Clean Energy Awards

The Avon Fire and Rescue Service Clean Energy Project is among those shortlisted for Clean Energy Scheme of the year at the Regen Green Energy Awards 2022.

The clean energy scheme award commends projects that are spearheading the clean energy industry and delivering significant carbon savings.

In December 2020 Avon Fire and Rescue Authority made a Climate Emergency Declaration, publicly acknowledging the climate crisis. The organisation has since publicly committed to being net zero carbon by 2030 and to demonstrate environmental leadership in the Fire & Rescue sector. The AF&RS Clean Energy Project plays an integral part in the organisations’ environmental strategy and phase one has now been completed as planning for phase two begins.

Combining a range of integrated technologies, including solar panels, battery storage, solar thermal and heat pumps across five sites in the Southwest, the Avon Fire and Rescue Service clean energy project will generate carbon savings of more than 127,117 kg per year.

Through combining several different clean energy technologies, Avon Fire and Rescue service were able to address a number of the key objectives set out in their environmental strategy, including generating their own clean power and heat, as well as addressing cleaner transport and travel. On top of installing their own technology to generate clean power and heat on-site, the organisation is exploring options to better utilise this clean energy to create further financial and carbon savings, including piloting electric fire engines in the very near future.

Each of the five pilot stations chosen for phase one required careful planning to ensure each site was integrated with the existing energy system with minimum interruption. For example, following grid constraints at Lansdown, several smaller DC connected batteries were utilised to overcome the restrictions and avoid expensive network upgrades, whilst reducing the project timescale by 12 weeks. For more information on the project, please visit Avon Fire and Rescue Service Clean Energy Project.

The Regen awards are a leading national celebration of pioneering innovation and sustainable development for the UK’s energy system. Following a challenging year, the awards will once again highlight the outstanding efforts of those transforming the UK renewable energy sector.

More than 120 entries were submitted this year by companies, communities and individuals across the UK for consideration in six categories.

Merlin Hyman, chief executive, Regen, said: “Across the UK there are inspiring people leading pioneering projects and paving the way to a zero carbon energy system. The Green Energy Awards are all about celebrating their achievements and inspiring us all to rise to the challenge of transforming how we power our lives and heat our homes.”

All finalists will now go through to the final stage of judging by an expert panel of independent judges, before the winners are announced at the dazzling awards ceremony on 30 March 2022.