Latest news with #Enviromena
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Elwick solar farm and energy store approved
Plans for a new solar farm and battery energy storage system have been for 193 acres (78 hectares) of agricultural land at High Barns Farm, either side of Coal Lane near Elwick village, have been given the green light by Hartlepool Borough applicant Enviromena Project Management UK claimed the farm would also create 375 scheme, to last for a temporary period of 40 years, went before the the council's planning committee where the application was unanimously approved. The development aims to provide "a reliable source of clean, renewable energy to the National Grid".It will have a capacity of 49.9MW, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Four objections were lodged by residents, raising concerns around the scale of the project and the impact on the Adams of Environmena Project Management UK said at the meeting the firm had worked closely with Elwick Parish Council and other local groups on the scheme which will have "substantive community benefits".At the end of the 40-year period "all infrastructure will be removed and the land reinstated" to its current condition.A report from council planning officers ruled the solar farm's "impact is considered not to be significantly detrimental to landscape quality or enjoyment of the rural area". Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Al Etihad
22-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Sami Khoreibi: UAE's net zero vision is an economic opportunity, not a burden
23 May 2025 00:18 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Sami Khoreibi, former CEO of Enviromena Power Systems, is now a visionary investor in sustainability and a strategic adviser to to Aletihad, he reflected on the UAE's remarkable clean energy journey from his time spent at clean energy company, Masdar.'The reason I moved to the UAE from Canada in 2007 was because of the potential of renewable energy and sustainability,' he said.'What we have seen in the past 18 years is nothing short of incredible. Even the most optimistic predictions have been surpassed.'Khoreibi attributes this success to two main factors - 'very strong leadership and amazing advancements in technology and cost', adding that the UAE has become not only a domestic champion of clean energy but also a global investor in the first company, Enviromena, played a key role in this transition before being acquired in then, he has witnessed even greater momentum, citing major solar projects like the Al Dhafra Solar PV project and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park as proof of the country's scale and growth is enabled by regulations and programmes that promote utility-scale and commercial solar, he also sees room for more inclusive energy solutions.'Most roofs cannot generate enough to cover household energy needs, especially with air conditioning loads. That is why I believe offsite net metering would be a game-changer,' he believes the UAE offers an ideal environment for launching green startups.'Now, whether you are in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or Sharjah, there are fantastic public-private initiatives that support entrepreneurs.'Since leaving Enviromena, he has invested in nearly 20 early-stage sustainability startups, among them The Waste Lab (food waste management), Amp (energy optimisation), and Planno (AI-driven platform that maps solar potential on rooftops globally).'We are in a region full of talent, innovation and large markets,' he said, stressing the value of regional latest venture, Wisewell, focuses on high-tech, data-driven drinking water purification, reducing plastic waste and rethinking how water is delivered across the sees youth as essential to the sustainability movement.'There is nothing more valuable than youth engagement. They have grown up with sustainability embedded in their thinking; it is natural for them to expect industries and governments to protect the environment.'He pointed out that many green technologies, like electric vehicles and renewable energy, are not just environmentally beneficial but 'cheaper and better.'Reflecting on his journey, he recalled: 'In 2009, we built the first solar power plant in the Middle East for Masdar. That plant had 88,000 panels. Fast forward to today, and the Al Dhafra plant has nearly 70 million. That is just one project. We need to install 100,000 panels a day to meet regional targets, about one per second.'And he believes the opportunities for local entrepreneurs are a judge for the business reality TV show "The Final Pitch", he said the platform is more than a competition; it is a chance to mentor the next generation in many sectors like sustainability and renewable Final Pitch is a programme where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to top investors and experts, in the hope of gaining support, funding and building partnerships.'It is not just about pitching. We get to mentor, guide and truly connect with the entrepreneurs. And I learn a lot from them too.'Meanwhile, Khoreibi expressed optimism about the UAE's 2050 net zero target. 'Net zero will not be a burden. It will be one of our biggest economic drivers. We have reached the point where green solutions are better and cheaper. The UAE is wise to treat sustainability not as a cost, but as an investment. And that is exactly what will make it a global leader,' he concluded.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bedale: North Yorkshire solar farm plan opposed by residents' group
Plans for a large solar farm in North Yorkshire have been said the scheme, on land off Lords Lane, between Bedale and Exelby, would create enough renewable energy to power more than 13,800 homes a company Enviromena has submitted a screening application to North Yorkshire Council to find out if extra reports would be needed before a planning application can be lodged.A campaign group formed in opposition to Stell Solar Farm said the solar farm would lead to the loss of good agricultural land. The development would help North Yorkshire Council in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the energy company.A spokesperson for the company said: "Solar farm installations have a small footprint on the land they occupy, leaving considerable scope for biodiversity enhancements."Research has shown that responsibly managed solar farms can play an important role in reducing the decline in biodiversity."They added that existing trees and hedgerows would be protected under the proposals. The Say No To Stell Solar campaign group said the plans could lead to more solar schemes and battery storage plants in the area, according to the Local Democracy Reporting a statement, the group said: "This large solar installation will dominate the rural landscape."At 2.3m (7.5ft) to 3m (10ft) high, there is no way of seeing over, under or through the panels."The views from the public rights of way will be narrowed and hemmed in."They said they feared wildlife would be "displaced and impacted" by the plans. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
