week ending 7 October 2011
Community Energy Conference 15th October Leith
Join the Edinburgh Community Energy Co-operative (ECEC) for a morning conference and networking event to learn about community based renewable energy projects. Learn about generating green energy locally in and around Edinburgh, and how to save energy in your home. Speakers and topics include:
Renewables potential: The power of Scotland & the role of community energy. (Friends of the Earth Scotland)
Leith solar project update (ECEC )
Seafield urban wind turbine project update (Greener Leith)
Heat and the city research project on combined heat and power (Edinburgh University)
Learn about one household’s practical experience of installing their own solar panels
Discussion and debate on Edinburgh Community Energy – the way forward
Norton Park Conference Centre, Albion Road, Saturday 15th October 10.30am to 1.30pm
Further details more >>
Evening News 3rd Oct 2011 more >>
Three reasons to go solar
In recent months the mainstream media have been carrying numerous scare stories concerning energy price rises of between 10 and 20 percent for the coming winter. Actually, they are more than just the usual media panics, prices for conventional fuels are indeed increasing and there is undoubtedly reason for concern. Despite the increasing cost, there is reason for optimism, primarily because the UK has a vibrant solar PV industry. So, there is a viable alternative to higher conventional energy prices just waiting to be exploited.
Greener Ideal 7th Oct 2011 more >>
Micro Wind
Arista Power, Inc., a developer, manufacturer, and supplier of custom-designed power management systems, renewable energy storage systems, WindTamer wind turbines, and a supplier and designer of solar energy systems, announced today a further expansion of its suite of product offerings with the introduction of the Arista Power Charger 300 line of man-portable, three-bladed micro wind turbines designed to provide battery charging capability at remote and off-grid locations for military and other applications.
Shephard 7th Oct 2011 more >>
Solar Cars
General Electric (GE) and Inovateus Solar are working together to offer solar-powered carports equipped with charging stations for electric cars - a concept that enables large-scale EV charging in commercial and corporate parking lots without a huge draw on the grid.
Business Green 7th Oct 2011 more >>
Green Hospital
Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) could become a centre for renewable energy under plans which will also see it reduce its carbon footprint by 25 per cent. The hospital’s carbon management project, expected to be complete by early 2012, will see the installation of solar panels, combination heat and power units and bore holes
Get Reading 7th Oct 2011 more >>
Large Solar
The cost of a 50kW commercial solar photovoltaics (PV) system in the UK has now reached a price range of £100k to £130k. With the UK feed-in tariff set at 32.9p/kWh generated, I would argue that UK solar PV is currently in a bubble -- one that serves up a golden opportunity for businesses to add solar PV to their property.
Solar Power Portal 7th Oct 2011 more >>
Slough joins local revolution
Schools across Slough have been given the opportunity to get free electricity and benefit from thousands of pounds in savings on their energy bills, and at the same time improve their green credentials, thanks to a major new initiative by Slough Borough Council. The local authority has become the first in the UK to capitalise on a major new fund for free solar PV installations, which will provide free electricity for its buildings and help to reduce carbon emissions.
Anesco 6th Oct 20211 more >>
North Devon Eco-School
A WIND turbine and 17 solar panels have been installed at a rural primary school following a three year project by its new eco council. The new development is helping to power Morwenstow Primary School and teach children about renewable energy and green technology.
North Devon Journal 6th Oct 2011 more >>
UK Solar Growth
Despite global oversupply and plummeting demand for PV modules and components, the UK solar market is still experiencing large install figures and has had an explosive year with 900% growth. Over 300MW has already been installed and forecasts suggest that 550MW could be deployed by the end of the current FiT period.
PV Tech 6th Oct 2011 more >>
Solar Conference
IT HAS been described as one of the largest solar parks in the UK. The Bosch Solar Energy AG park in Trefullock, near Newquay in Cornwall, encompasses solar modules with a total output of five megawatts ... enough to cover the yearly energy requirements of 1,450 families. It will be fascinating, therefore, to hear what Franz Ziering, vice president of Bosch Solar Energy AG, has to say about his company’s major developments when he addresses delegates attending the national Solar Flair 11 conference on November 24. The success of the two previous conferences, organised by the County Durham Development Company, has undoubtedly led to Solar Flair gaining a national reputation with the result that, this year, the event promises to be bigger and better than ever.
The Journal 6th Oct 2011 more >>
Agricultural Solar
Government legislation for the 2012/13 tax year will see HMRC capital allowances for solar energy installations by agricultural businesses decrease from ’100,000 to ’25,000, but businesses still have time to enter into an agreement with solar PV specialists Hestia and benefit from the higher allowance figure.
Farming UK 5th Oct 2011 more >>
Solar Bath
Ian Marchant: Bath & West Community Energy (B&WCE) is a community-based social enterprise with a vision to create a community-owned and financially sustainable enterprise that will make a major contribution to local, renewable energy targets. What I particularly like about B&WCE is that it’s a solution from the grassroots, not from government or big business but from the people of the Bath area and the communities they represent.
Guardian 5th Oct 2011 more >>
Scottish Community Projects
Nearly £4 million of loans to help communities across Scotland develop locally-owned renewable energy projects were announced yesterday by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing. A Borders housing association which will use the proceeds to improve the houses it offers for rent, a Highland charity which will become more financially sustainable thanks to a hydro scheme and two Edinburgh community groups who wish to erect a wind turbine at a sewerage works are among the recipients, as well as communities all over Scotland. The loans, offered through the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), will help with the pre-planning costs of 42 renewable energy projects. The locally-owned projects will produce 56 Megawatts (MW) of wind and hydro capacity and make a contribution to the Scottish Government’s target of 500MW of community and locally-owned renewable energy by 2020.
Scottish Government 5th Oct 2011 more >>
eGov Monitor 5th Oct 2011 more >>
Click Green 5th Oct 2011 more >>
Derry Plans
Derry City Council plans to harness landfill gas and trial wind power as part of a drive to cut the consumption of energy. A spokeswoman for the local authority says the council is committed to cutting its energy use and says at present ratepayers shelve out around £750,000 per year on energy.
Derry Journal 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Small Wind
In a report to be released later this month, the American Wind Energy Association says that the market for small wind turbines in the United States grew 26 percent last year faster than in prior years. And in Britain, a report in April found growth in the year ending in December 2010 even higher, at 65 percent making it the “greatest year on year increase” for the small-turbine industry, according to the report. (Both figures represent capacity additions.)
New York Times 3rd Oct 2011 more >>
Solar Bridge
It will cost just over £7m and nothing quite like it has been built in London before. But the most striking feature of the latest addition to the capital’s streetscape is that it will generate enough electricity to power about 300 houses every year. After years of planning, workers have started to install the first of nearly 100 solar panel “leaves” that will form the roof of the new Blackfriars station that Network Rail is assembling above a Victorian bridge over the Thames. The station roof, which is due to be finished next year, will almost certainly be London’s biggest solar array. But Solarcentury and Network Rail think Blackfriars may also be the world’s biggest solar bridge.
Independent 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Out-law 5th Oct 2011 more >>
Business Green 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Green Deal
A number of blue chip names in banking, building and energy have signed a deal to create a unique not-for-profit financial company which will deliver billions of pounds of energy efficiency investment to residential and business premises. The aim of the companies, which include power companies British Gas and E.ON, retailer B&Q and the banks HSBC and Goldman Sachs, is to ensure low-cost finance is available to the 14m homes the government hopes will be refitted by 2020 under its green deal starting in October 2012.
Guardian 2nd Oct 2011 more >>
Cheap Solar
British homeowners are increasingly able to build greener homes by using cheap solar panels from China, but western workers are paying the price with a wave of corporate collapses and layoffs among green energy firms. The price of PV (photo voltaic) solar panels has dropped by as much as a third this year alone, hastening the introduction of a low-carbon economy and reducing the time period when renewable energy needs public subsidy. And there is a boom at present as consumers try to install the low-cost equipment before the level of handouts via the government feed-in tariff (FIT) is reassessed in April next year. “Prices (of solar panels) are falling so fast that some buyers are holding off making purchases on the expectation they will come down even more. We have seen an average fall of around 33% so far this year and I would expect to see a further 15% decline in the last quarter,” says Gabriel Wondrausch, founder of Exeter-based PV installer, Solar Gift Solar.
Observer 2nd Oct 2011 more >>
Transition Towns
Its founder believes it is our best hope for a future after the worldwide banking crisis. Now, it seems, a growing number of people are starting to agree. The “Transition” movement has grown eightfold since the recession hit three years ago and is now operating in 35 countries around the world. When the first Transition town was established five years ago in Totnes, Devon, the “experiment” was simple. Like-minded people would work on creating a more sustainable community to reduce their dependency on oil. By 2008, there were 100 registered initiatives in 11 countries. Today, there are more than 850 Transitions in three times as many countries. More than 300 groups have signed up in the past year.
Independent 2nd Oct 2011 more >>
London Solar
When contemplating solar energy one’s mind usually wanders to the sunny climes of California, Nevada or the deserts of Northern Africa and Dubai. Not foggy old London. But yes, the UK has its own booming residential and commercial solar industry. One company taking advantage of friendly government tariffs and consumer demand for solar energy is London solar panel suppliers, Ploughcroft Solar.
IB Times 2nd Oct 2011 more >>
Energy Efficiency
Even in the keenest households, smart meters are only reducing electricity usage by 3 per cent. Smart meters are billed as the key to solving Britain’s looming energy crisis. But while a live display of energy costs and consumption may help parents bribe teenagers to spend less time in the shower, the results of a key trial indicate the meters will barely affect overall power consumption. Between 2014 and 2019, every British home and small business will have a smart meter installed, displaying exactly how much energy is used for every activity, from boiling a kettle to watching television.
Independent 1st Oct 2011 more >>
Community Wind in Cornwall
Cornish residents with an interest in community-owned renewable energy schemes will have the opportunity to get close to the first two wind turbines financed by a community public share offer today. Community Power Cornwall will be hosting a public launch event for its two 50kW wind turbines on land at Tregerrick Farm, Gorran Highlanes, Mid Cornwall.
Western Morning News 1st Oct 2011 more >>
Micro CHP
On the invite of Energetix’ then chairman, Alan Aubrey of IP Group, Spottiswoode visited the company’s Capenhurst base with, what she describes as “no interest at all in micro CHP”. That was until she saw one of the company’s boilers in action. Shortly afterwards she took over as non-executive chairman in May this year and is now helping the company to commercialise its technology.
Stockopedia 30th Sept 2011 more >>
Renewable Heat Incentive
Confidence in the government’s commitment to a green energy agenda was dealt another major blow on Friday when an £860m scheme to subsidise renewable heating systems was pulled at the last minute. The Department of Energy and Climate Change insisted that its groundbreaking Renewable Heat Incentive was being delayed rather than abandoned, and blamed the European commission for failing to give it the immediate go-ahead. But the industry described the news as “desperately disappointing” and was angry that the final decision from DECC came just hours before the RHI was meant to come into force.
Guardian 30th Sept 2011 more >>
Solar Partnership
A new partnership between Freetricity and energy efficiency solutions company Anesco, will see the installation of solar pv schemes generating four mega watts of power – one of the largest projects of its kind in the UK. Freetricity and Anesco are to complete solar pv installations initially on 125 commercial buildings across the south of England in the next six months, including schools, warehousing, work places and industrial sites. The partnership is backed by a special fund that will provide the commercial solar pv installations and capitalise on the government’s Feed in Tariffs, which make payments for renewable energy exported back into the national grid.
Anesco 19th Sept 2011 more >>