Summary

• 886kW of installed power 
• The Febres region will save 52% on their energy costs on average 
• The project will save 388 tons of C02 emissions 
• 1375 families will be supported with affordable and clean energy

Story

Cleanwatts recently launched a new Renewable Energy Community (REC) in Cantanhede, which aims at sustainability, reducing energy-related costs in Febres while also fighting energy poverty among needy families in the region.

This 886kW community is already fully operational and will support 1375 needy families, and is now seeming to attract new members. For this reason, Cleanwatts is looking for homeowners and companies who want to join this Community.

In the Febres Energy Community – and under the 100 Villages A++ program – Cleanwatts involved the parish councils of the region, namely the councils of Febres, Covões and Camarneira, Vilamar and Corticeiro de Cima, and São Caetano.

Currently, the Febres CER already has 13 members, 9 companies/industries and 4 residential/domestic members. A local information session will soon be organised in the parish of São Caetano where the project will be presented to attract more members.

Febres will also become climate-positive, generating 583% more green energy than the totality of its consumption. This will also avoid the emission of 388 equivalent tons of CO2 per year and reach 683% carbon neutrality. 

José Basílio Simões, co-founder and vice-chairman of Cleanwatts said:

This Energy Community was installed in the headquarters of Santos e Santos, but will serve the entire community of Febres. It is already in full operation and ready to receive new members. In addition to allowing Santos e Santos to support disadvantaged families and those in energy poverty, it will also have a strong environmental impact. It will increase the company’s carbon neutrality and contribute to its overall energy independence.  

Energy provision is one of the great challenges for companies and industry, not only because of the costs it incurs, but also because of its ecological footprint. Energy and environmental sustainability are a concern for everyone, and Cleanwatts is committed to helping business and industry to be more sustainable and ecological.  

In addition, companies today have a strong social role that cannot and should not be neglected. In the case of a company like Santos e Santos, which is so rooted in its local community, this reality is even more evident.

Joining the REC is completely free and does not require members to cancel their contract with the current supplier. Members will retain their supplier for the purchase of energy that cannot be supplied through the REC (for example, energy consumed during the night).

Cleanwatts handles all the paperwork, and the members will continue to receive an invoice from the current supplier, with the amount of energy consumed exclusively from them. In addition, new members will receive a bill from their local REC for their clean energy consumption.

The consumption will not be billed twice, but rather will be split according to the origin of the energy. Cleanwatts only needs to formally register members within the community and sign the contract. 30 days later, the new members will start consuming energy from the Community.

José Basílio Simões continued:

Cleanwatts will also be present at Expofacic, from July 27 to August 6, and we invite everyone to visit us for more information about the benefits and how to join the local Energy Community.

All people living in the parish councils of Febres, Cantanhede, Covões and Camarneira, Vilamar and Corticeiro de Cima and São Caetano can join this Community. Anyone interested in being part of this community can request information by emailing csm@cleanwatts.energy. Cleanwatts also offers an online savings simulation tool for the Febres CER, which you can consult HERE.