Napier University
In June 2005 Napier University launched what was at the time the largest installation of solar panels in Scotland at its Merchiston campus. The solar panels cover an area of 160sqm and generate on average 16kw of electricity annually – enough to power around 50-80 of the 500 computers at the state-of-the-art Jack Kilby Centre.
Napier University 7th June 2005
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week ending 15 May 2009
Accrington School Turbine
PLANS to site a wind turbine at a school have been approved despite fears it sets a precedent for turbines in residential areas. The 30-foot turbine at the new £16.1million Accrington Academy is a bid towards meeting a planning condition that the school must produce 10% of its own energy.
Lancashire Telegraph 14th May 2009 more >>
One fewer Tesco Turbines
A SUPERMARKET’S green policy was attacked by councillors this evening after a planned wind turbine was described as a “futile piece of gimmickry” and a “grotesque form of tokenism”. Members of Chiltern District Council’s planning committee added the amount of electricity generated by the turbine was insufficient and could not be justified.
Local London 14th May 2009 more >>
but two more
TWO wind turbines could soon be placed at Tesco in Broughton Shopping Park, Flintshire.
The supermarket giant is installing the eco-friendly turbines at several of its stores across the country.
Wrexham Evening Leader 14th May 2009 more >>
Solar Feed-in Tariff
April 2010 could be a major milestone in the UK’s attempts to deliver a low-carbon economy, when the government will introduce new “feed-in tariffs”, where a price premium is paid to homeowners, schools and businesses for every unit of electricity they generate from small-scale renewable technologies. However, there is still a very real danger the government will lose its bottle and go for a tariff that will at best make a very marginal difference to uptake. If that happens, it will be a massive lost opportunity at a time when the government needs all the help it can get in meeting its 2020 renewable energy targets.
Guardian 14th May 2009 more >>
Olympics
Darren Johnson said: “If the public is paying for the Olympic Village then it should be a showcase for green design, and the future of building in London. To have only 20% of energy generated at the Olympic Village by renewable energy is ridiculously unambitious. There is already one zero carbon development being built in Newham, which shows what the new standard should be”.
London Assembly 13th May 2009 more >>
Green Tariff Row
The row between Good Energy and Ecotricity over “misleading” green tariff claims underlines the urgent need for clearer green energy rules
Business Green 13th May 2009 more >>
Guardian 14th May 2009 more >>
EDF Energy Grants
EDF Energy’s Green Fund is offering grants of up to £30,000 to help cover the cost of small scale renewable energy technologies, including wind turbines, solar panels and ground source heat pumps. Since its creation, EDF Energy say that the Green Fund has paid out £3.7 million to more than 200 community projects.
Politics.co.uk 12th May 2009 more >>
Reliable Solar
Did you know that solar power for homes is one of the most reliable of the renewable energy sources (green energy) that is available? And it is well within the budgets of most people. For this reason solar power for homes is also the most popular of the alternative forms of energy.
My Content Builder 12th May 2009 more >>
Halifax Eco-heat
A NEWLY formed business has secured exclusive rights to bring new fuel-efficient heating systems to homes and businesses. Builder Glyn Eastwood and Andrew Lumb, a plumber and electrician, are directors of Eco Footprint Ltd, Sowerby Bridge, which focuses on renewable energy fittings, including solar panels and air source heat pumps. Their aims are in line with Government targets driving homes and businesses to cut down their carbon footprint.
Halifax Evening Courier 12th May 2009 more >>
Good Energy
Following this week’s news that every UK home is to get a smart meter, we thought we’d put a utility company in our regular You ask, they answer spotlight. Good Energy, which bills itself as the UK’s “only dedicated 100% renewable electricity supplier”, took up the challenge.
Guardian 12th May 2009 more >>
Solar Costs Falling
Solar energy will fall in price to match the cost of conventional fossil fuel electricity far sooner than previously expected, the UK’s largest solar company has claimed in a new report. Solarcentury said British homeowners will see solar achieve “grid parity” – the point where solar electricity rivals or becomes cheaper than conventional nonrenewable electricity – by 2013. Most predictions suggest that technological innovation will not bring the price down far enough until 2020 or later.
Guardian 12th May 2009 more >>
Ainsworth Bill
MP Peter Ainsworth’s Green Energy Bill has gained further support, following its successful second reading in Parliament last week. The former DEFRA shadow secretary’s bill aims to remove the need for planning permission for renewable installations for domestic premises and exempt renewable installations from council tax increases. SIG Sustainable Solutions has described the bill as a “vital first step” in meeting environmental targets.
Building Sustainable Design 12th May 2009 more >>
Buchan Turbine
An enterprising Buchan village has landed a £38,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund for a plan to power the village with wind power.
Press & Journal 11th May 2009 more >>
Sustainable Redhill
Environmental group Sustainable Redhill will host a presentation on Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s sustainable energy strategy at the Home Cottage, just off Redstone Hill, Redhill, on Tuesday, May 19, at 8pm.
Redhill & Reigate Life 11th May 2009 more >>
London’s Low Carbon Zones
Businesses in London could soon be invited to be involved in flagship low-carbon zones, designed to showcase the technologies that will be required to meet the London mayor’s ambitious carbon reduction targets.
Enviro Solutions 11th May 2009 more >>
Edie 10th May 2009 more >>
Morpeth Solar
A MORPETH school is set to become one of the greenest in Northumberland with the installation of £20,000 worth of solar panels with funding from The Co-operative.
Stobhillgate First School is one of 80 UK schools selected to receive a grant in the second phase of The Co-operative’s Green Energy for Schools scheme. Grange View CE First School in Widdrington has also been chosen.
Morpeth Herald 10th May 2009 more >>
Eco Renovation
Ann Link and her partner Richard have just embarked on an eco overhaul of their 1950s semi. They are installing solar panels and lots of insulation, among other improvements.
Guardian 10th May 2009 more >>
Fintry
When residents of the village of Fintry in Stirlingshire first heard about plans for a wind farm in the hills above them, their reaction took the developer by surprise. Instead of opposing the scheme, the villagers asked the company to build an extra turbine and sell it to them to try to make the community one of the greenest in the UK.
Guardian 10th May 2009 more >>
Green Homes on Display
HOMES in the Crediton area will display renewable energy systems to the public on May 16 and 17. Organisers Crediton Climate Action said people would get “a glimpse into the future” at the event, the first of its kind in the South West. Ten homes in and around Crediton will open to visitors to demonstrate green energy technology from solar panels and wind turbines to more unusual systems such as those that use heat from the ground or the air. Visitors can ask the owners about the costs, effectiveness, benefits and limitations of the different systems.
Exeter Express & Echo 9th May 2009 more >>
Exeter Express & Echo 13th May 2009 more >>
Solar PV
We live in an old terraced house on a cloudy, rainy island. Yet the solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on our roof, put up two years ago, are supplying around 90% of all the electricity used by my family. The initial cost is high, but don’t let that put you off. Two key developments in recent months have made it worth considering solar PV panels. One is that a government incentive for PV doubled on 1 April and the other is that interest rates on many savings accounts have dropped to about 0.1%, meaning it is time your money worked harder.
Guardian 9th May 2009 more >>
Householder Grants
Householders wanting to save money on bills could be forgiven for not making their gas supplier their first port of call. After all, British Gas and the rest want to make more money out of us, not less, don’t they? But energy companies are sitting on thousands of pounds in largely unclaimed grants and benefits – going well beyond the free energy-saving lightbulbs that many already dish out to households.
Guardian 9th May 2009 more >>
Eigg
Rob Gibson MSP: One of the huge achievements of Eigg has been to install a renewable electricity scheme for all the homes on the island. It cost £1.7 million and relies on four windmills, a small hydro plant and photovoltaic cells to provide everyone with 5kw per household. That’s far less than most homes on the mainland use each day, but compared to the previous use of diesel generators it is far cheaper and far more reliable.
John O Groat Journal 8th May 2009 more >>
Carbon Neutral Group
THE CARBON Neutral Group from Cragg Vale met at Gibson Mill Hardcastle Crags to discuss sustainable energy solutions. The group were given a tour of the National Trust site which is completely self sufficient for electricity as well as a tour of its water turbines and compost loos.
Hebden Bridge Times 7th May 2009 more >>
Private Members Bill
A Private Member’s Bill being introduced by Conservative MP Peter Ainsworth aims to encourage the generation of energy from small-scale renewable and sustainable sources. The Bill would enable people and businesses to profit from generating their own energy and aims to remove current legal barriers to microgeneration. The Bill, which is due for its Second Reading on the 8th May, is intended to help kick-start the market for green energy. It will require the Government to reform planning law, making it easier for home and land owners to place microgeneration units – such as wind turbines and solar panels – on their properties, and will put in place strict safeguards to protect against noise and visual nuisance.
Politics.co.uk 6th May 2009 more >>
Europe
The Council has adopted a regulation making energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy schemes eligible for support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in all member states, following a first reading agreement with the European Parliament.
Environmental Expert 6th May 2009 more >>
Windsave Prize
A FOURTEEN year-old pupil at Webster’s High in Angus won a wind turbine for his school after he came first in a competition to design an eco-goodie-bag to hand out to guests at last night’s Capgeminini Black and White Ball in Glasgow.
Scotsman 2nd May 2009 more >>
RSPB Proven Turbine
RSPB Rainham Marshes came a step closer to becoming carbon neutral this week after the charity installed a 15kW wind turbine at the reserve. The turbine, together with existing solar technology, should provide enough energy to power the Purfleet reserve’s visitor centre, minimising the site’s carbon footprint.
RSPB 1st May 2009 more >>
Business Green 30th Apr 2009 more >>