Bee Net Zero partner, Green Economy has brokered over £500,000 sales for Greater Manchester based firms to install green tech including, solar panels, electric vehicle (EV) charging points and environmental management systems since their launch in June 2022. Combined, the projects will save an approximate 1,818.46 tonnes of carbon for the lifespan of the technology.
Green Economy, whose online Marketplace enables businesses to find local, trusted partners for their transition to net zero, has built a network of over 500 local green technologies and services suppliers, providing introductions to Greater Manchester based businesses on their journey to net zero as part of the Bee Net Zero partnership. With many firms looking to invest in green technology but not knowing where to start, Green Economy’s Marketplace helps to simplify the process and ensure that the investment can be made locally.
Amy House, Director of Green Economy said:
“Instilling confidence in green technologies and its suppliers is a key challenge in the transition to net zero, and one that Green Economy is facing head on.
“This landmark of £500,000 of sales brokered by our team demonstrates the appetite to integrate green technologies into local businesses and that having experts on hand to guide the process will help to overcome this market failure.”
One of the projects includes introducing Ellard, a Wythenshawe based supplier of automated door products, to Perfect Sense Energy, solar installation specialists from Wigan, who will begin installing a £180,000 solar PV project in March 2023, which is expected to save 1,198 tonnes of carbon over 25 years. Ellard has gone on to invest further with another local firm, Pilot Group, to develop a £9,000 energy management system which will manage their energy usage in the future.
John McGorrigan, Director of Business Transformation at Ellard said:
“The support that we have received from Green Economy has been invaluable to Ellard and has made our transition to net zero as seamless as can be.
“They’ve been on hand to guide us throughout the process, and their expertise and reassurance has helped us to onboard highly skilled, local experts to deliver our decarbonisation project. Any businesses considering their net zero future should ensure they bring on Green Economy’s expertise as early in the process as they can.”
Additional projects brokered by Green Economy
- Solar PV installation projects worth £64,000 for Yellow Door Nursery and Air Handlers Northern, which were successfully won by Stockport based, KAST Renewable Energies, saving 13.96 tonnes of carbon over 10 years.
- Chorley-based EVC group have won £250,000 of EV charging point projects; all of which came from introductions from Green Economy.
- Working alongside the GC Business Growth Hub’s Sustainability and Net Zero team, Green Economy successfully introduced Bolton based Bri-Tek to secure LED lighting installation projects worth £32,000 for successful applicants of the Carbon Reduction Grant. These projects are expected to make annual savings of 121.3 carbon tonnes and £96,560.
Greater Manchester based suppliers of green technologies and services can create a free profile on the Green Economy Marketplace and access weekly sales opportunities. Visit the Green Economy website to find out more.
CASE STUDY- Solar installation set to save 1,198 tonnes of carbon over 25 years
When Ellard decided to look at renewable energy solutions for their site in Wythenshawe, John McGorrigan started searching online for a partner.
“I’d done some initial research, but when you type “solar” into Google you’re hit with hundreds of results suggesting everything from independent installers to major corporations. It’s hard to know who the right installer would be for our requirements. We were sure of our reasoning for getting solar panels on the roof of our warehouse, we just weren’t quite sure where to start.”
Ellard were introduced to the team at Green Economy, who set to work finding the business a project manager from their extensive network of net zero suppliers.
Amy House, Director of Green Economy said: “All businesses can search for a local green tech supplier using Green Economy’s online Marketplace, but the specifications of this project were such that the firm needed bespoke support. Not least that Ellard lease their warehouse, so their landlord needed to be included in the process.”
Green Economy invited several of their members to pitch for the project at an exclusive Meet the Buyer event, which were hosted by the Green Economy team. This service ensured that the specific requirements of their project were met, and that the Green Economy team could dig into the detail regarding buyback periods, after care and project delivery.
Perfect Sense Energy, solar specialists based in Wigan successfully won the £180,000 solar installation contract with Ellard and will begin work at the Wythenshawe warehouse in March 2023.
Gary Brandwood, Managing Director of Perfect Sense Energy said: “Working with Green Economy has been enormously beneficial to our company, through its Marketplace they’ve created a real eco-system of local suppliers to collaborate with, as well as a pipeline of potential customers to support on their journey to net zero. Having a local network like this provides real weight when competing for business development opportunities.”
