week ending 30 April 2010
Which? Solar
Some solar thermal installers are exaggerating the potential savings householders can expect to make by investing in the technology, according to an undercover investigation published this week by “consumer watchdog” Which?. Which? conducted the survey early this year after receiving complaints about the solar panel industry - the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) received around 1,000 complaints about the sector last year - and asked 14 companies to quote for the installation of a solar thermal system at a property in south-east England.
New Energy Focus 29th Apr 2010 more >>
Ecotricity
Renewable electricity supplier Ecotricity has been given the go-ahead to build a state-of-the-art headquarters, which it hopes will help transform its Gloucestershire base of Stroud into a ‘Silicon Valley’ for a new generation of green enterprise.
New Energy Focus 28th Apr 2010 more >>
FiT Boost
The Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties have both pledged to boost the financial support available to small-scale renewable electricity generators under the clean-energy cashback scheme.
New Energy Focus 28th Apr 2010 more >>
RHI – bad scheme?
The sustainable building association, AECB, is warning the Government that the proposed ‘Renewable Heat Incentive’ is so badly designed that in some circumstances it actually pays people to install systems that burn more fossil fuel, and thereby, emit more CO2. The AECB is responding to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) consultation on the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive, which closes on Monday.
Build 28th Apr 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 26th Apr 2010 more >>
Dairy AD
BV Dairy of Dorset is using liquid anaerobic digestion (AD) technology in the hope it will cut its carbon footprint by more than 65 per cent.
Processing Talk 28th Apr 2010 more >>
Farmers Guardian 27th Apr 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 29th Apr 2010 more >>
Small Wind
RenewableUK, the country’s leading renewable energy trade association, has today announced the publication of a consumer guide aimed at helping individuals and businesses looking to install their own wind turbine. Launching the guide at its annual International Small Wind Conference 2010 (ISWC 2010), in Glasgow, RenewableUK urged consumers to take advantage of the government’s new feed-in tariffs, but highlighted the need for the sector to be granted its long awaited General Permission Development Order (GPDO).
Renewable UK 28th Apr 2010 more >>
Greenwise Business 28th Apr 2010 more >>
Click Green 27th Apr 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 28th Apr 2010 more >>
Heat Pump Roadshow
Mitsubishi Electric is embarking on a nationwide roadshow to highlight the benefits of its new range of commercial heating products which can help the majority of commercial buildings readily achieve renewable energy targets. The company is holding events in Birmingham, London, Leeds, Wales, Manchester, Tyne and Wear, Scotland, South Devon and Bristol throughout May. The seminars will focus on the commercial heating-only range which uses advanced heat pumps to provide radial heating, warm air, domestic hot water, or a combination of all three.
ADF Online 27th Apr 2010 more >>
Solar Mis-selling
Today’s Which? magazine report exposing misleading claims from the solar heating industry is a great start on the campaign to clean up the industry but the consumer champion may need to take the matter even further to be heard at the highest level. Barry Johnston, MD of Solar Twin Ltd comments: “At last, this catalogue of misleading claims are out in the open and I am really grateful to Which? for bringing them to the public’s attention. They shouldn’t have to however, because the industry should be as ethical and honest – and environmentally friendly as some of the products being sold! It is important that the public can determine which companies are good and which can do a lot better and I look forward to working with anyone to put this right.”
Marketing Projects 27th Apr 2010 more >>
Small Wind Growth
The UK’s small wind turbine industry delivered record growth during 2009 as growing numbers of customers installed wind energy systems ahead of the launch of the government’s feed-in tariff. That is the conclusion of a new report from trade association RenewableUK to be released later today at the opening of the second annual International Small Wind Conference in Glasgow, which shows that the small wind market expanded 25 per cent in 2009, installing 8.6MW of capacity during the course of the year. The annual report will also show that the UK has cemented its position as the second largest market for small wind systems in the world after the US, and is now home to over 20 manufacturers specialising in the development of small-scale turbines.
Business Green 27th Apr 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 27th Apr 2010 more >>
Good Energy Results
Juliet Davenport, chief executive of Good Energy, claimed that the introduction of the Green Supply Guidelines to highlight environmentally friendly suppliers, as well as the launch of Feed-in Tariffs earlier this month and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in 2011, would inspire wider consumer confidence in the green electricity market and be “potentially beneficial” for the company.
New Energy Focus 27th Apr 2010 more >>
Early RH Adopters
Domestic microgeneration community forum, YouGen, has called on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to further incentivise solar thermal technology and to reconsider its policy for early installations in its response to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) consultation.
New Energy Focus 27th Apr 2010 more >>
Amory Lovins
Climate protection, like the Hubble Space Telescope’s mirror, got spoiled by a sign error: in fact, climate solutions are not costly but profitable, because saving fuel costs less than buying fuel. Many leading companies are making billions of dollars’ profit by cutting their carbon intensity or emissions at rates of 5 8% per year in the best cases, 6 16% per year. When politicians who lament climate protection’s supposed costs, burdens, and sacrifices join the parallel universe of practitioners who routinely achieve profits, jobs, and competitive advantage by wasting less fuel, the political obstacles will melt faster than the glaciers.
Energy Efficiency & Climate Change Law 26th Apr 2010 more >>
Geothermal Question
Currently, the UK only uses geothermal energy for heat, through the Southampton District Energy Scheme. There is also a series of ground-source heat pumps installed in homes and businesses across the country which are being used to provide hot water and heat. It is thought that the take-up of this microgeneration technology will increase following the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme.
Low Carbon Economy 26th Apr 2010 more >>
REA Manifesto
The REA today defined 10 key actions necessary to deliver on renewables. The next government will be crucial for determining whether or not the UK achieves its 15% renewable energy target by 2020. Action include: Strong visible political leadership on renewable heat, power, transport and greening the gas grid: Effective incentives for renewable electricity – across the range of technologies and sizes. The Renewables Obligation needs streamlining and Feed in Tariffs are not sufficient for some technologies; Renewable Heat Incentive must be introduced by April 2011.
REA 26th Apr 2010 more >>
Green Grants Machine 30th Apr 2010 more >>
Gloucestershire Schools
SCHOOLS are being encouraged to go green with the launch of a new eco drive. Schools account for 55 per cent of the council’s annual carbon emissions. Cleeve School is one of many taking part in the Young Energy People programme. The school is already being active in managing its energy use and now the students, through YEP, are undertaking an audit to see how we can maximise efficiencies and reduce carbon emissions through renewable energy sources and carbon reduction schemes.
This is Gloucestershire 26th Apr 2010 more >>
Derby University
NINE wind turbines have been set up on the roof of a University of Derby high rise block. The turbines have been fitted to the top of the South Tower at the Kedleston Road campus. Each of them measures 8.5ft and has a 5.5ft diameter five-blade rotor. The university has invested a total of £266,442 in three environmental energy projects. As well as the turbines, a 200 sq metre area on the roof of the administration block has been covered with solar panels. A third green energy source – a 75ft model wind turbine – will be built next to the site’s main driveway over the summer.
Derby Telegraph 26th Apr 2010 more >>
Heat Pumps Eco-Label
Mitsubishi Electric has become the first UK manufacturer of heat pumps to be awarded the European Eco-label in recognition of the environmental performance of its Ecodan range of residential heating units. The label guarantees that the company’s three Ecodan products meet the European Energy Directive environmental criteria for heat pumps.
Plumbing Park 26th Apr 2010 more >>
Dorset AD
A dairy farm has invested in cutting its carbon footprint by more than 65% as a pioneer of liquid anaerobic digestion (AD) technology. Dorset-based BV Dairy is projected to reduce its CO2 emissions by approximately 1,200 tonnes per year, which would equate to the environmental benefit of planting 120,000 trees. Going green should also help the dairy save an estimated £150,000 per year.
Click Green 26th April 2010 more >>
Solar Cowboys
Solar thermal firms are bamboozling householders with high pressure sales tactics and misleading financial statistics, an undercover investigation by a consumer group has found. Which? condemned most of the companies it came across as “cowboys” and cautioned that the Government would have to clean up the taxpayer-backed industry, vital for the battle against climate change, unless it improved its performance.
Independcent on Sunday 25th Apr 2010 more >>
Festival
The Wood Festival which takes place at Braziers Park, Ipsden, near Wallingford, from May 21-23. is powered purely by renewable energy including solar panels, chip fat, and bicycle power.
Oxford Mail 25th Apr 2010 more >>
Farmgen
Anaerobic digestion (AD) developer, Farmgen, has launched a “rural power drive” to sell the power generated from its AD plants to rural businesses and communities. Farmgen launched the Farmgen Energy scheme earlier this week (April 22) and aims to initially supply its power to customers in Cumbria and is targeting 2,000 farms in the county.
New Energy Focus 23rd Apr 2010 more >>
Brown Solar
Gordon Brown praised solar energy and recommended more people try to install the renewable technology, during the second televised leaders debate ahead of the General Election.
New Energy Focus 23rd Apr 2010 more >>
Cornish Solar Farm
The developers behind plans for the UK’s first eco-town have revealed they are in talks with a number of renewable energy firms about installing a solar farm and geothermal power plant at the proposed site in Cornwall.
Business Green 20th Apr 2010 more >>
Growing Microgeneration Market
NORTH Wales-based wind energy developer West Coast Energy Limited has entered into a joint venture with Ensign Energy Limited to deliver renewable microgeneration projects throughout the UK. Bosses believed the joint venture allows the Mold-based West Coast Energy (WCE) to diversify into micro generation and provide the capital base for Ensign to expand its activities into a rapidly growing market.
Daily Post 20th Apr 2010 more >>
Green Hotel
A LEADING renewable energy installer has signed a new deal with hospitality giant Whitbread to supply all green equipment to a new combined ‘green’ hotel and restaurant. Surrey based Isoenergy will supply the latest green energy products to Whitbread’s new Premier Inn in Burgess Hill, Sussex, which is due to open later this year. The business will also be designing and installing the hotel’s ground source heat pump system.
Industry Today 15th Apr 2010 more >>