Tesco’s green plans
The North-West Evening Mail reports that the experiment with wind turbines outside Barrow’s Tesco store has persuaded the retailer to put dozens more up at other stores. The Barrow store is one of only four Tesco sites in the country which have put up turbines. The two 13-metre high turbines, which cost £300,000 to install, each generate 20 kilowatts of electricity in the right conditions – enough to power seven houses each. Tesco is now planning to expand its renewable energy wind power scheme to a further 63 stores - some will have a vertical axis design to generate electricity at lower wind speeds. And the company also has plans for its distribution centres around the country to house 11 large scale turbines, each with up to 2MW generating power.
Tesco says “We are leading the way internationally by investment in photovoltaic solar panels, combined heat and power stations, ground source heating and cooling, biomass power generation and high efficiency LED lighting, as well as hundreds of millions of pounds for standard energy efficiency work, staff training and good housekeeping.”
North West Evening Mail 10th December 2007 more >>
week ending 14 December 2007
Zero-carbon announcement
Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper announced. Barratt Developments PLC has been selected by English Partnerships, as the preferred developer to build England's first eco-village at the site of the former Hanham Hall Hospital near Bristol. Homes on the site will meet the Government's most exacting eco standard - Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
GNN 14th Dec 2007
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Lovins
Micropower added four times the electricity and 8-11 times the capacity that nuclear power added globally in 2005, and now produces more electricity than nuclear power does, and is financed by private risk capital. Micropower plus "negawatts," which are probably about as big, now provide more than half of the world's new electrical services.
Clam Post 13th Dec 2007
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Good Energy
Good Energy is developing a dual fuel offering that will provide customers with both electricity and gas. Obviously, you can't get 'green' gas, so it is.looking at how we could put together a package that perhaps used carbon offsets or really incentivised people to use less energy."
Business Green 13th Dec 2007
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Micro-CHP deals
Energy supplier E.ON has announced it is to offer private and public sector customers new micro combined heat and power (CHP) generators after it inked a deal with CHP manufacturer EC Power.
Business Green 13th Dec 2007
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Ceres Power and British Gas won an award for their collaboration on combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems for small-scale residential microgeneration. The work, which started in August 2005, recently resulted in the demonstration of a wall mountable fuel cell micro-CHP unit, integrating in a single unit the fuel cell and all other components to provide heating, hot water and electricity to the home. This micro-CHP technology is thus able to replace existing home boilers, with potential for mass market adoption by 14.5 million UK households.
Fuel Cell Works 13th Dec 2007
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Essex generation
Local residents across Essex could find it easier to generate their own green energy under major new plans announced by Conservatives. Policy proposals have been unveiled to promote 'decentralised energy' and micro-generation, as part of a strategy to fight climate change, make our energy supply more secure and help consumers save money.
Essex Chronicle 13th Dec 2007
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Halifax B&Q
B&Q intends to install three vertical-axis wind turbines on the site, the first of their type in Calderdale, which will be on masts up to 45-ft high and will help generate electricity for the building.
Halifax Evening Courier 13th Dec 2007
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Solar rejected
A "GREEN" homeowner has lost his bid to install solar panels in his roof. An appeal was lodged in the summer, after the district council rejected a bid to install solar panels on his home. The planning inspectorate has upheld the decision maintaining that the panels would upset the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.
Herts Advertiser 13th Dec 2007
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London Fire Brigade
The London Fire Brigade has already achieved a reduction of 14 per cent CO2 emissions compared with the 1990 baseline. In the past year alone it has reduced its gas and electricity consumption by 203,600kgs of CO2. Some of London’s fire stations now have solar panel roofs, yet others have new combined heat and power plants, others have wind turbines planned or installed.
Camden New Journal 13th Dec 2007
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Wiltshire
Hardenhuish School in Chippenham has been given planning permission to put up a wind turbine and solar panels.
Wiltshire Gazette & Herald 13th Dec 2007
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Microgeneration
Politicians extol the virtues of domestic generation of electricity. Microgeneration may be fashionable, but it is an astonishingly expensive way of reducing emissions. Less glamorous, but more effective, would be a plan to put a £20 note in the centre of every roll of loft insulation. British houses are the worst insulated in northern Europe and subsidised insulation would cut emissions far more cheaply than encouraging wind turbines or solar photovoltaic panels
Guardian 13th Dec 2007
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Gordon Brown
Asked what he had personally done to help the environment, Mr Brown said: “Very quietly we have put solar panels on our home in Scotland quite some time ago. We have been operating with solar power for some time”. Previously, his office has refused to discuss this. Mr Brown’s Scottish home is in Fife, which is not known as a sun trap. He said: “The irony is my initial instinct was to have wind turbines. We are in a hill in an exposed area but I was persuaded by people who know about these things that even in that area — surrounded by massive winds and storms — solar power was a better way of generating electricity. It has been successful.
Times 13th Dec 2007
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Daily Mail 13th Dec 2007
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Telegraph 14th Dec 2007
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Zero-carbon Scotland?
The report of an expert panel appointed to look at ways to make homes and buildings more energy efficient has been published today. Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said:"The expert panel has developed a coherent strategy that points the way to zero-carbon buildings. Scotland already leads the UK in building energy standards and planning policy stipulating low and zero carbon equipment in new developments. The panel's recommended standards are even more demanding. If implemented, they would make a significant contribution to our proposed 80 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050.
Scottish Government Release 12th Dec 2007
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Tameside
PLANS to build a wind turbine at Ashton Sixth Form College have got residents in a spin. The college originally applied to build two wind turbines on playing fields behind its building. But despite cutting the number to one, the college’s attempts to go green have been met with concern from people living near the site.
Tameside Advertiser 12th Dec 2007
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Housing Associations
The National Housing Federation (NHF) is campaigning for the Government to place more stringent green construction targets on the private sector and include them in the Climate Change Bill. The NHF, which represents England's housing associations, said the private sector is currently so far behind housing associations, they are likely to miss Government targets to build zero-carbon homes by 2016.
Edie 12th Dec 2007
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Planning
Alan Whitehead spoke in the House of Commons on the need for the planning
system to be reformed to help householders install renewable energy devices,
such as solar panels or small wind turbines on their homes, with minimal
local authority interference.
Alan Whitehead MP 12th Dec 2007
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Ayrshire School
AN AYRSHIRE school has bagged a wind turbine for their ROOF after going green in the classroom.
Ayrshire Post 12th Dec 2007
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Allerdale
A small domestic turbine on a 12 metre tower has been rejected by Allerdale District Council.
Carlisle News and Star 12th Dec 2007
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Guernsey Energy Policy
Other viable schemes which could receive funding through sums raised from green taxes include insulation, micro-renewable generation and energy efficiency grants.’
This is Guernsey 12th Dec 2007
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South Gloucestershire
SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is proving its green credentials by agreeing to build a new eco-friendly council headquarters in Yate, at a cost of £29 million. The offices, will include wind turbines, a biomass boiler and automatic lighting controls.
Gloucestershire Gazette 12th Dec 2007
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Southampton
A GIANT wind turbine - almost double the size of Southampton Civic Centre clock tower - could be built in a mystery location in the city. The enormous turbine - one of the biggest in the country - could soar a staggering 85m (279ft) into the sky, with rotating blades stretching 33m (108ft). It's not the only turbine being considered for the city with plans to install one at every school.
Southampton Daily Echo 12th Dec 2007
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Southern Daily Echo 13th Dec 2007
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Halifax Schools
Future plans include converting school mini-buses to bio-diesel, installing bike racks to encourage cycling, energy saving light bulbs and intelligent plugs; greenhouses and allowing carbon producers to off-set emissions by paying for wind turbines, solar panels and "eco-domes".
Halifax Evening Courier 12th Dec 2007
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Isle of Eigg
The islanders have raised almost £100,000 for an electrification scheme, with the rest of the cash coming from the EU regional development programme, the National Lottery and the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company. The £1.5million, solar, wind and hydro power scheme will be one of the greenest in the country.
Aberdeen Press and Journal 11th Dec 2007
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Alnes
Public buildings heated by wood-chip boilers, a refurbished hall and a wind turbine have all contributed to an Easter Ross town winning a national award for its community-inspired regeneration.
Aberdeen Press & Journal 11th Dec 2007
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Sunderland Schools
Multimillion-pound plans for six new Sunderland schools were due to be unveiled today. The new schools will incorporate features most important to pupils, staff and governors including wind turbines, grassed roofing and flexible learning areas.
Sunderland Echo 11th Dec 2007
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Sunderland Echo 12th Dec 2007
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Vertical Axis turbines
One of just half a dozen vertical axis wind turbines in the country has been installed at Mercedes-Benz UK in Milton Keynes. The 20 metre tall turbine is specially designed for urban spaces with its unique helical design and carbon fibre blades.
Milton Keynes Citizen 11th Dec 2007
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Reading
GreenPark, owned by Prudential, houses some of Reading's most prestigious businesses, and has launched many green initiatives, including the landmark wind turbine seen by millions of M4 motorists every year
IC Berkshire 11th Dec 2007
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Microgenerator demands action
A RENEWABLE energy company from Trafford Park, Microgeneration Limited, has teamed up with scores of global firms to demand a new UN framework to tackle climate change. Andy Honey, of Microgeneration Limited, one of the UK's leading providers and installers of renewable energy systems, has joined forces with the heads of 150 major companies to demand action.
This is Cheshire 11th Dec 2007
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Bristol
A new Bristol science park, could possibly deliver a zero-carbon footprint because most of its power requirements would be produced on-site using wind turbines and biomass boilers.
Bristol Evening Post 11th Dec 2007
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Conservative policy
People across Devon could find it easier to generate their own green energy under new Conservative Party plans. Proposals have been unveiled to promote the use of decentralised energy and micro generation, as part of a strategy to fight climate change, make our supply more secure and help people save money.
Exeter Express & Echo 11th Dec 2007
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Green Shop
Stephen Black has been selling furniture for 30 years now. But when he decided to go into partnership with golf-club director Laxley Pennant to build a brand new furniture store, he was amazed to receive a "sustainability notice" from Brighton and Hove. It stipulated that 10% of his electricity would have to be produced from onsite renewables, meaning that he would have to install solar water panels, or solar electricity or a wind turbine. The Bright Green Store opened last week in Hove. Some 60 PV solar panels on the roof provide enough electricity for two family homes. The store will harvest 11m gallons of rainwater a year and every light bulb in the place is low-energy. And it's all thanks to the Merton rule, a small but significant local authority innovation four years ago which stated that all new major building developments should generate 10% of their electricity from onsite renewable energy as a way to reduce carbon emissions.
Guardian 11th Dec 2007
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Funding
INVESTORS have been given more time to buy a share of two wind turbines at Deeping St Nicholas. The Fenland Green Power Co-operative has raised more than £2m towards purchasing two renewable energy machines and is now trying to generate further funds.
Lincolnshire Free Press 11th Dec 2007
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The Co-operative Bank's Corporate Banking Centre in Derby is looking for businesses that could tap into a £400m fund for renewable energy and carbon reduction projects.
Derby Evening Telegraph 10th Dec 2007
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Nottingham Evening Post 13th Dec 2007
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Hypocrisy
Letter: On Wednesday, November 19, we had Gordon Brown’s impressive sounding pronouncements about lowering our carbon footprint, but what is his Government actually doing? In May, Alistair Darling, then Secretary of State for Trade & Industry, cut the maximum grant for househnold renewable energy from £15,400 to £2,500. This grant was massively oversubscribed, meaning that many thousands of people wanted to do something positive to reduce emissions.
Sheffield Star 10th Dec 2007
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Devon Survey
RE4D, a project funded by Devon County Council, Objective 2 and Devon Renaissance, is conducting the survey to find out how many solar thermal, photovoltaics, biomass, heat pump, small scale wind or hydro systems have been installed in Devon over the last year.
This is the West Country 10th December 2007
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Renewable Entrepeneurs
Falmouth-based EarthEnergy founder Tony Batchelor is building a business that heats and cools offices and homes by tapping into the trapped heat of rocks 70m or more below the earth’s surface. “Geothermal is the Cinderella of renewable energy technologies,” he says. “Solar and wind have had more allure because people can show them off. With geothermal it’s all underground, so there’s nothing to see.”
Times 9th Dec 2007
Harrogate
PANNAL Primary School in Pannal, Harrogate has become the first primary school in North Yorkshire to install a wind turbine in its grounds.
Harrogate Advertiser 9th Dec 2007
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Green Ice-Cream
Mackies, the 500-cow Aberdeenshire dairy and ice-cream business, has set its sights on becoming Britain's greenest company within two years. The family-run business, which makes 8m litres of ice-cream a year, has recently installed its third 49m-high wind turbine and plans are afoot to site a £1m biogas plant at the farm next year.
First4Farming 9th Dec 2007
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Baxi Micro-CHP
UK boiler manufacturer Baxi has unveiled a radical new product that will revolutionise domestic heating. Micro-CHP is essentially a gas boiler, similar in size to a normal wall hung boiler, which generates electricity for use in the home while providing heating and hot water.
That’s Green 8th Dec 2007
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Teinbridge Tesco
A new Tesco store planned for Teinbridge would be an environmentally friendly building which would even make some of its own power using wind turbines.
Exeter Express and Echo 8th Dec 2007
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Fallon Bill
Backbench Conservative MP Michael Fallon has introduced a Private Member's Bill designed to give local authorities the legal power to set renewable and low carbon energy targets for new development. His imitative has strong cross-party support as well as backing from a clutch of former environment ministers: Michael Meacher, Elliot Morley and John Gummer as well as former energy minister John Battle.
e-Gov Monitor 7th Dec 2007
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Zero Carbon York
Under the new policy, agreed by City of York Council, all new homes built in York should be carbon neutral by 2016.
York Press 7th Dec 2007
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Norfolk Tesco
A WIND turbine is planned for Tesco in Hunstanton to help the supermarket giant reduce its carbon footprint and save money. West Norfolk Council has received a planning application for a 10.6 metre high micro wind turbine for the site in Southend Road.
Lynn News 7th Dec 2007
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Blackpool
PLANS for a state-of-the-art health centre in Fylde have been resubmitted
to council planners.
The multi-million pound development, based in the heart of St Annes, was
given the go ahead in June. But the proposals are being looked at again because
designers want to extend the building and install solar panels.
Blackpool Gazette 7th Dec 2007
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Blyth/Wansbeck
OUTLINE proposals for a new sustainable community on brownfield land at Cambois are to be unveiled next week. Banks Developments is behind the proposals to redevelop land surrounding the site of the former Vald Birn foundry on the coastline.
News Post Leader 6th Dec 2007
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Permitted Development
The Scottish Government is also considering amendments to The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 to allow more microrenewable equipment to be installed on existing residential buildings without the need to apply for planning permission. We intend to consult in the new year.
Scottish Parliament Written Answers 6th Dec 2007
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