Happy New Year - 2025 is here and we’re ready to make it PRG’s best year yet!
But before we get stuck in our plans for the year ahead, let’s review 2024 and all the awesome activity that went on!
What was a mere idea in 2023 was transformed over the 12 months of 2024, into an inspirational initiative, educational tool and aspirational pipeline which is being used to channel the energy of our future renewable champions and increase their awareness of the rapidly expanding array of opportunities that now exist on their doorstep thanks to the renewable industries.
If we had to pick one word to sum up the last year, it would have to be community. From communicating our why and how it has been received, to delivering events and building new partnerships to put our area at the forefront of vital change, community has been at the heart of it all.
It feels like we have shifted dramatically since our launch, into a real hub, dedicated to inspiring the next generation of renewable energy experts, with the local community playing a central role in all we do.
Key highlights from 2024:
- Partnership with The Crown Estate: In March 2024, our friends at The Crown Estate officially became Patrons, funding a new dedicated education space to PRG as well as sponsoring the Plant + Paddle initiative.
- Plant + Paddle: Launched as a pilot scheme in August 2024 this program - brought to you by PRG and delivered by our amazing team including James Elliott, Ebb & Flo Collective CIC, Hannah Woods and Target NEL - combined environmental education with physical activity, encouraging younger members of the local community to take part in hands-on sustainability efforts. Due to the kind sponsorship of The Crown Estate, this fully-booked programme of events saw more than 100 children take part for free in guided paddleboarding, explorative canoeing, hands-on planting and creative art activities, to open their minds to how nature and its conservation are inextricably linked with our planet and the importance of renewable energy.
- Grimsby Community Energy Share Offer: On June 5, 2024, Projekt Renewable hosted the launch of Grimsby Community Energy's fifth share offer. This initiative empowered residents to invest in renewable energy projects, ensuring that the benefits of clean energy generation are shared locally.
- The Trashion Show: Twelve schools from the local area joined forces to run a competition to design and model an outfit made entirely of re-cyclable materials and then 400 children enjoyed the Trashion Show on the red carpet outside PRG in May.
- Our Future Starts Here: Designed and delivered by The Culture House, PRG hosted this week long cultural event showcasing local talents and all powered by solar energy.
- The Big Replant Event: Held on October 13, 2024, this event brought the community together in a collective effort to restore and replant local green spaces. The enthusiasm of Grimsby residents was a testament to the region’s commitment to environmental restoration and community-driven change.
- Wind Farm Boat Tours: Created to help businesses and those looking to begin a career in the renewable industries explore the 'Future of Renewable Energy' this year we launched an East Coast first with our Wind Farm Boat Trip Tours, in partnership with RWE. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the RWE Humber Gateway Wind Farm – the closest offshore wind farm to the UK mainland, just 8km offshore - the tours offer a unique opportunity to learn about the cutting-edge technology and the industry opportunities that are just beyond the horizon, but out of sight for most.
And that was all just the tip of the iceberg...there were countless events, workshops, conferences, speaking opportunities and celebrations with Patrons and Delivery Partners including North East Lincolnshire Council, The Harbour Learning Trust School, Future Humber, Ebb + Flo Collective, The Canoe River Cleaner, Out of the Box, The House with the Blue Door, Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, and Crowders of Horncastle.
We recorded a second series of The Podkast, too and there is a third series is in the pipeline too!
On-site, both myenergi and The Crown Estate branded up their containers - and there's room for more - and The Kitchen landed, as did our ginormous disco ball! The team even saw Projekt nominated and shortlisted across a host of awards - we even won one for our work 'Engaging the Community' at the Offshore Wind Connections Humber Renewable Awards.
As we look ahead to 2025, we are planning a major programme of events which will include:
- The Great Grimsby Renewable Raft Race
- The World’s Tallest Wind Turbine made of LEGO
- A new living/art wall mural on the gable end of Heritage House
- The Big Alexandra Dock Screen – a floating screen to show films & events throughout the summer
- A major light art installation alongside Alexandra Dock
What's important to us, and we hope to you too, is that the initiative continues to bridge the gap between the renewable energy industry and local residents, fostering an engaging narrative and participation where it can. By placing the community at the heart of its mission this year, it feels as though we are making headway to Projekt Renewable not just being an innovative space - a 'use' of the empty land between the Heritage Fishing Centre and Heritage House - but a symbol of Grimsby’s collective commitment to a sustainable future.
Here’s to building on this for 2025!
