week ending 19 February 2010
ASHP
A Glastonbury resident has installed a new air-source heat recovery system, inside and above the roof of her garage. The system extracts heat from the outside air to heat water which then circulates through the radiators and to supply hot water on tap. Air source heat recovery pumps work even in the coldest of Britain’s outdoor temperatures (as low as -15 degrees C) and function like a fridge, but in reverse. The system is powered by electricity, but Ann hopes this will be supplemented by a future solar PV array on her house. Ann uses ‘green’ electricity supplied through Good Energy, their wind generators feeding into the grid supply, so her home equates to being carbon emission free with energy and hot water and carbon neutral with her wood burning stove.
Western Gazette 19th Feb 2010 more >>
Woodburning Stoves
Although 80 per cent of us live in cities or towns that are classified as smoke exempt, there is a new generation of stoves that pass strict controls for urban emissions. Mike Barber Starkey, managing director of Euroheat, which imports and manufactures woodburners, says that high-spec woodburners can be micromanaged as easily as the most sophisticated central-heating system and combust so efficiently that they produce very little ash or smoke.
Times 19th Feb 2010 more >>
Tesco AD
Tesco’s new distribution centre in Widnes is to be entirely powered by energy generated from food waste. From this summer, a direct power link is set to provide renewable energy straight from food waste recycling company PDM Group’s combined heat and power (CHP) to the neighbouring distribution centre on Widnes’ Multimodal Mersey in Cheshire.
New Energy Focus 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Energy Co-operative
A POWERHOUSE of the industrial revolution is on the brink of £20 million green revolution to cut energy bills. Hundreds of council and housing association homes in Oldham, Stockport, Bury and Rochdale are set to get wind turbines and solar panels as part of a new energy co-operative scheme. This could generate 250 megawatts of electricity per year equivalent to one quarter of the output of a coal-fired power station and save two million tonnes of carbon.
Oldham Evening Chronicle 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Microgeneration skills
A SKILLS event supported by the Heads of the Valleys programme attracted more than 200 students. Teenagers visited the British Gas Energy Academy in Tredegar to learn about sustainable development. They were given a tour of the new facility and an insight into the development of energy conservation over the last 50 years. Backed by the Welsh Assembly Government, the initiative worked with a range of partners to explore microgeneration, water conservation and houses of the future.
Western Mail 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Local Authorities
Andy Deacon of the Energy Saving Trust outlines the help and support available for local authorities in reducing the carbon footprint in their neighbourhoods. The scale of the carbon-reduction challenge facing all of us should not be underestimated. Of the straightforward measures, there are still seven million homes which need cavity wall insulation, and almost 13 million homes that need loft insulation topping up.
Local Government 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Falklands Power
Annual wind power contribution in the Falkland Islands is set to rise to 40 per cent of total energy generated with the installation of three new wind turbines, which started going online on 15 February. The installation of the first three wind turbines in 2007 has resulted in the displacement of 26% of annual fuel consumption and the aim with the three new turbines is to reach 40% fuel displacement.
Cision Wire 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Early Adopters
Shadow energy minister says Conservative government would ensure early adopters receive same level of support under Clean Energy Cash Back scheme as new installations.
Business Green 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Guardian 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Better Generation 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Having campaigned for a feed-in tariff, businesses and households that have installed solar panels and wind turbines will only receive reduced rates from the scheme
Business Green 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Pay as you go
The government’s pay as you save (Pays) energy efficiency scheme has been hailed as a great way for consumers to save money on bills from energy suppliers. Whatgreenhome.com said the cheap energy scheme, which allows homeowners to install microgeneration technologies and pay for them using savings made from future reduced bills, is a “very promising” initiative. The website’s founder Gordon Miller, said the scheme, which is currently being trialled in around 500 homes across England, should not be halted if there is a change of government.
Energy Helpline 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Britons considering ways of becoming more energy efficient may wish to consider installing microgeneration technologies in their homes, such as solar panels, in order to take advantage of a new government scheme. The pay as you save (PAYE) campaign aims to allow people making use of such devices to pay for them using the money they will save on their future energy bills and the programme is currently being trialled in 500 homes across England.
Northern Gas Heating 17th Feb 2010 more >>
North West Climate Plan
The revised Northwest Climate Change Action Plan for 2010-2012 has been published by the region’s development agency to refocus its commitment to renewable energy and moving towards a low carbon economy.
New Energy Focus 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Biomass and Air Quality
An increase in biomass boilers could do serious harm to air quality, the Government has been told, but Defra, the department that monitors pollution, has dismissed the risk as “minute”.
New Energy Focus 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Manchester Heat and Power
Researchers in Manchester are examining new ways to generate energy locally and reduce carbon emissions at the same time. The project will be funded by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) and will look at energy demand and supply profiles for local hospitals, businesses and parks. Dr David Clarke, chief executive of the ETI, said the aim of the £795,000 project is to “accelerate take-up of affordable low-carbon heat and power delivery at a local level”.
England’s North West 16th Feb 2010 more >>
Social Housing Co-operative
A new energy cooperative for the social housing sector could generate £20 million in revenue from renewable energy per year; generate 250 megawatts of electricity and save two million tonnes of carbon. The Horizon Energy Cooperative is developing plans for a ‘microgrid’ – a locally generated and distributed power network. Participating properties in the Greater Manchester region will host equipment for the generation of wind and solar power. Each property has the potential to generate up to £900 worth of renewable energy per year. The resulting energy will be pooled, with some distributed locally and some sold on to the National Grid to generate funds for investment into local energy needs.
24 Dash 16th Feb 2010 more >>
Crain’s Manchester Business News 16th Feb 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Low Carbon Economy 17th Feb 2010 more >>
SSE to build zero carbon homes
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) is to become the first utility company in the UK to build and monitor its own development of zero carbon homes. As part of a ground-breaking project to appreciate the changing role of energy suppliers in a more sustainable society, SSE is constructing 10 eco homes in Chalvey, Slough.
24 Dash 16th Feb 2010 more >>
Rapid 17th Feb 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Glastonbury Solar
Worthy Farm in Somerset, home to the annual music festival Glastonbury, is set to house 1,500 square meters of solar panels for this year’s event, in what would be the UK’s largest private solar electricity system.
New Energy Focus 16th Feb 2010 more >>
Welsh Boiler Scrappage
The Welsh Assembly government has launched its version of the Boiler Scrappage Scheme and is planning to target the over 60s who are likely to be more vulnerable to fuel poverty. Welsh Environment minister Jane Davidson was considering introducing the scheme last month and has now announced that it will be open to around 5000 over 60s across Wales who have an inefficient (G rated) boiler. Eligible applicants will receive a £500 voucher towards the costs of replacing their old boiler. Details of the of the delivery mechanism and application process for the scheme are currently being finalised and are due to be announced shortly. The scheme will open for applications on 1 April.
New Energy Focus 16th Feb 2010 more >>
North East Boiler Scrappage
Take-up has been fastest in the south-east, with 9,387 households applying for the discount. However, only a third of that number (3,412) has applied for the scheme in the north-east. In total, across the UK, there have been 54,758 discount vouchers issued. Gordon Miller, founder of the eco-homes site whatgreenhome.com, said yesterday that the scope of the initiative needed to be bigger: “There are only 125,000 households covered by the scheme when there are 26 million dwellings in the UK it is a pretty small percentage of people who are eligible to claim it.
Low Carbon Economy 16th Feb 2010 more >>
Eco Renovation
Coleshill-based firm Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) West Midlands has breathed new life into a number of empty properties by kitting them out with carbon reducing green technology. The “retrofit” project installed a Ground Source Heat pump and improved insulation. The eco measures include solar powered security lighting, rainwater butts, low water use for bathroom suites and taps, home composting facilities, eco friendly paints, low energy lighting and new heating and electrical systems.
24 Dash 15th Feb 2010 more >>
Farming Futures
Defra-funded Farming Futures is an industry-led collaborative project between the NFU, CLA, AIC, AHRF, Forum for the Future, and Defra to communicate practical action on climate change. It provides information for farmers, land managers and advisers on issues such as anaerobic digestion, water and bio-mass. A new guide to on-farm wind energy generation has also just been published.
Western Morning News 15th Feb 2010 more >>
York University
THE University of York is proving its green credentials by signing up to an agreement to reduce its emissions. The university has signed up to the 10:10 campaign which is an ambitious project to reduce Britain’s carbon emissions by ten per cent in 2010 through action on the part of individuals, companies and other organisations.
York Press 15th Feb 2010 more >>
Larger micro-CHP misses out on Feed-in Tariff
Manufacturers of Mini-CHPs have been left disappointed by the government’s new feed-in tariff scheme for consumers and businesses, after an eleventh-hour decision changed the scope of the project. The Government launched its feed-in tariff scheme at the beginning of this month, with a range of refunds for consumers and businesses who install renewable energy products. This includes a pilot for micro Combined Heat and Power (CHP) schemes, but it has been limited to those that produce less than or equal to 2kW in terms of scale, meaning only smaller consumer-type schemes will be eligible. “The original plan was to include micro-CHP up to 50kW,” said Antony Mayall of Ener-G, a provider of the technology.
H&V News 15th Feb 2010 more >>
Green Alliance
The UK could become a world leader in low carbon technologies such as microgeneration, according to a leading environmental group. Chris Hewett, an associate at Green Alliance, argued that Britain is well placed on a number of fronts to succeed in the global low carbon race.
Rapid 15th Feb 2010 more >>
Garrad Hassan
In response to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) new feed-in tariff programs for small-scale renewable projects in the UK, Garrad Hassan has announces that it will now offer a specialized service suite for developers of small-scale wind and solar photovoltaic projects.
Renewable Energy World 15th Feb 2010 more >>
Not just any insulation, but M&S insulation.
SOME 30,000 Marks & Spencer staff have been offered free home insulation as part of the retailer’s launch of a home energy services division. The company’s new venture will provide bespoke energy advice as well as renewable energy products such as solar panels and heat pumps. The first new service, M&S Energy Home Insulation, will launch this week with prices starting from £149 for loft insulation and the same price for cavity wall insulation.
Scotsman 15th Feb 2010 more >>
Micro-CHP update
What is the status of the development of micro-CHP technology based on fuel cells? As Stefano Campanari and Leonardo Ros s write from Italy, activity in Europe and the US is overshadowed by developments in Japan, but progress is being made on both SOFC and PEM devices.
PowerGen 15th Feb 2010 more >>
Zanzibar
For almost two months, there has been no mains electricity, following an explosion at the power sub-station that takes electricity from mainland Tanzania. The energy impasse is making everyone think about self-sufficiency and the value of renewable energy solar panels here, a wind turbine there. About £600 of solar panels would buy us a few lights, a way to charge mobiles and computers and power for an internet router. What it would not cover is fridge, freezer or fans.
Sunday Times 14th Feb 2010 more >>
Bute Buyout
ISLANDERS on Bute in the Firth of Clyde have backed a community plan to buy 1,700 acres of land owned by film director Richard Attenborough. Three-quarters of the forest is planted and some of the trees will be cleared. Plans include developments to attract tourists, opening it up to cyclists and walkers and to set up renewable energy projects.
Scotsman 13th Feb 2010 more >>
Scottish Rural Development Programme
Small-scale renewable energy projects, in particular the harnessing of wind and/or water, will become even more financially attractive from this April, with the introduction of feed-in tariffs which will be paid for all electricity generated, whether used by the owner or the excess fed into the grid.
Scotsman 13th Feb 2010 more >>
Idiot’s Guide
You wait years for plans to green Britain’s energy supply, then two come along at once. A fortnight ago Ed Miliband, the Climate Secretary, confirmed generous payments for home solar panel and wind turbine systems (while removing grants for their installation). And this week the energy regulator, Ofgem, launched a certificate scheme for green energy tariffs.
Independent 13th Feb 2010 more >>
Killingworth School
IT was full speed ahead yesterday for a school’s clean green drive. The brakes were released to send a 12-metre wind turbine spinning in the grounds of Amberley Primary School in East Bailey, Killingworth. It was another stage in an ambitious eco-project for Amberley, which becomes the first school in North Tyneside to draw power from a turbine.
Newcastle Journal 13th Feb 2010 more >>
Optimal Mixes
The BWEA has taken an interest in micro wind, but otherwise it has mainly been another trade lobby, the Renewable Energy Association (REA), which has covered the microgeneration area (e.g PV solar), along with biomass-based heat and power generation (e.g. micro CHP). One of the REA’s main strengths has always been biomass/waste related energy systems, including sewage gas, land fill gas and other sources of biogas, with new community-scaled AD (Anaerobic Digestion) plants being one of the latest growth areas.
Environmental Research Web 13th Feb 2010 more >>
North Lincolnshire
Westcliffe Primary School in north Lincolnshire is set to receive a £5.5 million grant to put towards the construction of an environmentally-friendly building featuring an array of microgeneration technology. The grant, care of the DCSF Primary Capital Programme, will help with the installation of solar panels and a unique ground source pump.
Rapid 12th Feb 2010 more >>
Wattbox
With more consumers looking to sustain the planet and their wallets, green products like the ultramodern, energy efficient ‘Wattbox’ are becoming more practical by the day. The smart control device gathers information on the energy habits of households, providing instant feedback on electricity consumption. A working prototype of the Wattbox was initially fitted to a home which contained a micro combined heat and power (CHP) boiler and solar hot water heating panels, with the smart device providing an overall energy savings of 15.7 percent during the wintertime and 34 percent during summer months. For the average home with no energy efficient appliances, the company maintains that energy savings can reach up to 12 percent.
Green Energy News 12th Feb 2010 more >>
Kirklees
RE-Charge is an exciting new scheme funded by Kirklees Council to help home owners reduce their carbon footprint. RE-Charge offers interest free loans to home owners to install renewable energy and low carbon technologies on their property. This scheme is the first of its kind in the UK and there are limited funds available.
Heatandenergy.org 12th Feb 2010 more >>
Farm Emissions
Energy efficiency measures, such as reducing the number of miles travelled by farmers and machinery, will be a small but valuable contribution to achieving the carbon reduction target. More important will be the introduction of efficient methods for cutting other greenhouse gas emissions. In farming, the offending greenhouse gases were mainly nitrous oxide released from fertilisers and methane from livestock and slurry.
Yorkshire Post 12th Feb 2010 more >>
Scottish PD
MORE people will be able to generate their own green energy under new Scottish Government proposals.
Northern Scot 12th Feb 2010 more >>