I’m a fan of Demand Energy Equality’s work and I just got this email summary from them which I hope they won’t mind me sharing with you as it’s full of all sorts of interesting and useful stuff.
Hi all,
Much has changed since the last time we bombarded your inbox back in December. We’ve got a new hand on deck, a shiny new solar trailer and a busy summer calendar.
Sadly, we’ve also had to close our beloved Bristol workshop (blame George Osborne – and where is he now eh?). But all is not lost! As someone might have said more than once recently, in every crisis lies opportunity.
Run your event on sun this summer
Around nine months ago, you might remember being incessantly pestered by us to help gather votes for a community energy funding opportunity via M&S. You might also remember that we were successful, and you
might even remember what it was for…a DIY ‘solar trailer’ build, working in partnership with
South East London Community Energy.
Well, we haven’t been twiddling our thumbs since then – and the solar trailer is now ready to start sucking up those summer rays (those famous British summer rays…) at community events, festivals, country shows or any outdoor event that wants to swap a diesel generator for a cleaner community energy alternative. And of course it’s an attraction and educational tool in itself!
- Stores over 10kWh of solar energy
- Comes with a 1kW solar array
- Continuous power output of 3kW
- Displays all system activity with using an intuitive and easily accessible visual display.
- Uploads all energy data to an online portal in real time, allowing anyone to access and monitor the trailer’s performance.
Interested in using the solar trailer at your event? Please contact us via info@dee.org.uk to express interest and find out more. And do spread the word!
All change in Bristol
In March this year our longstanding partnership with the Bristol Drugs Project, with whom we built the Energy Tree in Bristol this time last year, came to an end. Although they really wanted to continue working with us George Osborne’s axe finally fell, with their budgets being cut by up to 40%.
Despite this meaning we had to close our beloved Bristol workshop in the Old Library, we weren’t giving up that easily. Instead we were able to successfully apply for £10,000 from the Bristol Community Energy Fund to continue our work with marginalised groups in the city. As part of that funding package we’ll restart our work with BDP, picking up the work where we left off until the end of 2016.
We’re also exploring other opportunities to run DIY solar and practical energy workshops with other equalities-led groups in Bristol. If that sounds like you, or someone you know, get in touch!
Energy tree takes root
Sticking in Bristol, we’re pleased to announce that our
Energy Tree will be staying in Millennium Square for the forseeable future. After lots of positive feedback and support from project partners, local councilors and other stakeholders it has been agreed that the Energy Tree will remain part of the At-Bristol estate. So, if you haven’t seen it yet…
Say hello to Ian
We’re very pleased to be able to introduce a new member to the DEE staff team. Ian, who’s been a workshop facilitator for nearly 2 years and who designed and led the solar trailer work, started as our part time projects manager at the beginning of May. We’re very chuffed to have him, and he brings a passion for DIY energy education with a healthy dose of expert off-grid knowledge (and some more!).
Ian will be taking over day-to-day operations from Max, who is now running the campaigns team at climate and energy charity
10:10. Dan, DEE’s other co-director, is currently applying his energy modelling knowledge at asset manager Investec, examining different global approaches to decarbonisation and renewable energy investment. You can read his recent report on this
subject here.
Both Max and Dan continue to work on DEE, supporting Ian 2 days a month.
Summer calendar
- DIY Solar public workshops (London): July 23rd, August 20th, September 24th
- Intro to Off Grid public workshops (London): July 24th, August 21st, September 25th
- Lewisham People’s Day – July 9th
- Smuggler’s Trail, Stroud – July 10th
- Bristol Drugs Project workshops – July 14th & 21st
- At-Bristol schools workshop – July 20th
- Off Grid Festival, Exeter – Aug 12th to 14th
- Shambala Festival – Aug 26th to 28th
Finally – if you’re looking for some provocative
summer reading, try diving into the Post Carbon Institute’s latest online and offline publication:
Our Renewable Future. They imagine what a world run 100% on renewables could actually look like. Fascinating stuff.
