19 May 2008 09:46
E.ON gives helping hand to Hull aquarium for solar powered wind project

Energy company E.ON has given a £30,000 grant under its new SOURCE community initiative towards the cost of installing wind catchers at one of Hull's main visitor attractions, The Deep.

The Deep is a conservation and education charity which is dedicated to the protection of the marine environment through education, research and conservation, and tells the story of the world's oceans within an aquarium setting.

The cash will be used to help pay for eight solar-powered wind catchers to be installed on the aquarium's roof.

Jane Branscombe, Community Relations Manager with E.ON, said: "We're delighted to be able to contribute towards this exciting project for The Deep as part of our new SOURCE scheme, which is designed to help community groups get their sustainable energy projects off the ground.

"They are looking to introduce an energy efficiency measure which will help to reduce the load on the aquarium's air handling systems."

The wind catchers will help to create natural ventilation throughout the building and also help cool the upper floor, which can overheat in warmer months.

It is expected that the wind catchers will save the emission of up to 66 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, as well as significant savings for the charity with the cost of keeping the aquariums at a constant temperature.

The Deep will also use the wind catchers as an educational resource for lessons on the science and ecology of energy conservation.

Colin Brown, Chief Executive of The Deep, said: "We are delighted with the great support given to us by E.ON which allows us to further reduce our carbon footprint.

"This technology is a wonderful example of how we can all use simple clean technologies to improve our energy efficiency.

"As an environmental charity dedicated to the health of the oceans it is important that we are seen as leading the way on such issues and to be able to do so in partnership with a company with the credentials of E.ON is great."

E.ON, one of the UK's leading green electricity generators, launched its SOURCE fund in 2007 to help with the costs of sustainable energy projects for community buildings.

The fund is backed up by the SOURCE website, which provides information and advice for community groups seeking to become more energy efficient or generate their own energy from sustainable sources.

The website, which contains full details of how to apply for a grant, can be accessed at www.eon-uk.com/source.

The next deadline for applications for funding is Friday 3 October, 2008.

 

Ends

Notes to editors:

• The SOURCE fund is available until the end of 2008 and the closing dates for applications is 3 October 2008;
• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas - and is part of the E.ON group, the world's largest investor-owned power and gas company. We employ around 17,000 people in the UK;
• E.ON is the new name for Powergen. Our retail business is a leading energy supplier in the UK, with around 8 million electricity and gas customer accounts, covering domestic, SME and industrial. E.ON offers central heating and boiler care through its Home Energy Services business;
• We're one of the leading green generators in the UK, with 21 wind farms located from Cornwall to Northern Ireland. We also burn biomass material mixed with coal in two of our power stations and have recently opened the UK's largest dedicated biomass power station at Lockerbie. Combined, our renewable portfolio generates enough green energy to power the homes in a city the size of Manchester;
• We plan to spend £1bn on new renewables in the next five years, including new onshore and offshore wind, new biomass and wave and tidal power;
• Our target is to cut the carbon released by each kW of electricity we generate by 10% between 2005-2012, having already reduced it by 20% since 1990;
• We have 1,300MW of renewable capacity under development;
• We invested £53 million in energy efficiency in 2006. These measures included loft and cavity wall insulation, installation of energy efficient boilers and smart metering, a technology we are investing a further £12 million in over the next two years.

For further information contact:

Deanna Mooney on 024 7618 3678

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