VMI Albert-Certified Carbon-Neutral for 2023

VMI surveyed its staff and clients in an online poll in March 2024 and whilst overwhelmingly, 79% voted for VMI to support a Scottish Reforestation project, run by Ecology, it later transpired that UK tree-planting projects were not Albert-approved offsetting schemes, so we invested in the second most popular project, which Albert certified would NEVER happen without external investment (a requirement of the certification).

Carbon Offset Project Approved by Albert

VMI’s planned carbon audit and offset schemes are approved by Albert, the UK’s environmental sustainability hub for film + TV, thus VMI will continue to be an Albert-Approved carbon neutral organisation.

We know that being carbon neutral is not the same as achieving net-zero but in supporting approved offset schemes, we are taking a further positive step towards making positive contributions to the environment while actively eliminating waste and carbon emissions from our activities.

VMI offset the 79T of carbon emissions generated in 2023 becoming officially Albert-certified Carbon Neutral for a second year.

Visit VMI’s Albert-Certified Offset Portal

1. Moroccan Solar Power Project in Morocco

The biggest share of primary energy consumption in Morocco comes from fossil fuels – with around 57% of the total coming from oil, and 33% of the total coming from coal power. In 2021, solar generation represented less than 2% of the energy mix, though the country has high potential for both solar and wind power generation.

Morocco is also a net importer of energy, and the country is steadily developing new sources of renewable energy to meet rising domestic demand.

Project

The Ouarzazate solar power station is one of the largest concentrated solar projects in the world, making use of thousands of concave mirrors to concentrate solar energy and produce 750 GWh of power per year. The project maintains up to 7 hours of solar energy storage which can be used to deliver power even after the sun sets. The region selected for the project is highly favourable for solar energy generation, receiving among the highest amounts of annual sunlight of any region in the world.

The construction of the project provided almost 7,000 local jobs. As well as renewable energy generation, the project design incorporates co-projects which promote the creation of cooperatives, educational schemes, and skills training. The project additionally organises a mobile hospital to provide health services to the local community, as well as making financial contributions to the local medical centre, including the provision of an ultrasound system, and also the purchase of a school minibus for the local community which has helped to reduce school drop-out rates. more