week ending 16 March 2012
Renewable Heat Incentive
Ofgem will next week kick start a series of events to help businesses navigate their way through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) application process, after it emerged that 300 businesses have filed to receive the green energy subsidy, but just 11 have been approved so far. The government launched the £860m RHI in late November in a move to encourage businesses to install renewable heat technologies on their properties, such as solar thermal panels, biomass boilers, or ground source heat pumps.
Business Green 16th March 2012 more >>
South Wales AD
Waste management firm Shanks is looking to build a food recycling plant in a former South Wales coal mining town, which could produce green energy for at least 4,000 homes. Shanks yesterday confirmed it had applied for planning permission to Torfaen County Borough Council to build an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant at New Inn, the site of a former incinerator in Pontypool.
Business Green 16th Mar 2012 more >>
Solar Consultation
The noises coming out of DECC are remarkably different from this time last year. Like it or not, the succession of fast-track reviews got DECC’s attention. Not only was solar PV outstripping demand for other renewables, accounting for 98.7 percent of all FiT capacity (and demonstrating a clear public appetite for the tech) but the cost of the technology had fallen dramatically over a matter of months. If we’re to realise Barker’s ambition of 22GW by 2020, the industry needs to work together with DECC. The changes being put into place at the moment will affect solar in the UK, not just in the near future, but also solar’s longer-term transition to grid parity. There are aspects in both consultation documents 2A and 2B that strongly affect solar PV. It is vital that members of the industry take the time out of their day to submit a thorough and reasoned response to the Department. To those who still maintain that DECC will ignore responses and carry on regardless, take a look at the energy efficiency level requirement being downgraded to level D from C. DECC listened to significant response from the industry and acted accordingly.
Solar Power Portal 15th Mar 2012 more >>
Brixton Solar Co-op
After dedicating a year of work to the project, community energy group, Repowering South London, has announced the launch of London’s first community-owned solar power project to be built on social housing. Brixton Energy Solar 1 will be installing solar panels over several roofs on the Loughborough Estate in Brixton. The solar installation is expected to save over 20 tonnes of carbon from being emitted into the capital’s atmosphere every year. The community solar scheme is believed to be the UK’s first inner-city, co-operatively owned, renewable powerstation to be built on social housing. The solar scheme has already raised 70 percent of its £75,000 target by issuing a community share offer which provides investors with a return of up to 3 percent per annum.
Solar Power Portal 15th Mar 2012 more >>
Fuel Poverty
An independent report published today highlights the continued issue of fuel poverty in the UK. Professor John Hills of the London School of Economics defines fuel poverty, looks at realistic targets associated with tackling the problem and discusses the effectiveness of different policy interventions.
Solar Power Portal 15th Mar 2012 more >>
Freesource Energy
Freesource Energy’s free solar scheme is still available but for a limited time only, due to imminent changes in government subsidies. Under the scheme, homeowners benefit from self-generated green electricity and up to 50 per cent off their energy bills.
Bath Chronicle 15th Mar 2012 more >>
Hebden Bridge
PLANS for a 60ft wind turbine in Hebden Bridge have got the go-ahead.
Hebden Bridge Times 15th Mar 2012 more >>
Devon Solar Farm
A proposed installation of 13,244 ground mounted solar PV panels at Willsand in West Devon has been approved. The news follows a u-turn from West Devon Borough Council who initially rejected The Green Company’s proposal. The 2.8MW solar farm was initially refused planning permission on the grounds that the solar installation would be “an industrial intrusion on the countryside, would be highly visible and would have an unacceptable, adverse effect on the amenity of the local community.” However, on appeal West Devon Borough Council agreed that the installation would provide a net benefit to the local community.
Solar Power Portal 15th Mar 2012 more >>
Micro-CHP
ENERGETIX Group has announced that its Genlec subsidiary has gained part of the safety accreditation from the from the British Standards Institution needed to install its its Kingston microCHP Delta boilers.The Chester-based company gained a unit Verification for the range, which it said it’s an important step towards Batch Verification for a targeted batch of 45 units. These will be installed and tested as part of a forthcoming trial of the new Kingston boiler, which will be the centrepiece of a new dual fuel Energy Supply Company.
Business Desk 14th March 2012 more >>
Compulsory Solar Panels
Conservative MP, John Stevenson, believes that it should be compulsory to fit solar panels to all new homes built in the UK. The MP for Carlisle has called on ministers from the Department of Communities and Local Government to make solar panels a mandatory requirement for all new builds as part of building regulations.
Solar Power Portal 14th Mar 2012 more >>
Small Turbines
Realise Renewables provides technical Due Diligence services to a wide range of organisations and individuals looking at investment into wind projects. Here we provide some advice and tips to those interested in implementing a small to medium scale wind project between 5kW and 100kW so they can select the optimal solution.
Green Energy Net March 2012 more >>
Small Turbine Bonus
The government’s small wind subsidy proposals have created a £50,000 bonus for the ’quickest off their feet’, says Glasgow based farm scale manufacturer Gaia-Wind. DECC have proposed a reduction in the feed-in-tariff (FiT) from 28p to 21p per kWh from October 2012, Gaia-Wind CEO Johnnie Andringa said. However, for those considering a small wind turbine the window of opportunity has never been open so wide.
Farming UK 14th Mar 2012 more >>
Solar Future
Since the government’s decision to review, and consequently cut, the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT), the solar industry has been rife with confusion and speculation. Claim and counter claim has been made resulting in a slashed tariff, a series of government court cases and an industry once again being left with an uncertain future. So, what now for the government and solar industry? Andrew Lee, international sales manager for Sharp Solar, examines where the UK solar industry goes from here and looks at what might lie ahead in 2012. The main challenge for the solar industry in 2012 is to ensure the long term survival of the sector and guard against any further knee-jerk cuts. For this to become a reality, stability and foresight are going to be a vital part of the decision making process. Setting the FiT at a long term sustainable level with a clearly mapped out digression rate, specially designed tariffs for social housing, schools and hospitals and tax relief for communities projects are all viable options that should be explored. This is a view supported by the coalition of community groups, who recently commented that community owned green energy projects present the best chance of converting the UK to a low carbon economy and should receive more government support.
Energy Management 14th Mar 2012 more >>
Opportunities for Farmers
Uncertainty is never good for confidence in an industry, and two years of Government U-turns have done little to help those investing in renewable energy projects. However, while many have been put off by the changes, there are still plenty of opportunities to be had. Admittedly, the Department for Energy and Climate Change has not lived up to its promise of Transparency, Longevity and Certainty – or TLC, as it has been termed. Its amendments to the Feed-In Tariff (FiT) scheme have not engendered much love from the renewables industry.
Western Morning News 14th Mar 2012 more >>
Free Solar for Clydebank Tenants
Over 100 tenants in a Clydebank housing scheme have received solar panels as part of an initiative run by Knowes Housing Association. The solar scheme will see 105 social housing tenants, most of which are OAP’s, receive free solar PV energy for their homes in an attempt to lift tenants out of fuel poverty.
Solar Power Portal 13th Mar 2012 more >>
Electrical Contractors Body goes PV
The NICEIC has had 39 solar panels installed on its premises at Houghton Hall Park by renewable specialist Puragen. The system will generate an estimated 7,690kW of electricity every year.
Electrical Engineering 13th March 2012 more >>
Highbury Solar Struggling
UK Solar Generation was Russell Lyne’s dream, after hearing of the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme, the entrepreneurial electrician was able to secure a bank loan and invested his life-savings to secure the £25,000 needed to set up his own solar PV installation company. Initially the outlook for the fledgling solar company looked incredibly bright, as increasing demand saw him hire two full-time staff to keep up with a surge of enquiries. However, the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s fast-track review threw the start-up into chaos. Lyne said: “Demand went through the roof in December, before the cuts came in, but after that work has been really scarce.”
Solar Power Portal 13th Mar 2012 more >>
Solar Calculator
A service that can calculate whether installing solar panels would be financially beneficial has had an impressive response since it was launched last year. Coalville aerial mapping company Bluesky has calculated the solar power potential of 500,000 properties using its new measuring service. It uses high-resolution aerial imagery and 3D computer modelling to assess the potential energy that could be generated from solar panels.
Leicester Mercury 13th Mar 2012 more >>
Solar Farm
Plans for another large-scale solar park have emerged this week after Cirencester-based Inazin Solar revealed its intention to build a 40MW plant in Pembrey. The giant solar farm, which is the largest to reach pre-application stage in the UK to date, is planned to be constructed on land to the north and south of Pembrey Circuit and Pembrey Airport. The project joins several other multi-megawatt schemes planned for the UK that will benefit from the Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) incentive instead of the feed-in tariff (FiT).
Solar Power Portal 12th Mar 2012 more >>
Baxi
Using cutting-edge 3D visualisation technology, Baxi will engage and inspire Ecobuild visitors with a fresh perspective on the latest heating and hot water solutions available to meet Code for Sustainable Homes Levels 3 and 4.
Bradenton Herald 12th Mar 2012 more >>
Solar Navy
A Royal Navy shore-based training centre in Cornwall has installed solar power, in a bid to heat its main swimming pool and reduce its carbon footprint.
Edie 12th Mar 2012 more >>
Germany
Is the sun setting on solar? If there’s a country on the planet that’s embraced the generation of electricity from the sun, it is Germany. It has between a third and a half of the world’s photo-voltaic cells - but in this heartland of solar energy, the industry sees dark clouds looming. Subsidies are falling. Makers of solar panels have gone bankrupt. Thousands of employees, fearing for their jobs, have just held a demonstration in Berlin. Mainstream, influential magazines run headlines like Solar Subsidy Sinkhole: Re-evaluating Germany’s Blind Faith in the Sun.
BBC 12th Mar 2012 more >>
Super Group
After a six-month trial international clothing retailer SuperGroup has decided to renew its energy contract with 100 percent renewable electricity supplier, Good Energy. Under the arrangement, SuperGroup’s 72 retail stores and all UK warehouses and offices are powered by renewable electricity. Juliet Davenport, founder and CEO of Good Energy, said: “We are delighted that SuperGroup has renewed its contract with Good Energy, affirming its decision to invest in renewable energy by working with us.
Solar Power Portal 12th Mar 2012 more >>
Business Green 12th Mar 2012 more >>
East Lindsey Solar
East Lindsey District Council has installed £400,000 worth of solar photovoltaic panels across five sites. The solar scheme has seen solar arrays installed at the Meridian Leisure Centre and London Road Sports Ground, Louth; Embassy Swimming Pool and Embassy Theatre, Skegness; and Horncastle Swimming Pool. Following Government’s decision to appeal to the Supreme Court, the council’s solar project was fast-tracked to be completed before the March 3 deadline. A spokesperson for the council told the Skegness Standard: “A High Court ruling in late January means the panels may generate £1,680,000 of income to support local services, as opposed to £875,000 at the lower rate, over their 25 year life expectancy.
Solar Power Portal 12th Mar 2012 more >>
Energy Bills
Rising energy bills have rapidly become a key political battle ground in Westminster too and the escalation of said bills has formed such a large part of the national zeitgeist that newly-incumbent Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Davey’s first pledge was to tackle soaring energy prices. Yet, despite this vow, according to energy website Uswitch.com, the average dual fuel household energy bill in the UK now stands at £1,260, which is around 18 percent higher than it was in 2011. So what’s the cause for such a rapid increase?
Solar Power Portal 12th Mar 2012 more >>