Good Fuel Co-operative launch new prospectus
May 2009

 

 

 

The Good Fuel Co-operative is a UK co-operative whose members are themselves co-operatives producing and selling biodiesel and other low carbon fuels in their local area.  We are committed to ethical sourcing and genuine carbon reductions - we use only feedstock from waste and sustainable sources.

 

As part of the Good Fuel Co-operative, Sundance Renewables has contributed to the development of a new prospectus for the co-operative with details of each co-operative member, our projects and investments and an invitation to subscribe for shares in the Good Fuel Co-operate Ltd - 'an alliance of established workers co-operatives with a track record in the production of low carbon fuels, incorporated as an industrial and provident society for the benefit of the community.'

Good Fuel Co-operative members at Tredegar

 

For more information on the Good Fuel Co-operative and to download the prospectus please visit www.goodfuel.coop
 

 

Sundance feature at Convergence on Zero Conference at 2009 Smithsonian Festival in Washington DC
25th - 26th June 2009
 

Sundance Renewables was excited to be invited to the 2009 Convergence on Zero Conference at the Smithsonian Festival in Washington DC.  On the same day as the Climate and Energy Bill was voted on in Congress and the Climate Change strategy was launched in Wales, 26 speakers from Wales, the UK and the US took to the stage at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum to stress the importance of rapid emissions reductions from all sectors and Jan Cliff, Director of Sundance Renewables, gave a presentation outlining the work and achievements of Sundance since it was established in 2002.

 

 

Sundance Director Jan Cliff giving presentation at the Convergence on Zero Conference in Washington DC

 

From the First Minister Rhodri Morgan speaking on Wales' constitutional commitment to sustainability, to David Orr outlining the need for swift and concerted action on carbon emissions, the Convergence brought together environmental thinkers and doers from both sides of the Atlantic to share their visions of a post-carbon world.

The delegates worked on a declaration during the two days of the conference and ratified it as a group during the closing session.  The Convergence on Zero declaration calls for:

1. A global peak in emissions by 2016 and industrialised nations to head for zero emissions as fast as possible;

2. Government-led programmes to deliver a widespread and thorough ongoing public understanding of the most recent science of climate change and energy security and what needs to be done to meet the challenges they present;

3. A renewed commitment to deliver an accord at the UN Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen, that matches the urgency demanded by the science.  Government at all levels, NGO's corporations and individuals will have to act together with common purpose in ways that they have never done before, to devise and implement effective solutions;

4. The implementation of strategies capable of achieving the rate of de-carbonisation demanded by climate science through a radical increase in the efficient use of energy and the implementation of renewable energy on a massive scale.

 

During her visit Jan was a regular supporter of the Peace Camp that has been outside the White House for 21 years and on the evening before her departure she attended an all night peace vigil organised for the 12th consecutive year at Lafayette Park, across from the White House, by the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC International www.tassc.org )

Jan also attended the National Museum of American Indian Climate Change Conference on June 27th www.nmai.si.edu

 

For more information please visit www.convergenceonzero.org
 

 

Sundance exhibit at 'EcoZone' celebration day - part of the 'Hard Rain' and 'Vital Signs Swansea' Exhibition held outside the National Waterfront Museum
June 6th 2009
 

Sundance Renewables exhibited at the 'EcoZone' celebration day at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, an event with interesting activities for all the family and ideas for how everyone can get involved and make Swansea a more sustainable place to live, work and visit.

 

The EcoZone event was part of the 'Hard Rain' and 'Vital Signs Swansea' Exhibition held outside the National Waterfront Museum until August 16th.  Seen by 10billion people in major cities around the world, 'Hard Rain' is an extraordinary exhibition that combines images captured by award-winning photographer Mark Edwards with the poetic lyrics of the legendary genius Bob Dylan. 

 

'Hard Rain' depicts images of global poverty, climate change and biodiversity loss, while 'Vital Signs Swansea' shows local projects that help to make Swansea more sustainable.

 

For more information please visit www.hardrainproject.com and www.sustainableswansea.net
 

 

Sundance take part in Triban Spring Gathering
May 2009
 

Sundance Renewables was excited to take part in the Triban Spring Gathering at Coed Hill.

 

Triban was formed three years ago to provide a mobile solar powered music and arts venue to promote music, art and environmental education.  Triban solar stage provides a beautiful space where people can teach, learn, party and share ideas for creating a sustainable lifestyle that is inspiring and sustainable.  It is a relaxed, friendly environment for both chilling out and partying.

 

Triban aim to follow the principles of promoting music art and environmental education at festivals around the UK, at local events and within the community in South Wales.  Each year Triban hold an annual Spring Gathering at Coed Hills Rural Artspace and Sundance were pleased to host a stall to promote our biodiesel at the 2009 event.

 

For more information please visit www.triban.org
 

 

Good Fuel Co-operative launches share issue to fuel growth of biodiesel market
May 2009

A co-operative that has pioneered the production and distribution of biodiesel made from waste oil has launched a share issue to raise £420,000 to fuel the growth of the biodiesel market.

The Good Fuel Co-operative is a consortium established early in 2008 by five UK biodiesel co-operatives – Goldenfuels, Sundance Renewables, Magpie Recycling, Bolton Alternative Fuels Co-operative and Biofuels.org.uk. It was registered by Co operativesUK.

The five individual co-operatives were already successful and growing businesses, but they created the Good Fuel Co-operative to enable them to pool resources and work together, to develop the market for biodiesel nationally and to help the individual co operative businesses grow.

The share issue is intended to raise capital from supportive individuals and organisations for a range of projects. The most groundbreaking of these is the purchasing of a community biodiesel plant in Tredegar in South Wales by Sundance Renewables.

 

Members of the Good Fuel Co-Op at Tredegar

As Jan Cliff, a founder member of Sundance and the Good Fuel Co-operative, explains: “This will be the largest community biodiesel plant in the UK and we are poised to rescue other failed biodiesel operations to help establish an ethical co-operative movement at the forefront of a low carbon economy that includes other community based renewable energy projects, such as community owned wind farms.”

Sundance is scaling up to produce 30 tonnes of biodiesel per week and supplies Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the National Trust and Forestry Commission with their fuel. Just this year, it won the Social Enterprise Award at the Carmarthenshire Business Awards and the Innovation Award at the first Wales Recycling Awards.

The share issue will raise capital to finance four other projects too: the start-up costs of a new biodiesel co-operative in Shropshire, modernising Goldenfuels’ premises, expanding Bolton Alternative Fuels’ business and collecting waste oil nationally.

Alex Lawrie, a co-operative development specialist with Somerset Co-operative Services who is working with Good Fuel Co-operative, is optimistic.

“It is often the case that in recessions co-operatives can rescue assets and facilities originally developed by over-ambitious private enterprises. As the speculative and greedy investors flee the biofuel sector, a more prudent, principled and accountable business model is taking its place.”

Even though trust in financial services and business has fallen dramatically in the last few months, the future looks strong for Good Fuel as a co-operative of local, community-based businesses.

For more information and to download a prospectus visit www.goodfuel.coop


Notes to Editors:

Co-operativesUK is the national member-owned and led organisation that promotes the interests of co-operatives, works to increase awareness and understanding of co-operative values and principles, and supports the development and growth of new and existing co-operatives. It is a focal point for the sector, a forum for innovation and best practice, and a strategic voice for the co-operative movement.

Co-operativesUK represents co-operative enterprise throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Co-operativesUK is working as a strategic partner with the Office of the Third Sector to promote the benefits and successes of social enterprises, in particular, worker co-operatives, community co-operatives, multi-stakeholder co-operatives and co-operative consortia to Government and to the wider public.

www.cooperatives-uk.coop

 

 

** Sundance Wins IWA Roaring Dragons Business Award **
March 2009
 

Sundance Renewables was pleased to win an IWA Roaring Dragons Business Award after being nominated by Helen Nelson, Cynnal Cymru. 

 

The Roaring Dragons Awards are given to companies in West Wales who have made a significant contribution to the local economy and community which it operates.

 

The award was presented at the IWA West Wales Branch dinner at the Halliwell Centre, Carmarthen, addressed by Kirsty Williams AM, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

 

For more information on the IWA please visit www.iwa.org.uk
 

 

** Sundance launch new Biodiesel plant in Tafarnaubach in Tredegar **
March 2nd 2009

In the current economic climate it makes a change to hear some positive news and we are able to report a fine example of a Cooperative enterprise not only thriving but expanding. During a recession, co-operatives can often be in a position to rescue assets and facilities originally developed by over-ambitious private enterprises.

Sundance Renewables, a not for profit social enterprise and worker owned cooperative, celebrated the opening of a new plant in Tredegar on March 2nd. We were delighted to welcome to the launch Mick Bates AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Environment, Blaenau Gwent Independent AM Trish Law and MP Dai Davies and Jen Morgan, Mayoress of Blaenau Gwent.

    

Sundance Renewables is a unique organisation – we set up the first community based biodiesel plant in the UK near Ammanford and are now the only remaining biodiesel manufacturer in South Wales and the longest established registered biodiesel manufacturer in the UK.

Sundance Director Jan Cliff gave a tour of the plant and a great presentation on the work of Sundance. We held a lucky draw for everyone who had taken the time to complete our members' survey and congratulations to Madog Davies who was at the launch and won 25 litres of Biodiesel. We also ran a “Bake for Bobath” Fairtrade refreshment stall during the event which raised £18.45 for children with cerebral palsy, whilst we filled ourselves with delicious home-made welsh cakes!

 

The new plant in Tredegar will soon be fully operational, with our Environment Agency Permit in place. We are building on existing collection rounds for used oil in the area and sourcing the larger quantities that we will need to run the much larger plant. Sundance is scaling up to produce 40 tonnes of bio-diesel per week and regularly supplies Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the National Trust and Forestry Commission with their fuel.

We are keen to succeed with this new enterprise thereby stabilising local resources, investing in the local economy, contributing to local employment and involving the community. It is putting in practice what the government's proposed Green New Deal is all about – as co-operators we are already doing what we can to support people and the planet before profits and hope to encourage others to follow our lead.

The venture is being partly supported by the Good Fuel Co-op which is an industrial and provident society. It is registered with the Enterprise Investment Scheme allowing investors in the share issue to claim tax relief of 20% of the cost of the shares. The Good Fuel Co-op has raised investment through its share issue and has generously provided £28,000 so far towards the asset purchase and working capital for the plant in Tredegar. Without this support from our fellow co-operators, Sundance Renewables would not have been able to take on the Tredegar plant.

The Good Fuel Co-op has 8 member organisations and is also looking to attract more like-minded organisations.

** Many thanks to all Friends of Sundance and the Good Fuel Co-operative who came along to the event and helped celebrate our launch! **

 

 

Sundance hit the headlines to support Welsh biodiesel industry
January 2009
 

Sadly three of the five biodiesel producers in Wales have closed in the past six months. As the New Year dawned Sundance hit the media featuring on BBC news and The Politics Show alongside Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for the Environment Mick Bates AM, to raise awareness of the plight of the biodiesel industry.

We drew attention to the failure of the UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation which has allowed large fossil fuel interests to control the biodiesel market at the expense of smaller producers - yet another classic example of the government messing up a situation again. They seem to have a knack to be the problem rather than the solution in many instances. The removal of any fuel duty on biodiesel would be a more effective way to help small producers to survive in a competitive fuel market - if only the Government was not in the hands of large corporate fuel conglomerates...

 

To read more please visit The Politics Show Wales