ARK page


Gaia Communications ARK (Additional Renewable Kilowatt) energy supply tariff Answers to Treasurer’s questions: Q: What is the ARK tariff? A: Gaia Communications has teamed up with Christian Aid to develop the Additional Renewable Kilowatt tariff. This link will take you to the relevant page on Christian Aid's website:http://www.christianaid.org.uk/give/other/green_energy_tariff.aspx . The tariff offers environmental benefit to Churches in a market where green gas does not exist and green electricity is in extremely short supply. This scarcity is because bigger companies have now bought up most available green electricity. Churches are in the SME (small-medium enterprise) market, which is in danger of being left behind. Although the energy itself is non-green the ARK tariff creates environmental benefit elsewhere. Q: How much does it cost and what happens to the premium we pay? A: The Standing Charge stays the same and 0.4p is added to the kWh; e.g. on 8,000 kWh p.a. of electricity your church will contribute £32 per year to renewable energy projects supported by Christian Aid in developing countries Q: Why the developing world? A: Climate change is a threat to us all. But while the richest countries are largely to blame, it is the poorest that are suffering most from extremes of droughts and floods. Currently the target project is the Mali Folk Centre. Q: What does ‘Additional’ mean exactly? A: Most green electricity tariffs have been more about helping electricity companies fulfil their renewables obligation to the government, than creating more capacity (except tariffs run by small, green-only companies). Usually a premium is paid for green energy that was going to be generated anyway and so essentially made no difference. The ARK tariff means that renewable energy will be generated overseas in addition to energy that is generated anyway. Ofgem describes additionality in its Revision of Guidelines on Green Supply Offerings March 2005: “*Additionality.* 2.7 Consumers choosing a green supply offering need to be able to be satisfied that their support is making a difference to the environment in one or more of the three following ways: • ensuring additional generation from renewable sources than would otherwise have occurred; • ensuring investment in the expansion of renewable generation capacity that would not otherwise have occurred; • a clearly identified environmental benefit not directly related to renewable energy supply.” Q: Is this Carbon Offsetting? A: No. We do not claim the ARK tariff offsets all the carbon emitted by your Church/Manse. However, the effect will be to support a reduction in carbon emissions in developing countries that partially compensates for your emissions. We believe the most effective way of creating significant change is by lobbying government. Please visit the Operation Noah webpage and download a letter to your MP: http://www.operationnoah.org/take-action/campaign-actions Q: Is there an ARK tariff for GAS? A: Yes. The Standing Charge stays the same and 0.08p is added to the kWh; e.g. 50,000kWh p.a. of gas contributes £40 to Christian Aid’s renewable energy projects. Please visit http://www.est.org.uk for tips on how to reduce energy usage at your Church/Manse/Vicarage/Home www.gaia-energy.co.uk 01570 422011

Gaia Communications
ARK (Additional Renewable Kilowatt)
energy supply tariff
Answers to Treasurer’s questions:

Q: What is the ARK tariff?
A: Gaia Communications has teamed up with Christian Aid to develop the Additional Renewable Kilowatt tariff. This link will take you to the relevant page on Christian Aid's website:http://www.christianaid.org.uk/give/other/green_energy_tariff.aspx . The tariff offers environmental benefit to Churches in a market where green gas does not exist and green electricity is in extremely short supply. This scarcity is because bigger companies have now bought up most available green electricity. Churches are in the SME (small-medium enterprise) market, which is in danger of being left behind. Although the energy itself is non-green the ARK tariff creates environmental benefit elsewhere.

Sarah Gaskin, Christian Aid, receiving the first ARK Tariff Payment from Jim Hackford, Gaia Communications. Jan 2008

Q: How much does it cost and what happens to the premium we pay?
A: The Standing Charge stays the same and 0.4p is added to the kWh; e.g. on 8,000 kWh p.a. of electricity your church will contribute £32 per year to renewable energy projects supported by Christian Aid in developing countries

Q: Why the developing world?
A: Climate change is a threat to us all. But while the richest countries are largely to blame, it is the poorest that are suffering most from extremes of droughts and floods. Currently the target project is the Mali Folk Centre.

Q: What does ‘Additional’ mean exactly?
A: Most green electricity tariffs have been more about helping electricity companies fulfil their renewables obligation to the government, than creating more capacity (except tariffs run by small, green-only companies). Usually a premium is paid for green energy that was going to be generated anyway and so essentially made no difference. The ARK tariff means that renewable energy will be generated overseas in addition to energy that is generated anyway. Ofgem describes additionality in its Revision of Guidelines on Green Supply Offerings March 2005:

“Additionality. 2.7 Consumers choosing a green supply offering need to be able to be satisfied that their support is making a difference to the environment in one or more of the three following ways:
• ensuring additional generation from renewable sources than would otherwise have occurred;
• ensuring investment in the expansion of renewable generation capacity that would not otherwise have occurred;
• a clearly identified environmental benefit not directly related to renewable energy supply.”

Q: Is this Carbon Offsetting?
A: No. We do not claim the ARK tariff offsets all the carbon emitted by your Church/Manse. However, the effect will be to support a reduction in carbon emissions in developing countries that partially compensates for your emissions. We believe the most effective way of creating significant change is by lobbying government. Please visit the Operation Noah webpage and download a letter to your MP: http://www.operationnoah.org/take-action/campaign-actions

Q: Is there an ARK tariff for GAS?
A: Yes. The Standing Charge stays the same and 0.08p is added to the kWh; e.g. 50,000kWh p.a. of gas contributes £40 to Christian Aid’s renewable energy projects.

Please visit http://www.est.org.uk for tips on how to reduce energy usage at your Church/Manse/Vicarage/Home

www.gaia-energy.co.uk
01570 422011