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Centre of Renewable Energy (CORE) officially opens

18/09/2009

A brand new state of the art Centre of Renewable Energy (CORE) was officially opened yesterday (17 September 2009) in East Drayton, North Nottinghamshire, by Patrick Mercer OBE, MP for Newark, along with Geoff Stevens and Michael Seals representing emda's Board.

CORE is a business and conference site which offers carbon neutral managed workspaces and meeting facilities.  It is also a showcase for a range of cutting-edge renewable energy technologies.  The building is designed to produce more heat, cooling, electricity and power through green technologies than it uses during its day to day operations, and is already exporting electricity back into the grid.

Strawsons Energy, a subsidiary of family-run business G. D. Strawson, was the first business in the region to receive a Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) grant for £140,000 in May 2008 to help build the £826,000 CORE facility. 

The funding was awarded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), which delivers specific elements of RDPE in the region to support land-based businesses to develop new products, processes and technologies.  RDPE is funded through Defra and the European Union.

Attendees at the opening were able to hear from key individuals involved in the project and learn more about the partnership Strawsons Energy has developed with EDF Energy to grow and supply a new biomass crop for use at the nearby Cottam Power Station. 

There was also the opportunity to tour the new CORE facility, and see first hand how the building showcases a range of sustainable energy resources - such as biomass heating, ground and air source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, a wind turbine, electricity-generating photovoltaics and solar panels.

Speaking about the centre, Andrew Morgan, emda's Director of Skills and Communities said: "We're delighted to see that our funding has come to fruition through CORE.  It's an excellent example of how RDPE can be used to drive forward the Government's agenda to invest in new energy technologies and help create a low carbon economy that's fit for the future."

John Strawson, farmer, business entrepreneur and Managing Director of Strawsons Energy, explained:  "What's great about this facility is that by demonstrating the practical application of green technologies, we can highlight the cost benefits of any investment made.  This will help more people recognise just how a small step can make a real difference - not only to people's pockets, but also in minimising the wider impact of climate change.  Today's opening marks a real milestone in the project and we're grateful to emda for recognising the potential of CORE."

It is anticipated that CORE will create twenty-one new jobs over the next four years as emerging renewable businesses take the opportunity to move into the shared office area and work collectively to maximise their commercial potential.  Three companies have already moved into the facility and are making use of the commercial opportunities offered by the centre.

To find out more about CORE or Strawsons Energy, visit www.centreofrenewableenergy.co.uk or www.strawsonsenergy.co.uk. 

ENDS

Picture (L-R): John Strawson with emda board members Geoff Stevens and Michael Seals.

For more information about this press release, for further images from the opening event, or for interviews, please contact Clare Baker (Communications Manager Regeneration - emda) on 0115 988 8583 / clarebaker@emd.org.uk.

About RDPE
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is funded by Defra and the European Union. emda has approximately £60m available for projects in the East Midlands until 2013.

Projects must demonstrate how they add value to agricultural, horticultural or forestry products, improve co-operation and collaboration between businesses, and promote diversification in the rural economy to be eligible for grant funding.

Some of the money has been allocated specifically for livestock businesses to focus on projects that improve competitiveness, nutrient management and animal health and welfare.  Funding is also available for skills development in rural businesses and organisations - focusing on training in management and business development.

For further information about RDPE please visit www.emda.org.uk/rdpe.

About emda

East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.

Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:

· Had a significant impact on the region's economy

· Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall

costs

· Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional

economy for every £1 it spends

· Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year

· A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.

emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times.

Over the long term, emda's aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations.  The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2020 to ensure the vision for 'a flourishing region' can be achieved. 

For more details visit www.emda.org.uk

About Strawsons Energy / CORE

Strawsons Energy, a subsidiary of family-run business G. D. Strawson, is the world's single largest grower and supplier of willow short rotation coppice (SRC). All products are sourced locally in the UK.  The company delivers a wide range of renewable energy products including biomass fuel, biomass boilers, wood fuel stoves, ground and air source heat pumps, solar heating and much more. 

For more information visit:

· www.strawsonsenergy.co.uk

• www.centreofrenewableenergy.co.uk

Other companies / organisations involved in CORE's construction are:

· Project Development: Strawson Holdings Ltd

· Build Contractors: Gelders Group 

· Letting Agents: Brown & Co.

· Project Environmental Sustainability advisors:  SRM of JH Walter

· Architect: Rosamund Nicholson