week ending 17 February 2012
Renewable Heat
The plans for a domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) over the next year have taken a giant leap forward. Commenting on recent industry meetings with Government officials Kelly Butler, BEAMA’s marketing director, says: “There has been some negative ‘hot air’ in the media about the potential for a Renewable Heat Incentive, but the reality is that Ministers and officials remain committed to renewable heat.
Electrical Portal 17th Feb 2012 more >>
Affordable Solar
Gentoo has pledged its commitment to providing affordable PV to homes in the region, despite Government plans to cut subsidies for solar PV installation. The North East social housing provider has strong green credentials, and is committed to helping tenants and clients find an affordable and sustainable way of installing solar panels. The Government has now cut subsidies to homeowners installing solar PV, but Gentoo is keen to ensure that consumers who purchase panels through Gentoo can still generate a generous return on their investment.
B Daily 17th Feb 2012 more >>
Europe Solar
Europe contains nine of the largest 15 solar markets in the world. In 2011, EuropeanPVinstallations amounted to 14.3 GW, nearly 75% of the global total. Germany has long held the crown within Europe as the clear leader and now has 24 GW of capacity installed in total.
IB Times 17th Feb 2012 more >>
Solar Homework
Companies need to beware cutting corners when installing solar panels, an expert has warned. Failure to order a structural survey could have dire consequences, cautions property agents John Truslove, of Redditch.
Kidderminster Shuttle 17th Feb 2012 more >>
Solar Degression
Solar companies are hoping to secure revisions to a key piece of research into solar panel costs, which formed the basis for the government’s latest controversial proposals to slash feed-in tariff incentives from July. The government last week issued a consultation on plans to introduce an automatic degression mechanism to the solar feed-in tariff to ensure the scheme remains within budget.
Business Green 16th Feb 2012 more >>
RHI
HWEnergy have become the first system in Scotland to registered for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Our own 30kW biomass boiler, heating our 400m2 HQ in Fort William is now being metered and on 6th March we will submit a meter reading and be paid for the heat we used between December and March. The application process took approximately 6 weeks, and we have received notiifcation that quarterly payments will be received up until 2032. We are currently completing a number of applications for clients who are signed up to our ‘Heat Supply’ plan or ‘RHI Service’ plans.
HW Energy 16th Feb 2012 more >>
Bury Solar
SOLAR power is being used by Bury Council to reduce its carbon emissions and make vital cash savings. Solar panels have been installed on the roof of The Villa at the council’s Bradley Fold depot, which houses its catering services and community safety service. Bury Council aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 35 per cent by 2014, based on 2008/09 emissions.
Bury Times 16th Feb 2012 more >>
Melton Solar Go Slow
A TENANTS group has hit out at Melton Council after they delayed a decision on an energy-saving solar panel scheme. After the council gave its backing to the project, which was submitted by the Tenants Forum Executive Committee (TFEC) in September last year, the Community and Social Affairs Committee decided that more time was needed to explore other green projects and ensure that all legal issues were addressed, at a meeting held on Monday. The proposed project was to benefit 600 council properties, which would have been fitted with the panels at no cost to the council, by its preferred supplier, energy firm SolasPower.
Melton Times 16th Feb 2012 more >>
Solar Hospital
A KIDDERMINSTER company is helping Warwick Hospital make savings in its energy costs. Eco2Solar, based on Hoo Farm Industrial Estate, installed a 50-kilowatt solar energy system at the hospital, which is the second to benefit from solar energy through a partnership between Community Energy Warwickshire and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Kidderminster Shuttle 16th Feb 2012 more >>
Edie 14th Feb 2012 more >>
Solar Farm Finance
Construction and civil engineering company Stepnell, in partnership with Wirsol Solar UK, has secured £26 million to re-finance two 5MW solar parks. Islip Solar Park, near Kettering in Northamptonshire and Springhill Solar Park in Moreton-in Marsh, Gloucestershire are believed to represent around 20 percent of all UK solar park capacity.The two solar sites are expected to generate about 9,000,000kWh of electricity every year, producing enough energy to power around 27000 homes every year, saving 4,896 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted in the process. The refinancing of the solar projects will allow Stepnell to be reimbursed for the construction costs it bore initially.
Solar Power Portal 16th Feb 2012 more >>
Sustainable Solar Industry?
ELECSA, the renewable energy certification body, has stated that the long term level of financial incentive to stimulate the take-up of solar PV may finally be FiT for purpose. From July 2012 the level of the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) could help reinvigorate the sustainable take-up of solar PV and help smaller installers to diversify into renewables, claim ELECSA.
Connecting Industry 15th Feb 2012 more >>
Damian Baker, Managing Director for RenEnergy , yesterday said: “We welcome the clarity offered by today’s announcements by DECC regarding the Feed-in Tariff (FiT). There are no retrospective changes and we have a clear framework in which to work for the next few months, with high rates of return on investment still available for consumers. The proposed new system looks very similar to Germany’s which has proved successful with an installed capacity of 28GW. DECC has today set a UK a target of 22GW solar capacity by 2020, which demonstrates a clear commitment to Solar.
IB Times 15th Feb 2012 more >>
Solar FiT Proposals Summarised
Last week DECC announced a raft of measures intended to improve the feed-in tariff framework and secure the long-term future of the scheme. Below is a summary of all the changes announced last week that will directly affect the solar feed-in tariff rate and the manner it operates.
Solar Power Portal 15th Feb 2012 more >>
Farmgen
Farmgen, the UK’s leading expert in “energy farming”, is in talks with farmers across the UK as its £30million nationwide expansion programme gathers pace. The company – led by green energy entrepreneur Simon Rigby - has already firmed up plans to bring more Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants in Cumbria on stream this year. It is also at the start of the process to create two more AD plants in Lancashire.
Farming UK 15th Feb 2012 more >>
Community Energy
Government departments should work more closely to promote community renewable energy schemes, including offering tax breaks to usher in “a truly transformative capitalism which places the market back into the hands of the people”. That is the conclusion of a new report by the influential centre-right think tank Respublica, which sets out a series of 10 recommendations for government to increase the number of community-led microgeneration schemes, such as solar installations, small wind farms, and hydro electric turbines.
Business Green 15th Feb 2012 more >>
East Kilbride Solar Depot
EPH Maintenance & Solar Services has moved into a new industrial unit at Langlands Place, East Kilbride in Glasgow. As part of Global Management Services Europe Ltd, EPH deliver solar PV products across the UK to a wide network of MCS and NIC accredited installers. The 4,596 ft unit will house the newly-formed solar business, which aims to form a key distribution hub for Scottish renewables.
Solar Power Portal 15th Feb 2012 more >>
Synergy Solar
A North East renewable energy firm is expanding its reach across the region in the hope of growing into a £1 million a year enterprise in the next two years. Synergy Solar has already opened four franchises in Durham, Sunderland, Birmingham and Reading, and is now planning to open a fifth in Newcastle. The firm also has plans to open a further seven new branches by the end of 2012.
B Daily 15th Feb 2012 more >>
Community Energy
Government departments should work more closely to promote community renewable energy schemes, including offering tax breaks to usher in “a truly transformative capitalism which places the market back into the hands of the people”. That is the conclusion of a new report by the influential centre-right think tank Respublica, which sets out a series of 10 recommendations for government to increase the number of community-led microgeneration schemes, such as solar installations, small wind farms, and hydro electric turbines.
Business Green 15th Feb 2012 more >>
Solar Power Portal 13th Feb 2012 more >>
Green Deal Problems
Hertford-based Riversmead Housing Association has called for “considerable changes” to Government’s Green Deal scheme, to help it support the poorest of its tenants. Under the Green Deal, householders deemed as most in need of home improvements like loft and wall insulation in order to reduce energy bills, will be able to apply for money from a new Affordable Warmth Target fund. However, the money will only be available to those who own or rent their home privately despite some of the cash originally coming affordable housing tenants’ energy bills. The Affordable Warmth Target is an obligation on energy suppliers to reduce the heating bills of those most vulnerable to cold.
Solar Power Portal 14th Feb 2012 more >>
RHI cut?
The renewable energy industry has today downplayed reports the government is planning to cut payments made through its Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, insisting it is working with ministers on plans to implement a “cost-control mechanism” designed to ensure the scheme does not exceed its £860m budget.
Business Green 14th Feb 2012 more >>
Solar Cuts
Solar panels on houses have become a common sight in recent years, after the Government announced a scheme to reward those who generated their own electricity with generous payments. However, that scheme was thrown into confusion after a shock cut to the tariff and subsequent legal challenge. Then, last week, the Department for Energy and Climate Change announced even more possible cuts, leaving the energy industry reeling. What is the future for solar panels, and what can customers expect? The following answers should help.
Telegraph 14th Feb 2012 more >>
FiT Consultation Phase 1
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published its response to the controversial Phase 1 consultation on solar photovoltaic feed-in tariffs. DECC has announced that solar panels installed on or after April 1, 2012 will be required to produce an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D or above to qualify for the full FiT level. DECC lowered the proposed level from C to D as a result of industry concerns raised from almost 3,000 responses to the consultation. DECC viewed the previous proposals for an EPC rating of C or linking it to all financeable measures under the Green Deal, as “impractical at this stage.” DECC estimates that about half of all properties are already eligible for a ‘D’ rating.
Solar Power Portal 13th Feb 2012 more >>
PV Barriers
Dave Sowden, chief executive of the Micropower Council, one of the PV Legal Partners, said: “Although there has been considerable progress in the UK towards the removal of administrative obstacles, there are still several barriers around grid connection for installations larger than 4kW and Building Control requirements for domestic installations that must be addressed. Removal of unnecessary legal and administrative hurdles will be a key factor in bringing down the installed.
Heating & Plumbing Monthly 13th Feb 2012 more >>
Small Wind
The UK’s small wind industry has raised alarm over plans by the Government to cut subsidies for domestic and business installations before the end of the year, saying it could face the same fate as the UK solar industry.
Green Wise Business 13th Feb 2012 more >>
Renewable Energy Focus 10th Feb 2012 more >>
Renewable UK Press Release 10th Feb 2012 more >>
The proposed changes to the feed-in tariff rates for wind power could see support cut by up to 41%. DECC aim to introduce the amendments by October of this year, but have so far faced mixed reactions to the changes. Kevin Parslow, CEO of small turbine manufacturer Evance Wind said: “We are disappointed that DECC has suggested a further 25-41% reduction to the Feed-in Tariff for small wind turbine installations – particularly at a time when this important area of the renewables industry is growing.”
Energy Live News 10th Feb 2012 more >>
Energy Efficiency News 10th Feb 2012 more >>
Energy & Environmental Management 10th Feb 2012 more >>
The wind industry has joined with the solar sector in protesting against proposed cuts to the level of feed-in tariff incentives available for small scale renewables, which according to experts threaten to “kill” the expanding market for small scale wind turbines.
Business Green 10th Feb 2012 more >>
Energy Efficiency
A new report published by AECB – the sustainable building association – challenges the Secretary of State to take a long, hard look at his energy efficiency ambitions to see what they could mean in practice. Successive governments have claimed to champion energy efficiency yet none have got to grips with what is required to radically reduce the nation’s energy consumption. Less is More: Energy Security after Oil calls on the government to take a rigorous value-for-money approach to energy policy and prioritise interventions that will give us the biggest carbon reductions for the least cost. Improvements in energy efficiency are usually cheaper than investing in new supply infrastructure yet government incentives continue to favour increasing supply over reducing demand. According to the report’s principal author, AECB’s energy expert David Olivier, “Energy efficiency remains as important an opportunity for us as the discovery of a new series of giant oilfields, but without their global warming impact. Many energy efficiency measures save energy worth more than the cost of the measure, so not only do they pay us to save energy, we also save CO2 at a profit.”
Green Building Press 10th Feb 2012 more >>