week ending 25 November 2011
Solar Sceptics
Senior officials at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) are sceptical that solar can play a significant role in the UK’s future energy mix and are committed to restricting demand for the technology to a level where it becomes little more than “a toy for rich boys”. BusinessGreen has learned senior figures within the department recently met solar panel manufacturers in an attempt to explain its heavily criticised handling of the proposed cuts to solar feed-in tariffs and secure support for its plans to limit access to solar incentives to buildings that meet demanding energy-efficiency standards.
Business Green 25th Nov 2011 more >>
There is a perfectly legitimate argument against the UK diverting resources to support the development of a domestic solar industry. Solar energy is currently very expensive and the UK’s climate means it will never be as effective or reliable here as it is in warmer climes. There is a case for saying that a relatively small country with finite skills and resources should focus its efforts to decarbonise on a small number of more mature technologies, such as wind, nuclear, biomass, and cleaner fossil fuels, targeting incentives and support at these areas and leaving alternative technologies to cope as best they can on their own. Personally, I don’t buy this argument on the grounds that solar is seeing some of the fastest rates of cost reduction of any energy technology green or otherwise, and improvements in manufacturing and nanotechnology hold out the potential for solar becoming cheaper than current forms of energy, even in northerly countries with a climate like that of the UK. I’d argue there is a strong case for subsidising solar at a reasonable level over the next few years in order to establish the domestic industry and skills base that will then allow for the mass roll out of the technology when it does become fully competitive.
Business Green 25th Nov 2011 more >>
RHI Starts
Businesses and communities across Britain will from Monday be able to apply for a heat tariff payment, ushering in a new era of clean green heat technology, Greg Barker said today. The world’s first Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will be open to applicants from Monday 28 November, providing payments for heat generated from renewable technologies including biomass boilers, solar thermal equipment and heat pumps installed since 15 July 2009.
DECC 25th Nov 2011 more >>
Long-awaited £860m subsidy scheme expected to result in 126,000 installations, 500,000 jobs and save 43 million tonnes of carbon by 2020
Business Green 25th Nov 2011 more >>
Green Deal Boost
The National Insulation Association (NIA) welcomed yesterday’s announcement by Government of £200m of new funding to provide a special time-limited introductory offer to boost the early take up of the Green Deal. The news follows the publication this week of the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) consultation document.
NIA 25th Nov 2011 more >>
Solar Cuts Outrage
Chris Huhne felt the full force of business and public anger at the decision to slash solar subsidies with just six weeks’ notice in a televised debate last night. The energy and climate change secretary was charged with putting jobs and investment at risk in clashes with Sainsbury’s chief executive, Justin King, and members of the public during an intense debate on the BBC’s Question Time.
Business Green 25th Nov 2011 more >>
A regional expert in solar power has expressed her support for the government’s proposed changes to Feed-in-Tariffs (FiT) The government want to reduce the price of FiT’s by up to 50% next April for installations made after the December 12. This could put consumers off installing them in their homes. However, Emma Hughes, editor of Solar Power Portal believes that these measures will help the government to prevent a “ boom and bust” scenario by creating longevity in the market. She commented: “At the moment the market is being stimulated by FiT incentives. We’re hoping that in the next couple of years there won’t be any need for a Feed-in Tariff and that the cost of PV will be the same as using conventional power. “While the new rates will be a significant reduction, the people we are speaking to in the industry are saying the changes are needed.
BDaily 25th Nov 2011 more >>
Green Deal
£200m of new and additional Government funding has today been announced to provide a special time-limited ‘introductory’ offer to boost the early take up of the Government’s Green Deal energy efficiency scheme.
DECC 24th Nov 2011 more >>
Guardian 24th Nov 2011 more >>
Gov’t expected to confirm start of the Renewable Heat Incentive as well as £200m additional funding for Green Deal.
Business Green 24th Nov 2011 more >>
The microgeneration industry has expressed its “disappointment” at the government’s consultation on its proposed Green Deal scheme, arguing it fails to provide sufficient detail how the energy efficiency scheme could be used to accelerate the roll out of small scale renewable energy technologies.
Business Green 24th Nov 2011 more >>
Rising gas prices are set to push up costs for consumers, but energy saving policies will help to save £94 on household bills by 2020, Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne claimed yesterday.
Independent 24th Nov 2011 more >>
Solar College
A college plans to unplug from the National Grid and generate its power with a “solar meadow”. Jewel & Esk College in Edinburgh aims to create a one-acre site of around 800 solar panels adjacent to the campus, which will generate 1,076KW of energy a day, enough to be energy sufficient. Surplus electricity from the solar meadow, so called because it will be planted with grasses and wildflowers, will be made available to local community groups and projects. The college said the project is one of a number being developed to reduce its reliance on Government funding. The solar power site will cost £300,000 to build but will save around £150,000 a year in electricity bills. The planning application was submitted to Midlothian Council earlier this month and the college said initial discussions were positive. The site will be used as a study area for students to analyse the interaction between the biodiversity and the solar panels.
Herald 24th Nov 2011 more >>
Domestic Solar still worthwhile
Even with the new feed-in-tariff rates of 21p coming into force, a good return on your solar PV system can still be made. We are seeing that new customers to Ecosource Solutions are still set to achieve an ROI on their solar panels of around 7 10% which is fantastic! However, the primary goal for any renewable energy project (solar photovoltaic, wind, hydro, etc) should be to generate as much electricity as possible, and, secondary to this, should be a real drive to utilise as much of the freely generated electricity as possible. Traditionally, over the course of a year approximately 25% 35% of the generated electricity is consumed within the property with the majority of the generated electricity being exported automatically when generation is higher than usage.
Low Carbon Economy 24th Nov 2011 more >>
FiT Capacity Trigger?
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is reportedly set to float the idea of a German-style capacity driven feed-in tariff as he attempts to respond to fierce criticism over proposed cuts to solar incentives. According to reports in the Financial Times, Huhne is planning to propose the capacity trigger system at a debate in the House of Commons this afternoon, which was organised by Shadow Energy Secretary Caroline Flint.
Business Green 23rd Nov 2011 more >>
Link2 24th Nov 2011 more >>
Bring me Sunshine
If incentives are cut too rapidly, it would have a highly negative economic, environmental and political impact. A rapid and deep cut to the FIT could destroy innovative companies focused on delivering domestic green energy and efficiency measures and directly threaten the chances of other green initiatives, such as the Green Deal or domestic Renewable Heat Incentive. Decc has been forced to make such devastating cuts because of the cap imposed by the Treasury based on highly underestimated installation forecasts. This must be changed.
Utility Week 23rd Nov 2011 more >>
Twitter Fight
Climate Minister Greg Barker has this morning provoked a storm of criticism over his claim that failing to act to cut feed-in tariff incentives for solar installations would add up to £55 to average domestic energy bills. Writing on Twitter this morning ahead of a crucial parliamentary debate on proposed cuts to solar incentives, Barker said “New figures today show COALITION #energy policies will SAVE avg home 94 pounds by 2020, LABOUR FiTs policy alone risk ADDING extra 55 pounds”. The claim was immediately contested on the social networking site by green groups and representatives of the solar industry, who argued the new figures appear to contradict the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) own impact assessment on the proposed cuts to feed-in tariffs and wilfully ignore the fact neither the Opposition nor solar firms are calling for current levels of incentives to be maintained.
Business Green 23rd Nov 2011 more >>
Solar Demo
Hundreds of campaigners backing the UK’s solar industry have taken part in a protest over government plans to cut the Feed-in-Tariff’ (FIT) scheme by marching to the House of Commons to question their MP.
Edie 23rd Nov 2011 more >>
Green Deal
Green Deal scheme will kick start £14bn investment over the next decade, supporting at least 65,000 insulation and construction jobs by 2015; £1.3 billion a year additional help from energy companies for vulnerable and hard-to-insulate homes; Overall average household energy bill in 2020 will be 7% or £94 lower than without energy and climate polices
DECC 23rd Nov 2011 more >>
Greg Barker announces on Twitter details of the energy efficiency scheme will be accompanied by analysis of future energy costs. The long-awaited consultation on the government’s Green Deal scheme is set to be published later today, including details of how the coalition intends to incentivise uptake of energy efficiency measures. Climate change minister Greg Barker took to social media site Twitter this morning to make the announcement on the government’s flagship emissions-cutting policy, which was a major component of the Energy Act granted Royal Assent last month.
Business Green 23rd Nov 2011 more >>
Long-awaited details on the UK’s plans to overhaul the nation’s building stock were outlined today by Chris Huhne, who promised that the government’s high profile Green Deal scheme will drive £14bn of investment in energy efficiency measures. The energy and climate change secretary launched the Green Deal consultation in Parliament as part of his annual Energy Statement, predicting the measures would not only protect property owners from rising energy bills but also support at least 65,000 insulation and construction jobs by 2015.
Business Green 23rd Nov 2011 more >>
Somerset Farm Cancelled
Ecotricity has cancelled plans for a solar photovoltaic (PV) farm in Somerset, UK, due to the cuts in the UK feed-in tariff.
Renewable Energy Focus 23rd Nov 2011 more >>
Western Daily Press 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
South Wales Solar Problems
A PONTHENRI company could face losing more than £2 million of work and be forced to make staff cuts following Government proposals to cut solar panel feed-in tariffs in half. Panels that are not installed and up and running by December 12 will only get half the current rate of subsidy 43.3p/kWh. Using that rate, an average 2.9kW system will generate an estimated £1,190 a year. Following the introduction of the proposed 21p rate, the same system will generate £640, extending the payback period of an £11,500 installation from ten to 18 years.
Llanelli Star 23rd Nov 2011 more >>
FiT boosts economy
New analysis by strategic energy consultants Element Energy, commissioned by Friends of the Earth and the Cut Don’t Kill campaign has revealed that the Government’s planned cut to the Solar PV Feed-in Tariff will destroy up to 29,000 jobs and cause the Treasury to lose up to £230 million a year in tax income. The research highlights the remarkable fact that this cut will cause the Government to lose sizeable amounts of money through reduced income taxes and National Insurance. Campaigners have described the cut as “utterly counterproductive”.
FoE 23rd Nov 2011 more >>
Public Sector
The entire public sector has the ability to match or exceed the government target of cutting emissions from its estate by a quarter over the next four years, the Carbon Trust will say today.
Business Green 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
Stenton – East Lothian plans scaled back
“WE were going to get the whole village covered in them,” says Ettie Spencer, indicating the solar panels fixed to her cottage and sweeping her hand across an imaginary roofscape filled with more of the same. If the plan hadn’t been stopped in its tracks, the first dozen would have turned into a lot more.” The 60-year-old is standing in a lane behind her home in the East Lothian conservation village of Stenton. As well as the 10 panels on her own roof, there are 16 more on her neighbour’s house and another 18 on the village hall.
Herald 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
Solar Debate
Caroline Flint challenges Chris Huhne to defend government’s position at opposition day debate. Around 500 people today protested and lobbied their MPs in Parliament to vote against plans to slash feed-in tariffs for solar power with effect from next month.
Business Green 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
Video Footage
Business Green 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
Solar Cuts Damage Image
Solar subsidy cuts damage UK’s attractiveness to clean energy investors. Ernst & Young quarterly survey sees UK fall to sixth among 40 countries analysed, as emerging economies start to rise
Business Green 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
Solar Revolt
The coalition will seek to head off one of the biggest rebellions on policy yet on Wednesday when MPs debate drastic cuts to the subsidies that have sparked a 39,000-job boom in solar power. More than 20 Liberal Democrat MPs are likely to vote against the plans, in a revolt that observers say is likely to outdo the vote on tuition fees, when 21 of the party’s number broke ranks. The rebellion extends to ministerial level, with Norman Baker, the transport minister, writing to the climate secretary and fellow Lib Dem Chris Huhne to protest about the cuts, under which incentives to install solar panels would be halved, with potentially disastrous results for the fledgling industry. Baker said: “I have reservations about the speed and level of the proposed changes for community size projects and I am therefore asking the secretary of state to examine urgently the case for some flexibility to mitigate any adverse effects of the changes.”
Guardian 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
Fuel Poverty
Fuel Poverty Action Group campaigns outside EDF Energy headquarters to highlight awareness of the 25,700 excess winter deaths in the UK in 2010-11
Guardian 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
Take Action to End Fuel Poverty.
Greenpeace 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
Westward housing Solar
Westward Housing Group member, Westcountry Housing, and Anesco, have sealed a double ‘first of its kind’ deal to provide free low carbon electricity to up to 900 properties identified as suitable for photovoltaic (PV) electric solar panels across Devon and Cornwall. It is the first ‘rent a roof’ project for a housing association to be funded by Anesco South West Ltd, which in turn receives the government Feed-in Tariff. The Anesco / Westcountry Housing deal is the first such deal to have been approved by the banks which are the housing association funders. The scheme will provide much needed cheaper energy to those who most need it, with a projected saving of at least £120* per year per household. The project saw the first installations happening in the second week of November and faces a very tight time frame. Staff have been drafted in by Anesco from all possible sources to work round the clock since the announcement by the government of an early end to scheme funding on 12th December 2011, rather than on 31st March 2012 as previously planned.
Anesco 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
Last Minute FiT Applications
Good Energy has announced plans to open its office on 10-11 December for small solar electricity generators who need to meet the government’s controversial new deadline for applying for the higher rate feed-in tariff. The Good Energy office in Chippenham, Wiltshire will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 10 December and midday to 6pm on Sunday 11 December to receive applications in person and provide advice over the phone. Applications will also be received by email right up to the deadline of midnight on 11 December.
Utility Week 21st Nov 2011 more >>
Solarwatt
SOLARWATT’s in-roof solar photovoltaic (PV) system, Easy-In, has been awarded Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certification for the British market.
Renewable Energy Focus 21st Nov 2011 more >>
Legal Action
Solar panels firms are backing Friends of the Earth’s plans to take the government to court over green incentives being slashed. Peter Bladen, Managing Director of North West based solar panel firm BSOLAR said: “I’m fully in support of the Friends of Earth, the slashing of financial incentives for solar panel installations is threatening jobs and the UK’s progression to being more green.”
Future Energies 22nd Nov 2011 more >>
Irish invest in German solar
Solar21 has succeeded in building a fund of more than 100m from Irish investors. The fund, which invests in solar photovoltaic (PV) farms across Europe, expects to morph to 500m in the next 18 months, as investors are increasingly looking to solar energy as a viable investment route in the midst of volatile equity markets. Currently, the majority of Solar 21’s funds are invested in photovoltaic solar farms to provide renewable energy to the German and Italian national grids, which are backed by 20-year feed-in-tariff agreements, guaranteed by the EU and the respective governments.
Silicon Republic 21st Nov 2011 more >>
Renewables Power On
RENEWABLE energy will continue to expand despite recent government cuts to solar panel subsidies, an expert insists. Mark Lee, a partner at Stratford-upon-Avon law firm Lodders, says the reductions are disappointing but will not significantly set back progress. Lodders has a growing niche practice advising clients on the myriad layers of legal requirements involved in renewable power sources such as wind farms and solar. Headed by the firm’s senior partner David Lodder, it has advised on opportunities to develop ‘sun farms’ – solar power farms – and on leases for such sites. It has also advised on a number of wind farm proposals.
Coventry Telegraph 21st Nov 2011 more >>
Green Deal
Government ministers have heralded it as “the biggest home improvement programme since the Second World War”, but their own economists predict the number of homes insulated under the Green Deal will slump, not rise. The revelation could undermine confidence in the programme that Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary, is banking on to deliver efficiency savings and slash bills to cushion households from the rising costs of fossil fuels and wind farms over the next decade. Mr Huhne declared that all the UK’s 26 million households could benefit from the Green Deal by 2020. He also said it would inspire an insulation boom, supporting a quarter of a million jobs over the next 20 years. Yet government figures seen by The Times are forecasting that as few as 6.5 million insulation jobs in total could be carried out by 2020.
Times 21st Nov 2011 more >>
Biomass
UK biomass is at a “tipping point” and set to rival wind and solar power over the coming years if the trend of banks gradually loosening their purse strings continues.
Business Green 21st Nov 2011 more >>
Scottish Solar
SUPPORTERS of Scotland’s burgeoning solar power industry, estimated to be worth £50 million to the Scottish economy, have warned that the UK Government’s threat to slash consumer subsidies for solar projects by 50% threatens “thousands of jobs” in the emerging sector. Scotland has 140 companies listed as supplying solar power equipment. Industry figures are warning of mass lay-offs if the planned cut drives down demand and companies go out of business. Daniel Borisewitz of industry group Scottish Renewables told the Sunday Herald that the move would have “a real impact on the feasibility and economic viability of businesses supplying and installing while also damaging consumer and investor confidence in renewable energy incentive schemes.”
Sunday Herald 20th Nov 2011 more >>
Cameron is Yellow
The man who helped David Cameron to burnish his green credentials by fitting solar panels to the roof of the PM’s home accused him yesterday of “lying” over his commitment to the environment. Brian Evans, who installed the system at the Camerons’ London home in 2006, criticised the PM for “destroying” the solar electricity industry by slashing state subsidies for feed-in tariffs by more than half. Mr Evans, who runs his own solar panel installation business, said he was being forced to lay off his only two employees because the Government was cutting funding for homes that generate solar electricity.
Independent on Sunday 20th Nov 2011 more >>
Solar Revolt
The solar industry has been in revolt since the Department of Energy and Climate Change said it would reduce the rate paid to householders by more than half, from 43p per kilowatt hour to 21p, for new installations. The change will come into effect on December 12 just six weeks after the announcement and before the government’s consultation on the topic closes on December 23. Although cuts to the tariff had been expected, the December deadline came as a shock. Solar firms warn that 25,000 jobs could be lost in a matter of months. The CBI, the business lobby group, described it last week as “the latest in a string of government own goals”. Barker said his department had taken “robust” legal advice. “If the judicial review goes against us, it could have a catastrophic effect,” he warned. “It’s likely in that case the entire scheme will be closed because the budget will run out, so it’s an incredibly reckless proposition.” Barker hinted he would try to find a compromise ahead of his legal clash, saying that he was working on a “modest range of things”. Analysts suggested this could involve a phased reduction of the tariff, although Barker declined to comment on specifics. “I’m not just sitting here, waiting for December 12,” he said. With passions running high, neither is the solar industry.
Sunday Times 20th Nov 2011 more >>
Isle of Wight
Plans to make an island off the south coast of the UK totally sustainable in terms of energy, water and food by 2020 have been unveiled. The plan to turn the Isle of Wight into an “eco-island” will involve the construction of wind, tidal, geothermal and solar power plants and is being led by local residents and businesses.
Modern Power Systems 20th Nov 2011 more >>
Solar Cuts
Caroline Lucas: The solar industry is still struggling to come to terms with the scale of the damage inflicted on them by the Government’s sudden announcement last month that feed-in tariffs to support the installation of solar PV are to be more than halved.
Touchstone 19th Nov 2011 more >>
Solar Art
A SUBSTANTIAL number of solar cells will be fitted to the Pocklington Arts Centre roof to produce free electricity for the venue. The sub-panels will also give the town council, which owns the building, “a serious financial return on its capital investment,” according to Mayor of Pocklington, councillor Graham Perry. Costing the council around £13,000 in total, the 52 small panels will produce free electricity for the Arts Centre during the day time and any power that is not needed can be sold back to the National Grid for 44 pence per kilowatt hour.
Pocklington Post 18th Nov 2011 more >>
Urgent Message
An urgent message from the UK solar industry. Ten of thousands of jobs are at risk within the next few weeks.
Our Solar Future 18th Nov 2011 more >>
Using the Prime Minister’s own speech about the necessity of feed-in tariffs given 3 years ago, the video dubs these words over lip-synching employees of the emerging solar industry. The message is clear David Cameron has argued forcefully for feed-in tariffs and supporting a UK-based clean energy economy, and he is now going back on his word.
Treehugger 18th Nov 2011 more >>
Edinburgh Turbine
A COMMUNITY wind turbine project led by two Edinburgh voluntary groups has made it through to the final round of a UK-wide competition to win up to £100,000. Pedal and Greener Leith hope to build Scotland’s first community-owned urban wind turbine on Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works in Edinburgh. Just 19 projects have made it into the final round of voting. Winning the grant is incumbent on support from local residents and the groups are now appealing for backing for the project, which can be registered at www.energyshare.com/voting until December 3.
Evening News 18th Nov 2011 more >>
Zero Carbon Homes
New state of the art development in Trinity Close, Rackheath, near Norwich, which provides local people with affordable zero carbon homes.
24 Dash 17th Nov 2011 more >>