week ending 2 December 2011
Solar Workers face Axe
MORE than 150 ‘green’ staff in Rotherham and Sheffield face the axe after Carillion put its entire 4,500-strong energy services workforce on notice of redundancy. Insulation and solar panel fitters and office staff at the depot on Temple Close, Templeborough, Rotherham, face a tense Christmas after the launch of a 90-day consultation period. Carillion Energy Services says it is being forced to ‘restructure’ after the Government’s shock decision to slash the Feed in Tariff, a subsidy paid for power from solar panels, from December 12.
Sheffield Star 2nd Dec 2011 more >>
Services company Carillion has warned 4,500 staff that their jobs are at risk due to government plans to halve subsidies on solar power. The axe is hovering over its energy services division, formed from a £306m takeover earlier this year of Newcastle-based green energy company Eaga. A thousand of the jobs under threat are in the North East. Carillion, one of the biggest installers of solar panels in the UK, has launched a 90-day consultation period.
This is Money 1st Dec 2011 more >>
Grapevine 1st Dec 2011 more >>
FM World 1st Dec 2011 more >>
Shropshire Star 1st Dec 2011 more >>
Independent 1st Dec 2011 more >>
Guardian 1st Dec 2011 more >>
Business Green 1st Dec 2011 more >>
Solar still a sound investment
WHILE many solar PV installers joined a rally at Westminster calling on the government to rethink cuts to feed-in tariffs, Source Renewable decided to focus on its core business and meet the needs of customers, making it clear that solar PV remains a sound investment. Laurie Eve, director of Source Renewable, which won North Devon Journal Small Business of the Year award, said: “What we should remember is that, despite the tariff level dropping dramatically on December 12, solar PV systems remain an exceptional renewable energy solution. And this is the message that we are delivering to potential customers.”
North Devon Journal 1st Dec 2011 more >>
Community Benefit
A new public register to help communities benefit from renewable energy projects will be established next year by the Scottish government, it was announced last night. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing confirmed plans for the new register, which is designed to help communities negotiate payments for renewable energy projects by comparing them with previous deals.
Business Green 2nd Dec 2011 more >>
Solar cut-off
Mitsubishi urges Government to reconsider the 12 December cut-off date for the halving of the Feed-in Tariff, to give the industry more time to prepare.
Low Carbon Economy 1st Dec 2011 more >>
East Facing Solar
With the installation of a 16-panel east-facing array from Mitsubishi Electric, the household will benefit from an anticipated 2,000 kWh of power generation a year, helping reduce the home’s consumption and earn an income from the Government’s Feed In Tarriff.
Low Carbon Economy 1st Dec 2011 more >>
Solar Cuts Illegal
In response to the solar industry’s lobby of the UK Parliament over Government plans to cut solar subsidies, organised by Cut Don’t Kill, Friends of the Earth says the plans to downsize the solar feed-in tariff are “illegal”.
Renewable Energy Focus 1st Dec 2011 more >>
Green Deal
The government has launched its long-awaited consultation on the Green Deal, which is due for launch in October 2012. Last week also saw chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announce that the Chancellor’s autumn statement would include news of a £200 million incentive boost. Mr Alexander said George Osborne would provide further details in his statement this week. Within the Green Deal consultation, it was announced that £150 cashback sums would be offered to homeowners who signed up to the scheme, although this would be added to the total of the loan. While the consultation document has been welcomed by many in the industry, disappointment has been expressed over the lack of detail, mirroring criticism of other government schemes such as the Renewable Heat Incentive.
H&V News 30th Nov 2011 more >>
Sundog
A SOLAR panels boss and environmental campaigner has urged the Government to rethink plans to change renewable subsidies. Bill Roberts, of Penrith’s Sundog Energy, said ministers should have gradually reduced feed-in tariffs, rather than slashing the payments by half overnight.
Cumberland News 30th Nov 2011 more >>
Solar FiT Delay Bonkers
Climate change minister Greg Barker has again warned it would be “catastrophic” to delay deep cuts to feed-in tariffs until April 2012, admitting his department massively underestimated the costs the scheme will add to energy bills. MPs from the Energy and Climate Change Committee and Environmental Audit Committee yesterday held the first sessions of a joint inquiry seeking to determine the impact the government’s proposed cuts to feed-in tariffs will have on businesses and consumers.
Business Green 30th Nov 2011 more >>
Re-inventing Fire
Business can become more competitive, profitable and resilient by leading the transformation from fossil fuel to efficiency and renewables.
Rocky Mountain Institute 30th Nov 2011 more >>
Green Deal
Changeworks and the Scottish Government recently held five events for community organisations on the UK Government’s Green Deal scheme. The presentations are available here.
Changeworks 29th Nov 2011 more >>
York Solar
A YORK printing company has invested £30,000 in improving its energy efficiency. Litho and digital print specialist Fulprint, a £500,000-turnover business based in Fulford, is investing in 50 kioto solar photovoltaic panels, which will provide about 50 per cent of its energy needs.
York Press 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Bradford Solar
Two Bradford-based companies have acted to beat the proposed reduction in the Government’s payback for investing in solar powered energy.
JCT600 is investing £400,000 in solar photovoltaic systems at showrooms in Bradford, Sheffield and Lincoln as part of its commitment to renewable energy. The move is expected to slash the firm’s energy bills by £60,000 a year.
Telegraph & Argus 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Solar Inquiry
Climate Change Minister Greg Barker is today set to face the toughest questioning to date over his controversial proposals to slash feed-in tariff incentives for solar installations. In an unusual move, MPs from two separate parliamentary select committees will host a joint inquiry seeking to determine the impact that rapid incentive cuts could have on the UK’s solar industry.
Business Green 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Solar Co-operative
A UK-based solar farm is actively looking to connect with investors and raise £4m as it aims to become co-operatively owned. A spokesperson for the project told NewNet it was hoping to raise £4m in capital for the solar installation.
Silo Breaker 28th Nov 2011 more >>
Micro-CHP FiT
Green jobs could be safeguarded if the Government boosted subsidies for renewable energy generation, according to three trade associations representing the micro-CHP industry. The call, from the Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA), the Heating and Hotwater Information Council (HHIC) and the Micropower Council (MPC), asks the Government to raise the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) for micro-CHP to ‘accelerate’ the take up of home boiler replacement technology.
Edie 28th Nov 2011 more >>
Energy Efficiency
Local authorities and other public bodies, already struggling with spending cuts, will be obliged to fit schools, swimming pools and libraries, with state-of-the-art insulation, boilers, generators and windows. Councils say the plan as it affects them alone would cost taxpayers up to £50bn. The draft Energy Efficiency Directive states public bodies should “lead by example” and “purchase only products, services and buildings with high energy efficiency performance”. Public bodies will also be obliged to refurbish 3% of their properties to the high energy-efficient specification each year, under the plans.
Telegraph 26th Nov 2011 more >>
Green Deal
Briefing by JDS Associates on the Green Deal and ECO.
JDS Associates 25th Nov 2011 more >>