Circular Economy Energy Members News Public News Sharing Practice Transport

More food waste-powered trucks ‘buzzing’ around the West

Two new large recycling vehicles – which are powered entirely from the food waste they collect – have launched to service cafés, restaurants, schools, and offices across the West. They are the latest addition to the expanding fleet of ‘Bio-Bees’, which have served Bristol since 2017, and have been affectionately nicknamed Buzz Lightyear and Buzz Aldrin by the public, following a poll by their creators at renewable energy and recycling company, GENeco. The two newcomers are being deployed wider across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and South Wales. The food waste collected by the Bio-Bees is taken to GENeco’s anaerobic digestion facility in Avonmouth, where it is turned into clean biomethane fuel used to sustainably power local homes and – in a UK first – the Bio-Bees themselves, reducing their wheel-to-wheel carbon dioxide and particulate matter emissions by over 90%, than if they were to be powered by diesel. Francis Marsh, head of liquid waste resources at GENeco, said: “Following the success of our Bio-Bees operating in Bristol and the positive changes they have made to the local environment, we are really excited to expand the service to collect and recycle food waste from more businesses across a larger region. “Every year an estimated 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere across the UK from food waste that is sent to landfill to rot, instead of being recycled. The Bio-Bees allow us to harvest the valuable energy and nutrients in food waste and use it to power homes and vehicles in a more sustainable and ethical way.” GENeco notes that, following the momentum generated by the recent IPCC report and the successful bid for Bristol to be named a Gold Sustainable Food City, businesses with foodservice facilities are more interested than ever in being sustainable, carbon-neutral and sending less waste to landfill.
Posted by SevernNet
Circular Economy Community Economy Employment Events Jobs Members News Public News Skills Transport Uncategorised

Economic Recovery & Renewal across Portbury Avonmouth Severnside

July Business Breakfast – Thurs. Jul. 22nd 2021 from 08:00 to 09:00. We were delighted to be joined by Stephen Peacock. Stephen is an Executive Director at Bristol City Council responsible for Regeneration & Growth. We’d like to offer our thanks once again to Stephen for taking the time to join us. It was much appreciated. We hope that the event has helped understanding of the area and of the opportunities we all have to work together; and we look forward to further discussion. SevernNet presented a ‘Future for Portbury Avonmouth Severnside’. We welcome any comments or thoughts you may have on this; and would like to use it as a basis for developing a collaborative shared vision and for discussion around place making. Do please get involved and get in touch (info@severnnet.org). We discussed the Bristol One City Economic Recovery and Renewal strategy which was published in October last year. Here’s a link. This includes Avonmouth as one of Bristol’s seven priority places. The aim is to develop an area based economic strategy for Avonmouth which maximises the locational advantages and sectoral strengths It’s good to see that there are many shared goals and aspirations between the SevernNet presentation and the strategy above; and the recognition that more needs to be done to break down some of the silos created by local authority (LA) boundaries, and within LAs themselves. We need to see better integration between the needs of Transport, Employment & Skills and Circular Economy and how they can come together to support placemaking and strengthening the community. Progressing the Portbury Avonmouth Severnside Transport Strategy must also be seen as a priority, along with the M49 Junction, and the need for orbital as well as radial routes to support the area. Please follow up with us if you would like to discuss further and/or get more involved; and thanks to everyone who attended for a very worthwhile event. The next Business Breakfast is on Thursday September 23rd. Our guest will be Dan Norris, the newly elected Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). The link to sign up is here. Please join us.
Posted by SevernNet
Circular Economy Economy Employment Events Members News Public News

Celebrate local business and ‘Trade Local’ – Virtual Business Breakfast – Th. 24-09-20

Date: Thurs. Sept 24th from 08:00 to 09:00.Venue: Zoom – link to be sent with Joining Instructions on 23rd SeptHost:   SevernNet There are a myriad of brilliant businesses and enterprises across Portbury, Avonmouth and Severnside and we’d like to do more to celebrate and promote you all. Please join us via Zoom. Let’s share our experiences of local businesses, big, SME and micro who can strengthen our circular economy and support our needs for materials, goods and services. Register here for September’s Business Breakfast This has been a difficult year for some and diversification and innovation may be critical. How can we better connect potential supply and demand; and understand the depth of capability and skills locally? How can we get to know our ‘hidden gems’? We’d love to hear about the ‘gems’ you’re working with; or what ‘gems’ you can offer others; and how we can work together towards a thriving circular economy. We look forward to seeing youas we kick off our Autumn/Winter Breakfast season Register here for September’s Business Breakfast SevernNet Virtual Business Breakfast’s are an opportunity to meet and collaborate with local businesses and stakeholders. There’ll be an opportunity for everyone to introduce yourself and your business. You’ll have to bring your own breakfast! Please note, we depend on our subscribing members to fund our work for you and the area. There is more information about Membership and a Membership Form here or you can join online here.
Posted by SevernNet
Circular Economy Energy Health & Wellbeing News Public News Transport

Bristol City Councils zero emission freight consolidation grant application closing 19th Aug 2020 

In February 2020, the application process began for a £100k grant from Go Ultra Low West, a £7m transport project that provides the infrastructure for large scale conversion to electric and ultra-low emission vehicles in the West of England. This grant will be spent over a 12-month period and used to set up and run a zero emission freight consolidation centre, or support an existing initiative with the same goal. A zero emission vehicle is one that produces no greenhouse gases or air pollutant tailpipe emissions, such as electric cars, electric lorries, electric vans, electric scooters, electrically assisted trailers, electrically assisted pedal cycles, and bicycles. This project will: – raise the profile of electric vehicles in Bristol – provide a best practice example of freight consolidation – adopt an innovative approach to zero emission freight consolidation. The outcome of the grant should be a reduction in the number of heavy-goods vehicles entering the city by consolidating deliveries using a more sustainable approach, such as EV vans or electric cycles – this will help to improve air quality in Bristol. The application period is now reopen with a final deadline for applications of 19/08/2020 12:00hrs (noon). You can apply here. For more information about freight consolidation, please contact the councils Transport Team. More here.
Posted by SevernNet
Circular Economy News Public News

What’s the potential for adding value to plastic across SevernNet area – Thurs November 7th – 09:30 to 13:00

On Thurs Nov 7th we’re looking at the opportunities for adding value to plastic streams across the area that can’t be eliminated or substituted.The objective – to share learning about good practice across the area, and elsewhere, and identify next steps that could benefit your business, the local area and our environment more widely.Date and Time: Thurs Nov 7th – 09:30 to 13:00Location: St. Andrew’s House, St. Andrew’s Rd., Avonmouth. BS11 9DQRSVP to kate.royston@severnnet.orgA collaborative event, we welcome your contributions to the agenda including examples of good practice and case studies.   A local example: The Port of Amsterdam: https://www.portofamsterdam.com/en/business/settlement/plastic-in-the-port-bring-it-on#video Background There’s much discussion about the place of plastics in our future economy. Many applications of single use plastic could be eliminated or substituted, while plastic will remain an important material for some applications. We’ve been informed and inspired by the work of some of the area’s leading businesses, and by the collaborative approach being taken by the Port of Amsterdam and stakeholders to develop a circular approach to plastics that adds value to the materials and the local economy. We believe there is potential for a similar approach here. This event is a first step.
Posted by SevernNet
Circular Economy Energy Members News Public News

ZERO CAPITAL CLEAN ENERGY – REDUCE ENERGY COSTS – EV CHARGING GRANTS – BATTERY STORAGE

From SevernNet Member Solarsense …

Powering the UK towards a smart, clean energy future

Climate Change & rising energy costs are concerns for us all.

At Solarsense we take our environmental responsibilities seriously and work hard to develop sustainable solutions for our clients.

Our clean energy proposal enables clients to reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions to achieve long term financial savings; by generating their own clean electricity under our fully-funded, subsidy-free, solar photovoltaic (PV) Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

We provide a “solar as a service” zero-capital route to reducing your energy costs, carbon emissions and protection from long-term energy price increases, as the scheme is locked into the RPI.

Use our capital today to start your clean energy journey and sometime down the line, when the timing is right, buy the system back from us if you choose.

We help companies like yours to enjoy the many benefits of sustainable clean energy technologies whilst preserving their capital.

Solar PV, battery storage, electric vehicle charging, LED lighting are just a few ways that Solarsense, the UK’s leading sustainable solutions company can help you to reduce your carbon footprint.

Why Solarsense

Solarsense, located in our zero-carbon head office just outside of Bristol, are considered one of the UK’s leading smart energy providers.
Established nearly 25 years, Solarsense has completed more than 14,000 installations and is responsible for powering some of the UK’s leading organisations.
As a multi award-winning national installer, we help our clients to generate over 80,000MW of clean energy per year, saving over 42,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

If Solarsense can help you today or sometime soon, please contact us as we would be delighted to hear from you.

Regards,

Stephen Barrett, Eng. Tech
Managing Director, Solarsense UK

Solarsense UK Limited
Helios House, Brockley Lane
Backwell, Bristol BS48 4AH
Head office: 01275 461 800
Email: info@solarsense-uk.com
Online: www.solarsense-uk.com

Posted by SevernNet
Circular Economy Events Public News Transport Uncategorised

Meet Wessex Water and GENeco at May’s Business Breakfast on Th. May 16th

Wessex Water – North Bristol’s £55m Relief Sewer
GENeco – Making sure waste isn’t wasted
Business Breakfast – 16th May 2019

                                                                       

Date: Thurs. May.16th from 07:30 to 09:00.
Venue: The Presentation Suite, St Andrews House, Avonmouth BS11 9DQ
Host: Wessex Water and GENeco

Interested in finding out more about North Bristol’s £55million Relief Sewer and GENeco, an award-winning recycling and renewable energy company. 

Then join us at May’s Business Breakfast and find out more.

The agenda will include an introduction to the largest single tunnelling contract awarded by Wessex Water and GENeco’s work at the heart of Bristol’s emerging circular economy.

Book your ticket now

Wessex Water is nearing design completion of its £55 million North Bristol relief sewer project, which will see a 5km tunnel pass beneath the M5 motorway, Cribbs Causeway and Network Rail’s Henbury loop.Work is due to start in September 2019 and is expected to take approximately two and a half years to complete, ensuring the sewerage network can cope with ongoing and future development in the north of the city and South Gloucestershire.

The relief sewer will be built using a Tunnel Boring Machine launched from Lawrence Weston, passing below Henbury and continuing to Bristol Golf Club.

GENeco treats huge volumes of varied waste from the city and transforms it into useful products. This includes the food waste recycling from all of Bristol’s residents and sewage sludge from over 1 million people. GENeco also helps around 300 regional customers an alternative disposal route to landfill for the disposal of difficult to treat waste.

From this waste, GENeco produces enough renewably-sourced energy to power over 10,000 homes in the Bristol area, and heavily reduces the environmental impact of local businesses and the community. The by-product of its recycling processes is a nutrient-rich biofertiliser which is used on farms in the region, keeping valuable bio-resources in the local area.

Come along, join the discussion, and find out more.

Register here for May’s Business Breakfast

SevernNet Business Breakfast’s are an opportunity to meet and collaborate with local businesses and stakeholders. There is plenty of time to network and a 30 second slot to introduce yourself and your business. Refreshments and light breakfast are provided.

About the Host

Wessex Water is a regional water and sewerage business serving 2.8 million customers across the south west of England including Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, most of Wiltshire and parts of Gloucestershire and Hampshire.

https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/

Please note that Business Breakfasts are free to attend for SevernNet members. Non-members may attend two Business Breakfasts before joining. There is more information about Membership and a Membership Form here.

Posted by SevernNet
Circular Economy Members News

Meet the Bio-Bee

A distinctive new truck is collecting food waste and creating a buzz on the streets of Bristol.

 

The Bio-Bee is the UK’s first vehicle to both collect and run on commercial food waste and is operated by GENeco, the renewable energy company based in Avonmouth.

 

With Bristol among 40 places in the UK that consistently exceeds air quality limits for nitrogen dioxide, the Bio-Bee demonstrates a real alternative to diesel RCVs and HGVs by running on clean biomethane.

 

It also offers a cost-effective and more sustainable way for food waste to be collected and recycled, and it follows in the footsteps of the Bio-Bus – or ‘poo bus’ – which ran on human waste and was trialled in Bristol in 2015.

 

Boston Tea Party and St Monica Trust care homes are among the first companies to use the service, and it is hoped the Bio-Bee will increase food waste recycling levels in the city.

 

Charlotte Stamper, project manager at GENeco, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer customers a UK first – collecting their food waste using a vehicle running from their food waste.

 

“This clean fuel helps to improve Bristol’s air quality and creates a sustainable circular economy for the client’s operations.

 

“Bees are renowned for the good work they do for the environment, and their daily routine involves collecting valuable natural resources and then bringing them back to a hive to make renewable and nutritious products.

 

“The Bio-Bee operates the same way. It runs on biomethane that has been produced by the anaerobic digestion of food waste and sewage from houses in Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area.

 

“In turn, its total carbon footprint is around 90% lower than a diesel equivalent and it is quieter than standard diesel models.

 

“The Bio-Bee is also intended to be fun and engage youngsters in the topics of food waste, recycling and air quality.”

 

A video about the Bio-Bee is available to view here.

 

Waste

 

Every year each person in the UK throws away enough food to power the Bio-Bee for 25 miles.

 

If Bristol recycled all the food waste generated by the city’s residents in a year the Bio-Bee could run every day until the year 3,000.

 

Food waste is collected in the Bio-Bee and brought back to GENeco’s anaerobic digestion plant in Bristol. The waste is depackaged – and plastic is removed – and is then used to produce sustainable electricity for homes and communities.

 

The remaining food waste undergoes a pasteurisation process before being fed into the anaerobic digesters, where micro-organisms break down the waste in the absence of oxygen and produce methane-rich biogas.

 

This biogas is either used to produce renewable electricity or it is converted in our gas-to-grid plant to enriched biomethane, which is injected into the gas grid. At this stage it can be used as fuel in the Bio-Bee and other vehicles or to supply local homes.

 

The solid by-product of the anaerobic digestion process is used as a nutrient-rich and sustainable biofertiliser for farms.

 

Jesse Scharf, Green Gas Certification Scheme manager at Renewable Energy Assurance, said: “GENeco is playing an important role in the growing UK biomethane industry by continuing to innovate and show that, with creative thinking, we can find solutions to the challenges we face around waste, energy, carbon and air quality.”

 

Shelley Wadey, finance director at Boston Tea Party, has been working with GENeco on the Bio-Bee project from the start.

 

She said: “Although we have been recycling our food waste from our six Bristol cafes for three years through GENeco, this is another step forward to make things better by generating a sustainable circular economy.

 

“Through this partnership we hope to inspire other food operators to follow our lead, demonstrating it is possible to be greener and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.”

Posted by SevernNet