week ending 26 November 2010
Public Sector Efficiency
The public sector could save £1 billion and shed 46 million tonnes of CO2 a year simply by improving energy efficiency, the Carbon Trust said yesterday. The government-backed advisory body identified a series of “immediate opportunities” for public organisations, including more energy efficient heating and lighting systems, building improvements, and reforms to travel policies.
Business Green 26th Nov 2010 more >>
Keep in the Heat
Next month, British Gas is raising its electricity and gas prices by 7 per cent. Meanwhile, Scottish and Southern Energy is imposing a 9.4 per cent increase on its gas tariffs. With last winter being the coldest in 30 years and another cold snap upon us, it’s no wonder people are starting to panic about their heating bills. But there are plenty of ways to make significant savings, keep your house toasty warm and stay on trend.
Independent 26th Nov 2010 more >>
Efficient Lighting
LG today announced that its range of energy efficient LED lighting and Plasma Lighting Systems (PLS) has received official certifications from European, Chinese, Japanese and Korean governments for energy efficiency, quality, safety and environmental credentials.
Business Green 26th Nov 2010 more >>
Big Society
Greg Barker: The existing centralised energy system that was developed in the last century is not fit for the challenges of this one. Yes we need new nuclear, big offshore wind farms and new coal with CCS. But the energy conundrum we now face requires a new and broader approach in which our communities are encouraged to produce their own energy. It’s because of the importance of local communities that I’m concerned about large scale green field based solar farms being allowed to distort the available funding for domestic solar technologies. We want to see far more solar panels on Britain’s roof space but not all over the countryside.
Independent 26th Nov 2010 more >>
Communities and businesses keen to take advantage of the UK’s renewable energy incentives will from today be able to receive additional guidance from the government, after the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) launched a web site designed to help organisations generate their own energy. Dubbed Community Energy Online, the new site offers local authorities and community groups detailed advice and case studies demonstrating how to select and deliver local low-carbon and renewable energy projects.
Business Green 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Communities have been called upon to become more energy self sufficient by climate change minister Greg Barker. Speaking at the Combined Heat and Power Association annual conference, Mr Barker claimed that communities generating their own green energy were a “perfect expression of the transformative power of the Big Society”.
Low Carbon Economy 26th Nov 2010 more >>
Low Carbon Devon
A new report produced by the University of Exeter for Devon County Council has highlighted a number of opportunities and challenges faced by Devon in creating a low carbon economy. The report, ‘The Low Carbon Economy in the context of the Devon Economy’ was commissioned by the Council as part of its Local Economic Assessment. It includes an examination of how Devon can meet the targets outlined in the coalition government’s Low Carbon Transition Plan (LCTP), which sets out emissions cuts for 2020.
Devon County Council 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Toxic Solar
The European Parliament has decided to exclude solar photovoltaic (PV) panels from updated legislation outlawing harmful materials, removing a major threat to the industry’s rapid expansion. The Parliament’s Environment Committee yesterday voted to ban the use of six hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, including cadmium, which is used in the manufacture of some thin-film solar panels. But the committee offered a waiver to solar panel manufacturers that use the banned substances.
Business Green 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Morvern Hydro
The remote Morvern peninsula could become Lochaber’s power house after estate owners and a community development company revealed proposals for hydro-electric projects. Ardtornish Estate, the largest private employer at Morvern, has operated a hydro scheme on the Rannoch river, which flows into Loch Aline, since the mid-90s, and currently has another under construction in the same catchment area. The estate has now lodged an application with Highland Council for a further hydro project covering a 800KW run-of-river scheme at Uileann in Gleann Geal, on the River Aline catchment. The plan is to capture the flow of three burns and carry it in a buried pipeline through the Uileann conifer plantation to a powerhouse behind Uileann House, where a direct national grid connection will export power out via Morvern’s White Glen.
Press & Journal 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Bristol Event
ORGANISATIONS can learn how they can save money while helping the environment at an event in Bristol. The open day in Cabot Circus on Saturday will help schools and community groups reduce the energy they use. It is being hosted by the Bristol Energy Network and climate change charity The Converging World at the Start Living Centre located on the third floor of the shopping centre. Groups will be shown ways that they can reduce energy use by being more efficient and using renewable energy where possible.
Bristol Evening Post 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Ecotricity Sun Parks
ECOTRICITY’S plans to develop a series of sun parks – fields of photovoltaic panels producing electricity from sunlight and connecting directly into the UK grid – took a big step forward this week with the announcement of planning permission for its first project.
Stroud News Journal 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Greenwise Business 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Business Green 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Solar Capital
Specialist venture capital trust provider is launching a Solar UK Venture Capital Trust range for investors who want to get into the growing green energy market.
FT 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Scottish Fuel Poverty
More must be invested in tackling fuel poverty and improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s homes - helping to meet Scotland’s climate change targets - WWF Scotland said. The environmental group made the call following the publication today of the latest household condition survey – which reveal that 1 in 3 households in Scotland are living in fuel poverty. WWF also warned that with the latest fuel price rises, this figure is likely to be an underestimate.
WWF Scotland 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Microgeneration Toolkit
In response to recent changes in UK planning regulations the National Renewable Energy Centre, Narec, has launched the Microrenewables Toolkit. The Toolkit is designed to advise developers and planners within local authorities on the optimum low carbon solutions to be used for sustainable building design and build. The Microrenewables Toolkit is made up of two parts; Carbon Mixer North East v2.0 software and the Sustainability Guidance for North East Buildings document.
Narec 24th Nov 2010 more >>
Business Inefficiency
Despite UK businesses increasingly waking up to the benefits of good environmental performance, a failure to embrace energy efficiency measures is still costing them over £6bn a year.
Business Green 24th Nov 2010 more >>
Green Deal Difficulties
The problem with the economics of the Green Deal is two-fold. In advance of a government bill before Christmas, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) will only confirm that up to 14m homes could be treated by 2020, and customers will have 20-25 years to repay the costs, though it is hoped many will do so much sooner. It is also expected that spending per household will be capped at about £6,500, and energy and retail companies asked to deliver the programme are said to be modelling interest rates of 6-8% to cover their borrowing of the capital plus the risk of non-payment.
Guardian 24th Nov 2010 more >>
Baxi & Code 4
The Government’s revised Code for Sustainable Homes Technical Guidance will encourage private and social housing developers to specify micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) when seeking Code Level 4 compliance, according to Baxi Group, Europe’s leading low and zero carbon (LZC) heating and hot water systems specialist.
Building Design News 24th Nov 2010 more >>
Heating and Ventilating 25th Nov 2010 more >>
Quiet Revolution
The UK may still lag far behind Germany in terms of installed wind energy capacity, but that has not stopped a British manufacturer inking a major deal to export small-scale turbines to Germany. London-based QuietRevolution has developed an innovative vertical axis wind turbine, which the company claims is currently the only wind turbine on the market that is specifically designed for use in urban and suburban areas, and is currently engaged in a major expansion push driven by the rollout of incentives for onsite renewable energy across Europe.
Business Green 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
Hexham Energy
A TYNEDALE firm is aiming to provide green energy solutions for people’s homes. The Centre for Green Energy in Hexham, created by Ali and Jo Marsh, opened in April 2010, to meet the growing demand for renewable energy solutions. Jo and Ali personally own a pellet boiler, a Clearview wood-burning stove and a solar thermal panel, so they are aware of the huge advantages of the systems compared with using fossil fuels such as oil.
Newcastle Journal 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
Sustainable Homes
Richard Lupo, sustainability consultant at Sustainable Homes discusses the impact of the recently revised Code for Sustainable Homes. The energy category concentrates a lot more heavily on fabric energy efficiency. This is especially important to note, particularly if a housing provider’s previous designs have relied on renewable energy technologies to improve an otherwise poor carbon emission rate. As less credits are available for this approach, some developers may be missing out on more fabric energy efficiency credits which can be achieved through good design and construction.
24 Dash 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
Large Solar Threat
Following the recent media hype surrounding Greg Barker’s statement in the House of Commons on November 11, which alluded to the possibility that large-scale solar installations in the UK could be under threat, a meeting between representatives of the solar industry, including the Renewable Energy Association (REA), the Micropower council and the Minister has been set up for November 24. The main objective of this industry meeting is to make the Minister aware of the very wide nature of developments in the market, including the significant amount of 5MW parks announced across the country, so that he could understand the implications of an early review of tariffs. Several industry associations, bodies and solar companies have been briefed on this issue in order to form a response to this statement and to begin lobbying against it.
Solar Power Portal 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Poverty Deal?
The New Local Government Network (NLGN) has published a report suggesting that the government’s flagship ‘Green Deal’ programme will be in danger of failing to reach the households most in need of more energy efficient homes across the social housing sector. The Green Deal allows households to install home energy efficiency improvements with a value of up to £6,500 at no upfront cost, with the cost paid back by the householder over a period of 25-years. But for many of the 1.4 million social homes classified as ‘hard to treat’, the efficiency measures would cost more than would be saved in reduced energy bills.
Heating and Plumbing Monthly 22nd November 2010 more >>
Evesham Weir
A PROJECT to modernise the turbine house at Evesham weir in order to create renewable energy could begin by next summer after a delay of three years.
Evesham Journal 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Farming Futures
An organisation that helps farmers fight the effects of climate change faces closure because the government is to cut its funding, it has emerged. Farming Futures has played an important role in persuading farmers and other landowners to invest in green technology such as wind turbines and solar panels.
Guardian 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Business Green 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
Solar Marlow
Philip Ditchfield was by day a procurement expert for a pharmaceutical firm and by night harboured green tendencies. After watching The Age of Stupid he tired of hearing excuses such as: “There’s no point doing anything because China’s emissions are growing.” By March 2010 he found himself persuading inhabitants of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, to become part of his 100 Solar Project, a community renewables buying group. To date, 185 households have registered, and 30 Marlow families now generate electricity through photovoltaic and solar thermal cells.
Observer 21st Nov 2010 more >>
FiTs Survive
The government’s spending review brought fears that the government would backtrack or water down the existing Feed-In Tariff (FiT) for electricity and also the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). A coalition of 22 groups, including the Renewable Energy Association, the National Farmers Union and the Federation of Master Builders, warned energy secretary Chris Huhne that cutting schemes that subsidise household generation of renewable energy would jeopardise job creation, energy security and greenhouse gas targets. An open letter to Vince Cable and Danny Alexander from 64 companies, including E.ON & British Gas, adopted a similar stance: ‘premature adjustments to the tariff would have a profoundly damaging effect on long term investor confidence in the clean tech and renewable energy sectors, and may cause investors to flee altogether’.
Environment Research Web 20th Nov 2010 more >>
Free Advice for Farmers
A FREE event offering advice for farmers considering diversifying into the renewable energy market is being held at the Junction 24 conference centre, near Bridgwater, on December 7.
Bridgwater Mercury 20th Nov 2010 more >>
Wilburton Solar Farm
RESIDENTS in Wilburton have come out in support of plans to build a £13million solar farm in the village. More than 96 per cent of residents who attended a public exhibition last week said they welcomed the plans that could see 35 acres of agricultural land converted into one of the UK’S largest energy producing solar farms
Ely Standard 19th Nov 2010 more >>
Small Wind Project
The University of Central Lancashire has been awarded nearly £1.1m from the European Regional Development Fund to establish a project that will increase the uptake of small wind turbine technologies by SMEs. The project will support manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, installers, service providers and end-users of wind turbines in the wind energy sector in the North West.
Place North West 19th Nov 2010 more >>
Solar Search
LAND agents Strutt and Parker are on the lookout for potential solar farm sites and say some in Lincolnshire could be suitable.
Yorkshire Post 19th Nov 2010 more >>
Solar Street Lighting
A new company in the UK hopes to benefit from a proposal to overturn the ban on councils selling renewable electricity to the grid, by supplying them with solar-powered street lighting.
Renewable Energy Magazine 17th Nov 2010 more >>
Wrexham Solar
A Welsh local authority has unveiled plans to install solar panels on the roofs of 3,000 homes throughout the county as part of a £28 million energy-saving scheme. If members of Wrexham council’s executive board approve the idea, tenants could see their energy bills reduced by up to 40 per cent.
Wickes 12th Nov 2010 more >>
Renewable Training
A new facility has opened in Dartford, South East of England, to help train the thousands of workers set to be created in the growing UK renewable energy sector. The new state-of-the-art Renewables Training Centre is run by training provider Able Skills Ltd, with backing from Mitsubishi Electrics UK, Polypipe, Domus and Heating Plumbing Supplies. It offers nationally accredited qualifications in green technologies, including solar, heat pumps, rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling and under-floor heating and installation, with more courses due to be added in the New Year.
Greenwise Business 11th Nov 2010 more >>
Heating & Plumbing Monthly 22nd Nov 2010 more >>