1. Business Energy Efficiency Programme BESST Update Christopher Atkinson Worcestershire County Council

2. What is the Business Energy Efficiency Programme?
A new European funded programme covering Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Telford & Wrekin which offers:
Free reviews & advice
Grants to reduce energy usage, costs and carbon
Business Support
Started October 2016 building on the successful Resource Efficient Worcestershire programme.
Aims to help businesses reduce energy costs, improve competitiveness, raise environmental awareness and reduce CO2 emissions.

3. Who can we help?
Small and medium size enterprises:
Based in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Telford & Wrekin
Employing less than 250 employees
Turnover < 50 million Euros
Balance sheet < 43 million Euros
Non eligible businesses include retail (primarily serving the public) & agriculture. The programme is primarily aimed at the business to business sector.

4. BEEP Timeline
May 2015 Outline funding bid to DCLG March / April 2016 Internal approval April / May 2016 Planned Start Date June 2016 EU Referendum August 2016 Funding Agreement issued by DCLG September 2016 Contracts in place with partners October 2016 First business receive energy efficiency assessments November businesses registered December 2016 First grant round awards grants to 4 businesses April businesses registered May 2017 Fifth grant round – 38 grant applications so far

5. Free Energy Assessments
An Energy Efficiency Advisor will visit the business’ site to carry out an Energy Assessment which will involve:
- A discussion about how the business uses energy
- A review of energy bills
- A walk-around audit of the site
A detailed report to highlight where savings can be made
A follow up visit to discuss recommendations and grant funding
Target of 280 businesses in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Telford & Wrekin
In the previous Resource Efficient Worcestershire programme recommendations = average annual savings of £8K & 31 CO2 tonnes.
Project wide saving = £6.1 million over five years

6. Businesses Registered
Telford & Wrekin
Business Registered 22
Completed Energy Efficiency Assessments 19
Number of Key Measures Identified 97
Financial Savings Identified
£217,114
Average Energy Bill Savings
34%
Greenhouse Gas Savings Identified
942 tonnes
Notes:
Energy Bills ranging from £3,000 - £400,000
70% business registered = manufacturing or engineering
55% referrals from Telford & Wrekin District Council

7. Grants £800,000 total grant funding £2,000 – £20,000
40% intervention rate
Examples of Activities
Lighting
Energy control systems
Compressed air equipment
Process improving equipment
Refrigeration
Insulation
Heating & Boilers
Fast Acting Roller Doors
Renewables
Plus more

8. Grants Awarded
Olpro Ltd (Malvern Hills) awarded £2,600 towards the replacement of metal halide lights to LED tubes and the replacement of plug in electric heaters with limited controls.
Patent Ferrule (Redditch) awarded £3,200 towards a variable speed drive compressor.
Newtown Packaging Ltd (Redditch) awarded £3,400 towards a fast acting warehouse door and destratification fans.
Caplor Energy - (Herefordshire) - £12,200 for an innovative Energy Storage project to capture energy from their solar panels.
Kirkfield (Bromsgrove) - £7,500 for a factory heating system and new compressor, which combined will divert 30 tonnes of greenhouse gases and save over £5,000 per year.
SCN (Kidderminster) - £15,000 to insulate roof and walls and improve lighting.  As well as reducing energy bill by 68% it will make the site much warmer.

9. TSI Packing Ltd
Provide bespoke packing services from Halesfield Industrial Estate, Telford,
employing around 20 people.
Received a free energy assessment, highlighting £12,000 potential savings.
Applied successfully for a grant of £10,408 to install LED lighting and sensors which will save around £7,000 per year and 22 tonnes of CO2e.

11. Energy Efficiency Events
Regular opportunities to share knowledge and discuss best practice
First forum held in February at Thorlux in Redditch. “The business benefits of energy efficiency and the application of LED lighting”
Conference TBC

12. Wider & hidden benefits
Happier workforce (brighter, warmer)
Increased profitability, job creation & safeguarding
More engagement in environmental matters
Further interest in renewable technologies
Competitive advantage (i.e. preferred supplier status)
Help implement ISO 14001
Continue on to other grant / business support
Helps with social & corporate responsibility
Reduced transportation costs
By reviewing environmental savings it has encouraged some businesses to review other areas of work for improvements.
Behavioural change further savings.
Continued investment in local green economy

13. Summary
Free Energy Efficiency Assessments and Grants of up to £20,000 are available to small and medium sized businesses in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Telford & Wrekin.
To register visit
Thank you for listening.
Christopher Atkinson