week ending 16 July 2010
Microgeneration Consultation
The Government has set out new plans to encourage businesses, homeowners and communities to generate their own renewable energy. Ministers have launched a Microgeneration Strategy consultation into the next stage of how they intend to “empower” communities across England to produce their own heat and electricity. Nearly 100,000 homes, schools and businesses have already taken advantage of the Feed-in Tariff incentive scheme introduced back in April to reward organisations for generating their own “green” electricity. Now the Coalition aims to broaden support for microgeneration to “help develop the industry, create more job opportunities, and make sure customers can trust the green technologies they buy”.
Green Grants Machine 16th July 2010 more >>
Small wind in SW Scotland
A significant rise in plans for small-scale wind energy projects has been seen in Dumfries and Galloway since the start of the year. The number of turbines proposed in the first six months of 2010 already exceeds the total for all of 2009.
BBC 16th July 2010 more >>
Solar Schools
Solar energy company Solarcentury has announced that technology development company General Electric (GE) has agreed to cover the up-front costs of installing solar panels on schools under its Solar4Schools programme. The two companies this week (July 12) formed a partnership to deliver Solarcentury’s scheme - which aims to introduce solar power to hundreds of schools nationwide over the next two years.
New Energy Focus 15th July 2010 more >>
Ashden Awards
A long-standing competition aiming to reward and recognise local sustainability and renewable energy projects is open to entries. The Ashden Awards offer a top prize of £20,000 and five other honours worth £10,000 to celebrate the success of “ground-breaking initiatives”. The free to enter contest aims to reward and recognise “inspirational” sustainable energy schemes that promote the use of renewable energy, tackle fuel poverty, champion energy efficiency or reduce energy demand at a local level.
Green Grants Machine 15th July 2010 more >>
Scottish Grant Axe Short-sighted
In the spring, Selkirk became the first Borders town to have its own carbon reduction officer with a brief to encourage townsfolk to cut energy consumption and consider alternative renewable sources to heat their homes. It followed a successful bid by the charitable Selkirk Regeneration Company (SRC) which received £56,150 from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund to fill the post for a year and pay for premises and informative publications. This week it was confirmed the Scottish Government is to scrap - from next Friday - its home renewables grant scheme, which offered up to £4,000 to defray the cost of such installations. Dr Lindsay Neil, director of the SRC, said the decision was “ridiculous and short-sighted”.
Southern Reporter 15th July 2010 more >>
Warminster Biogas
Wiltshire council has granted planning permission for the redevelopment of Bore Hill farm, in Warminster, which will include a biogas plant treating food waste and animal slurry using anaerobic digestion (AD) and combined heat and power (CHP) technology.
New Energy Focus 14th July 2010 more >>
Green Gas Injection
The first anaerobic digestion (AD) plant to inject renewable gas into the National Grid is set to start operating later this summer, it has been confirmed. Construction has just completed on the Adnams Bio Energy plant in Norfolk. The plant, which is a joint venture between Southwold-based independent brewery Adnams and renewable energy company Bio Group, will be the first in the UK to use organic waste to produce renewable gas for injection into the grid as well as providing green fuel for use as in vehicles.
Green Wise Business 14th July 2010 more >>
Business Green 14th July 2010 more >>
Eco-Yorkshire
In March this year the previous Government approved more than £1m of funding for thousands of eco-homes on brownfield sites across the region. Up to 28,000 new sustainable homes are planned on sites in Leeds Aire Valley, north-west York, the Bradford-Shipley canal corridor and North Kirklees and South Dewsbury. Local authorities say all the homes will be built “to meet the highest standards of sustainability”, and are expected to have solar panels and wind turbines. The £1.2m funding will be used to help with planning of the schemes and the construction of initial showcase projects. Development work has started on the first phase of the Leeds Aire Valley scheme, to the south-east of the city centre, and construction will begin soon in York
Yorkshire Post 14th July 2010 more >>
Local Energy Revolution?
They already run the streetlights, empty the bins and fix some roads, but now local councils could also provide homes and businesses with green energy under ambitious new plans. According to new figures published this week, local authorities across the Westcountry have already begun to use renewable energy projects to generate their own electricity.
Western Morning News 14th July 2010 more >>
Speaking at the Local Government Association’s annual conference, Mr Huhne said he will scrap legislation that prevents bodies from selling electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind turbines or solar panels. He claimed that councils could even use the cash brought in from selling electricity to fund local services and keep Council Tax rates down.
Green Grants Machine 15th July 2010 more >>
Peak Phosphate
The UK produces about 100 million tonnes of organic waste each year, which could generate up to seven per cent of the UK’s renewable energy by 2020, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The coalition government has already pledged to lead the UK towards a zero-waste economy, and a development programme of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants is a major step in that direction. There are currently 37 AD plants in the UK, with another 60 either under construction or at the planning stage. The government should stimulate rapid investment in technologies such as AD plants that will enable phosphates to be reused in agriculture, rather than sending a finite resource into landfill.
Guardian 14th July 2010 more >>
Regeneration Fund
A new £50 million fund is being made available to restart regeneration projects that were stalled by the recession. Cash will be used to offer loans to create new business areas, support renewable energy projects for social housing, develop wireless technology zones, and provide more energy efficient transport schemes.
Green Grants Machine 14th July 2010 more >>
Ulster Grants
WIND power is proving the way forward for one Rathfriland man. Barclay Bell has recently installed a 11kW Gaia wind turbine in one of his fields. He is the first householder to benefit from the new grant scheme launched by the Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) SMART Programme in March 2009. The grant offers a funding incentive to people across Northern Ireland who would like to install either solar photovoltaic panels (PV) or a wind turbine at their home. The NIE SMART Programme funding will offer successful applicants a grant for solar PV of £1,200 per kWp up to a maximum of £6,000, or 20% of the installed cost, whichever is lesser. For those households applying for a wind turbine, the grant will be £900 per kWp, up to a maximum of £4,500 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is lesser.
County Down Outlook 14th July 2010 more >>
Government breaks the law on microgeneration
Climate change minister Greg Barker was last night (July 12) forced to respond to allegations that the government has missed its deadline for introducing permitted development rights - which remove the need for a planning application - for micro-wind turbines and air source heat pumps. During the Micropower Council’s summer reception in London, which was timed to coincide with the government’s launch of the new Micropower Strategy for consultation yesterday the chief executive of the Council, Dave Sowden, began his speech with a scathing attack on the government for “breaking the law”. He said: “The government broke the law today. The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) failed to comply with a statutory deadline to introduce micro-wind and domestic heat pumps into the planning system.
New Energy Focus 13th July 2010 more >>
Bolton Churches
South facing roofs are ideal for catching the sun’s rays, however, and now church and mosque leaders in Bolton say they could take advantage if they get financial support. Faith leaders are appealing for help after British Gas announced that religious buildings could raise thousands of pounds by generating their own electricity using the power of the sun. The firm estimates that religious buildings across the UK could make £34 million from solar power.
This is Lancashire 13th July 2010 more >>
Devon Awards
They are the unsung heroes of the drive to position the Westcountry at the forefront of green energy. But now, volunteers behind the dozens of small-scale community low-carbon schemes across Devon are being honoured by a charity reward scheme. Devon Community Foundation has launched its second annual Small Green Steps Award, offering groups a share of a £5,000 treasure chest. The prize money is being offered by Foundation trustee Michael Gee, who will be among the judges.
Western Morning News 13th July 2010 more >>
Fruit Farm Turbine
A WISBECH fruit farm hoping to erect a wind turbine says some people may disapprove but in reality they are only harking back to the days villages had windmills.
Cambs Times 13th July 2010 more >>
Garden Centre Biomass Heating System
Dobbies’ latest plans for an £8 million garden centre at Orton Grange, south-west of Carlisle, are expected to get the go ahead in principle this week. The design includes many ‘green’ features. Rainwater would be recycled to irrigate plants and there would be a biomass heating system. A separate planning application for wind turbines may follow.
Carlisle News & Star 13th July 2010 more >>
Premier Energy Saving
Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel and restaurant group, has announced a sustainable refurbishment programme of its building stock to cut carbon emissions and reduce water consumption. It will be spending over £7m to boost the environmental performance of its hotels, restaurants and coffee shops. The group’s sustainability strategy, aims to deliver a 26% reduction in energy consumption and a 20% reduction in water use by 2020. A key element of the programme will see £2.6m go towards low-energy LED light bulbs, replacing 75,000 standard light bulbs. Additional energy and water saving measures include investment in voltage optimisation, thermal building insulation, automated lighting systems, bathroom tap restrictors and dual flush toilets, renewable technology (such as solar panels and microCHP) and solar film (window film which allows light in but reduces the need for cooling by keeping heat out in summer).
Green Building 13th July 2010 more >>
Community Turbine
Portobello based community group PEDAL have received a £72,000 boost from the Scottish Government to conduct a detailed feasibility study, and pay for associated legal and planning costs relating to the construction of a 47.5m tall wind turbine on the Western part of the Portobello promenade towards Seafield.
Greener Leith 13th July 2010 more >>
Scotsman 15th July 2010 more >>
GPDO
A government consultation on microgeneration strategy must recommend planning liberalisation to help boost the sector, according to an environmental trade association. Trade body RenewableUK said that the government must free small wind turbines from planning regulations. Maria McCaffery MBE, RenewableUK chief executive, said: “The UK already has over 14,000 installed small wind systems generating energy for local communities across the country. But for the industry to realise its full potential we need to remove planning barriers by introducing General Permitted Development Orders”.
Planning Resource 13th July 2010 more >>
School Savings with PV
Schools could reap benefits of £68,000 over 25 years from a scheme which pays for them to have solar panels installed on their roofs, it was suggested today. Schools stand to save up to 840 on electricity bills and generate an income of more than 3,000 a year from the government’s feed-in tariff scheme, without having to pay the up-front costs of installation. The initiative, which is run by solar power company Solarcentury and financed by GE, relies on the new feed-in tariffs, which pay householders and organisations for the green electricity they generate from small-scale renewables and feed back to the grid.
Scotsman 13th July 2010 more >>
24 Dash 12th July 2010 more >>
AD Plan
The UK government has announced that it is drawing up an action plan to deliver a “huge increase” in anaerobic digestion (AD) projects, and is inviting input from stakeholders on how this can be done in a cost-effective way.
The Engineer 12th July 2010 more >>
Call for RHI Clarity
The Micropower Council has urged the Government to clarify what the future holds for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Speaking in response to today’s launch of a microgeneration consultation Dave Sowden, chief executive of the Micropower Council, said that jobs could soon be lost in the microgeneration sector if an announcement regarding RHI is delayed further.
Green Build News 12th July 2010 more >>
CHP
Breakthroughs in extracting gas trapped in rocks should help Europe reduce its carbon emissions and boost demand for environmentally friendly microgeneration technologies, such as combined heat and power, energy experts have predicted. Although the recession has produced the first dip in demand for gas across Europe since 1960, the emergence of new supplies of shale gas from the US, Europe and China will drive down gas prices and ease worries over future availability, experts believe.
H&V News 12th July 2010 more >>
Committee on Climate Change
Baxi Group and Vent-Axia have welcomed the second annual report from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), which calls for major changes in government policy to meet carbon emission targets. It forecasts an annual 4% reduction in carbon emissions to 2022. As the economy improves, the CCC highlights the need for a required ‘step-change’ in the government’s approach in key areas to achieve this target, including improvements in home energy efficiency. Baxi Group believes the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and boiler replacement schemes are two significant initiatives, which could help deliver on this target.
Heating and Plumbing Monthly 12th July 2010 more >>
Suffolk Wood
Suffolk County Council has been recognised for its pioneering work in boosting the supply and demand of sustainable wood fuel. The local authority has been named as a winner at the 10th annual Ashden Awards, the world’s leading green energy awards. The council is among other low carbon energy champions, including schools, charities and businesses, all of whom have made significant carbon savings through the use of renewable energy or energy efficiency measures. Suffolk County Council impressed the panel of judges, all of whom are experts in the field, for its commitment to sustainable forestry, building capacity in the local wood-fuel supply chain and installing wood-fired boilers in schools and public buildings.
24 Dash 12th July 2010 more >>
ASHP lowers bills
SAVINGS from a family’s heating bills funded a dream holiday in Spain thanks to a new renewable energy system. The Pearce family, of Enstone, near Chipping Norton, took a £950 holiday paid for with savings made on their energy bills after having a new energy-saving air pump system installed.
Oxford Times 12th July 2010 more >>
Geordie Geothermal
EXPERTS hope to drill 2,000m below the streets of Tyneside in search of hot rocks to provide green energy. Scientists from Newcastle University have asked for permission to create boreholes up to 2km deep – 100 times the height of the Angel of the North. They believe there is geothermal energy in the ground beneath the former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery site which could provide natural central heating for the Science Central development earmarked for the site.
Newcastle Journal 12th July 2010 more >>
Shetland Hydrogen
AN innovative project to build small hydrogen power units that aim to be more than 90 per cent energy efficient has been launched in Shetland. The three year scheme to generate, store and supply renewable energy efficiently inside a home has just attracted funding under the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme. The project is a collaboration between three islands - Pure Energy on Unst, Lews Castle College in Stornoway and young Sicilian electronic engineer Vincenzo Ortisi who has been employed to develop the fuel cell. Pure Energy manager Daniel Aklil said: “What we are looking to do is to develop a new type of generator that is 93 per cent efficient.
Shetland News 12th July 2010 more >>
Church Power
CHURCHES and mosques could raise up to £34 million a year by installing solar panels on their roofs, an electricity supplier has claimed. British Gas urged religious groups to make the most of the new feed-in tariff, a scheme that pays households and organisations for electricity from their small-scale generators. In the Borders, kirk elders have said they have plans to install solar panels on the roof of Selkirk Parish Church. It has been estimated the technology could save the 130-year-old church £1,000 a year on utility bills.
Scotsman 12th July 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 14th July 2010 more >>
Solar loans for schools
General Electric and a solar technology specialist, Solarcentury, will today launch a scheme to help schools to invest in renewable energy. Solar panels could cut up to £840 from a school’s annual electricity bill and generate another £3,000 by feeding excess power back into the National Grid, they say. High upfront costs can be a deterrent: installation can cost up to £16,000 for a primary and £35,000 for a secondary school. Under the scheme, GE Capital will pay for installing solar panels, after receiving a small deposit from a school. A lease will then be paid back over 15 years, using income from the feed-in tariffs to pay for excess capacity.
Independent 12th July 2010 more >>
Microgeneration Strategy
The government has launched the first stage of its plans to help homes and organisations install microgeneration technology. As part of the new Microgeneration Strategy, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will review the types of incentives that could be used to encourage communities to generate their own energy. The government will publish its final proposal in early 2011. Homes, schools and businesses are already guaranteed cash payments through the feed-in tariff, which came into effect on 1 April this year, for producing their own green electricity through technologies such as solar panels or small wind turbines, as well as for selling it to the national grid.
The Engineer 12th July 2010 more >>
Public Service 13th July 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 12th July 2010 more >>
The minister for Climate Change, Greg Barker, will today launch a consultation on the Government’s strategy to boost energy self-sufficiency in communities. The public debate about microgeneration will look at ways to ensure the quality of generating technology and its installation, how to improve available products, and how to develop the microgeneration supply chain while providing more accessible advice. The consultation follows last week’s news that the Government is to overturn a ban on councils selling “green” electricity back to the national grid by the end of the year.
Independent 12th July 2010 more >>
The government will today launch a major consultation exercise designed to identify how the UK can accelerate the rollout of small-scale renewable energy technologies The consultation will look at how the UK can expand its support for microgeneration technologies on the back of the introduction of feed-in tariff incentives earlier this year. In particular, it will look at how to improve the reliability and performance of microgeneration technologies, build the skills base and supply chain necessary to support the rollout of small-scale renewable energy systems, and improve the advice available to businesses, households and communities interested in installing renewable energy technologies.
Business Green 12th July 2010 more >>
The Microgeneration industry today welcomed the Government’s root and branch review of Microgeneration policy in the UK and publication of a new Microgeneration Strategy early next year. Dave Sowden, Micropower Council Chief Executive, welcomed the initiative, but also warned the industry faces a confidence crisis if clarity is not provided soon on the Renewable Heat Incentive.
Micro Power Council Press Release 12th July 2010 more >>
Climate Change Minister Greg Barker is today launching the first stage of the Government’s plans to help communities become more self-sufficient in the way they use heat and power. Empowering communities to generate their own energy on a large and a small scale can not only bring in an income but also help save money on fuel bills and increase domestic energy security.
DECC Press Release 12th July 2010 more >>
Microgeneration Strategy Consultation Website 12th July 2010 more >>
BioSNG
The conversion of biomass into bio synthetic natural gas (bioSNG) for injection into the natural gas grid could be an economically attractive option for the production of low carbon and renewable heat, according to a Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)-funded report. The ‘potential for bioSNG production in the UK, final report’, managed by the National Non Food Crops Centre (NNFCC) and conducted by energy consultancy firm E4tech, was published last week (July 6) and looks at air quality benefits, market potential and drivers for and barriers to bioSNG production and use.
New Energy Focus 12th July 2010 more >>
Scottish Grants Cut
News that the Scottish government is to scrap the home renewables loan scheme, which has helped nearly 3,000 people add green energy devices to their homes since 2007, is a blow to hopes of achieving our environmental goals. Home energy use accounts for more than a third of Scotlands greenhouse gas emissions. Getting hous eholds to generate their own energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind on site is a crucial part of Scotlands strategy for reducing those emissions. For many households, it is only the existence of the grant scheme, which offers up to 4,000 towards costs, that make microgeneration schemes viable. Many will worry that this announcement indicates the Scottish Governments willingness to de-prioritise the environment at a time of economic hardship.
Herald 12th July 2010 more >>
Environmental organisations have reacted with anger to the scrapping of a scheme that helped homeowners meet the cost of installing green devices such as solar panels and small wind turbines. Almost 3000 households have benefited from the Scottish Governments home renewables grant scheme, which offered up to 4000 towards the cost of environmentally friendly power systems. It was set up in 2007 and has handed out a total of 7.4 million but budget cuts mean it will close on July 23.
Herald 12th July 2010 more >>
Scotland on Sunday 11th July 2010 more >>
Welsh AD
WORK has begun on building the first anaerobic digestion plant attached to a food factory in Wales. InSource Energy marked the start of work on the plant at Premier Foods’ RF Brookes ready-meals factory in Rogerstone, Newport, with a ceremony attended by Environ- ment Minister Jane Davidson. The £5m facility will convert RF Brookes’ food waste into energy to help power the factory, which supplies ready meals to Marks & Spencer, providing significant savings in waste disposal and energy bills and reducing carbon emissions by around 8,500 tonnes per year.
Western Mail 10th July 2010 more >>
Welsh Energy Saving
WHILE figures suggest that Wales is an eco-aware nation, with green-related improvements topping the list of things homeowners would like to change about their homes, are we really that clued up about what being green actually means?
Western Mail 10th July 2010 more >>
Beery Biogas
In a national first, a brewery in Suffolk is planning to turn its leftover hops, grain, yeast and food waste into biogas, and feed it into the national grid for use along with the existing “natural gas”, which is distinctly less organic. Something similar – but less appetising – is being planned across the country at Davyhulme sewage works near Manchester, which aims to generate gas for the grid from its unsavoury raw material. It will initially supply enough for 500 homes, which could be scaled up to cover 10 times as many. The two projects, says the Department of Energy and Climate Change, will be the first in Britain to provide biogas to the grid.
Telegraph 9th July 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 12th July 2010 more >>
Village Hall Biomass
The BioWIN wood pellet boiler from Windhager has been installed at Netherbury Village Hall as part of a complete refurbishment and extension of the building, funded by the Community Buildings Programme (CBP) from the Big Lottery Fund With a key aim of the renovations being to reduce the carbon footprint of the hall using renewable energy sources, specialist installers Wessex Ecoheat replaced the inefficient electric storage heaters with a BioWIN wood pellet heating system. As the full range of biomass heating systems from Windhager UK are certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), all installations of Windhager boilers from 15 July 2009 will qualify for financial support through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to be introduced in April 2011.
ADF Online 9th July 2010 more >>
Solar Roof Tiles
Redland’s integrated Solar PV Tile systems beat stiff competition at the 5th annual British Renewable Energy (BRE) Awards to finish runner up in the product award category. The Awards celebrate and commend the achievements of the UK renewable energy industry as a whole across solar, wind and marine technologies. Head of Marketing for Redland in the UK, Richard Hartley, commented; “We are delighted that our most recent and important product innovation received such high praise from the panel of expert judges drawn together by the Renewable Energy Association (REA).
ADF Online 9th July 2010 more >>
Biofertiliser
Climate change minister Greg has recognised a significant milestone for the AD industry as four companies became the first to formally register for quality certification for the biofertiliser they are producing from their Anaerobic Digestion plants. The companies and farmers concerned are: AnDigestion, BiogenGreenfinch, Lower Ruele Farm and Scottish Water Horizons. The Minister held a high level round table conference earlier this week on AD looking at how the technology can be rolled out nationally to provide renewable heat, power and transport - and even green the gas grid
New Energy Focus 9th July 2010 more >>