Greetings to all of you who signed up for our mailing list, and many thanks for your support. We’re excited to be developing non-profit community energy for Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint, Keymer and Ditchling (maybe you were wondering what HKD stands for?).
Although it is still early days for our project, we’ve been encouraged at the overwhelmingly positive response so far.
We are well along with planning our first community energy project: solar panels at Downlands School. After much discussion and consultation with solar installers, structural engineers, UK Power Networks and Ofgem, our plan is to install 50kW on the school roof and another 30kW on the sports centre roof. We expect this to generate approximately 80,000 kilowatt hours per year of electricity, much of which the school will use directly. Schools are a great location for solar panels because most of their electricity demand is in daylight hours, when the panels are working. We’re getting close to finalising our financial model and business plan, once we have final tenders in hand.
The five (unpaid) directors of HKD Energy are working hard to get our new organisation registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as an Industrial and Provident Society for Community Benefit. The process with the FCA is taking longer than we’d hoped, but is moving along.
In other work we are researching the tax implications – both in terms of VAT and the tax incentives for investors through the EIS and SEIS schemes. And we’re working on an agreement with Downlands and West Sussex County Council.
We’ve been out and about in our communities getting the word out about HKD Energy, including at the Ditchling Fair, Downlands School Summer Fayre, Hurst Secret Gardens and Hassocks Amenity Association AGM. We’re now planning our autumn activities. You can help us by telling your friends and neighbours about the project. Our website is live on http://www.hkdenergy.org.uk/, our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/HKDEnergy and you can follow us on Twitter on @hkdenergy.
Our share issue launch will be on Saturday 8th November. Please mark your calendars! We’ll be at Downlands School in the afternoon. Details to follow.
If you’d like to know more, or get involved in our work, please email us on info@hkdenergy.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.
Chris Handel, Chair / John Willis, Secretary / Juliet Merrifield, Treasurer
Darren Berman, Director / Bec Hanley, Director
HKD Energy