week ending 14 October 2011
FiT Cuts Threat
The solar sector may face crippling cuts to feed-in tariff incentives as part of the government’s forthcoming reviews of the subsidy scheme, if industry rumours are to be believed. While the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is maintaining that nothing has been decided, a number of industry sources are fearful that support for domestic solar installations may fall by 30 to 50 per cent. Some experts are even suggesting tariffs for all solar installations will be cut from current levels of between 15p and 43.3p per kilowatt to just 9p per kilowatt (kW).
Business Green 14th Oct 2011 more >>
London AD
The Mayor of London has created a new political stink in South London after backing a controversial new power station that turns the slops and rotting vegetation of the capital’s pubs and restaurants into electricity. Boris Johnson has overturned a decision by the London Borough of Merton, and overruled the disquiet of residents, to give the go-ahead to an anaerobic digestion plant in Mitcham complete with a ten-storey flue gas stack. Anaerobic digestion is becoming an increasingly popular source of green energy. It takes organic waste and puts it in steel-encased “stomachs”, which produce biogas that is burnt to produce electricity. The Mitcham facility is aiming to produce enough electricity to power 1,800 homes a year from 40,000 tonnes of waste.
Times 14th Oct 2011 more >>
Proven Rescued
A Scottish wind energy company forced into receivership when one of its turbine models was found to have a potentially catastrophic fault has been bought up by a rival. The deal, for an undisclosed sum, safeguards the jobs of 20 members of Proven Energys 75-strong workforce who were kept on after the company went to the wall last month. The buy-up by Kingspan Renewables also means that manufacturing can continue at the companys Stewarton facility in Ayrshire. However, farmers with its faulty P35-2 turbines on their land may still be left thousands of pounds out of pocket. The liability for the substandard machinery, whose braking mechanisms could cause blades to fly off, has not been taken on by Kingspan Renewables and so the farmers have to take their chances with Provens receivers, KPMG. They are unsecured creditors, numbering about 500, and it is understood that they will not be able to recover any of their money. Last night the National Union of Farmers in Scotland said that its members were in the dark about what the deal meant for them.
Times 14th Oct 2011 more >>
Scotsman 14th Oct 2011 more >>
Irish Examiner 14th Oct 2011 more >>
THE collapse of Ayrshire-based wind turbine firm Proven Energy into receivership has dragged one-time potential buyer Icon Energy of Kinross down with it. Receivers Blair Nimmo and Tony Friar of KPMG announced yesterday they have sold Provens business and assets to Irelands Kingspan Renewables. It came after Proven admitted there was a potential defect in its 15-kilowatt Proven 35-2 turbine which sells for more than 50,000. The Health and Safety Executive told customers, many of them farmers, that the turbines should be stopped. The remaining 20 Proven staff will continue to make its two smaller turbines, rebranded as Kingspan, at its Stewarton factory. Some 55 Proven employees have been laid off. Icon, which installs turbines, told customers it has gone into voluntary liquidation as a direct result of Proven Energy appointing a receiver and ceasing to trade. Milnathort-based Icon, which employs 35 people, said: A consortium of Icon directors and investors put forward a bid to resurrect Proven Energy and this bid went as far as making it to the last two in the running for the purchase. Unfortunately, Icon Energy were beaten to the post by a large PLC.
Herald 14th Oct 2011 more >>
The takeover comes in the wake of a new study from analyst firm Pike Research, which predicted that the global market for small wind turbines will more than double over the next five years, rising from $255m last year to $634m by 2015.
Business Green 13th Oct 2011 more >>
Large Solar
Funders and landlords can warm up their financial returns on large, multiple site solar photovoltaic (PV) projects following the launch of a complete renewable data management service by UK metering and billing specialist ENER-G Switch2. The end-to-end service provides a total back-office operation for multiple solar PV installations – making it simple for funders and landlords to unlock maximum Feed in Tariff (FiT) revenue on-time, and to monitor and protect their investment.
Low Carbon Economy 14th Oct 2011 more >>
Smartpark
Martifer Solar introduce the Smartpark solar powered carport that generates an income from parking areas. Smartpark is an innovative new concept that will enable local authorities and large retailers to benefit from the attractive returns available with the Feed-in Tariff. Local authorities are expected to welcome Smartpark as a way of helping them make use of renewable energy and comply with their statutory responsibilities to reduce carbon emissions.
Building Talk 14th Oct 2011 more >>
Market Confidence
Confidence is slowly returning to the UK’s clean tech sector but firms remain concerned over perceived policy instability, according to a major survey to be released today. Ernst & Young attributed the increase in confidence to “gathering momentum around the Green Deal”, adding that the clean tech and renewable sectors as a whole continue to represent an attractive medium and long term prospect for capital investment.
Business Green 14th Oct 2011 more >>
Durham Solar Firm
A GREENKEEPER’S store in County Durham has lived up to its name by switching to solar power. Seaham-based renewable energy company Greenguru has fitted solar panels to the building at the Hobson Golf Club, near Stanley. The contract was one of £300,000- worth of installations it has completed since opening in January. Founder David Clough, who lives in Hawthorn, near Peterlee, explained how his business was flourishing in the booming renewable energy sector.
Northern Echo 13th Oct 2011 more >>
Solar Efficiency
Research into solar panels and technology has revealed they could provide up to 60 per cent of a home’s hot water. Under existing guidelines, around 39 per cent of household needs are catered for by solar energy. But a survey conducted by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) found that the actual efficiency of the systems varied hugely, with the worst performing installations provided just 9 per cent of heating needs. They determined that with careful and clever installation the system’s performance could be vastly boosted.
ITN 13th Oct 2011 more >>
Business Green 13th Oct 2011 more >>
Business Support
Businesses are suffering higher energy bills and failing to cut emissions because they are unaware of the financial support available to help them install energy saving technologies. A survey by electrical supplies distributor Rexel found that despite strong enthusiasm for green measures, 45 per cent of the 1,000 UK respondents said they had not installed any green technologies to date because of “a lack of financial incentives”.
Business Green 13th Oct 2011 more >>
Solar Window Film
3M showed new window film that both cuts infrared light transmission through the glass and collects solar power from both indoor and outdoor lightsources. A square meter of the film can generate enough electricity to charge an iPhone under peak sunlight. This film has two strong energy conservation traits. The first is that it generates electricity. The second is that it blocks heat. The film generates electricity, so it can be used to power things like LED lights. As for blocking heat, this can help conserve energy, because if heat is blocked then the air conditioning of a building can be lowered, saving electricity. Those are the two main advantages for energy conservation.
PC Advisor 13th Oct 2011 more >>
BRIGHT pupil Sophie Atkinson really is a little ray of sunshine - by using her creative skills to help her school harness solar power. New solar panels have been installed on the roof at Boosbeck’s Lockwood Primary School as part of a drive to save energy and money. And six-year-old Sophie, of Boosbeck, put her artistic talents to good use to mark the development by designing an electronic display panel for the main hall which allows children to check exactly how much power their school is generating.
Middlesbrough Gazette 13th Oct 2011 more >>
Totnes Solar
A COMMUNITY-OWNED eco-group which invests in renewable energy projects utilising local wind, biomass, solar and hydropower is hoping to tap into more sun energy resources after signing a new deal with local businesses. The Totnes Renewable Energy Society has signed an agreement to purchase a 30kWp solar array, currently being installed by South Western Solar Projects at Hatchlands Farm near Totnes, with an option to install a further 50kWp.
Herald Express 13th Oct 2011 more >>
Wind-powered Ice Cream
SCOTLAND has been crowned Europe’s WINDIEST country following a row over the claim made in an advert by an ice cream manufacturer. Family firm Mackie’s declared us No1 as bosses boasted about the power of wind turbines at their Aberdeenshire factory. But advertising watchdogs challenged bosses to prove the statement after a complaint from a member of the public who dismissed it as hot air. Mackie’s turned to the Met Office for support and in a blow to sceptics, the weather experts BACKED them.
Scottish Sun 12th Oct 2011 more >>
Flat Roof Mounting for PV
Centrosolar will present a new, flat roof mounting system for PV modules at Solar Power UK 2011, originally introduced at the Intersolar Europe trade fair in Munich earlier this summer. The Ceniq system enables PV systems to be installed on flat foil roofs at an angle of up to three degrees, without damaging the roof cladding in the process.
PV Tech 12th Oct 2011 more >>
Somerset Solar Parks
In February 2011 SOLARWATT AG announced its first step into the British market. The company has now commissioned its first solar power plants in Great Britain - two large solar parks with a performance capacity of six megawatts (MW). As the general contractor SOLARWATT was responsible for the planning, delivery, building and commissioning of the two projects. The two solar parks are located in the Somerset province in Britain’s sunny southwest close to Bristol, a region that enjoys sunshine hours and intensity similar to south Germany. The solar park “Summerway Drove Extension” has a capacity of two megawatts. 7,600 modules cover an area of five hectare.
IB Times 12th Oct 2011 more >>
Stirlingshire Small Hydro
A “mini-hydro” power scheme using old waterworks in Scotland has started generating renewable energy in the hills west of Stirling. Scottish Water began exploring the possibility of using Touch water treatment works for hydro power at the end of its working life. It has now started generating for the National Grid following the installation of a 52kw turbine.
BBC 12th Oct 2011 more >>
Edie 12th Oct 2011 more >>
Fenland Solar Farms
TWO bids to create solar energy farms in the Whittlesey area go before Fenland District Council Planning Committee next Wednesday and both carry an officers’ recommendation to approve them.
Wisbech Standard 12th Oct 2011 more >>
Rotherham Event
BUSINESSES looking to boost their bottom line through the environment are invited to event next week. The Invest in Energy exhibition will inform companies about how they can make money from installing renewable technology to generate their own energy. It will take place between 8am and 10.30am at the Park Inn Hotel, Manvers, on October 21 and has been organised by the Dearne Valley Eco-Vision team in conjunction with the Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RIDO ) with regional and European funding support.
Rotherham Advertiser 12th Oct 2011 more >>
Small Wind
Power generation from small wind turbines is an increasingly important part of the broader market for renewable distributed energy generation. Small wind power provides cost-effective electricity on a highly localized level, both in remote settings as well as in conjunction with power from the utility grid. According to a new report from Pike Research, growth in the industry is being driven by increased government incentives and an expanded awareness of small wind technologies as an alternative source of electric power. Other market drivers include the desire for customer and community ownership of power generation and the recognition that investment in small wind turbines can be an enduring source of economic development for the rural locales in which they are typically deployed. The cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that the global market for small wind systems will more than double between 2010 and 2015, rising from $255 million to $634 million during that period. Within the same forecast horizon, small wind system installed capacity additions will nearly triple to 152 megawatts, and average installed prices of small wind systems will decline to just over $4,150 per kilowatt.
IB Times 12th Oct 2011 more >>
PV Growth
The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) believes that the market will continue to grow in Europe, and that this growth will accelerate with 20-22GW being added in 2012. By 2015, the European Union could house 100GW of PV capacity, according to the EPIA.
Utility Week 12th Oct 2011 more >>
Solarwall
A TEESDALE green construction firm has written to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to highlight a glaring omission from the Government’s renewable energy policy. CA Group, of Evenwood, near West Auckland, has won a string of high-profile contracts since it took the bold decision to invest in a revolutionary low-carbon building system. The transpired solar collector absorbs warmth from the sun through thousands of tiny holes made in a building’s south-facing wall.
Northern Echo 11th Oct 2011 more >>
Biomass Boiler Grant
A grant from EDF Energy could help one charity in Leeds go green and obtain cheap energy from a renewable source. The gas and electricity supplier has awarded £22,980 to help Hollybush Conservation Centre pay for a biomass wood pellet boiler that will provide all of its heating requirements and 50 per cent of its hot water. It is part of the latest round of grants from the EDF Energy Green Fund, which has awarded a total of £239,868 to ten projects, including a wind turbine for a primary school in Milton Keynes and solar thermal panels at a sports college in the West Midlands.
Green Helpline 10th Oct 2011 more >>
Micro-CHP
Genlec has developed a highly efficient, compact and light weight, wall mounted microCHP (Combined Heat and Power) appliance known as the Kingston Boiler. The Kingston boiler is specifically designed to generate 1kW of electrical power to meet the UK’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) to enable UK owners to receive the Government’s 10p/ kWh feed in tariff for approved microCHP devices. The Kingston boiler therefore has an inherent low total cost of ownership (initial outlay plus maintenance) and has already demonstrated industry leading payback cycles which many analysts believe is the key to unlocking this significant market opportunity.CE certification of the boiler has been obtained and initial units have been installed in employee homes. It is expected that a new version of the Kingston boiler will be deployed to several potential high volume customers during the 2011 winter heating cycle for testing and verification. Genlec is currently developing its supply chain and sales channels to address this significant and rapidly growing market opportunity.
4Traders 10th Oct 2011 more >>
Edinburgh Community Turbine
SCOTLAND’S first community-owned urban wind turbine has received a boost after the Scottish Government announced plans to back the Edinburgh scheme. Proposals have been announced for a wind turbine at the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works. The electricity would be sold locally and the surplus would go to a community fund for Leith, Portobello and Craigentinny. The project is a joint venture between Greener Leith and PEDAL - Portobello Transition Town. The Scottish Government has put aside a 118,000 loan to Greener Leith to undertake preparatory works.
Scotsman 10th Oct 2011 more >>
Business miss out on FiT
TRADE body Scottish Renewables has warned that businesses are “missing out” on chances to make money from alternative energy. In the past year, 95 per cent of all feed-in-tariff registrations for small wind turbines, solar panels and hydro schemes were made by home owners compared to just 3.6 per cent made by businesses. Daniel Borisewitz, policy manager at Scottish Renewables, said: “Businesses are missing out on a huge opportunity to not only produce their own electricity but also receive up to 8 per cent return on their investment.”
Scotsman 10th Oct 2011 more >>
Yorkshire Solar
Solar energy specialist Nationwide Solar is helping a Yorkshire farmer to reap the benefits of green energy. The Tankersley-based company has installed solar panels on the roof of one of the largest buildings at Ken Proudley’s South Carolina Farm and caravan park in Easingwold near York. Nationwide has helped Mr Proudley to accurately predict the return he will make on his investment by guaranteeing the amount he will earn from the government-backed Feed in Tariff scheme.
Sheffield Stat 10th Oct 2011 more >>
Solar Trade
A DISTRIBUTOR of solar panels is on course to break the £30m turnover barrier in its first full year of trading – thanks to the rapidly growing market for renewable energy. Brighouse-based Zenex Solar Ltd, which was founded last year and began trading in February, has established itself as a leading supplier to the trade after securing exclusive distribution agreements with two global manufacturers. And to support Zenex’s rapid growth, NatWest and RBS Invoice Finance have provided the company with a £2.5m flexible working capital facility.
Huddersfield Daily Examiner 10th Oct 2011 more >>
Scottish Firms urged to use FiT
Companies in Scotland will be urged today to fit on-site renewable energy generators, such as solar panels and wind turbines, as new figures reveal that the private sector is failing to capitalise on the government’s feed-in-tariff (FiT) incentive scheme. Figures published by trade body Scottish Renewables will reveal that companies were responsible for just 3.6 per cent of Scottish FiT registrations for small wind turbines, solar PV panels and hydro schemes last year, compared to 95 per cent for home owners.
Business Green 10th Oct 2011 more >>
Spalding Solar
A Spalding farmer, is generating much of the energy needed for its own operations but also generates income from the government’s Feed in Tariff scheme. Eddie was so pleased with the installation that he then asked Lark Energy to install a further 57 panels taking the total installation size to 63kWp.
IB Times 10th Oct 2011 more >>
Eco House
At a cost of £15000, George has maximized every metre of roofing of his four bedroom semi-detached house with 18 x135 watt panels {2.43kw system.} DC is generated from the sun by solar photovoltaic panels. An ‘inverter’ situated in loft converts DC to AC and cable takes AC to electricity Meter area (i.e. incoming power supply) and panel power generation meter connected. For the 12 months ending 27 August 2011 2395kwh of electricity has been generated. Approximately 25% of this is used for his household consumption. The payments by Scottish Power, which are made quarterly are based on a two-tier system i.e. 41.3 pence per Kwh generated plus 3p for 50% of generated electricity assumed to be exported. This equates to an income of £1060.00 pa (Return greater than 5%pa.) Taking in mind the government index linked increase the initial outlay should be covered in 10 years and thereafter the system could generate anything in the region of £25 000 for the remainder of the contract.
Eco House Agent 8th Oct 2011 more >>
Service Station Turbine
A PLANNING application for a wind turbine at Cherwell Valley Services on the M40 was approved yesterday afternoon. Members of Cherwell District Council’s planning committee approved plans for a single 86.5-metre turbine near Junction 10, despite opposition from parish councils in Ardley and Stoke Lyne.
Buckingham Today 7th Oct 2011 more >>
Scottish Micropower
WHILE much of the focus has centred on large onshore and offshore schemes, there is government support for solar panels, small-scale wind, ground and air source heat pumps, and biomass boilers, which offer a revenue stream for businesses, or can significantly reduce energy bills. Glasgow developer Speyroc included an 11KW wind turbine as part of the development of its Venture building at the West of Scotland Science Park. Neil Munro of letting agent Neil Munro Property says: “The building is attracting a lot of interest. The chance to enjoy very low cost, if not free, heating is proving attractive.”
Business7 7th Oct 2011 more >>
Lincolnshire Solar
Thousands of council houses in part of Lincolnshire could have solar panels fitted, making £300,000 a year for the local authority. North Kesteven District Council said it was looking at installing the panels on almost 2,500 council-owned properties in the area. A private company would rent the roof spaces from the council at about £150 for each property. The council said tenants could save more than £100 a year on fuel bills.
BBC 6th Oct 2011 more >>