Member Article

Narec Distributed Energy helps Sunderland SMEs lower carbon emissions

As part of the Sunderland Low Carbon Demonstration Project, Narec Distributed Energy have been supporting Sustainable Enterprise Strategies (SES) in Sunderland with low carbon consultancy.

The project works with SMEs in the region to help them lower their environmental impact and operating costs.

SES, which is based in Hendon, Sunderland, manages 30 individual office suites which it rents out to small businesses. In addition to this, the CIC focus on creating, supporting and expanding local SMEs by way of European & nationally funded business support, specialist training and procurement of low cost finance and business loans.

Following initial discussions with Narec DE, SES expressed an interest in looking into solar PV deployed on the roof of the building. After further discussions on site, and a review of existing electrically powered heating, SES also requested that Narec DE look into the feasibility of replacing the existing heating system which a renewable heat source.

Ed Walker, Project Coordinator at Narec DE said: “The Sunderland Low Carbon Demonstration Project has benefited businesses by providing them with support to lower their environmental impact.

“This has been achieved by way of investigating renewable energy installation, by advising on energy efficiency measures, through the implementation of environmental management systems and through general awareness training and support.

“SES CIC received a report in August 2015 outlining various means of generating renewable electricity and renewable heat to help tackle their existing reliance on expensive ‘brown’ electricity from the grid. Over the course of the project, numerous other engineering, manufacturing, fabrication and production companies have benefited from similar consultancy.

“One company - Life Engineering in Washington-plan to act on advice given by Narec DE and are hoping to install a commercial solar PV system in Q1 2016. The support given through the project is not only helping improve environmental performance, it is also helping companies lower their operating costs and in many cases, generate a predictable and fixed income by way of a feed-in tariff”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .