South west renewables event lands leading government official

A leading government official, Alasdair Grainger from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), is visiting the south west next week to answer the questions of renewable energy businesses.

Alasdair, the man leading the government’s 'fast track' review of Feed-in Tariffs – which pay impressive rates for those who fit renewable electricity to their properties – will be speaking at the inaugural Renewable Energy Marketplace event at Westpoint, Exeter, on Tuesday 22 March. He’ll be showing how, as a result of new government incentives, there are now huge opportunities for businesses and landowners to not only ‘go green’, but also to make money by installing both renewable electricity and renewable heat technologies.

The Renewable Energy Marketplace, which already has over 700 people sign up to attend, will also show what technology is right for different types of businesses, how much money they can expect to earn from the Feed-in Tariffs, and how to go about getting the technologies installed.

Merlin Hyman, chief executive of organisers Regen SW, said: “We want to ensure that landowners and businesses in the Westcountry don’t miss out on the chance to make the most of Feed-in-Tariffs, and having the government’s top man on this subject right here in Exeter, will help them really get to grips with the opportunity. The Renewable Energy Marketplace will be a unique chance for delegates to meet people ‘in the know’, talk to companies who can help them, find out everything they need to know about renewables, and discover exactly how they can take advantage and get their renewable energy project off the ground.”

Hosted by renewable energy experts Regen SW and partners, the show will bring together famers and landowners, the tourism industry, the construction sector, and local authorities with renewables experts and exhibitors. It will cover all types of technologies, from biomass, heat pumps and hydro to solar PV, solar thermal and wind.

The event will centre around a large exhibition that will cover all renewables technologies, and include short-but-detailed workshops covering the different technologies and their benefits.

The event runs from 9.30am am until 6pm on Tuesday 22 March. Entry costs £25 and includes access to all of the seminars and workshops.

More information and online booking is available at www.regensw.co.uk/events/, or by calling 01392494399.

Partners of the event include CLA, NFU, Mole Valley Farmers, Forestry Commission, Confor, South West Tourism, Energy Saving Trust and the Western Morning News.

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Notes to editors

Interviews
To interview Merlin Hyman or any member of Regen SW, contact James Reddy on the number below.

WORKSHOPS
A general introduction to renewable energy technologies
Info on technologies, incentives and grants
An impartial overview of the different renewable energy technologies, including their various pros and cons. It will also include information on the government’s new financial incentives for renewable energy - the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). It will be a useful introduction for those who are considering renewable energy for the first time or are unsure which is the best renewable energy technology for them.

Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) & the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
More detailed information about the government’s new financial incentives for renewable energy, the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). This will include how the incentives work, the tariff levels for the different technologies, the eligibility criteria, and how they interact with any other available funding. It will be of interest to people looking at the possibility of combining FITs or RHI with other grant funding or people considering installing renewable energy from an investment perspective.

Individual workshops on specific renewable energy technologies
Find out much more about specific renewable energy technologies, including the potential income they could generate for you. Workshops will be held on the following technologies: biomass, heat pumps, hydro, solar PV, solar thermal and wind. Presented by independent experts on each technology they will be ideal for those who are either considering installing, or for those who just want to know more about a specific technology.

About Regen SW
Regen SW is a not for profit company working to enable business, local authorities and other organisations to deliver renewable energy and energy efficiency and build a prosperous low-carbon economy in the south west of England. www.regensw.co.uk

For further information
Please contact James Reddy, Regen SW communications manager on 01392 474322/07967 835947 or email jreddy@regensw.co.uk