Petans short listed for 2008 British Renewable Energy Awards
Following the award earlier in 2008 of the Chamber of Commerce (Eastern) Regional
Green Award to Petans for the ground breaking solar heating installation
on the Norwich survival tank, we are pleased to be able to say that we have again
been put forward for a national award for our environmental awareness.
This time Petans has been nominated for our work not only for the solar heating
but also the recent installation of a bio remediation plant to treat all the fireground
run off in an environmentally friendly way without the use of any chemicals. The
plant uses microbes to treat the polluted run off and creates clean water good enough
to be 95% potable and fully reusable on the fire training site.
Petans entered the 2008 British Renewable Energy awards, and have been short-listed
for the installer award out of a significant number of entries and pre nominations.
The winners and runners-up will be chosen by a distinguished panel of judges and
the awards presented at the Gala Awards dinner on 19th June at the Café Royal
in London. See the REA website to keep up to date with our progress at the event,
which is kindly sponsored by Renewable Energy Systems.
New OPITO marine courses accredited
Petans have been working hard to develop their portfolio to reflect changing markets
and have recently undergone audit by OPITO to accredit a new suite of maritime training
courses.
Aside from the company specific work we have been doing for local offshore operators,
these courses add accredited training to our offering for marine markets.
We are pleased to be able to announce successful audits and accreditation by OPITO
of Petans training in ERRV Crew Fast Rescue Craft Boatman and ERRV Crew Daughter
Craft Coxswain. Both of these courses will be run from our Lowestoft Training
platform.
Further course developments and associations are in the pipeline and will be notified
on this site as they are established.
High level training plans.
Petans have recently submitted a proposal to local planners for the construction
of a high steel frame tower on their Norwich site.
Being alongside Norwich International airport we had concerns over their acceptance
initially, but this has been given and if the final planning approval is gained
we will install the tower before end Q3. Using this we will be able to offer improved
offshore training, abseil training, Working at Height, Wind turbine access and numerous
other courses either directly from Petans or in conjunction with other trainers.
We have worked on the design together with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and hope
to be able to offer the use of the unit to our colleagues there and encourage other
F & R Services to make wider use of the Petans facility.
Can wind power come to Petans?
Those of you who have been here in the winter months know there is a significant
wind resource that cuts across Petans for most of the time! So now Petans trustees
have given the green light for managers here to develop a firm proposal for the
installation and use of wind power on the Petans site as a means of developing energy.
Currently we operate 32 BP supplied Photo-voltaic panels to use the suns power to
offset some energy use by the Administration and restaurant buildings, but the proposal
is to extend our local generation by further capital investment.
Early thoughts are to plan for multiple small scale units which will use newly developed
technologies that have minimum effect on NIA radar and a positive visual impact
through their innovative design.
More will be available on this here as the proposals firm up.
A Dual carriageway to Petans site? The impact on future operations
Following a period of concern, and lengthy discussions between Petans managers and
the parties developing the design for the proposed Norwich Northern Distributor
road there has been a positive outcome from the talks.
The new dual carriageway road alongside us may be here by 2013, and will provide
much improved access for delegates, as there will be a roundabout solely for access
to Petans training centre! However there were negatives for us, in terms of pollution.
However the impact on us through noise pollution will be minimised through engineers
agreeing to place the route close to us into a cutting, and screening of the site
by higher banks and planting.
In addition to the noise we had expressed major concerns over the possible contamination
of the road by smoke from fire training operations. County designers have come to
site, seen our facility and training operations, measured and photographed what
we do. This data was entered into some highly sophisticated computer modelling software
and the outcome is a positive acceptance that our training will not affect the passing
road traffic.
The designers have furthermore agreed to incorporate greater levels of banking and
planting along the route as it approaches Petans to prevent drivers being distracted
by the sighting of training operations.
EEEGr members of the Board
The trustees are pleased to announce a strengthening of the Board of Petans by the
addition of John Best, Chief executive of East of England Energy group to their
number. John brings a wide ranging knowledge of the energy business in the region
and a focused approach on all forms of energy to the trustee group.
Almost as an exchange we can also announce the appointment of Michael Wilder, (General
Manager Petans) to the EEEGr Board. Michael was almost a founder member of
the EEEGr Board for several of its early years but stood down when demands for Petans
dictated that to be necessary. However now, although there is work still to do at
Petans, Michaels experience is seen as an asset to EEEGr, particularly in bringing
a training and learning focus to their board.
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