage with work placement student schemes; done properly they can be very positive for both employers and students.”

For more information, contact the National Council for Work Experience.

The Chester based company’s VXI product optimises the voltage of electricity supplies used in homes and factories. The company says it can cut usage by as much as 12%.

VPhase chief executive, Rick Smith, said: “This establishes an excellent way for us to access the Australian market and to build on the strong sales growth we are seeing in the UK.”

With around 9.2 million homes in Australia and energy consumption that is twice as high as in the UK, despite higher energy costs, VPhase expects its product to be an attractive proposition. 

The first order for 500 units has been placed and will be shipped during the next six months, with the five year deal based on EHS placing at least of £12.4 million worth of orders. 

The deal includes stage targets for EHS to meet and orders can be scaled up over the course of the agreement.

Announcing the decision, business secretary Vince Cable said that locating the headquarters of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) in Edinburgh and the main transaction team in London would allow “greater commercial reach nationally than could be achieved from one location.” 

He said: “Harnessing the strengths of Edinburgh and London will support the Green Investment Bank’s ambition to become a world leader. Edinburgh has a thriving green sector and respected expertise in areas such as asset management. London, as the world’s leading financial centre, will ensure that the GIB’s transaction team can hit the ground running. 

“This decision will allow the GIB to operate effectively and achieve its mission of mobilising the additional investment needed to accelerate the UK’s transition to a green economy.” 

Scottish secretary Michael Moore said that Scotland’s “enormous green energy potential” and large financial base make it an ideal location. 

Scottish MPs and businesses lobbied hard to persuade the chancellor George Osborne to support Edinburgh’s bid. 

However, regional banking centres such as Manchester, which had also bid to host the bank, were left disappointed.

Environmental groups welcomed the decision, but warned that the location was less important that the bank’s ability to borrow in order to fund loans. 

Sue Charman, finance leader at WWF-UK one planet, described the bank as “key” to the UK’s transition to a low carbon economy. 

But she warned that the current proposals mean the bank will be unable to borrow until 2015, which “risks hindering urgent and much needed investment in green jobs and technologies and the UK Government should reconsider this.” 
Friends of the Earth Scotland chief executive Stan Blackley, said: “While the location of the bank is important, what is absolutely crucial is that it has real teeth. It can’t just be simply be a government fund, but needs to have full borrowing and lending powers from day one. 

“A flourishing Green Investment Bank will be vital to drive the billions of pounds of low carbon energy investment and job creation that is required.” 

Advisory firm Grant Thornton UK LLP head of energy, environment and sustainability Nathan Goode said that the decision offers “a pragmatic outcome and a very positive signal for the renewable energy industry on a UK-wide basis.”