week ending 19 September 2008
Small wind growth
The first BWEA Small Wind Systems UK Market Report, published this week, projects that 3 previous years of interrupted growth will continue through 2008 and into 2009, with the UK retaining the mantle of world leader in small systems technology. However, the 80% growth is driven not just by technological improvements, but also by realisation that there are huge energy savings to be made by deploying small turbines.
BWEA 19th Sept 2008 more >>
South-west Report
An analysis by Regen-SW shows, surprisingly, that very high levels of renewable electricity will be needed to meet the 20% of energy from renewables target by 2020 because of the low starting point of renewable heat and likely constraints on renewable transport fuel.
South-west Regional Development Agency 18th September 2008 more >>
Eco-homes
EnviroHomes has formed a link with Allerdale council to design and make an environmentally friendly building that incorporates sustainable materials, high insulation and renewable energy, that would reach zero carbon. The council’s partnership with EnviroHomes Ltd is part of its commitment to the Nottingham Declaration which was drawn up last year to prevent climate change in the area.
Cumbrian Times and Star 18th Sept 2008 more >>
A building company has unveiled plans for the country’s first zero carbon house in a village in Eden, near Penrith. Nielsens Limited plans to build a property which can be powered without creating greenhouse gases in Greystoke Gill, near Greystoke. It will include a wind turbine, solar panels and a low-electricity boiler.
St Helen’s Reporter 18th Sept 2008 more >>
Renewable Energy Nerve Centre
Business secretary John Hutton MP has unveiled plans for a renewable energy nerve centre in Whitehall, signaling stronger Government commitment to green power. But sceptical industry leaders fear the new body will be toothless unless it is given regulatory powers and takes full control of green energy policy and deployment – currently distributed across Government departments. The Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (Ored) is designed to tackle obstacles to renewable energy use, clear supply chain blockages and encourage inward investment. Responsibility is currently shared by a number of departments including Berr, the Treasury and Communities and Local Government. This division is a core concern for Micropower Council which fears Ored will have no jurisdiction and will become a talking shop.”
H&V News 18th Sept 2008 more >>
Ulster Plan
SINN FEIN deputy First Minister and Mid-Ulster MP Martin McGuinness has written to the First Minister Peter Robinson outlining a number of proposals aimed at tackling the growing burden on households arising from rises in the cost of fuel prices, electricity and gas. The proposals include piloting renewable energy schemes in government buildings.
Mid Ulster Mail 18th Sept 2008 more >>
Merton Open Day
Visitors and residents of Merton will have the opportunity to view the borough from the roof of the Civic Centre as part of the London’s Open House weekend 20 and 21 September. They will also have the chance to take a closer look at the four wind turbines that generate some of the council’s electricity.
Merton Council 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Dorset Heat Exchanger
A new school in Dorset is to install a massive ground to air heat exchanger, which makes use of the constant temperature of the earth to warm air in the winter, and cool it in the summer. The technology can add as much as nine degrees centigrade to cold winter air, and cool the heat of summer by up to fourteen degrees. The system will be supplied by renewable energy specialist REHAU, who say this is the largest project to make use of their AWADUKT Thermo heat exchanger system.
Green Building 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Reepham Ambition
A town pavilion in Reepham, Norfolk, could be turned into an exemplar of green efficiency under plans by its owners. Trustees want to make it purely powered by renewable sources. The pavilion, on Stimpson’s Piece recreation ground in Reepham would have ground source heating, a wind turbine and solar panels.
North Norfolk News 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Anaerobic Digestion
South Shropshire District Council and Mid Bedfordshire District Council, put the composted food waste through a process called anaerobic digestion which can create renewable energy to provide heat and power.
Daily Mail 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Welsh Eco-village
A secret ecovillage that was only discovered during an aerial survey of a Welsh national park will not be demolished after it was finally approved. The village relies on solar power and a wind turbine for electricity, and has compost toilets, reed beds, a workshop and a hay barn.
Guardian 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Welsh Building Regs
Assembly chiefs are looking to construction firms to play a leading role in improving the sustainability of buildings with a view to making all new buildings zero carbon rated by 2011. They are pushing for building regulations to be devolved and are talking to Welsh businesses about what that may entail.
Daily Post 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Weston Pier
It is a challenge to whet the appetite of the country’s most ambitious architects, and the competition to redesign Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier is already taking shape. One of those short-listed to design the multi-million pound project is London-based Ray Hole. At the moment he has only mustered a few preliminary sketches and has come up with a futuristic chrome and glass cocoon, powered by wind turbines and solar panels.
Bristol Evening Post 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Football Turbine
Whitehaven Amateur Football Club in Cumbria is waiting for planning permission to begin building a replacement clubhouse and a wind turbine.
Chester Standard 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Croydon Advance
Croydon Council is developing three innovative schemes. The first phase will see 32 three, four and five-bed family homes built to meet robust eco standards, the high-spec homes will be equipped with environmentally friendly features such solar panels, wind turbines and rainwater harvesting.
Croydon Council 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Hambleton Plan
All major new buildings going up in Hambleton must incorporate sustainable design and construction measures. The District Council is taking steps to improve the sustainability of the built environment through a new guidance document for land owners and developers. The document promotes new buildings that incorporate renewable energy technologies and are built to the principles of passive solar design. The measures it sets out will enable businesses and home owners to benefit from the many advantages that sustainably designed and constructed buildings can bring.
Hambleton District Council 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Windy Co-op
Investors have raised £1.3m – more than five times the target – to fund a Highland wind farm designed to give ordinary Highlanders the chance to invest in a windfarm.
Press & Journal 16th Sept 2008 more >>
Mackie’s Wind Plan
The businessman behind ice-cream firm Mackies of Scotland has called on British farmers and landowners to form their own wind development company. Maitland Mackie is urging 10,000 members of the rural economy to invest a minimum of £1,000 in his new venture, Rural Sector Wingen, to raise money for new wind turbines. Under the scheme, the company would have first pick of wind farm sites owned by the investors and, in return, landowners would receive an income for hosting the turbines.
Building 16th Sept 2008 more >>
Good Energy
Leading green electricity supplier Good Energy has teamed up with influential campaigning organisation Friends of the Earth in the fight against climate change. Good Energy buys 100 per cent renewable energy and also gives financial support to households that produce their own renewable energy. Switching to electricity supplied by Good Energy gives people the opportunity to combat climate change by lowering their domestic carbon emissions. Good Energy was last month rated the best company in the sector in a Concerned Consumer survey funded by The Times.
FoE Press Release 15th Sept 2008 more >>
Green Building 17th Sept 2008 more >>
Brummy Advice
A global renewable energy specialist is launching an advice service aimed at Midlands commercial property owners. Stiebel Eltron’s Midlands regional specification manager, Ian Stone is offering a ‘one-stop shop’ advice centre advising on issues from legislation, to applying for ‘green’ grants, taking advantage of tax breaks and advice on installation of renewable energy products. The service includes an ‘energy efficiency’ survey of premises in the Midlands and producing a free report. The report will examine heat loss and demands of the building and detail recommendations to make the building more energy efficient.
Birmingham Post 15th Sept 2008 more >>
Dundee Turbines
In 2005, the Michelin factory in Dundee installed two turbines, which provide about 30 per cent of the factory’s power. The project has been so successful the company is now looking to do more across the group. Set up by green energy company Ecotricity, the turbines required very little investment on the part of Michelin and the firm benefits from lower costs of energy as a result.
Scotsman 15th Sept 2008 more >>
Community Projects
A hydroelectric scheme based on mining works and a plan to sell solar power generated from panels on industrial estates are among the 10 projects to receive £20,000 funding in a scheme designed to encourage community generation schemes. Three Green Valleys in the Brecon Beacons and the Community Sustainability Trust in Oxford are two of the finalists in the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts’ (Nesta) Big Green Challenge.
Observer 14th Sept 2008 more >>
Wight Biofuel
AN ON-SITE biofuel plant could provide heating and hot water for 1,009 energy-efficient homes being built at Pan on the Isle of Wight.
Isle of Wight County Press 12th Sept 2008 more >>
Leeds School Turbine
Staff and governors at a Leeds primary school will not be complaining if this autumn turns out to be particularly windy. Meadowfield Primary in Halton Moor has become the first school in the city to install a 15m-high wind turbine to help it beat rapidly rising energy costs.
Yorkshire Post 12th Sept 2008 more >>
Arun Award
A cheque for £15,000 has been given to Arun District Council from its success in the world’s leading green energy award. The council finished runners up in the fuelsavers category of the Ashden Awards for sustainable energy. An expansion of the council’s energy efficiency programme will be funded by the prize. It will also go towards developing a renewable energy support service.
Mid Sussex Times 11th Sept 2008 more >>
Renewable Devices
The charity Energy Action Scotland has backed a pledge by an Edinburgh firm to donate a year’s profits towards tackling fuel poverty if a corporation buys 250 of its small wind turbines.
New Energy Focus 1st Sept 2008 more >>