Phase 1
On November 16th, 2015 BCE launched its first share offer, aiming to raise enough money to install a 250Kw solar PV array on some of the mill roofs at James Cropper plc. paper mill. Six days later we had raised investment of an incredible £250,000. One month later the installation was complete despite the awful weather brought by Storm Desmond. James Cropper PLC agreed to offer their roof space to BCE for free and agreed to buy all of the energy – in so doing setting a great example to UK industry of corporate social responsibility and delivering a great boost to the community. The project is expected to generate an average of 189,000 kWh of renewable energy per annum, reducing CO2 emissions by 880,000 kg over its expected 20-year life. In addition, over the same period, it is forecast to provide £50,000 for the benefit of the local community.
In 2018 the first £5,000 was put into the community fund. The project has been profiled on Radio 4, attracted visitors from as far afield as Chile, Uganda and French Caledonia and shared knowledge with students from the Universities of Lancashire and Cumbria.
Phase 2
BCE launched its second share offer in the autumn of 2018, aiming to raise £330,000 to install 430KW of solar PV on more roofs at James Cropper PLC and registering these new systems before the closure of the Feed in Tariff (FIT) scheme on the 31st March 2019.
The new systems are expected to generate 365,000 kWh of renewable electricity per annum, reducing CO2 emissions by 1,700 tonnes over the 20 years of the project, securing jobs in the local economy and providing a positive, sustainable legacy for future generations in Burneside. In addition the project is expected to provide approximately £6,000 every year for 20 years for community projects.
Successful Completion of Phase 2 took longer than was expected due to a number of technical issues with the roofs. Installation was completed on four of the five new systems in early September 2019; these amounted to 380kW of capacity and subsequently generated 14,983 kWh during September. The fifth system (a further 50Kw) on the roof of the new Technical Fibre Product (TFP) warehouse was completed in October.
The installer Genfit and the team at Croppers worked through many difficulties to get this project finished. Without our project managers, Quantum Strategy and Technology Ltd, we would have struggled to get this project off the ground – so we owe them our thanks too for their professionalism, technical expertise and diplomacy.
St. Oswalds Primary School
At the BCE AGM in August 2019, members of BCE voted unanimously in favour of supporting a proposal to install just over 20kW of solar PV panels on St Oswald’s Church of England Primary School in Burneside. BCE have gifted the panels to the school from the BCE Community Benefit Fund so that the school receives 100% of the benefits. In addition to the educational benefits, the school should save around £1000 each year in electricity costs, at 2019 prices, and receive a similar amount in FIT payments. The generation data, which will be available to the school on a daily basis, should provide additional teaching opportunities. The installation was completed during the 2019 autumn half term week. Many thanks are due to the Diocese and the school, particularly the head teacher, Gill White, for their help in the success of this major community benefit project.
Phase 3
Our third share offer to raise £186,500 to fund the installation of a further 313.5kW of solar PV arrays on roofs we are leasing from James Cropper PLC was another success, being oversubscribed within 10 days of launch. Installation started on the 24th May, work was completed in mid-June and the panels are now generating electricity. Here are a few photos of Genfit hard at work during the installation.
