week ending 16 April 2010
Green Hospital
THE NEW £21.5M Girvan Community Hospital will care for the environment as well as patients, say health chiefs. And it will be one of the most innovative public buildings in Scotland, with a minimal carbon footprint. Features include a 100kw wind turbine and a 700kw biomass boiler plant, which burns wood pellets.
Ayrshire Post 16th Apr 2010 more >>
Community Energy Saving
Green support services group Eaga - best known for the Warmfront scheme - says demand from the big utility companies for its carbon saving programme has helped it to weather slower demand in its heating business. The Newcastle-based company is in advanced talks with two more energy companies to deliver their Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) commitment, which aims to help lower income homes improve energy efficiency and cut fuel bills. Eaga won a three-year contract with Drax Power for its entire CESP commitment in January.
Sopo 15th Apr 2010 more >>
Dorset Exhibition
GREEN energy schemes electrified the Digby Hall in Sherborne at the Do-able Renewable fair on Saturday. Eco-friendly firms from across the UK set out their stalls to demonstrate the latest in green energy technologies and offer advice about investing in solar heating systems, biomass boilers, wind turbines and photovoltaic solar panels.
Western Gazette 15th Apr 2010 more >>
Student Biomass
Students living at the University of Cumbria’s Newton Rigg campus are thought to be the first in the UK to have their digs heated by renewable energy produced from crops grown on site. A biomass boiler, installed by former Newton Rigg student Will Barden, was officially switched on this week.
Carlisle News and Star 15th Apr 2010 more >>
Early Adopters
Green energy company Ecotricity has attempted to steal a march on its competitors under the new feed-in tariff scheme for microgeneration, by offering a higher rate for the electricity produced by ‘early adopters’.
Greenwise Business 15th Apr 2010 more >>
Solar Kitemark
County Durham-based manufacturer of solar energy products, Romag, has become the first company to be awarded a licence under the new Kitemark Scheme for Microgeneration, which is operated by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
New Energy Focus 15th Apr 2010 more >>
Bute CHP
ISLANDERS on Bute could be in line to receive ‘clean’ electric power and heat for their homes and businesses under ambitious plans being drawn up by a local businessman. Malcolm Brew wants to build a combined heat and power (CHP) plant on the island which would generate both electricity and heat by burning wood chips brought to the island from abundant forestry plantations in Argyll.
Buteman 14th Apr 2010 more >>
Salford Solar
Residents in three Salford tower blocks are to benefit from the sun’s energy when solar panels are fitted to the roofs of the buildings. Salix Homes has appointed social housing support services group Forrest to fit solar photovoltaic (PV) installations to Blackfriars Court, White Friar Court and Grey Friar Court.
Salford Online 14th Apr 2010 more >>
Scheuten Solar
Scheuten Solar is recently certified according to MCS BBA for their solar modules in. The (MCS) Microgeneration Certification Scheme underlines the high quality and the long-lasting performance of the Scheuten Solar modules and opens the way for sales and project activities in the UK.
PV Industry News 14th Apr 2010 more >>
Better Generation
With the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) in place, it seems the Government and energy companies are taking a step into the right direction to encourage homeowners towards microgeneration. Microgeneration through PV panels or wind turbines is a great way to reduce CO2 emissions, as well as potentially make savings on your electricity bills.
Better Generation 14th Apr 2010 more >>
Energy Saving Cornwall
HUNDREDS of people are expected to attend an energy saving business event at Cornwall’s famous Eden Project. Energy Saving Day 2010 is organised by Plymouth’s Western Electrical, and features 22 firms displaying green technology. Those taking part include Zip, Airflow, Schneider Electric, Heat Mat underfloor heating, Megaman energy saving lamps, Osram, Dextra and My Planet Solar.
Plymouth Herald 14th Apr 2010 more >>
British Insulation
British Gas today announced the further expansion of its new insulation business with the acquisition of Hillserve Ltd, a leading domestic insulation company serving the North West of England and Wales. The deal, worth £5 million, represents another major step in British Gas’ ambitions to build the country’s leading insulation business, and help British Gas customers cut their energy use, their carbon emissions and their fuel bills.
Webnewswire 14th Apr 2010 more >>
Manifestos
Pledges on energy saving measures, including microgeneration, located within the Labour Party s 2010 election manifesto were met with a mixed response. In the document co-ordinated by the Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband, Labour have attempted to draw a clear line between their policies and those of the Conservative Party, their closest rivals for government, by claiming that the Tory policies are merely for show and lack real depth. Andy Atkins, executive director of Friends of the Earth, argued that it fell short of the level of ambition needed to make the required deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
Rapid 13th Apr 2010 more >>
Exeter District Heating
Grant funding of £4.1 million has been secured to develop a district heating scheme for the Cranbrook new town and the Skypark commercial development. Planning permission for a new energy centre at the £120 million Skypark site near Exeter International Airport was granted last week. And a partnership between Exeter and East Devon Growth Point, energy providers E.ON, Skypark joint venture partners and Cranbrook’s developers has now completed an energy supply agreement that will secure £4.1million of grant funding for a district heating network at the site.
Plymouth Herald 13th Apr 2010 more >>
Solarwall
The first energy centre in the north of England will open its doors to the public on 12 May 2010 at the head office of energy saving specialist, Solarwall. The Energy Centre offers visitors expert advice on how to become energy efficient, reduce impact on the environment and save money.
Build 13th Apr 2010 more >>
Heat Pump Association
In 2009, BEAMA created the BEAMA Domestic Heat Pump Association. Its chairman is Chris Davis, Head of Renewables at Dimplex. Kelly Butler, marketing director at BEAMA, has welcomed heating manufacturer Viessmann joining its Domestic Heat Pump Association (BDHPA).
Plumbing Park 13th Apr 2010 more >>
Welsh Permitted Development
The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has today (April 12) published a consultation proposing the expansion of permitted development rights to reduce planning requirements for small-scale renewable energy generation equipment.
New Energy Focus 12th Apr 2010 more >>
AD Problems
The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) has claimed that one of the barriers to farmers making AD technology financially viable is that some supermarkets are unwilling to buy certain food that has been grown on fields using its by-product, digestate.
New Energy Focus 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Business Heat
Businesses are being overlooked in a new national drive to switch more of the UK’s heating over to renewable energy sources, according to Geothermal International. The supplier and installer of ground source heat pumps (GSHP) claims a new tariff that rewards those who switch to lower-carbon forms of heating is unfairly biased towards homeowners and the housing market.
Heating and Plumbing Monthly 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Labour Manifesto
Make greener living easier and fairer through ‘pay as you save’ home energy insulation, energy-bill discounts for pensioners and requiring landlords to properly insulate rented homes. The ‘Pay as you Save’ scheme will enable households to take out loans for insulation or installing solar panels and pay it back over time through the savings on their energy bills. Already households that install renewables are being paid for energy they feed back into the grid through ‘feed-in tariffs’.
Telegraph 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Small Wind Certification
Plans to improve the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for small wind turbines have moved a step forward, with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) inviting manufacturers to get involved in a research and development project into the scheme. DECC hopes that the project should lead to the development of a more cost-effective MCS testing and certification process that reduces the costs for manufacturers of small wind turbines and lowers the perceived barrier of certification.
New Energy Focus 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Baxi Update
Baxi Group’s extensive range of low and zero carbon heating and hot water products will be on show at at CIH Housing 2010. Designed to help specifiers cut carbon emissions, comply with the latest legislation and help tackle fuel poverty issues, the low and zero carbon (LZC) system solutions on display will include exciting additions to Baxi Group’s comprehensive product range including the revolutionary Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP unit.
Building Talk 12th April 2010 more >>
Farm Turbine
A NEW wind turbine could soon be gracing the skies around a Bempton farm.
Farmer Tim Coleman has put forward plans for the new turbine and has insisted the feature will not be a visual blight on the landscape. Subject to planning permission, the Proven WT15kw wind turbine would provide enough renewable energy to serve its main buildings.
Filey Mercury 10th Apr 2010 more >>
Inefficient Biomass
A report commissioned by the Confederation of Forest Industries says “Large-scale biomass plants are simply not the most efficient way to use wood and woody material. This valuable, finite resource has a major part to play in the low-carbon economy by locking up carbon in both forests and wood products, and through generating heat and power locally.” “If new large users of British grown wood and other wood fibre enter the marketplace, supported by subsidy, then it can only be at the expense of existing users, impacting negatively and disproportionately on sustainability, employment, carbon sequestration, and mitigation of climate change.”
This is Somerset 10th Apr 2010 more >>
Feed-in disappointment
First the good news; home renewable producers of wind and solar power across the UK can now receive a cash benefit from the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme, which, introduced on April 1, gives a generous alternative to grant support that will include a minimum payment for all electricity generated by the system as well as a separate payment for the electricity exported to the grid. But the Labour Government’s long-awaited decision excludes those of you who installed turbines etc before July 15 last year. Now cases are emerging of families who set the pace for home renewable production but will miss out on enhanced tariffs. It is billed as an incentive to new entrants not a reward for early endeavour.
John O Groat Journal 9th Apr 2010 more >>
Exeter Heat and Power
PLANS for a low-carbon energy centre which will power new developments to the east of Exeter have been approved. Initially, it will use natural gas boilers and grid electricity until the developments are generating sufficient demand to switch to biomass biological material such as wood.
Exeter Express and Echo 9th Apr 2010 more >>
FiT Fight
The government was put under pressure from the Conservative opposition to account for the costs of the Feed-in Tariff scheme, during a debate in the House of Commons on the last day of Parliament on April 8th.
New Energy Focus 9th Apr 2010 more >>
Biomass Shortage
The “dash to biomass” could mean additional demand for wood fibre for use in large biomass plants could rise to 27 million tonnes per annum in the next five years, putting pressure on existing users, according to a report published by the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor) this week.
New Energy Focus 9th Apr 2010 more >>
Monbiowatch
Dave Sowden’s (Micropower Council) response to George Monbiot.
Guardian 18th March 2010 more >>