week ending 3 June 2011
Solar not realising potential
The UK government is going to be given an environmental challenge, with the Solar Trade Association claiming that the resource is not realising its full potential. Its Alternative Solar Revolution Strategy will encourage ministers to increase investment as well as producing a clear framework for a solar revolution. Furthermore, the Solar Trade Association advised that the UK government should double the amount of money put into solar PV to 2015, which will in turn deliver 140,000 jobs by this time. Howard Johns, chair of the association, said: “The government has got it wrong on solar. We are on the cusp of a global solar revolution, major markets all over the world recognise that solar energy is critical to our future.
IB Times 3rd June 2011 more >>
The Solar Trade Association will today launch a report that claims the government is failing to recognize the real potential for solar in the UK. The Alternative Solar Revolution Strategy challenges the government to re-think solar - to increase investment and to provide a clear framework for a Solar Revolution in the UK.
Low Carbon Economy 3rd June 2011 more >>
Business Green 3rd June 2011 more >>
Morrisons and EDF
Energy companies are increasingly committed to providing efficiency services alongside the power they sell, but now one of the UK’s largest suppliers has gone a step further, offering supermarket Morrisons a guarantee that it will save it £1m a year on its energy bills. EDF Energy and Morrisons yesterday announced they have signed an innovative new three-year contract, whereby the utility guarantees that energy-efficiency programmes will deliver energy savings worth £1m a year. The companies also said that the contract will incentivise EDF to go beyond the promised savings and deliver additional improvements in efficiency.
Business Green 3rd June 2011 more >>
Small Wind
Evance Wind Turbines’ R9000 5 kW small wind turbine has been granted Conditional Temporary Certification (Conditional Certification) by the Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC).
Renewable Energy Focus 3rd June 2011 more >>
AceOn Solar
A SOLIHULL company is targeting growth in the sustainable energy sector by focusing on opportunities available through solar panel manufacture. AceOn Solar, part of AceOn Battery Technology, is supporting its strategy with a programme of research and development into portable energy products such as solar modules, solar application systems and solar power systems.
The Business Desk 3rd June 2011 more >>
Urban Wind
A proposal to build Scotland’s first urban wind turbine on the north Edinburgh coast has been launched by two local community groups. The community owned turbine would raise substantial funds to invest in local projects through the sale of electricity to energy companies while also contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions. The partnership of Greener Leith and PEDAL – Portobello Transition Town is behind a campaign to raise money for the development of this project and draw attention to the plans for a wind turbine. The organisations hope to gain support from local residents and would like them to register their support online on the website of the funding body, Energyshare Fund. The greater the support for project means a greater chance of securing financial backing. The site suggested for the turbine is inside the Seafield Water Waste Treatment Works between Leith and Portobello.
STV 3rd June 2011 more >>
Green Deal
Homeowners could be able to borrow money to pay for solar panels and other forms of renewable generation under the government’s Green Deal initiative, the department for energy and climate change has announced. In a document released today outlining measures the deal covers, ground and air source heat pumps, solar thermal, solar PV, biomass boilers and micro-CHP (combined heat and power) are all listed. The announcement is significant because it was previously unclear whether the Green Deal would apply to the technologies, which in some difficult-to-insulate homes may be the only way to cut carbon emissions significantly.
Building 2nd June 2011 more >>
24 Dash 3rd June 2011 more >>
Guardian 2nd June 2011 more >>
The Government has unveiled plans to help ensure homeowners taking advantage of the “green deal” are not ripped off. Ministers are also publishing the range of possible technology available on the scheme to make homes more energy efficient. This ranges from water efficient taps and showers to under-floor heating and energy efficient glazing.
New Civil Engineer 2nd June 2011 more >>
The UK’s nascent microgeneration industry could receive a major boost after the government confirmed it was actively considering making solar panels, ground source heat pumps and other small-scale renewable technologies eligible for inclusion in its Green Deal energy efficiency loan scheme. It had been widely feared that microgeneration technologies would be excluded from the scheme.
Business Green 2nd June 2011 more >>
Green Home Competition
With the closing date set for 9th June 2011, HomeSun, the UK’s leading solar panel experts and Findaproperty.com are putting out a final call to find Britain’s Greenest Home. Since its launch in April, the competition has been hotting up with hundreds of entries received from all over the UK vying for the £3,000 first prize. The competition has so far received the highest number of entries from Isle of Wight, Avon, Cornwall and Devon.
Low Carbon Economy 2nd June 2011 more >>
Oxford Solar
Prospective Green candidate for Wantage in the last General Election, landowner Adam Twine, is covering an area of 30 acres with solar panels at Westmill Farm, Watchfield, next door to the five 1.3 megawatt (MW) wind turbines erected in 2008 and they will be visible from the Ridgeway.
Witney Gazette 2nd June 2011 more >>
Lincolnshire Solar Farm rejected
PLANS for North Lincolnshire’s first solar power farm have been refused by councillors. A ten-acre field at Trentside, Keadby, had been earmarked for a £2 million investment by Nottingham-based Parkside Luxury Homes, which would have seen more than 4,200 photo-voltaic cells on the site.
Scunthorpe Telegraph 2nd June 2011 more >>
PV Roundup
Joyce Laird catches up with some companies we featured exactly a year ago to find out whether 2010 fell short, met, or exceeded 2009 projections on the solar photovoltaic (PV) technology front.
Renewable Energy Focus 2nd June 2011 more >>
Wind powered crisps
CRISP maker Walkers is to apply to West Lancashire Borough Council to install a new 125m-high wind turbine at its factory in Skelmersdale.The firm said that the turbine would generate around 30% of the Pennine Place plant’s energy requirements.
Business Desk 2nd June 2011 more >>
Newport Solar
Newport City Council have approved plans for two large-scale solar farms comprising around 20,000 individual photovoltaic panels on a 4.5ha site at Clearwell Farm near Michaelston-y-Fedw, between Cardiff and Newport. The 9,040 photovoltaic energy panels would generate 2MW of electricity at peak times - enough to power up to 700 homes.
News Wales 1st June 2011 more >>
MPs Heat Pump
Andrew Bridgen MP’s new-build home was fitted with a DHP-H Opti Pro ground source heat pump system from Danfoss Heat Pumps UK, using renewable energy to provide hot water and space heating. The project has been shortlisted in the ‘Installation of the Year’ category at this year’s National Heat Pump Awards. The Conservative MP, who has campaigned on environmental issues, investigated a range of heating alternatives for his spacious five-bedroom home, which also contains a cinema, gym and billiard room. Mr Bridgen was advised by renewable energy specialists Eartheat of Leicester that a ground source heat pump was the most sustainable and cost effective solution to his space and water heating requirements.
Building Talk 1st June 2011 more >>
Renewable Tariff
British Gas has launched a new green energy tariff designed to increase demand for renewable power and boost green community projects, such as small scale wind turbines and solar panel installations.
Business Green 1st June 2011 more >>
Un-permitted Development
A renewable energy company has called upon the government to stop councils going against laws intended to encourage solar power schemes. Clear rules spell out how homeowners can have solar photovoltaics (PV) installed as long as the work is done by a fully approved contractor.
Heating & Plumbing Monthly 31st May 2011 more >>
Business Green 2nd June 2011 more >>
West Lancashire Borough Council has become the latest local authority to be accused of forcing householders who want to fit solar panels to unnecessarily apply for planning permission, in what critics have described as “a blatant money grab”.
Business Green 31st May 2011 more >>
Somerset Solar
CONTROVERSIAL plans for three giant solar energy farms near Bridgwater have been approved by councillors. Three different energy firms - BNRG Bridgwater, BNRG Puriton, and Wessex Solar Energy - were this week granted permission by Sedgemoor District Council for three huge schemes totalling 120,000 solar panels.
This is the West Country 31st May 2011 more >>
Chelsea Flower Show
BOILER manufacturer Worcester, Bosch Group and Olivia Kirk of KKE Architects scooped a coveted Gold Award from the judges for the renewable energy-themed garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Worcester’s energy-efficient renewable technology - including solar panels set into the walls, solar evacuated tube features and ground source heat pumps collectors - were worked into the design and set against a planting scheme to bring in the elements of earth, wind, fire and air.
Kidderminster Shuttle 28th May 2011 more >>
Green Churches
Green energy projects could provide income for Church of Scotland congregations in deprived areas, the Kirk`s General Assembly heard. The institution’s general trustees have asked a team from Heriot-Watt University to investigate the potential payback from various forms of green energy. Through the Scottish Government’s renewable heat incentive tariff scheme, which was launched last year, energy generated through certain technologies can trigger payment for every kilowatt-hour of energy produced.
Stornoway Gazette 27th May 2011 more >>
Farm Energy
All aspects of renewable energy will be covered at the two-day On-Farm Energy Generation event at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 22 and 23 June.
Farmers Weekly 27th May 2011 more >>
Solar Website
In partnership with the Solar Trade Association, and the Renewable Energy Association, LowCarbonEconomy.com helped to launch a new website to increase the UK Government’s ambition for Solar - if you want more solar in the UK, we recommend you visit the website and express your support! OurSolarFuture.org.uk
Low Carbon Economy 27th May 2011 more >>
Birmingham Fuel Cells
Cllr Paul Tilsey, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, welcomed delegates to the 7th International Conference entitled Generating the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Society. He said that the price of oil keeps rising and that supplies will peak within the next fifteen to twenty years. In that timescale, by 2026, Birmingham City Council is aiming to reduce their C02 emissions by 60%. Birmingham is aware of its responsibilities as the second UK city. They have introduced three new local distributed energy systems and are demonstrating electric vehicles, including fuel cell cars. Birmingham is accelerating manufacturing processes in order to bring forward fuel cell demonstrations and they look forward to leading the world into a new energy future with hydrogen and fuel cells.
Fuel Cell Markets May 2011 more >>
LEDs
Positive prospects for both LEDs and photovoltaics were the key themes of lively discussions at a meeting at the University of Bath, UK, on 12 May, which pulled in more than 70 academics and industry figures. Organized by the South of England Photonics Network (sepnet.net), the “Lighting Energy - Powering Light II” conference considered the needs of lighting designers, the impact of Feed in Tariffs, some experiences of combining LED and PV technologies, and forecasts for both technologies’ markets.
LEDs Magazine May 2011 more >>