Citizenship
We seek profits for a purpose, and will deploy resources to best achieve our mission in the wider community.
Solar Aid
When Solarcentury was founded we committed to contributing a percentage of our profits to Solar Aid
- a charity we have already set up to help the developing world. The financial year 2005-2006 was the first year that we made a profit, although since we intend to invest heavily in expansion we'll soon be back in the red. We are also extremely grateful to our first donor, The Co-operative Insurance Society, who have agreed to allow us to administer the Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) from their huge 'solar tower' installation and donate the proceeds to the trust.
We dream of a time when staff can be seconded or take sabbaticals to share their skills and knowledge with others to help deploy solar in the cause of a better world. Although it seems like forever since we first had those dreams the start of the GSCT proves they are becoming a reality.
Carbon emissions
Solarcentury already offset all our carbon emissions annually. Last year, we created 115 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a major greenhouse gas (GHG) contributing to global warming. As we fully recycle all materials and procure 100% of our energy from renewable sources, these emissions come predominantly from travel (air, rail, bus, taxi and the Solarcentury vans - when we can't find LPG!).
We have initiated a project with Women for Sustainable Development in order to fully off-set our non-reducible GHG emissions. Five women participating in the Bagepalli clean development mechanism Biogas Programme in India have built biogas plants in their homes with the money that Solarcentury has provided.
Over six years of operation, the five plants will offset all 115 tonnes of CO2 emissions associated with Solarcentury’s activities from last year, by saving 2.88 tonnes of unsustainable fuel wood each per year, equivalent to 3.77 tonnes of CO2 per plant per year.
Local community
This year we have also helped children learn about renewable energy. Several classes have visited our office in Waterloo to learn about global warming, its impacts on our planet and to get hands on experience of renewable technologies.
