week ending 13 August 2010
Green Makeovers
Government advisor warns UK will need 12,500 retrofits a week to meet 2050 green housing targets. The daunting task of renovating 12,500 homes a week for the next 40 years is to be the subject of a major new £3m research project designed to establish whether mass produced building technologies could improve the efficiency of Britain’s cold and draughty housing stock. The project, which is being supported by the Energy Technology Institute (ETI) and a consortium of businesses, including building consultancy BRE, EDF Energy and property giant Peabody, will address how best to undertake an unprecedented nationwide green retrofitting programme.
Business Green 13th Aug 2010 more >>
A gap remains between homeowners’ understanding of low carbon solutions and implementation of the technology, according to one industry expert. Michael Holmes, spokesperson for the National Home Improvement Show, said that awareness has been growing of the financial benefits of installing energy-efficient technology, but uptake is still low due to the upfront cost. “Future savings on both money and reducing carbon footprints over time is not motivation enough for many home improvers to outlay cost now, when they are already cash strapped, for returns which could be gained later,” he explained.
Low Carbon Economy 13th Aug 2010 more >>
Muswell Hill Solar
A GRAND eco bid by residents to install more than 50 solar panels on the roof of a community centre has been unveiled The £25,000 scheme would see the photovoltaic cells erected on the Muswell Hill Centre, in Hillfield Park, Muswell Hill, to generate electricity and save up to 4.3tonnes of carbon every year. It is part of the community-led En10ergy initiative to promote renewable energy and cut CO2 emissions by 40 per cent by 2020.
Muswell Hill Journal 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Green Dairy
A new green energy service could help dairy farmers considering alternative energy sources make a choice. The Dairy Group will take an unbiased look at individual farmers green energy opportunities, and provide a review of the farm green energy resources which will include wind, anaerobic digestion, photovoltaic, solar, biomass, hydro and air/ground source heat pumps.”
Farmers Weekly 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Welsh Regulations
Environment Minister Jane Davidson is reminding planners and developers that from next month all planning applications for new homes in Wales will be expected to comply with increased environmental standards. As set out in a policy statement on planning for sustainable buildings last year, all planning applications for new homes will be expected to meet Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes from 1 September 2010.
eGov Monitor 12th Aug 2010 more >>
MoD Turbine
The first wind turbine to be installed on Ministry of Defence (MoD) land was unveiled this week in a move that observers hope will herald a new era of peace and co-operation between the wind industry and the military top brass. Energy giant E.ON installed the 15 metre tall turbine at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School near Dover as part of the Land Forces Sustainable Development Action Plan goal of generating 10 per cent of electricity from renewable sources.
Business Green 12th Aug 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Low Carbon Economy 13th Aug 2010 more >>
Swindon Turbines
Plans for three 120m (394ft) high wind turbines at Honda’s Swindon plant have been given the backing of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council.
BBC 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Leeds Turbine
Councillors have given the go ahead for an 18m-tall wind turbine to be erected in the Leeds green belt. The turbine – capable of generating enough power for 10 houses – will stand in a special landscape area off the A58 near Scarcroft. It will provide electricity for Beechgrove Farm and any surplus power generated will go to the national grid.
Yorkshire Evening Post 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Stockton Revolution
A TEESSIDE council is considering a raft of green energy projects after the Government lifted a ban on authorities selling electricity back to the grid. The move frees up councils to roll out community-scale renewable energy projects, creating extra revenue and boosting the UK’s reduction targets. Cllr Jennie Beaumont, Stockton’s cabinet member for the environment said “. We would like to investigate the use of wind power and solar electric panels. Both of these offer tremendous opportunities to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and to cut our energy costs.”
Evening Gazette 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Solar Mosque
A BIRMINGHAM mosque is one of the first in the country to benefit from the installation of solar panels. The Masjid-e-Hamza Mosque in Moseley has already submitted plans to the local council and anticipates getting the go-ahead for the installation of solar panels on the mosque in the next few months. The move follows research by British Gas which, unveiled last month, shows that Britain’s mosques and other religious
Asian Today 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Carlisle Garden Centre
Dobbies’ latest plans for an £8 million garden centre near Carlisle have been given the go ahead. 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 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Hull Revolution
SOLAR panels could be fitted to Hull’s multi-storey car parks under plans to make more of the city run on renewable energy. The devices would help power council buildings, saving the local authority money, and any surplus electricity can be sold to the National Grid.
Hull Daily Mail 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Solar Prospects
Solar (PV) surprised the market in 2009 with healthy growth and promising technical developments. Paula Mints reflects on a buoyant year and argues that the industry has a promising future as long as it lessens its reliance on incentives – and investors remain confident.
Renewable Energy Focus 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Yorkshire Biomass
In the second of two pieces, Gordon Watts, woodfuel programme manager at CO2Sense Yorkshire, discusses the necessity of supporting energy users in the uptake of this renewable fuel, and its role in the low carbon economy.
New Energy Focus 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Welsh Biomass
The Welsh Assembly Government has been advised on how to stimulate the production of woody biomass, with recommendations including introducing restrictions on sending wood to landfill.
New Energy Focus 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Save and Generate
Save and Generate has joined a discussion by a panel of experts highlighting the millions of pounds in funding available for communities in Wales to start renewable energy programmes. The discussion panel, held at the recent Energy Advice Day in Fishguard, was the cornerstone of the event and covered various issues relating to community-led energy generation.
Building Talk 12th Aug 2010 more >>
South Tyneside Revolution
SELLING renewable energy back to the National Grid could generate up to £100m a year for debt-ridden South Tyneside Council. South Tyneside Council chiefs have revealed they are working with Narec – a national centre for green energy policies – to explore this possibilities.
Shields Gazette 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Scottish Biomass
The final application round for the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme closes on 30th September. The Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme (SBHS) is funded by the Scottish Government through the Renewable Energy Framework launched in October 2008, which seeks to increase the proportion of renewable energy used for heat and transportation in Scotland and contribute to the overall target of 11% energy use from renewable sources by 2020.
Green Grants Machine 12th Aug 2010 more >>
There may be trouble ahead
Solar companies in both the US and Asia enjoyed a bumper second quarter, according to results released erlier this week, but many remain nervous about their prospects for next year.
Business Green 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Feed-in Success
The lure of feed-in tariffs (FITs) has been responsible for around 75% of solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment around the world and 45% of wind power, according to a study by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Energy Efficiency News 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Solar Gambia
Stephanie Hay, from Cairnhill, attends Strathclyde University and has thrown herself head-on into the university’s Electronic and Engineering Department’s Gambia Solar Project. She is one of several students who travel to Gambia every June and July to help provide locals with power, lighting and telephone and internet links via solar power.
Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Teddington Hydro
More than 900 homes will soon be powered by renewable energy after plans to develop a hydropower project were approved. After a nail-biting five month wait, not-for-profit company Ham Hydro - working closely with Ham United Group (Hug) - has been chosen by the Environment Agency (EA) to develop a hydropower project at Teddington Weir, alongside a major civil contractor. Once built the project will be the largest run-of-the-river hydro scheme in Europe, generating enough power for more than 900 homes and saving about 1,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
Richmond & Twickenham Times 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Perthshire Hydro
The development of an 870kW hydro energy initiative, the first of three small run-of-river hydro schemes in Glen Lyon, Perthshire, has begun. Work on the Roroyere Hydro Scheme, which is being developed by Aberfeldy-based Green Highland Renewables at a cost of around £1.8 million, started last week. It is part of the Glen Lyon Partnership hydro project - which is a series of seven planned small-scale hydro developments
New Energy Focus 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Solar Return
Return on solar PV is at least 6% per year.
Solartwin 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Solar Jobs
The UK’s leading solar energy firm, SolarCentury, has today reported that the number of people employed by the company and its partner network has almost doubled over the past six months as the government’s feed-in tariff incentive scheme begins to take effect.
Business Green 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Eco-training
Pulsar direct will showcase its eco training courses at PHEX at Old Trafford from 13-14 October and again at Stamford Bridge from 17-18 November. The BPEC accredited training courses – which cover everything from underfloor heating and boilers, to plumbing and solar energy systems – were a huge success at the April PHEX event at Wembley, with a good number of installers signing up to the courses there and then.
Plumbing Park 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Accrington Station
A new £2million railway station in Accrington will be completed shortly. It will be one of the most eco-friendly in the country. It has been rebuilt using “green” materials. There is an electricity-generating wind turbine, rainwater used in its bathrooms and roof solar panels heat water.
Lancashire Telegraph 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Valuable Finance for Local Authorities
Local authorities could generate up to £100m a year in revenue from renewable energy installations, following the lifting of a government ban that stopped them selling energy to the grid. According to an estimate from the Local Government Association (LGA), the lifting of the ban, which takes effect next week, could provide many councils with a valuable new revenue stream at a time when they are under pressure to cut costs.
Business Green 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Farming Revolution?
THERE is plenty of interest in renewable energy if the turnout at a NFU Scotland meeting at Aberfeldy yesterday is anything to go by. The Town Hall was full but this was no surprise for NFU Scotland president Jim McLaren. “Farming has always been driven by renewable energy through wind or water mills or oats to feed horses. We have had 100 years where oil has taken over but now we are going to have to harness natural resources again,” he said. The interest in renewables has been boosted by the recent introduction of feed-in tariffs (FITs). These encourage the generation of renewable energy by guaranteeing payments per unit of electricity produced for up to 25 years.
Press & Journal 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Green Royal
A WORCESTERSHIRE provider of renewable energy systems is to be part of a group of green businesses showcasing their work at an event organised by Prince Charles.Going Solar will demonstrate the benefits of switching to solar power when it exhibits at the ‘Garden Party to Make a Difference’ in the grounds of Clarence House, London, from September 8-19.
The Business Desk 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Minister to Visit Woking
Mr Huhne, who will visit clean energy projects run by Woking Council today, said: “I’ve today written to all councils urging them to take advantage and lead a local energy revolution. This is a vital step to making community renewable projects commercially viable, to bring in long-term income to benefit local areas, and to secure local acceptance for low carbon energy projects.”
Birkenhead News 11th Aug 2010 more >>
In advance of a visit to Woking Borough Council’s clean energy projects, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary said: “For too long, Whitehall’s dogmatic reliance on `big’ energy has stood in the way of the vast potential role of local authorities in the UK’s green energy revolution.”Forward thinking local authorities such as Woking in Surrey have been quietly getting on with it, but against the odds, their efforts frustrated by the law.”
Woking Borough Council 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Squeezing more out of solar
Scientists in the US have designed a new kind of solar cell that could generate electricity using both the Sun’s light and heat. They claim that the device could be more efficient than either photovoltaic panels or “solar-thermal” plants operating on their own – and potentially allow solar power to compete with fossil fuels in terms of cost per kilowatt-hour.
Environmental Research Web 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Carbon Reduction Commitment
Thousands of businesses and organisations have been warned that they need to register to take part in a scheme to encourage them to cut emissions by saving energy. With 50 days to go until the deadline for registering for the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), around two-thirds of the estimated 3500 to 4000 companies and public-sector bodies who must take part have yet to register. Some 1229 organisations, including Sainsburys, hotel company Hilton, the National Theatre and the London Fire Brigade, have already registered for the scheme, which rewards those who do most to cut their energy use. The Government is urging the remaining organisations to sign up now and take steps to save energy and cut bills.
Herald 11th Aug 2010 more >>
New Energy Focus 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Business Green 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Companies that fail to register their energy use by next month will be hit with fines that could reach £45,000 under the little-known rules. Those that do participate in the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) initiative by declaring their energy use will face charges for every ton of greenhouse gas they produce. These payments are expected to average £38,000 a year for medium-sized firms, and could reach £100,000 for larger organisations.
Telegraph 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Worcestershire Revolution
SOLAR panels and wind turbines could be installed on council land and buildings to help Worcestershire’s councils sell renewable enery directly to the national grid. Worcestershire County Council, which already has a wood fuel boiler at County Hall helping to heat its buildings, has confirmed it will be taking a look at government reforms that encourage local authorities to host projects that generate clean wind, solar and water power.
Worcester News 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Scottish Revolution
The news that the UK Government has overturned the law banning councils from selling renewable electricity back into the National Grid has the potential to unleash the next phase in Scotland’s clean, renewable power revolution. It could also see them benefiting from a green cash bonanza if they are willing to take advantage of this opportunity, at a time when they are facing severe budgetary pressure. Only a few councils in Scotland have used their land for renewable energy projects, although Aberdeenshire has a biomass plant attached to one of its schools. And while no calculation has been made for Scotland, it has been estimated that this could result in an 100 million a year income from councils in England and Wales. It will also help the Scottish Government achieve its renewable energy target of generating 50 per cent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Scotsman 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Superhomes
British homeowners can green their properties using government loans and visit a functioning ‘superhome’ before committing. With an electricity meter that goes backwards and a roof covered in green plants, Tony’s Almond’s house is no normal home. The house in Welwyn village, just north of London, is actually a green “superhome” - the 50th in a UK-wide network of demonstration eco-homes now open to the public. The scheme, operated by charity Sustainable Energy Academy (SEA) and the National Energy Foundation, plans to create a network of 200 superhomes to showcase energy efficiency and renewable energy generation, which will let visitors see for themselves both the challenges involved in making the switch and the financial and environmental savings made.
Guardian 11th Aug 2010 more >>
BP Solar
Within its Alternative Energy division, BP Solar recently announced sales of 58MW in the second quarter of 2010, up from 27MW in the same period a year-ago. First quarter sales were 54MW. For the first-half of 2010, BP Solar reported sales of 112MW a significant increase over the same period in 2009 when sales were reported at 42MW.
PV Tech 10th Aug 2010 more >>
Scottish Councils set to benefit
Scottish councils could be set for a potential green cash bonanza as a result of new legislation which will allow them to sell electricity back to the national grid. The Production and Supply of Renewable Electricity by Local Authorities Regulations 2010 will revise the Local Government(Scotland) Act 1973, which includes a provision preventing councils from selling electricity produced otherwise than in association with waste and heat. This will open up new opportunities for councils by permitting them to develop wind farms and smaller scale community energy projects to supply remote communities or even to self-generate and sell the excess electricity into the National Grid.
Business 7 10th Aug 2010 more >>
End to Council Ban great news for renewables
Trade bodies, law firms and campaign groups have all claimed the move, announced yesterday is great news as it allows local authorities to benefit from renewables projects. According to Gordon Edge, director of policy at RenewableUK, council’s have a key role to play in the switch to a low carbon economy and, as such, allowing them to receive full Feed-in Tariff (FiT) payments as an additional income is good news.
New Energy Focus 10th Aug 2010 more >>
Solar Revolution
Whole buildings - including their windows - could potentially become solar power generators thanks to new technology. The new transparent solar cell technology for harnessing green energy could be available within about five years. Professor Chris Binns of Leicester University, who was behind the research, said: “One of the key advantages is that it is a transparent thin film that can be coated onto window glass so that windows in buildings can also become power generators.
Telegraph 10th Aug 2010 more >>
Daily Mail 10th Aug 2010 more >>
Renewable Energy Focus 10th Aug 2010 more >>
Business East Midlands 10th Aug 2010 more >>
The Engineer 10th Aug 2010 more >>
Yorkshire Post 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Business Green 12th Aug 2010 more >>
Energy generating window panes could be on the market in five years.
Building 10th Aug 2010 more >>
Solar Revolution (2)
HomeSun has claimed that its new scheme to provide 100,000 homes with free solar panels will help bring solar power to grid parity. The company plans to install solar photovoltaic panels for free in some 2,000 properties over the next 12 months, allowing homeowners to generate their own electricity without the upfront cost. Funds which would have then been paid to the homeowner through the feed-in tariff scheme will go to HomeSun to cover the cost of the technology.
Low Carbon Economy 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Recycle.co.uk 6th Aug 2010 more >>
Career Structure 10th Aug 2010 more >>
New Statesman 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Quiet Revolution
Small-scale wind turbine manufacturer Quiet Revolution has slashed the price of its innovative vertical axis wind turbines as it looks to tap into growing demand resulting from the recently launched feed-in tariff incentive scheme. The company said that the move was in response to the introduction in April of the government’s feed-in tariff scheme, which allows households and businesses that install approved small-scale wind turbines to receive payments from their energy supplier based on how much renewable energy they generate. It is hoped the price drop will prompt further interest in the qr5 turbines from potential customers in the corporate and public sector.
Business Green 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Morrison’s help out
The UK supermarket, Morrisons, is to help fund two renewable energy projects being trialled by the dairy co-op First Milk. The first of the projects, in Ayrshire, Scotland, is to investigate the potential of wind turbines to generate electricity and cut bills by a third. The other explores the possibility of recovering of heat used in bulk milk tanks in order to produce hot water.
Dairy Markets 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Commercial use of FiTs
Figures from Ofgem have revealed that commercial installations have accounted for one third of the total installed renewables capacity registered for Feed-in Tariff (FiT) payments between the scheme going live and the end of July.
New Energy Focus 9th Aug 2010 more >>
The recently launched feed-in tariff incentive scheme may have been primarily targeted at households, but higher than expected numbers of commercial organisations are using the incentive scheme to justify investment in onsite renewable-energy technologies.
Business Green 10th Aug 2010 more >>
Connecting Industry 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Plan Welcomed
The renewable energy sector has welcomed government plans to allow councils to sell micro-generated electricity to the grid. The move by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to end the ban on local authorities selling surplus power is expected to encourage more councils to invest in renewable electricity projects.
The Engineer 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Cornwall Revolution
Lifting a ban that prevents local authorities from selling renewable electricity to the Government could save taxpayers millions of pounds, according to council leaders in Cornwall.
Western Morning News 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Derby Revolution
Rules that will come into force next week will mean Derby council can start making cash from their green energy projects. The laws, introduced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) mean that from 18 August 2010 Local Authorities are no longer restricted from selling renewable electricity into the national or local network. Derby already has schemes in the pipeline that will now benefit from this change including the first hydro electric plant at Longbridge. Further hydro projects will also become commercially viable in Derby under the new laws as well as plans for onshore wind and solar photovoltaics.
DECC 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Derby Telegraph 10th Aug 2010 more >>
Bristol Revolution
Rules that will come into force next week will mean Bristol council can start making cash from their green energy projects. The laws, introduced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on 27 July 2010 mean that Local Authorities are no longer restricted from selling renewable electricity into the national or local network. Bristol already has schemes in the pipeline that will now benefit from this change including two 2-3 megawatt wind turbines off the Severn Estuary, on council land, in the Avonmouth Industrial Area.
DECC 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Hampshire Revolution
Rules due to come into force next week will mean that Hampshire County Council could soon start generating cash from their green energy projects. Already seen as a leader in promoting and installing low carbon electricity projects, Hampshire has the potential for several more schemes that will benefit from the changes.
DECC 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Local Revolution
Local councils will be allowed to sell renewable electricity to the National Grid from today, with the energy secretary, Chris Huhne, urging them to position themselves at the forefront of a power revolution. Huhne has lifted a ban on the sale of surplus electricity to the grid by councils, which say the scheme could raise £100m a year for cash-strapped local authorities in England and Wales. At present only 0.01% of electricity in England is generated by local authority-owned renewables. In Germany the equivalent figure is 100 times higher.
Guardian 9th Aug 2010 more >>
UTV 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Scotsman 10th Aug 2010 more >>
eGov Monitor 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Click Green 9th Aug 2010 more >>
24Dash 9th Aug 2010 more >>
PublicNet 11th Aug 2010 more >>
Currently, local authorities are able to put any renewable electricity they generate to local use and to benefit from the associated FiT for projects smaller than 5MW, however they are restricted from selling any excess renewable electricity into the grid (other than that generated from combined heat and power). This also means they are unable to benefit from the additional export component of the FiT. The restriction is a 1989 amendment to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and was put in place at the time of electricity privatisation to ensure the transfer of the electricity industry to the private sector.
New Energy Focus 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Solar panels could be fitted to the roof of every public building and wind turbines installed in hospital car parks under plans for local authorities to earn £100 million a year from generating green electricity.
Telegraph 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Councils across Britain will from next week be allowed to sell renewable electricity to the grid and should assume their rightful place leading a local power revolution, Chris Huhne will say today in a letter to all local authorities.
DECC 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Co-operative Revolution?
The Department for Energy and Climate Change is also working on proposals to allow communities that host renewable energy projects to keep the additional business rates generated, and plans to launch a web portal - Community Energy Online - in the autumn to support the development and deployment of low carbon community-scale energy infrastructure. Ed Mayo, Co-operatives UK secretary general, co-authored the discussion paper – A new energy infrastructure – in November last year, which called for a move towards community level energy. Commenting on the development, he said: ‘In other European countries, local authorities have grasped the benefits of co-operatives and encouraged their development in various ways. ‘In France, for instance, cooperatives such as Bois Bocage Energie have been developed to allow local authorities, consumers and producers to produce energy from biomass. In Denmark, local authorities have supported the growth of district heating cooperatives through acting as loan guarantors and enabling planning conditions, working alongside housing associations, local business and householders.
New Start 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Solar Christmas Trees
A CHRISTMAS tree farm has installed solar panels. The Tree Barn, in Christmas Common, is taking part in the Feed-In tariffs scheme, where a utility company pays 41.3p for every kilowatt hour of electricity produced from renewable energy systems. Owner Andrew Ingram hopes to achieve a return of £280,000 over 25 years.
Henley Standard 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Level 6 in Essex
CHP, one of the largest developing housing associations in Essex, is celebrating the completion of the South East’s most environmentally friendly affordable homes. Conceived, commissioned and developed by CHP, the Green Space scheme, in Mendip Road, Chelmsford, Essex, has been awarded a level-six Code for Sustainable Homes rating – the highest possible – by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
24 Dash 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Zero Carbon Housing
Every new home is to be powered by a green energy plant to offset its environmental impact under government plans for zero-carbon living from 2016. If a development is too small, remote or shielded from wind or sun for an effective renewables scheme, developers will pay a levy to the local council to create bigger plants nearby that would cancel out the carbon footprint of the homes, while providing green power. According to government figures, more than a quarter of all CO2 emissions come from residential properties.
Independent on Sunday 8th Aug 2010 more >>
Hydro boom
A little-known Perthshire company backed by Scottish and Southern Energy has won a contract worth in the region of £100 million to develop small hydroelectric schemes on land owned by the Forestry Commission. Green Highland Renewables (GHR), based in Aberfeldy, has been selected to exclusively develop the schemes in the Highland region, the largest and most lucrative of three nationwide zones that are being tendered by the Forestry Commission (FC) to raise money to increase the rate of tree planting across the country. Together with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), which bought a third of the company in 2008, GHR will develop well in excess of 100 hydroelectric dams across the Highlands, many of them in the most remote glens in the region, in what is expected to be a 10 year programme.
Sunday Herald 8th Aug 2010 more >>
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has announced the first contract has been awarded for developing small-scale hydro schemes on the national forest estate in the north-west Highlands. Green Highland Renewables Limited will carry out the projects, which cover Inverness-shire, Ross & Skye, Lochaber and the northern Highlands. It is the first of three lots that are open for small-scale hydro development. Mr Lochhead said: “As part of the effort to develop a diverse, low-carbon economy, Scotland has committed to seeing renewables deliver 20% of our total energy used and 50% of our gross electricity consumed by 2020.
Herald 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Press & Journal 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Water Power Magazine 10th Aug 2010 more >>
End of Term Report
The Microgeneration industry has called on David Cameron to intervene personally to fulfil his pledge to make this “the Greenest Government Ever” as squabbling between Government departments starts to cost jobs and cause investors to flee the UK. In an “end of term” report the Micropower Council highlighted how the Treasury is blocking Energy and Climate Change Ministers Chris Huhne and Greg Barker’s desire to introduce a key policy that will encourage millions of householders to install low carbon solutions to space heating or hot water.
Green Building Press 8th Aug 2010 more >>
Energy Efficiency News 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Cornish Solar Farms
A renewable energy company is holding a series of meetings in Cornwall next week over its plans to build a series of solar farms in the Duchy. It is part of a UK-wide expansion push for Bristol-based The Green Company that is also likely to take in sites in Devon and Somerset. The Green Company has written to planners seeking approval to develop nine sites across Cornwall, which would generate between one and five mega watts of power each. These would typically be sites of around 15 hectares, which would feature ground mounted solar panels.
This is Cornwall 7th Aug 2010 more >>
Local Revolution
Electricity could be sold to the national grid by councils under plans to encourage town halls to generate power.
Telegraph 7th Aug 2010 more >>
Stonehaven Pool
Stonehaven’s open-air swimming pool is going “green”. The heating system for the town’s popular visitor attraction is being replaced in time for next summer. The new environmentally-friendly gas boilers are expected to operate at twice the efficiency rate. The organisation and the local authority are continuing to look at various forms of renewable energy to heat the pool.
Press & Journal 7th August 2010 more >>
Norwich tackling climate change
The Norwich Independent Climate Change Commission was established by the Norwich City Council to capture the views of local people on climate change to inform future policy. A combination of carrots, sticks, guaranteed loans grants and income is needed. The Carbon Reduction Commitment is an example of a stick. Large organisations consuming over 6,000 megawatts of electricity must join a mandatory emissions trading scheme. There is a financial gain or loss based upon how much they reduce electricity usage. The coalition government is exploring establishing a Green Investment Bank. It would focus efforts and investments for transitioning to a low carbon economy.
Eastern Daily Press 6th Aug 2010 more >>
Bicester Eco-village
MORE details of how a planned 5,000-home eco -settlement on the outski-rts of Bicester will take shape have emerged. all buildings at the 850-acre site would be self-sustaining, using renewable energy for their power needs, and construction materials could include recycled bottles. It is envisaged that electric vehicles would make deliveries and transport residents. Community gardens and allotments would be created to encourage local food production and a biomass plant and an anaerobic digester built to process waste and produce heat and hot water.
Oxford Mail 6th August 2010 more >>
Reinventing Urban Wind
Unfortunately, wind speeds in urban areas are usually too slow and turbulent to make micro wind generation cost-effective. So while the strict planning regulations that have prevented homeowners from erecting domestic turbines in the UK are expected to be relaxed next month, city-dwellers may find manufacturers reluctant to sell them their turbines for fear that poor performance will reflect badly on a young and vulnerable industry. However, researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, believe that the problem is not with the low wind speeds after all, but with the methods used to harvest wind power. Cities have plenty of wind energy we can use, they say, but to harness it requires a different tack. It’s time to reinvent the urban wind turbine.
New Scientist 6th Aug 2010 more >>
Managing Biomass
As we move towards a low carbon economy, the rapidly developing woodfuel market offers massive potential. Giving the right support to existing and prospective suppliers can help create new woodfuel supply, along with new business opportunities, investment and jobs. It will also contribute towards diverting waste wood from landfill and lowering carbon emissions. Currently approximately 50% of Yorkshire and Humber’s 92,000-hectares of woodland isn’t managed, and up to 200,000-tonnes of waste wood, such as pallets generated from businesses and factories, is sent to landfill every year. In both cases this offers great opportunities for use of these untapped resources in woodfuel supply.
New Energy Focus 6th Aug 2010 more >>
Insulation Contract
An insulation firm has won a £3.3 million contract to make 800 homes in Wales more energy-efficient. Mark Group, of Beaumont Leys, Leicester, has been awarded the work by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. The group has created a service centre and training academy at Aberbeeg, Blaenau Gwent, to deliver the contract.
Business East Midlands 6th Aug 2010 more >>