Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant has been awarded a Community Business Award by North Kesteven District Council. The adjudicating panel acknowledged the plant’s positive impact on local employment, community funding, education and public art. The Award was presented to Murray Paterson of Glennmont Partners, the owners of the Sleaford plant and David Spilsbury of Eco2, the company that manages the plant’s operation and which originally developed the plant.
Pictured, Sleaford Town Junior Football Club thanking Liaison Panel Chairman (at the time) Cllr Richard Wright for its grant funding.
Community groups in Sleaford and Kirkby la Thorpe are encouraged to apply for what remains in a grant funding pot to support projects within the two parishes.
As part of its responsibilities, the Community Liaison Panel overseeing the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant’s package of community wellbeing measures, determines applications for the Community Fund.
The Community Fund is a dedicated pot of £120,000, spread across three years, with grant applications now being accepted for the third year.
There is £20,000 available for groups, organisations and schools in Sleaford and £60,000 for groups, organisations and schools in Kirkby la Thorpe parish.
Bids need to be made by September 14 in order for consideration at the October panel meeting.
The Community Liaison Panel is made up of representatives of North Kesteven District Council, Sleaford Town Council, Kirkby la Thorpe Parish Council and the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant.
To date the Panel has awarded grants totalling more than £40,000 to 17 organisations based and operating in Sleaford or Kirkby La Thorpe.
These include:
-Heating for Sleaford Little Theatre
-Sponsorship for Sleaford Striders half marathon,
-Funding towards Sleaford Museum,
-A contribution towards the Zygote arts festival,
-Funding towards continuing services of The Sleaford and District Talking Newspaper,
-Beyond the Blues craft workshop,
-Tri3 triathlon club launch event,
-Composting toilets at Sleaford Town Council allotments,
-Sleaford Elite Gymnastics Club heating,
-Portable goals and nets for Sleaford Town Football Club,
-Sleaford Riverside Church riverbank work,
-Sleaford CAB digital suite,
-Sleaford Tennis Club Pavilion furnishing,
-Sleaford New Life Pre-school outdoor play equipment,
-Computer for 6th Sleaford Methodist Brownies,
-Additional music for Sleaford Concert Band.
Applications are considered during quarterly Sleaford REP Community Liaison Panel meetings; taking place on October 6; January 19, 2016; and April 5, 2016. Deadline for applications is around three weeks beforehand, on September 14, December 28 and March 4.
There is a quick form for applications of under £1,000 and more detailed information required for larger sums of up to £20,000.
Forms and detail at : www.sleafordrep.co.uk
Or contact: The Community Initiatives Team , NKDC
on 01529 308267, or 01529 308257,
or email [email protected]
Notes to editors:
The £120,000 Sleaford REP Community Fund is part of a broader range of community funding measures worth £285,000 being delivered and distributed by the Community Liaison Panel – all intended to enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of the area.
These include:
A £50,000 public art sculpture;
£10,000 to initiate an urban art trail linking Sleaford’s public art and war memorials;
A £20,000 schools education programme promoting sustainability and understanding of the renewable energy plant’s operation;
Finance of £75,000 to support five apprenticeships;
And; £10,000 to Kirkby la Thorpe primary school for interactive whiteboards.
Previous applicants of the Community Fund have given the following endorsements of the difference the fund has made to their projects:
“The funding from Sleaford REP has played a very important part in the delivery of our service in Sleaford Town and we thank you very much for your grant.” – Home Start, Sleaford & District
“I am sure that this particular project will have a certain resonance with the operation of the plant and its determination to reach out to and support the local community.” – Sleaford Town Council
We are delighted with the outcome of our application - please pass on our thanks to the Sleaford REP Board. – Sleaford & District Citizens Advice Bureau
“A great success; thank you and lots of members have now joined the Club. We have up to 30 attending the swim session one evening at the leisure centre, and full bike/run sessions. There is also a large group forming as a Club cycling group. All very positive.” – Sleaford Tri3
“The workshop is going to be a huge asset to all, especially when the weather changes and the use of the garden is limited. New techniques and skills will be gained along with a sense of team work, confidence and achievement.” – Beyond the Blues
“This wonderful donation has allowed Sleaford Town Junior Football Club to purchase a set of new portable goals so that we can pitch share a number of our Grassroots teams and encourage the growth of further teams for many years to come.” -– Sleaford Town Junior Football Club
Shadow Farming Minister Angela Smith MP today visited Sleaford REP to see for herself how an agricultural by-product (straw) is being used to power 65,000 homes and provide an extra income stream for local farmers.
Ms Smith was given a presentation on how the plant operates as well as the important community benefits Sleaford REP is providing through the district heating system and its well-being community fund. She also heard how the unique and productive relationship the Plant has with North Kesteven District Council which, as Cllr Richard Wright explained,was recently ‘Highly Commended’ at the MJ Awards in London.
Angela Smith MP said of her visit:
‘I was extremely impressed with how a by-product is being turned into both an income for local farmers and renewable energy. It is a win/win project especially with the added community benefits which collectively means that Sleaford REP is a beacon power plant for the UK.
As the Shadow Farming Minister I have been impressed how the agricultural sector is embracing renewable energy from generating electricity using straw, anaerobic digestion and solar power. The sector increasingly seems to me to be at the forefront of the small and medium scale renewable energy revolution which really started back in 2008 when the whole of Parliament passed the Climate Change Act under the previous Labour government.
I thank Glennmont and staff at Sleaford REP for a thoroughly enjoyable and informative visit.’
Peter Dickson, Partner of Glennmont Partners, the owners of Sleaford REP, commented:
‘We were delighted to welcome the Shadow Farming Minister to our flagship project in Sleaford.
Biomass fired power generation is the only baseload renewable energy technology and at a time of stress in the UK generation portfolio it provides much needed capacity. Sleaford operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to produce secure sustainable power for the people of Lincolnshire. In addition we produce heat for the local authority offices; for the William Alvey Primary School; and for local sports facilities. The capital invested in the project provides long term secure income for a number of UK public sector pension schemes, among others. We are understandably proud of what we have accomplished with this project.
Sleaford REP is nearing a full year in operation and is running well which the Shadow Minister was able to see for herself and we thank her for taking the time to visit the Plant.’
Pictured left to right:
Shadow Farming Minister Angela Smith MP; Darren Smith, Eco2 Plant Manager; Peter Dickson, Partner of Glennmont Partners.
At the prestigious MJ Awards ceremony last week in London, the relationship between Sleaford REP and North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) was officially recognised for ‘Delivering Better Outcomes’. The awards ceremony is an annual event for those working or associated with local government. It was compered by the Rt Hon William Hague in his first official engagement since he stood down as an MP at the general election.
Sleaford REP and NKDC were ‘Highly Commended’ in the Delivering Better Outcomes category for our outstanding working relationship and delivering projects in partnership such as the Combined Heat and Power from the Plant which includes supplying the new Sleaford Leisure Centre.
MJ Awards: http://awards.themj.co.uk/
Pictured with William Hague are:
Cllr Richard Wright, NKDC Executive Member; Ian Fytche, Chief Executive of NKDC; Mike Harrison, Sleaford REP Communications Manager; Karen Bradford, Corporate Director of NKDC; Jordi Francesch, Head of Asset Management at Glennmont Partners; Mike Lock, Head of Leisure Services at NKDC; Peter Dickson, Partner at Glennmont Partners; Geoff Hoffheinz, Technical Manager at Glennmont Partners; Scott Masterman, Principal Surveyor at NKDC.
Y8 pupils from Sleaford’s St George’s Academy recently won the first ‘Powering Future Generations’ competition organised by the Sleaford REP Community Liaison Panel.
The competition is aimed at secondary schools within the North Kesteven District Council region and the first competition was between St George’s Academy, Carre’s Grammar School, and Kesteven and Sleaford High School. Each school nominated six Year 8 pupils for a workshop day last December which involved a tour of the plant, a presentation on sustainable energy, a quiz, and producing a poster to promote sustainable energy and Sleaford REP.
Pupils then had three months to produce a presentation about what they had learnt which could include a model of the plant, a video or powerpoint, or in fact any way they saw fit that would demonstrate to others the workings of Sleaford REP and about sustainable energy generation. Each school then had to present to the panel.
The winning presentation involved producing an innovative video, a traditional display board, and a scale model of the Plant to demonstrate using different display forms what they had learnt.
Mike Harrison, Sleaford REP Communications Manager, speaking on behalf of the Sleaford REP Community Liaison Panel, said:
‘The initial challenge for the Panel and the Plant was to design an educational programme that would leave a legacy within schools in the NKDC region. We took advice from the schools as to how best to deliver such a programme and the eventual programme and subsequent competition has produced some superb results.
We were extremely impressed how hard they all worked and awestruck as to the detail each group of pupils went into. One school even presented a video accompanied by a new song entitled Co2 to the tune of Disney’s Frozen’s ‘Let It Go’ song.
It was extremely hard to judge the best presentation because each had approached it in different ways. However, we congratulate the pupils from St George’s and hope they enjoy their day out to Alton Towers.’
Laura March, Teacher of Geography at St George's Academy:
"Visiting the Sleaford REP was a real eye-opener for both staff and students. We study the REP as part of the "Energy" topic, so to see it in action was fascinating. It has helped students to gain a better understanding of renewable energy in terms benefits to the environment, alongside developing an appreciation of how a project such as this can benefit the local community.
The students have since enjoyed working on the project to consolidate all that they have learned. The work that they have done is so good that it is to be used as a resource for future year groups, as well as being on display at a showcase event for parents later in the year."
Each school was awarded £150 towards a school resource for the efforts of their pupils and each of the six pupils at the winning school (St George’s Academy) received two tickets each to Alton Towers.
Kesteven & Sleaford High School Carre's Grammar School
Notes to Editors
The competition is being funded through the £20,000 Sustainability Fund element of the Well-Being agreement between NKDC and Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant. The aim of the Funding element is to provide an education programme for secondary school pupils about Sleaford REP and the sustainability of energy generation. It has been administered by Eco2, NKDC’s Sustainability Team, and NKDC’s Communities Initiative Team.
The second and final competition is between North Kesteven School and Sir William Robertson Academy secondary schools. They have held their workshop day and are due to present in late May/early June.
Out of the £20,000 a scale model was commissioned, prizes bought, each school reimbursed for the accompanying teachers attendance times, each school given £100 to help towards the presentation, as well as a contribution to the cost of NKDC staff time on the project.
Once the second competition is completed the remaining funds will be used to produce an educational resource pack on sustainable energy using Sleaford REP as a case study for both primary and secondary schools.
Sleaford REP Community Liaison Panel
The Community Liaison Panel is a partnership between North Kesteven District Council, Sleaford Town Council, Kirkby-la-Thorpe Parish Council, and Sleaford REP. Its role is to oversee the delivery and distribution of £285,000 of Community Funding that is being provided by the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant. The various funding streams are intended to enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of the area.
Sleaford REP taking steps to reduce straw debris on Lincolnshire’s roads
Mike Harrison, Sleaford REP Communications Manager:
‘Sleaford REP has been fully operational for over six months; sourcing our fuel straw from within a 50mile radius, with a majority from within 30miles. Clearly this radius is in the middle of the largest cereal growing county in the UK and considerable movements of straw are seen on the roads of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands every day.
We are very conscious of our vehicle movements around the county and take every possible measure to reduce straw deposits, but not all of the vehicles transporting straw in the region are delivering it to Sleaford REP. Nevertheless, we do undertake a significant amount of work, as part of our good housekeeping approach, in the storage and movement of straw to reduce any loose material that may be present on bales when loaded on to vehicles. Our processes also require that all delivery vehicles are swept down following delivery to the plant to avoid any residual material being carried back out of the plant.
Sleaford REP has been proactive in recent discussions with NKDC and Lincolnshire County Council to review and look at possible future solutions to mitigate risk and potential incidents.
In response to specific concerns of straw on the roads around Sleaford, we can confirm we have moved a large volume of material from one of our storage sites off the A17 recently. This has meant that the movements have been somewhat exceptional in order to clear the storage site for the upcoming season.
We would not expect to have such a concentrated movement for next season and volumes will be moved over the 12 month annual supply period from now on.
Please be reassured that we want to be good neighbours especially as the Plant will be here for at least the next 25 years. If people do have specific concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.’
Pictured (left to right): Cllr Richard Wright, Sleaford REP Community Liaison Panel; Cllr Geoff Hazelwood, NKDC Executive Board Member; Michael Condron, Artist; Pupils from Kirkby La Thorpe School; Katie Bartle, Headteacher of Kirkby La Thorpe School.
Leader of NKDC Cllr Marion Brighton OBE recently led the official unveiling of the new piece of public art outside the entrance to renewable energy plant on Boston Road. Cllr Brighton was joined by over fifty guests including artist Michael Condron, Cllr Richard Wright of the Sleaford REP Community Liaison Panel, 1Life, artsNK, and special guests the pupils and teachers from Kirkby La Thorpe Primary School.
The piece of art was funded as part of the Wellbeing Agreement between NKDC and Sleaford REP and was overseen by the Sleaford REP Community Liaison Panel and artsNK. The tendering process began in October 2013 and artists from across the UK pitched to undertake the work. The successful artist was Michael Condron who produced an initial model before undertaking a series of community workshops in Sleaford and at Kirkby La Thorpe Primary School. He then used the ideas of the public and pupils to insert significant details into the sculpture which close up includes tractor tyres and even a worm.
Mike Harrison, Sleaford REP Communications Manager said:
‘North Kesteven District Council has a long and proud history of showcasing public art and was forthright in its desire to include a piece at the Plant. We were a bit cautious of what the piece would look like because it is situated in such a prominent position at the entrance to the Plant, and will be for years to come.
However, what we have is an iconic piece which is like no other. We are extremely impressed by the piece and how hard Michael Condron has worked to incorporate the ideas of the local community in such intimate detail. We would encourage people to come and view the sculpture up close once we have undertaken further landscaping works in the coming months.’
Mrs Brighton said that in addition to the many other benefits for Sleaford and Kirkby la Thorpe from the plant’s community wellbeing undertaking, the sculpture was particularly impressive.
“This magnificent sculpture, which so wonderfully illustrates the process of extracting energy from straw and encapsulates the sustainable, economic and environmental benefits of this particular biomass project, will be such as asset. Like the public art we have championed all across the District, it brings something, distinct, unique and quite special to the communities involved and I feel we should all be proud of that.”
Much like the energy plant itself, it is a tremendous of engineering as much as anything and I am sure that it will prove to be very inspiring.”
“In time it will form a part of a public arts trail linking the many pieces of public and community art in Sleaford, another part of Sleaford REP’s community undertaking.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Michael Condron is a UK based artist whose practice is founded on the creation of larger-than-life sculpture. Elegant and dynamic, witty and massive; his pieces employ scale and detail to create landmark installations which belong and respond to their environment.
Condron graduated from St Martins College in 1995, and his first monumental artwork The Martian was installed in 1998. He has since completed major commissions in diverse settings, and is currently working on an atrium artwork for the new Birmingham Dental Hospital.
Representatives from Glennmont Partners, NKDC, 1Life, William Alvey School pupils, and Sleaford and District Bowles Club gathered this week at Sleaford Leisure Centre to ceremonially switch on the new district heating system.
The system harnesses surplus heat generated by the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant (Sleaford REP) and is used for heating five local community hubs through a piping system, which runs under Boston Road and under the River Slea. This heat is provided by the Plant free of charge for twenty-five years - saving an estimated £2million in energy costs as a collective over that period.
Geoff Hoffheinz, Technical Manager for Glennmont Partners, who own Sleaford REP, attended the ceremony and said:
‘Sleaford REP is our flagship investment project and the district heating system takes the Plant’s renewables concept to another level. For the Plant uses a renewable fuel, sourced in the local agricultural community - powering 65,000 homes, but also has an efficient system that provides free heat to amongst others the beacon Sleaford Leisure Centre.
Having looked around the brilliant Leisure Centre, I think it’s quite fitting that this 21st Century facility is heated by a 21st Century efficient, renewable heating system. Overall we believe this is a win-win for all concerned and credit should also be given to the vision and drive of NKDC for helping bring this all into being.’
At the ceremony NKDC’s Cllr Richard Wright, with executive responsibility for sustainability, spoke about how significant renewable energy is to local communities and how important the Plant is as a beacon project nationally. Local school children were also able to watch a short video on how 240,000 tonnes of straw is locally collected and then used in the plant to fuel their school and the leisure centre.
Cllr Wright said: “The creation of the plant was an exciting project for the District Council to be involved in, as we believed this was the kind of greener energy production and technology we supported. Plus there was the significant investment in the local economy, a £120,000 community fun and the free heat to a number of community buildings, like our award winning Sleaford Leisure Centre.
“The free heat is a huge boost in our efforts to cut carbon emissions and rely less on non-renewable fuel to heat our facilities. I would like to thank Glennmont Partners, Eco2, and the team at NKDC to ensure we could benefit from such a great scheme.”
The district heating system provides free heat to: Sleaford’s Leisure Centre, Sleaford Bowling Centre, Sleaford Town Football, William Alvey Primary School, and North Kesteven District Council’s office in the town.
Pictured turning the valves at Sleaford Leisure Centre and with children from William Alvey School are: Cllr Richard Wright (left) and Geoff Hoffheinz (Right).
Energy and Climate Change Minister Baroness Verma officially opened the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant today after touring the Plant and officially unveiling a Plaque to mark the occasion.
Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant (REP) entered commercial operation in September 2014. It is a 38MW power plant, generating enough electricity to power 65,000 homes using sustainable fuel sources, saving 240 000 tonnes of CO2 per annum thus helping the UK achieve its renewable energy targets whilst bolstering the nation’s energy security. The plant’s proven technology is designed for the clean and efficient combustion of straw, the by-product of wheat production, secured mainly from farms within a 50-mile radius of Sleaford; with a majority from within a 30 mile radius. Ash produced by the plant will be recycled as crop fertiliser.
Peter Dickson, Partner and Technical Director at Glennmont Partners, who own the Plant, said:
"We are delighted to weclome Baroness Verma to Sleaford REP and officially open our Plant."
"Sleaford REP represents a £165million pound investment – generating an additional £ 5.7million annually for the local economy. It is a win/win project for local jobs, sustainably supporting the local agricultural sector, providing free heat to five local public buildings, whilst primarily generating renewable energy. However, we are also proud of our community work through the well-being agreement with North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) that is delivering £285,000 of funding which includes grants for local community groups and projects, an education programme, as well as apprenticeships."
"The Plant is the first of its type on the UK (straw burn biomass CHP) and having the Minister here demonstrates the high regard the Government has for this beacon Plant."
The Minister was welcomed to Sleaford at the NKDC offices and was joined by local dignitaries including local MP Stephen Phillips QC, NKDC Leader Cllr Brighton, and Mayor of Sleaford Cllr Keith Dolby (who is also Vice-Chair of Sleaford REP Community Liaison Group).
After taking a tour of the Plant and unveiling a commemorative plaque on site to mark the occasion, Baroness Verma said:
“Sustainable biomass is a key part of our low carbon energy mix and has the potential to power around 8 million homes by 2020. Sleaford Renewable Energy plant is a great example of the benefits on offer including jobs and investment in local community projects."
"I wish the Sleaford Renewable Energy plant every success for the future.”
Sleaford REP was developed by Eco2 and are now subcontracted to run the Plant on behalf of owners Glennmont Partners - its Chairman, Peter Darwell said of the official opening:
“Today represents a great achievement for all parties involved. Eco2 started developing this project in 2006 and we are delighted to be here today to see it officially opened and successfully generating renewable energy.”
David Williams, Chief Executive of Eco2 added,
“The Sleaford plant was hailed as an exemplar of the green economic progress in the UK and part of the vision for sustainable energy by Prime Minister David Cameron. It is fantastic that it is now making a significant contribution to the local economy of Lincolnshire as well as to national renewable energy targets."
**ENDS**
Notes to Editors
Sleaford REP (www.sleafordrep.co.uk)
- Jobs: it created up to 300 jobs during construction and now supports more than 50 local jobs including: 30 on-site operatives and an addition 20 through fuel source logistics.
In addition,
- The £285,000 of well-being funding includes apprenticeships, a sustainability education fund, and a £120,000 community fund and surplus heat generated by the Plant is harnessed and used for heating Sleaford’s public swimming pool, Sleaford Bowling Centre, Sleaford Town Football, William Alvey Primary School, and North Kesteven District Council’s office in the town.
Glennmont Partners (www.glennmont.com)
Glennmont Partners are a specialist investment fund that successfully secured Sleaford REP from renewables developer Eco2 in 2011. Now fully constructed, Glennmont subcontracts the management of the Sleaford REP to Eco2.
Glennmont Partners is one of Europe’s largest fund managers focusing exclusively on investment in clean energy infrastructure. It raises long-term capital to invest in alternative power generation projects, such as wind farms, biomass power stations, solar parks and small-scale hydro power plants. Their carefully selected, risk managed investments deliver sustained performance and predictable returns over periods of 10 years or more.
Sleaford REP Community Liaison Panel Chair Cllr Rob Hipworth and Sleaford REP Communications Manager Mike Harrison recently visited the Sleaford Playhouse. Their visit was to see the impact of the installation of new, revolutionary infra-red heaters to warm its audiences, helped by a £5,000 grant.
The auditorium of the Playhouse was heated by inefficient and expensive convector heaters. George Shields from the Sleaford Little Theatre said it could take up to four hours to warm the room and the building’s Ancaster stone walls would run with condensation.
With only electricity available they came across Far-Infrared heaters. These ceiling-mounted saucer-like ceramic dishes from a Newark company emit heat at a relatively low temperature, targeting surfaces within the room that can bring it up to temperature within an hour. Mr Shields said the power required would be significantly less, vastly reducing energy bills and minimising condensation.
He said: “It is fairly new technology and is specifically used for space heating of large areas such as stables and churches.”
Rob Hipworth, chairman of the plant’s Community Liaison Panel said: “If the money is spent locally it benefits local inhabitants.”