2. Minutes of last meeting
Were approved
3. Matters Arising
JB report was not circulated.
ACTION: JB to send Jo Report to send out with minutes.
SH not present to report on his action.
ACTION: SH to invite developers to meeting.
4. Devon Customer Service Centre – Quin Marshman
Quin explained that the Devon Trading Standards Service approves the customer service procedures businesses have in place, and can provide accreditation through their ‘customer first’ scheme. This includes an audit of T&C, reports from previous clients, and checking on a database for registered complaints against a company. The advantages of being accredited include the use of a ‘customer first’ logo which can be used on literature, stickers for vans etc. Also installers will be basic CRB checked which is particularly good if working in schools. Also get website listing and included on lists of members to send out to people. The membership fee for this scheme is £100 + VAT for larger cos and less for smaller. Fees are renewable every year.
Quin had met with John Baker & Mel Sealey (RE4D) and felt there was opportunity to work together, as a way of accrediting RE4D installers in Devon. He would like to make companies aware this scheme exists and invite installers to become part of the scheme. To find out more about the scheme or to sign up please contact Quinn at quin.marshman@devon.gov.uk or 01392 381381.
NB This scheme is only for Devon… Plymouth and Torbay have their own services.
ACTION: JB / Quin to send Jo leaflet in PDF to send out with mins.
Update – PDF is currently being revised but will be available to download from the DSEN website once it is ready.
5. DSEN Steering Group Feedback – Paul Baker / Tony Norton
A large part of the most recent Steering Group meeting on 18 May was taken up with discussion of the DSEN Strategy.
TN has been working on a draft strategy document, which is now entitled a “Carbon Reduction Analysis” (full document available for download at www.dsen.org.uk/index/news.htm.) The analysis looks at what it would take to make a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions from 1990 figures by 2010, and makes recommendations for priority actions to achieve this. The outcome of the analysis, in order of priority, is as follows:
•Businesses energy reduction and efficiency
•Domestic energy reduction and efficiency
•Large scale renewable energy
•Zero Carbon development
•Transport
The analysis also identified three major cross cutting initiatives:
•Funding solutions
•Skills and capacity building
•Leadership / Coordination, Communication
TN has presented the analysis to the steering group and to audiences in Devon, and Torbay. The findings and priorities of the analysis were widely supported, although it was pointed out that individual authorities are likely to have different approaches.
The group discussed the lack of inclusion of microgeneration as a major priority. It was concluded that although microgeneration was not a large contributor to short term carbon emission reductions, it will become increasingly important to meet longer term emission reduction targets. TN undertook to specifically reference micro-renewables in the document.
The next step in the strategy process will be to develop delivery plans for each of the actions and initiatives. It is anticipated that DSEN will play a lead role in this work. , It is possible that the network will be restructured as a result of the strategy.
Discussion took place around where the current RESG would fit into a potential new structure. It was decided that until the action plans had been developed there was no need to make any decisions and that in the interim the RESG would continue
For a full account of the steering group meeting, please see minutes attached.
6. Technology Growth Plans – John Baker
John talked the group through the current technology growth plans in place under RE4D.
7. RE4D update – John Baker
In summary, all is going well apart from households. It is difficult to capture data from household installations as there is no grant offered under RE4D. Installers can help RE4D to find out about household installations.
Action: All installers involved with DSEN are please asked to keep in touch with RE4D regarding household installations.
On the community front, CASE (Chagford Action for Sustainable Energy) has been set up in Chagford with help from DARE and has been awarded £18K from the sustainable development fund for solar installations in the village.
Between Jan – March, 5 new RE jobs were created in the objective 2 area, but RE4D still need to capture data from installers regarding sub contractors they have trained to install.
Action: Installers please report to RE4D when sub contractors are trained.
It was asked when RE4D will be rolled out to the rest of Devon? JB stated that if the targets are met, the timescale would be likely to be this autumn.
8. Members Reports
Helen Ireland, Masters Sutdent, University of Exeter:
“I'm a mature student doing an MSc in Sustainable Development at University of Exeter. The course is very wide ranging potentially, but I've concentrated my options around energy, climate change etc. For my dissertation (finish in mid Sept) I'm particularly interested in the impact and multiplier effect of community renewables. Several reports (Greenpeace, DTI) make claims for community renewables that sound very optimistic - I wonder if they're borne out in practice. I only have a few weeks to carry out enquiries, so I have to limit what I can ask! The focus will be on community settings in Devon (or Cornwall/Somerset) who have installed renewables and what effect that is having on "energy awareness" among people who come in contact with the schemes.
To this end I think the most communicative of projects are likely to be the ones with smart meter displays, interpretation boards, those running information sessions/ guided tours, inviting media coverage, going out with presentations. I would like to find out how they are approaching this and what has resulted from this "good practice".
So if members of the group can make suggestions about groups I could contact I would be very grateful. I will be happy to report back with what I find out.”
Helen Ireland. Please contact info@silvaleaf.co.uk or call 01364 643267.
Action: Can all DSEN members please contact Helen with any information regarding renewable energy installations she might like to follow up please.
Other Members:
-There is now a new Devon RE guide available on the RESG homepage of the DESEN website at www.dsen.org.uk/index/sub-groups/renewable.htm
-Cholwell Energy and Beco Solar have combined. This new company can now provide both PV and wind.
-Eco Exmoor are looking at larger projects which has slowed them down but in the longer run will equip them to take up more work in a more organised way for RE4D.
-RH is starting a new business on sustainable building, focussing on timber framed houses and in particular fast construction. See http://www.e2buildings.co.uk/ for further info.
-Exeter City Councils wood pellet project is progressing and should have the technology on site by our next meeting. Wind turbines should be on site ion about the same timescale. They are also looking at having PV installed in the next 18 months.
-SWW are just about to complete an automation project at Mary Tavy. They also have four feasibility projects underway, 2 in Devon & 2 Cornwall. These are micro hydro projects and it is hoped they will be ready to put forward for funding soon.
-The British Hydropower Association are running a Micro Hydro seminar on 6th June. Please see events email for further details. Also guidelines are being developed by the BHA for micro hydro which should enable applications to have decisions made within 2 – 3 months instead of 2 – 3 yrs. These will be available to the industry, companies do not have to be BHA members to access. These guidelines will be available from the BHA website and the Environment Agency website.
-The Devon EEAC is putting all customer facing advisors through a microgeneration training package from EST by the end of this month. This will mean energy efficiency advisors will be able to give basic renewables advice, although will not be trained in heavy technical detail.
-Regen SW have released their South West RE survey for this year. To obtain a copy please contact admin@regensw.co.uk
-DARE have been working mostly on RE4D. They have an event coming up in East Devon in September, which will be a community awareness raising event with a local MP in Seaton. DARE are also working with churches on RE, and compiling some case studies for RE4D
9. AOB
There was none.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
25th September 2007, 1.30 – 4pm
Exe Room, Larkbeare House
Exeter
