week ending 10 April 2009
Building Standards
The forthcoming introduction of new building standards for domestic and non-domestic buildings should reduce carbon emissions by 30% making new Scottish buildings amongst the most carbon efficient in Europe. Although significant, this is a downgrading from the originally proposed 50% cut.
Press and Journal 9th Apr 2009 more >>
Biogas Boost
German biogas technology specialists MT-Energie has committed to the UK anaerobic digestion market with the opening of an office in Reading, Berkshire.
New Energy Focus 9th Apr 2009 more >>
Micro-CHP
Genlec has designed a low-cost, wall-hung, micro-CHP (combined heat & power) device for the home. Although it operates like a normal domestic boiler, when it is heating the home, or the home’s hot water supply, it also generates electricity – saving the average homeowner around £200 off their annual electricity bill. Genlec now has six relationships with boiler manufacturers and power utilities, giving it the potential to access all the major European boiler markets. In particular, the company has a product supply agreement with European boiler manufacturer Daalderop that is targeting sales of at least 30,000 Genlec micro-CHP units to the Dutch and Belgium heating markets over the next three years.
Proactive investors 9th Apr 2009 more >>
Small Wind Lead
The small wind sector, which has experienced a doubling in exports, has shown how the UK can lead in the transition to a low carbon economy, according to an industry body. Figures from the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) have revealed that a combination of increased overseas demand and a weakened pound led to the doubling of export revenues between 2007 and 2008 in the wind microgeneration sector.
Low Carbon Economoy 8th Apr 2009 more >>
Scottish firm Renewable Devices is taking part in a country-wide trial in New Zealand with this Swift turbine on the 320m-high Auckland Tower
New Energy Focus 6th Apr 2009 more >>
Council Turbine
North Down’s wind turbine generated its first gigawatt hour of clean renewable energy over a five-month period from October 2008 to March 2009. As well as supplying more than 4/5ths of the electricity requirements of the Council’s waste transfer station; the turbine ‘spilled’ extra electricity onto the grid to date the amount spilled is sufficient to supply 240 homes for a year!
North Down Borough Council 8th Apr 2009 more >>
Remote Hostel
Glen Affric Youth Hostel, deep in the mountains of central Inverness-shire now has a wind turbine and solar panel to provide visitors with electricity.
Press and Journal 8th Apr 2009 more >>
Welsh Micro Investment
ENTREPRENEUR and business angel Peter Saunders has made a six-figure investment in True Energy and Bright Light Solar, enabling the companies to increase their reach overseas. Bright Light Solar focuses on the overseas activities, supplying refrigerators, lighting and water pumps - all using solar power - to the World Health Organisation and the United Nations, as well as other humanitarian agencies working in developing countries. True Energy looks after group activities in the UK. True Energy has supplied renewable energy solutions to Westminster City Council, Macro, New College Durham, B&Q, and Greater Manchester Fire Service, among others. Its renewable technologies include solar street lighting, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, biomass, wind turbines and ground source heat pumps.
Daily Post 8th Apr 2009 more >>
Teeside Micro-renewables
A NEW renewable energy company headed by two Teesside bosses has announced ambitious plans for expansion. Access Renewables, based near Bishop Auckland, said it planned to bring around ten jobs to the area in the next 12 to 18 months to cope with rising demand for its renewable energy products and services, including solar panels and wind turbines. The jobs are expected to be within the specialist installation teams.
Newcastle Evening Gazette 8th Apr 2009 more >>
Heat Pumps Call
The UK is sitting on a “vast resource of untapped energy”, a Royal Academy of Engineering conference on the potential use of geothermal energy was told. By using ground source heat pumps, the energy can be transferred from hundreds of feet below the ground to the central heating system, while the same pump can also cool the building by taking heat out of the air in the summer.
Telegraph 8th Apr 2009 more >>
Biomass Hospital
A biomass combined heat and power plant burning wood chips provided by the forestry department of Inverness College could provide renewable energy to a hospital. According to NHS Highland, it is in talks for Raigmore College to receive renewable heat and electricity from a biomass energy centre which could be built as part of the college’s city centre development.
Low Carbon Economy 7th Apr 2009 more >>
Northern Irish Support
Energy Minister Arlene Foster has announced new legislation to strengthen Northern Ireland’s effectiveness in increasing renewables development. From 1 April 2009, a system of ‘banding’ to the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) has been introduced. This means that the level of support available for electricity generated from renewable sources will vary depending on the energy source and the technology used; in particular it will increase the support available for offshore developments, certain non-wind technologies and for micro-generation.
eGov Monitor 7th Apr 2009 more >>
York Eco Centre
A new 50ft tall (Quiet Revolution) wind turbine which will slash energy bills for the 47 small and fledgling ventures occupying the 24,000 sq ft two storey Eco Business Centre.
York Press 7th Apr 2009 more >>
Green New Deal
The Government should channel £30 billion a year of investment into low carbon measures to create a green New Deal, its sustainability watchdog has urged. The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) said half of the UK’s stimulus package, which should total 4% of GDP, should go on boosting renewable energy and green transport, redesigning the national grid and making homes more energy efficient.
Metro 7th Apr 2009 more >>
24Dash 7th Apr 2009 more >>
We back solar
A campaign to get the government to back solar photovoltaics as an essential technology to meet renewable targets has received the support of more than 150 MPs. The We Support Solar campaign, which makes recommendations on feed-in tariffs, has been backed by MPs, 148 of whom have signed up to an Early Day Motion supporting the initiative. According to campaigners, the government should set the feed-in tariff for photovoltaics at 40p per kilowatt hour. They also claim the tariff should apply to all energy generated by solar power installations and not just to the energy exported to the grid.
Low Carbon Economy 6th Apr 2009 more >>
New Energy Focus 6th Apr 2009 more >>
Financing the Green New Deal
James Cameron, executive director of Climate Change Capital, a London based investment and consultancy firm specialising in the low carbon industry, said the government should issue “carbon bonds” along the lines of war bonds in the Second World War. The REA also backs the idea.
Guardian 6th Apr 2009 more >>
Leicester Hydro
Weirs on the River Soar could be fitted with technology to generate energy for homes and businesses. Leicester City Council says it wants to harness hydro-electricity from the waterways under plans to find new sources of power.
Leicester Mercury 6th Apr 2009 more >>
Micro-CHP Trouble
What is it with CFCL? They clearly have the best fuel cell technology for micro CHP by a very long way. Thay have demonstrated electrical efficiencies way beyond what anybody else has come near to; 70% from primary fuel, making it significantly better than the best central plant efficiency ever seen. At that rate you could chuck away the heat and still be head and shoulders above CCGT! But of course they still have the heat to play with so overall efficiencies of > 90% are more than possible; that is what makes micro CHP such a winner compared with centralised electricity generation. First they get stung by the Icelandic banks for their capital, manage to recover with new investors filling the funding gap, then NUON (their Dutch partner) get taken over by Vattenfall (who clearly don’t give a damn for New Energy) decide to dump the partnership because “it is not core”.
Micro CHP 6th Apr 2009 more >>
Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging equipment is becoming increasingly sought after in the building inspection industry, according to one provider. Thermal imaging equipment that can spot heat leakage is becoming increasingly popular in the building inspection industry, according to an instrumentation company.
Low Carbon Economy 6th Apr 2009 more >>
Proven Investment
AIM-listed investment company Low Carbon Accelerator is to increase its equity stake in small wind turbine manufacturer Proven Energy to nearly 50%. The company provided a £200,000 investment at the end of March, and is to inject another £300,000 to take its total investment in Ayrshire-based Proven to £7.15 million.
New Energy Focus 3rd Apr 2009 more >>
London’s Low Carbon Plan
London could see 14,000 jobs created and £600 million added to its economy each year under plans outlined by the Mayor this week to move towards a low carbon approach to energy. The plan included boosting building efficiency through energy savings and microrenewables installations, a roll-out of new energy-from-waste infrastructure and a move towards all London buses using electric-hybrid technology. The plan also called for a decentralised heating network to be established across London, using gas-fired combined heat and power technology.
New Energy Focus 3rd Apr 2009 more >>
Small Wind
BWEA, UK’s leading renewable energy association, indicated today that the export segment of the UK small wind sector is reporting stronger growth due to weakened pound and increase in demand from abroad. The figures due to be released in full at the International Small Wind Conference on 22nd April, organised by BWEA and the Building Research Establishment (BRE), show a doubling of export revenues compared to 2007. The news follow this week’s announcement on the increase in financial support for electricity generated by micro and small wind turbines installed in the UK. From 1st of April electricity generated by small turbines qualifies for 2 ROC’s.
BWEA 3rd Apr 2009 more >>
Fenland Wind
A Fenland primary school has turned on its wind turbine funded with a £10,000 co-operative grant and £14,000 from the low carbon buildings programme.
Wisbech Standard 3rd Apr 2009 more >>
Fintry
THE village of Fintry is already counting around £180,000 in energy savings less than a year after celebrating the launch of its own wind turbine. A village-wide insulation project has helped the eco-conscious community reach another milestone. The community of little more than 300 households has calculated that it has increased disposable income in the area by £180,000 a year with a combination of insulation measures and energy efficiency advice.
Stirling Observer 3rd Apr 2009 more >>
Heading for 100%
Germany’s Reichstag in Berlin is set to become the first parliamentary building in the world to be powered 100 percent by renewable energy. Soon the entire country will follow suit. Germany is accelerating its efforts to become the world’s first industrial power to use 100 percent renewable energy -- and given current momentum, it could reach that green goal by 2050. A new roadmap published by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment sketches out the route the world’s largest exporter plans to take to switch over completely to renewable energy, and add 800,000 to 900,000 new cleantech jobs by 2030 as it does so.
Renewable Energy World 3rd April 2009 more >>
Micro CHP
Dutch energy company Nuon has broken off its partnership with fuel cell developer Ceramic Fuel Cells. The decision was taken despite the micro-Combined Heat and Power (microCHP) product development project hitting all performance targets and means a forward order of 100,000 units will no longer go ahead from 2012.
H&V News 3rd Apr 2009 more >>
Stafford Solar
Doxey Primary and Nursery School is set to become one of the greenest in Stafford when solar panels worth £20,000 are installed thanks to funding from the Co-op. The school is among 80 in the UK selected to receive a grant in the second phase of The Co-operative’s Green Energy for Schools scheme. It is also one of 18 put forward by Co-operative Travel staff as part of The Cooperative Travel Ethical Strategy. Leading solar energy company Solarcentury will install the panels.
IC Stafford 2nd Apr 2009 more >>