HKD Energy December Update

We’re delighted that there was such a strong response to our Share Offer for the Downlands School Solar project, launched on 8th November.  Share applications started coming in straight away, and the share offer is now fully subscribed and closed (more than a month early).  We will implement the strategies for over-subscription that we talked about in the Share Offer: prioritising local investors, and reducing the share allocations to the larger investors.

We’re sorry to disappoint anyone who had hoped to invest (or hoped to invest more) – but keep your eyes open for our next project, which is in the planning stage right now.  There will be other opportunities to buy in to the community energy ethos.

Good news for investors is that HMRC have given us Advance Assurance that we are eligible for the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS).  This allows UK taxpayers to claim tax relief up to 50% of their investment.  From April community energy projects will come under a different arrangement for tax relief, but the Downlands project, and possibly project two if we can get it done in time, will be eligible for the more generous SEIS tax relief.

We are now pressing ahead with the Downlands project, and hope that all the final details can be in place for the planned February half-term installation.  There is still much to keep the HKD Energy directors busy in the run-up to Christmas.

At the launch event we heard about a number of other possible sites for community solar projects in Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint and Ditchling.  If you know a building that might be interested in being part of such a project please get in touch with us: info@hkdenergy.org.uk.

Downlands School solar project – share offer now closed

After only 10 days, the Share Offer for the HKD Energy Downlands School Solar project has reached – and exceeded – the target of £100,500.

We had allowed over 7 weeks to reach the target, so are both amazed and delighted at the positive response from the community and supporters.  We are now working hard on all the remaining tasks leading up to a planned installation in the February half-term.

Any further share applications received by us will be kept on a waiting list in case investors drop out.  We are also working on a second project so hope to have an alternative to offer disappointed investors quite soon.

Thank you for your support of HKD Energy and the Downlands School Solar project.

John Willis
on behalf of HKD Directors

HKD Energy information sessions

  • Purple Carrot in Hassocks on Saturday 15 November from 2.00 – 3.30 pm.  The Purple Carrot coffee bar is in Station Road Approach (on the west side of Hassocks station).
  • Greyhound Pub in Keymer on Tuesday 18 November, 7.30 – 9.00 pm.

HKD Energy Directors will be on hand to answer any questions about the Downlands School Solar Project and provide further details about the plans.

HKD Energy Share Offer – now open!

Downlands School catches the sun with community solar project

The Share Offer for the HKD Energy Downlands School Solar project is now open – and after only two days we are already 60% of the way towards our target of £100,500.  If you’re thinking of investment, please act quickly.  Full details are on our website www.hkdenergy.org.uk/howtoinvest
On Saturday 8 November over 80 parents, grandparents and other local residents gathered at Downlands Community School, Hassocks, to hear about plans to give the school one of the largest school solar power arrays in the country – and it will all be paid for by investors from the local community.
We were delighted at the level of interest and positive response of the audience to our plan to install 266 solar panels, providing the school with a cheap source of green electricity, investors with a good rate of return, and saving some 843 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the course of the project life.

The audience heard from speakers including Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, Howard Johns, a founding director of OVESCo in Lewes, and Rose Hetherton, Head Teacher of Downlands School.  HKD Energy Directors explained how the project will work, and how members of the local community will be able to buy shares in the project, and earn a return on their investment as a result of the electricity that the solar panels generate, much of which the school will use with the surplus sold back to the grid.
Norman Baker described the scale of the energy challenges that this country faces, both in terms of climate change and the need to reduce carbon emissions, but also in terms of energy security and the need to generate our own electricity rather than depend on imported gas and coal.  He outlined the government’s strong support for community energy projects like HKD Energy.

Howard Johns placed the Downlands project in the wider global context of the ‘energy revolution’, which is changing the way the world works, just as the industrial revolution and the internet revolution did.  Around the world we are seeing communities take responsibility for meeting their own energy needs, and doing so in creative ways.

The Downlands School Head Teacher, Rose Hetherton, said: ‘I am delighted that Downlands has the opportunity to work in partnership with such an innovative scheme. It fits the ethos of our school perfectly to operate as a true community initiative with direct benefits to both the school community, through reduced energy bills and educational opportunities, but also the local community through the returns on any investment.’

In the photos below, the Launch Event is seen in progress and in the group photo (from left to right): John Willis, Chris Handel, Howard Johns, Norman Baker MP, Rose Hetherton Juliet Merrifield, Bec Hanley, Darren Berman.

launch1launch2

Share Offer Press Release

Press Release Text (Word Document)

For immediate release: 3 November 2014

Downlands School catches the sun with community solar project

Photo opportunity: Downlands School, 2.30 – 4.00 pm, Saturday 8 November 2014

Downlands School, Hassocks, will soon have one of the largest school solar power arrays in the country – and it will all be paid for by investors from the local community.

266 solar panels will be installed on the Downlands School roof in spring 2015, thanks to its partnership with a new non-profit community energy group, HKD Energy. The project will provide the school with a cheap source of green electricity, and will also help students learn about renewable energy, energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Members of the local community will be able to buy shares in the project, and earn a return on their investment as a result of the electricity that the solar panels sell back to the grid.

Downlands School solar facts

  • The 266 solar panels will produce over 80,000 kilowatt hours each year – enough power to make 4 million cups of tea.
  • Downlands School will save around £150,000 in electricity costs over the next 20 years, as a result of the cheaper power provided by the project.
  • The school will not pay anything for the solar panels themselves. Instead the project will be entirely funded by investors from the community.
  • Investors can buy shares from a minimum of £250 to a maximum of £10,000.
  • HKD Energy intends to pay interest on investments at approximately 4%, and plans to repay investments in full during the 20 year project.

Local views on Downlands School solar

The Downlands School Head Teacher, Rose Hetherton, said:

I am delighted that Downlands has the opportunity to work in partnership with such an innovative scheme. It fits the ethos of our school perfectly to operate as a true community initiative with direct benefits to both the school community, through reduced energy bills and educational opportunities, but also the local community through the returns on any investment.

Chris Handel, Chair of the HKD Energy board of directors, said:

Schools are perfect for solar energy. They use most of their electricity during the day when the panels are generating. We are delighted to be working with Downlands School as our very first community energy project.

Local Hurstpierpoint resident Patrick Howarth said:

In sunny Sussex creating energy from the sun is a “no brainer.” This project is green, good and pays a great rate of interest. I shall invest!

Keymer resident, Downlands School governor and former councillor Colin Wilsdon said:

This is a great project and I shall certainly invest in it. The school benefits financially and it contributes to reducing our carbon footprint – and the investors get a return. Win win.

Ditchling resident, Max Bolton, Hon. Treasurer of the Turner Dumbrell Foundation said:

I am excited about this type of project and will certainly invest in it myself. I will also ask my fellow Trustees to investigate the possibilities of this type of installation at the Turner Dumbrell Workshops.

Ends

_______________________________________________

Notes to editor

For project photos, plans and further information, contact Juliet Merrifield, HKD Energy director: julietmerr@gmail.com, 01273-841120 or 07745-069558

Full details of the investment opportunities and potential income tax relief available, as well as risks for potential investors, will be available on www.hkdenergy.org.uk.

The launch event will be held on Saturday 8 November from 2.30 – 4.00 pm at Downlands School, Dale Avenue, Hassocks BN6 8LP. HKD Energy directors will present the details of the project and how to invest. Guest speakers will include Norman Baker MP for Lewes and Howard Johns, a national leader in community energy, and Downlands School Eco Club members will also take part. All interested community members are invited to attend.

HKD Energy Ltd is a new non-profit organisation, a Community Benefit Society registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, with a goal of creating community-owned renewable energy projects, increasing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. It is an offshoot of HKD Transition, a group of residents of Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint, Keymer and Ditchling who have been active in community-led responses to climate change and shrinking supplies of cheap energy over the last 5 years.

Downlands Community School is a large (1,200 pupils) and popular comprehensive school for pupils aged 11 to 16. Pupils come from Hassocks and surrounding villages. It is recognised as a specialist Science and Mathematics school and has Eco school status ‘Green-Flag’ award, the Sportsmark, International School status and Travel Mark 2.

 

November Update on HKD Energy

Launch Event
We’re ready – are you?
The HKD Energy Downlands School Solar Project will launch on:
Saturday, 8th November at Downlands School* from 2.30-4.00 pm.
At the launch event we’ll tell you all about the project and how it works, and the investment opportunity it presents, along with some of the reasons why we think it’s important. Our detailed Share Offer document will be available and includes the application form for shares.

Norman Baker MP will talk about the energy challenges we face as a country, and the government’s support for community energy.  Howards Johns, one of the founders of OVESCo and a national leader in community energy will talk about the vision and potential of community energy to change how the energy system works.

We’ve also been working with the Downlands Eco Club, a group of enthusiastic students who are ready to start the ‘solar revolution’.  We’ve organised a competition for Downlands students on this theme, with prize-winners to be announced at the launch event.

Downlands School solar facts

  • The 266 solar panels will produce over 80,000 kilowatt hours each year – enough power to make 4 million cups of tea.
  • Downlands School will save around £150,000 in electricity costs over the next 20 years, as a result of the cheaper electricity provided by the project.
  • The school will not pay anything for the solar panels themselves.  Instead the project will be entirely funded by investors from the community.
  • Investors can buy shares from a minimum of £250 to a maximum of £10,000.
  • HKD Energy intends to pay interest on investments at approximately 4%, and plans to repay investments in full during the 20 year project.

Come and join us if you can at Downlands School on 8 November.  If you can’t make it to the launch the Share Offer and other investment documents will be on our website www.hkdenergy.org.uk/how-to-invest/.

We hope you will be able to join us!

*Downlands School – Dale Avenue, Hassocks, BN6 8LP

HKD Transition News
For news of the HKD Quiz and Pizza Night on 14th November and other current topics, please check the HKD Transition website.  You can also opt to receive the newsletter each month – by signing up on www.hkdtransition.org.uk or by email to newsletter@hkdtransition.org.uk.

Chris Handel, Chair                 John Willis, Secretary
Juliet Merrifield, Treasurer       Darren Berman, Director
Bec Hanley, Director

HKD Energy  (www.hkdenergy.org.uk)
Also follow us on Twitter @hkdenergy and on Facebook www.facebook.com/HKDEnergy

October Update on HKD Energy

The pace of life for HKD Energy Directors is really heating up now!  We’re getting everything ready for the launch of our first community energy project on Saturday 8 November 2014, 2.30 pm at Downlands School.  The launch event will highlight the community as well as financial benefits of putting 80 kW of solar panels* on the school and sports centre roofs, generating low-price electricity for the school to use, lowering their carbon footprint, and creating a project the whole community can support.  Speakers will include Howard Johns, one of the country’s leading voices on community energy, and Norman Baker MP, as well as presentations about our project by us and by Downlands students, along with opportunities to ask questions.

We hope you will be able to join us!

We’re very pleased that we finally have our registration approved by the Financial Conduct Authority – just about 5 months after we started the process.  So we can announce that HKD Energy Limited is a Community Benefit Society, registered with the FCA as number 7021.

Our business plan is complete, and we have selected Solar Resources, a local company based in Haywards Heath, as our preferred installer for the Downlands Project.  Solar Resources have installed a solar project at Warden Park School and other schools and colleges, as well as many commercial and community premises across Sussex.

We’ve been talking about HKD Energy and Downlands to local people at events like the Ditchling Apple Day, and have given briefings to Hurstpierpoint Parish Council, Hassocks Parish Council, and the Downlands School governors.  We’ve been working with the Downlands Eco Club, a group of enthusiastic students who are ready to start the ‘solar revolution’.  We’ve organised a competition for Downlands students on this theme, with prize-winners to be announced at the launch event.

At the launch day on 8 November we’ll ask for individuals to support the project by investing in shares.  We will have full details of the investment opportunities and income tax relief available as well as risks for potential investors. These documents will also be on our website if you can’t make it to the launch event. Thanks for your interest and support.

* Originally this meant 320 panels, however the technology is improving and now the total is 266 panels, each rated at 300 watts output.

Chris Handel, Chair                 John Willis, Secretary
Juliet Merrifield, Treasurer       Darren Berman, Director
Bec Hanley, Director

September Update on HKD Energy

Please mark your diaries for the launch of our first community energy project at Downlands School on Saturday 8 November 2014 at 2.30 pm.  We’ll have speakers and entertainment, cakes and tea, and a chance to get your questions answered.  The launch event will highlight the community benefits of putting 320 solar panels (80kW) on Downlands School roofs, generating low-price electricity for the school to use, lowering their carbon footprint, and creating a project the whole community can support.

If you’d like to find out more about community energy, HKD Energy will be one of several Sussex projects highlighted in the Powering our Communities event organised by Community Energy South in Lewes on 19 September.  Details on http://www.communityenergysouth.org.uk/events/event/lewes-powering-our-communities-the-community-energy-south-discussions/

The work behind the scenes to get our first project underway is intense and not very glamorous!  Lots of paperwork and spreadsheets, but we have also been talking to local people about the project, and are pleased to have had so much positive interest.

The registration process with the FCA has taken much longer than expected as we have been caught up in a problem that has received a lot of publicity in the newspapers.  Coinciding with new Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act coming into force, the FCA has blocked new energy co-op applications on the grounds that they would not have enough member participation, despite having authorised previous ones set up along the same lines.  We have reworked our registration to become an IPS ‘for community benefit’ rather than an IPS co-op, all in line with the new Act, and we expect this registration to go through smoothly.

The details of the business plan for the Downlands School have also been occupying a lot of our attention.  We want to maximise benefits for the school while also providing a reasonable return for investors.  One of the big advantages for the school is fixing their electricity prices for the next 20 years, while most of us brace ourselves for ever-increasing energy prices.  The project also provides intangible but important benefits in terms of learning opportunities for students to learn about energy, climate change and solar power.

At the launch day on 8 November we’ll ask for individuals to support the project by investing in shares.  We will have full details of the investment opportunities and income tax relief available as well as risks for potential investors.

In the meantime we are accepting pledges and expressions of interest, so please get in touch if you’d like to do this – by email to info@hkdenergy.org.uk.

Thanks to all of you for your interest and support of this project.

Chris Handel, Chair                 John Willis, Secretary
Juliet Merrifield, Treasurer       Darren Berman, Director
Bec Hanley, Director

HKD Energy  (www.hkdenergy.org.uk)
Also follow us on Twitter @hkdenergy and on Facebook www.facebook.com/HKDEnergy

Eco Open Houses trail

Eco Open Houses trail in Barcombe, Ditchling and surrounding rural areas

20 Sep 14

10:00am – 5:00pm

From 20th – 21st September, a number of homes in Barcombe, Ditchling and surrounding rural areas will be open to the public, to showcase how you can save money on energy and water bills, whilst staying warm and comfortable and reducing your carbon footprint. With fuel costs rising and changeable weather patterns, the Eco Open Houses trail is an invaluable way to see first-hand how to make your home warmer and more comfortable.