week ending 2 April 2010
Glastonbury Exhibition
MORE than 30 local, regional and national organisations (businesses, charities, public services) are expected to take part in next weekend’s third Greener Lifestyles event at Glastonbury Town Hall on Saturday 10th April. Somerset’s only one day, indoor, eco-friendly show aims to give practical examples, showing how small changes and easy choices can make big differences to living sustainably. In the bigger picture – lessening our human impact on the natural world and demand for its resources must be an aim for every community.
Western Gazette 2nd April 2010 more >>
Expanding Market
A RAPIDLY expanding green energy installer has moved to larger premises twice in four months. Access Renewables fits small-scale energy systems from solar panels and ground source heat pumps to wind turbines in homes, businesses and schools. The firm is bracing itself for a rush of orders from today, when the Clean Energy Cashback scheme, a system that pays householders for generating green electricity and again for sell unused power back to the grid, comes into force.
Evening Gazette 1st Apr 2010 more >>
Energy Farming
Supermarket Morrisons has collaborated with scientists and dairy farmers to produce what is essentially the UK dairy industry’s first independent guide to using environmentally friendly renewable energy sources. Experts from Newcastle University believe renewable energy forms, such as wind turbines, light energy PV panels and anaerobic digestion, could help dairy farmers cut electricity bills by as much as 30 per cent, a yearly saving of over £3,000 on a typical dairy farm.
Farmers Guardian 1st Apr 2010 more >>
Exmouth Lighting
The move towards sustainable lighting was originally proposed by local environmental group Transition Town Exmouth (TTE). They suggested that, instead of the old-style lights, which are expensive to run and require constant repairs, lower-powered LED lighting, possibly powered by small wind turbines or solar panels could be used.
Exmouth Herald 1st Apr 2010 more >>
Government Plans
Government departments in the UK are publishing details of their commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling climate change. Through the Carbon Reduction Delivery and Adaptation Plans, each department will demonstrate how they intend to cut their carbon footprint. This may include boosting energy efficiency, altering policies, adapting estates and making changes to existing operations. Ministers hope to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the whole of the government estate by 34 percent by 2020, compared to 1999-2000 levels.
Low Carbon Economy 1st April 2010 more >>
Yorkshire Renewables
CO2Sense Yorkshire’s new Renewable Energy Programme replaces the previous Grid Connected Renewables Funding scheme managed by Resource Efficiency Yorkshire. The scheme aims to promote renewable energy across the region and support innovative electricity-generating projects that are linked back to the National Grid. It can offer loans of up to £200,000 or commercial investments worth a maximum of £750,000. Some non-repayable grant funding may be available in “exceptional circumstances”.
Green Grants Machine 1st Apr 2010 more >>
Sustainable Envelopes
The Sustainable Building Envelope Centre (SBEC) will be a showcase for sustainable products and used to test and monitor new integrated heating, energy and ventilation systems on the fabric of the building. The centre is one of the research projects to come out of the £34m Low Carbon Research Institute (LCRI), which is supported by European funding through the Welsh Assembly Government. Testing and monitoring of a suite of heating and energy solutions based primarily on photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies will be carried out.
Western Mail 1st April 2010 more >>
Feed-in Tariff’s begin
Millions of homeowners will be offered cash payouts to generate their own electricity from roof-mounted solar panels and wind turbines, under a scheme starting today.
Times 1st April 2010 more >>
Guardian 1st April 2010 more >>
BBC 1st Apr 2010 more >>
Electricity Prices 1st Apr 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 1st April 2010 more >>
Low Carbon Economy 1st April 2010 more >>
NewNet 1st Apr 2010 more >>
According to leading solar panel specialist Solarcentury, hundreds of households have already contacted the company to express their interest in the scheme with the firm experiencing a four fold increase in sales enquiries since the government finalised the tariffs in February.
Business Green 1st Apr 2010 more >>
Tesco is to offer a solar electricity and hot water service following a government initiative that will pay households to generate green energy. Tesco Renewable Energy will install solar hot water systems at prices starting from £3,499 and solar electricity systems from £6,999. The move follows today’s launch of the government’s feed-in-tariffs, which will pay households to generate their own electricity and any surplus fed back to the National Grid. Tesco said the average customer would make £939 a year and could net more than £20,000 over 25 years.
The Grocer 1st Apr 2010 more >>
Biomass CHP
Dalkia has been selected for seven projects as part of the French government’s third call for tenders for CHP plants fired by biomass. The projects will enable over 570,000 tonnes of biomass to be recovered annually, mainly in the form of forest residue, and the total electricity generating capacity will be close to 60 MW.
Powergen 1st April 2010 more >>
Biomass Grandfathering
A consultation on the grandfathering policy of support for dedicated biomass, anaerobic digestion and energy from waste projects under the Renewables Obligation (RO) has been launched today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
New Energy Focus 1st April 2010 more >>
CRC Efficiency Scheme
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has today (April 1) launched the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme, which is set to help public and private sector organisations cut their carbon emissions. DECC claims the introduction of the scheme, alongside the launch of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT), will see homes and businesses playing a key role in contributing to UK emissions reductions of at least 34% on 1990 levels by 2020.
New Energy Focus 1st April 2010 more >>
Insulate Today
Thousands of employees of some of the UK’s major businesses are to benefit from ‘green perks’ as part of a pilot scheme to encourage employees to insulate their homes. Insulate Today is run with Sainsbury’s Energy and the government’s ACT ON CO2 campaign and aims to provide cheaper offers and incentives for 250,000 workers at Accenture, Aviva, HSBC and Sainsbury’s.
Low Carbon Economy 31st Mar 2010 more >>
Smart Meters
British Gas has announced that it will install two million UK homes with smart meters by 2012, leading the way for other energy suppliers to follow.
Low Carbon Economy 31st March 2010 more >>
FiTs Guidance
Ahead of the introduction of the small-scale renewable energy subsidy scheme, the Feed-in Tariff (FiT), on April 1, energy regulator Ofgem has published draft guidance for licensed electricity suppliers for consultation. The consultation, published on March 24, provides details of the proposed processes, procedures and interactions being established to deliver FiTs, as well as providing guidance on what licensed electricity suppliers are required to do in order to comply with the new supply licence conditions.
New Energy Focus 31st Mar 2010 more >>
Most Eco-friendly building in London
It might look like just another modern corporate HQ but 7 More London, the last piece of the More London office development next to Tower Bridge, is the most eco-friendly building in the city.
London Evening Standard 31st March 2010 more >>
Agricultural contribution
A former president of NFU Scotland, George Lyon MSP says under his proposals farmers throughout Europe could play a major role in helping meet wider targets for society such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as helping increase renewable energy generation.
Scotsman 31st March 2010 more >>
Nottingham goes Baxi
As part of its Secure Warm Modern program, Nottingham City Homes installed a Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP in the community area of a sheltered accommodation complex.
Instalbiz 31st March 2010 more >>
AD Implementation
Defra’s implementation plan for anaerobic digestion “falls far short”, according to rural landowners. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has attacked the plan, published last week by the Department and the Environment Agency for failing to remove red tape and imposing “unwarranted costs” on small installations, such as on farms.
New Energy Focus 30th Mar 2010 more >>
Thames Hydro
The Environment Agency has called for developers to submit proposals to construct and operate sustainable hydropower schemes at three of its weirs on the River Thames.
New Energy Focus 30th Mar 2010 more >>
Norwich Energy Saving
Thousands of families in some of the poorest parts of Norwich could be helped from the scourge of fuel poverty by a new partnership aimed at making homes warmer. The city council has joined forces with Anglian Go Warm, a new scheme which aims to help 10,000 of the households most in need in the next year - with 2,000 city homes expected to receive free energy saving measures to bring down bills and cut carbon emissions.
Norwich Evening News 30th Mar 2010 more >>
Citizen Power
In a landmark conference last week, jointly hosted in the European Parliament by leading MEPs and campaigning organisation Micropower Europe, there was a unanimous call for a consumer-led energy revolution, with microgeneration at its heart. Conference co-chair Judith Merkies MEP said “everything starts and ends with citizens’ participation. We need a change in policy to turn the neighbours literally green with envy”, whilst other panellists and delegates strongly supported calls for a Commission-sponsored Microgeneration Strategy for Europe.
Renewable Energy Magazine 30th Mar 2010 more >>
Heat Pump Training
On the 26th February local MSP Michael McMahon opened the Thermsaver-DeLonghi Heat pump training centre at the Righead Industrial Estate unit in Bellshill. In Partnership with ICS, Thermsaver and their sister company CHES will now provide sales, distribution, service, technical support and installer training for the full range of DeLonghi Heat pumps. They will offer a one day introduction course for air and ground source Heat pumps followed by a two day course incorporating application, design, installation and commissioning.
ADF Online 30th Mar 2010 more >>
Fuel Poverty
The Government will miss its target to lift millions of vulnerable households out of fuel poverty by this year, MPs have warned. The Energy and Climate Change Committee also said a second goal to end fuel poverty among all homes by 2016 looked “increasingly difficult to hit”. Households are in fuel poverty if they spend more than 10 per cent of their income on heating rooms to a reasonable temperature. There were an estimated four million such households in the UK in 2007 the most recent year that figures were available double the number in 2004.
Times 30th Mar 2010 more >>
Kinghorn Ecology Centre
KINGHORN’S NEW ecology centre is set to open in summer 2012 after being given the green light by Fife councillors. Renewable energy technologies are also planned to further reduce the building’s carbon emissions.
Dundee Courier 30th March 2010 more >>
Boiler Scrappage
The UK government’s boiler scrappage scheme, which was launched in January, has achieved its target of offering 250,000 vouchers for homes to replace their boiler. Now, there will be no more applications accepted for a voucher, although some energy suppliers have taken up their own promotional scheme.
Low Carbon Economy 29th Mar 2010 more >>
Early Adopters
Good Energy, supplier of 100% renewable energy, has urged the government to re-assess its reward scheme for early adopters of microgeneration. Under the government’s recently announced Clean Energy Cash-back scheme, householders who install microgeneration technology will receive a feed-in tariff payment of up to 41.3p per kilowatt hour. However, these payments will only apply to new generators who installed their technology after 15th July 2009. Those who installed their renewable technology before this date will only receive 9p/kWh under the scheme.
Connecting Industry 29th Mar 2010 more >>
Halifax implements Merton
Forty-two much needed family homes are to be built in Central Halifax following an agreement between Calderdale Council and Home Group. As part of the commitment to reducing carbon emissions, high standards of insulation and renewable energy technologies will also be incorporated into the design to ensure that 10% of the new homes’ energy requirements will be generated on site.
Calderdale Council 29th March 2010 more >>
FiT
Feed in tariffs are available now which give businesses and individuals an opportunity to have an improved environmental image, together with a high degree of certainty on capital return of five to eight percent over a 20 to 25 year period. However, EnergyTEAM’s Tom Fidell claims that early action is required to get the best rates.
Connecting Industry 29th Mar 2010 more >>
Leith Biomass
Leith is an ideal location for a renewable energy plant and offers excellent sea and rail links, a deep water dock and the capacity to unload and store biomass quickly and safely. This state-of-the-art plant will also produce renewable heat that can be supplied to local businesses, industry and communities. The two initial residential developments at the harbour are progressing and, as they develop, the proposed plant will be capable of providing low carbon renewable energy to them. It will also have the potential to supply energy to other areas over the longer term. Emissions from the plant will be subject to detailed studies and modelling to ensure there are no adverse health effects associated with the plant.
Scotsman 29th March 2010 more >>
Baxi Launch
Baxi has launched the Baxi Ecogen, the first commercially available micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) unit for the home. The appliance’s Free Piston Stirling Engine (FPSE) generates up to 1kWh of electricity whilst providing abundant supplies of space heating and hot water for the home.
Plumbing Park 29th March 2010 more >>
Sainsbury’s Carbon Negative
Sainsbury’s, has discovered a way to make one of its stores larger, while at the same time reducing the amount of energy it uses. The extension at the Sainsbury’s Durham store, which opens today, will add 50% more space to the building, but energy required to run the new larger store, will fall by 10%. The reduction has been brought about by a number of technologies including onsite renewable power generation and new, ground-breaking refrigeration technology. As the energy efficiency of the building is so much higher, and renewable energy is generated on-site, the carbon generated in building the extension will be neutralised after just two years.
Sainsbury 29th March 2010 more >>
Greenwise 28th Mar 2010 more >>
Ulster RO to help microgen
Northern Irish Enterprise minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the Northern Ireland Assembly’s support for changes to legislation she said would enhance small scale renewable electricity generation in the region. The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (NI) 2010 makes amendments to its support system for renewable electricity - the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) - and will come into operation on April 1. Ms Foster noted that there had been calls for a similar scheme in Northern Ireland, but said the enhanced NIRO would “go a long way” to bridging any perceived gap with the feed-in tariff in Britain. However, she did not rule out such a Feed-in Tariff in the future.
New Energy Focus 26th Mar 2010 more >>
Whispergen
Energy company E.ON has signed a deal to distribute WhisperGen micro-CHP units in the UK. E.ON and Efficient Home Energy (EHE), part of leading Spanish manufacturer Mondragon, are working together to deliver the first European mass-produced version of the WhisperGen micro-CHP unit, which generates 1kW electricity whilst providing 12kW of heat for home heating and hot water.
Green Build News 26th Mar 2010 more >>
Eon Press Release 26th Mar 2010 more >>
Powergen 29th Mar 2010 more >>
iStockAnalyst 30th Mar 2010 more >>
Feed-in
From April 1 anybody producing their own energy can be paid per unit they generate – even if they consume all of it themselves.
Country Life 26th Mar 2010 more >>
Micro Power Council Briefing
on the budget.Micro Power Council 24th March 2010 more >>
Baxi Ecogen
Baxi Group had its busiest Ecobuild exhibition to date with the Ecogen micro-CHP displayed on the stand attracting large numbers of visitors.
Building Talk 23rd Mar 2010 more >>
Biomass Fired micro-CHP
Preliminary findings of research.
International Journal of Low Carbon Technologies, 23rd Feb 2010 more >>