week ending 27 April 2012
Heat Storage
DECC will also soon launch a £3m competition in partnership with the Technology Strategy Board to assess heat storage technologies suitable for integration with domestic heating system. Also part of DECC’s Buildings Innovation Programme, the aim of the scheme is to assess the viability and benefits of compact heat storage materials, which could even out peak electricity demand from low-carbon heat technologies such as heat pumps.
Renewable Energy Focus 27th April 2012 more >>
Solar Cuts – rethink urged
The government has once again been urged to reconsider its plans to slash the feed-in tariff for solar electricity, after new figures revealed the British solar industry has shrunk by a quarter during the past nine months. The Cut Don’t Kill Campaign today published the results of a survey conducted earlier this month of 190 of the UK’s solar businesses, including leading suppliers such as Solarcentury, Southern Solar and Ardenham Energy, as well as a range of local installers.
Business Green 26th April 2012 more >>
Solar Manuals
The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies (NSAET) has produced a series of new learner manuals to help solar installers. The new manuals will allow installers of both photovoltaic and thermal systems to acquire the background knowledge required to install, commission, service and maintain solar equipment.
Solar Power Portal 26th April 2012 more >>
Electrical Times 26th April 2012 more >>
Solar Finance
As mortgage complications have become apparent with the ‘rent-a-roof’ scheme; a popular and accessible method of upgrading domestic properties with solar panels is under threat. With April’s installation figures indicating a considerable decline in domestic solar installations, the market has clearly been affected by the March feed-in tariff (FiT) deadline. However it’s not all bad news, as the absence of the ‘Free Solar’ outlet presents an opportunity for new and further evolved finance options to step forward. This article will explore the most prominent of these new approaches.
Solar Power Portal 26th April 2012 more >>
Solar Deployment
The Solar Trade Association (STA) is carefully watching the significant tail-off in installations since the introduction of energy efficiency requirements on April 1 this year. With DECC publishing weekly data on the feed-in tariff scheme’s capacity, all eyes are on deployment. There is no doubt that current installation rates are low, and some STA members report order books are a tenth of what they were. Some said a 50 percent cut to the feed-in tariff (FiT) would kill the industry back in December 2011, but, as STA’s own industry survey assured us it wouldn’t, this did not materialise. But the suggestion that the cuts would kill off the industry is what has dominated the press coverage. So is this why customers are confused and not placing orders?
Solar Power Portal 26th April 2012 more >>
Self Funded Solar
Northern social housing regeneration specialist Forrest has teamed up with renewable energy specialist Dimplex Renewables to launch a new self-funded solar power installation model for the social housing sector. The “Renewable Energy Finance” scheme - the first of its kind in the industry - will allow landlords to install photovoltaic (PV) technology without any capital investment. Under the model, the Government’s now reduced FIT payment scheme covers installation costs via a finance solution for up to a 15 year period. Residents can access free day-time electricity immediately after installation and the programme is cost neutral from the first year.
Housing 26th April 2012 more >>
Solar Power Portal 24th April 2012 more >>
Build 24th April 2012 more >>
Construction Enquirer 23rd April 2012 more >>
Solar Shambles
Caroline Flint MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, commenting on the publication of research from the “Cut Don’t Kill Campaign” showing that the UK solar industry has contracted by 25 per cent in the past nine months, with over 6,000 jobs lost, said: “For months Labour has been warning that the Government’s cuts to solar power are bad for the public, bad for jobs and growth and bad for the environment. Ministers cynically pretended that more people would have solar after their cuts – but these statistics prove once and for all that under this Government the sun has set on solar power.
Labour Party 26th April 2012 more >>
The Government is facing the prospect of a raft of damages claims after new figures reveal the UK’s solar industry has contracted by 25% following the disastrous handling of cuts to the Feed in Tariff scheme. The research found more than 6,000 jobs had been lost, which according to Cut Don’t Kill campaigners “brutally unmasks the Government’s rhetoric on promoting renewable energy”.
Click Green 26th April 2012 more >>
Biomass Strategy
Accelerating the use of biomass to power homes, businesses, and transport could build a sector capable of supplying 11 per cent of all UK energy by the end of the decade, according to a new government strategy to be released today. The government committed to producing a new Bioenergy Strategy when releasing its Renewables Roadmap last year, a document that claimed burning wood, waste or agricultural residues could contribute up to 6GW of electricity, more than double the current level, and 50 terawatt hours (TWh) of heat by 2020.
Business Green 26th April 2012 more >>
Business Green 26th April 2012 more >>
Lichfield Green Fair
THE FIRST solar-powered Green Fair took place in Whittington last weekend attracting those keen on living a more environmentally-friendly life. The event was held in the village hall which now has photovoltaic panels on its roof providing free electricity. The panels were provided by Southern Staffordshire Community Energy which recently raised the funds to install them on the hall roof and at St Giles Hospice through a local share issue.
Lichfield Mercury 26th April 2012 more >>
Mortgage Problems
House hunters have been warned by surveyors against making offers to buy properties fitted with free solar panels, over fears their mortgages will be turned down. Homeowners selling properties which buyers cannot get a mortgage for could end up being forced to pay tens of thousands of pounds to buy themselves out of the solar panels scheme.
Western Morning News 26th April 2012 more >>
Scilly Isles
ST AGNES now has the highest concentration of solar panels anywhere in the UK, according to a Penzance energy company. Plug into the Sun has fitted numerous solar panels in Scilly in the past five months, taking advantage of the islands’ high levels of sunshine.
The Cornishman 26th April 2012 more >>
Devon Solar Park
In big news for the large-scale solar market, independent project developer TGC Renewables has begun work on a 2.9MW solar farm in Devon. After receiving planning permission and successfully completing a funding round, TGC Renewables is now ploughing ahead with what will be among the largest agricultural solar developments in the South West.
Solar Power Portal 25th April 2012 more >>
RHI
On 26th March 2012 the Department of Energy and Climate Change launched a Consultation proposing the introduction of a cost control mechanism for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI); a measure that would suspend the RHI until the next financial year “should estimated spending - based on applications and accreditations - reach a level where the budget could be breached”. The announcement came as a bolt from the blue to industry stakeholders with no prior hints of a suspension budgetary control measure coming from DECC. This mechanism is to be introduced to act as an interim budgetary control mechanism until a flexible degression-based system can be implemented. DECC have plans to consult on a longer term cost control mechanism in July 2012.
Business Green 25th April 2012 more >>
Alpha Heating Innovation has claimed the delay to the Renewable Heat Incentive is another obstacle to the growth of the heating industry. Product marketing manager Steve Hopkins said: “After insulation, boilers and controls are two of the most important elements to improve the efficiency of the home so it’s important that homeowners have the ability to upgrade and that the heating industry can support this. “Although the Green Deal is still going ahead, there are still a lot of variables and we won’t know the outcome of the latest consultation until the summer.
H&V News 25th April 2012 more >>
Coventry Cathedral scraps solar plans
Coventry Cathedral has abandoned plans to become the UK’s first cathedral to install solar panels on the roof as new research shows Government cuts have caused the solar industry in Britain to decline by a quarter.
Telegraph 25th April 2012 more >>
Solar Cuts
New figures obtained by the ‘Cut Don’t Kill Campaign’ show that the UK solar industry has contracted by 25 percent in the past nine months. As a result of the contraction in the market, 6000 jobs have been lost.
Solar Power Portal 25th April 2012 more >>
Money Expert
Solar panels have become increasingly popular over the last few years as a growing number of people begin to realise the benefits of greener energy. Generating alterative power cannot only help you reduce your carbon footprint, but it can also help to reduce the cost of your household bills in the long run.
Money Expert 25th April 2012 more >>
Harlow Council
Kier Harlow, a joint venture company between Kier and Harlow Council, has joined forces with solar mapping firm, Bluesky to support an ambitious scheme to install solar panels on Council-owned properties in Essex. The solar scheme aims to help residents save money on their energy bills, provide a steady income stream for the Council and significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Solar Power Portal 25th April 2012 more >>
PV Fire
Given the growth in solar PV installations in the last couple of years, news of what is believed to be the UK’s first PV system fire should not, perhaps, have been unexpected. It was recently reported that Kent firefighters were called out to deal with a fire in a domestic property. The fire, which is thought to have been triggered by a faulty DC switch, was said to have “wreaked havoc” at a family home in Sittingbourne, Kent last month.
Solar Power Portal 25th April 2012 more >>
Brixton Solar
Following a successful share issue, the UK’s first 100 per cent community owned inner-city social housing solar power project went live last month.
Ecologist 25th April 2012 more >>
Clean Energy Ministerial
The British government had to invite the US government, and the US government, either being unaware of the little local difficulty in the UK solar market or blessed with a mischievous sense of humour, have invited Mr Leggett to join them the summit. Jeremy was delighted to accept the invitation and has confirmed that he plans to make the case for continued global investment in solar PV, urge governments to stop pandering to the fossil fuel and nuclear lobby, and best of all call on governments “to resist the temptation to keep undermining successful feed-in tariff policies”.
Business Green 25th April 2012 more >>
Solar Thermal
Any farm that uses a lot of hot water can benefit from solar thermal panels.
Farmers Weekly 24th April 2012 more >>
Green Deal Concerns
Insulation company Superglass Holdings has warned future trading could be hit by UK government plans to improve the energy efficiency of homes. Ministers intend to move from a scheme which gives grants for home insulation to a new mechanism which eliminates the need for householders to pay upfront for energy efficiency measures. The move to the new ‘Green Deal’ is due before the end of this year. But Superglass said there was uncertainty over how it would operate. The Stirling-based company raised its concerns as it reported it had completed a refinancing package at the end of last year after suffering financial difficulties.
BBC 24th April 2012 more >>
Somerset Solar
Anesco has helped ‘power up’ South Somerset District Council after completing a trio of roof top solar PV installations in record time.
Anesco 24th April 2012 more >>
Solar Costs
REA identifies solar as having “the largest technical potential of all energy sources”, after delivering a consistent 20 percent plus reduction with every doubling of capacity. The paper also highlights that studies from mainstream analysts such as Ernst & Young, IEA and the German Government, have all predicted that solar PV will deliver cheaper power than retail prices for grid electricity before 2020, in nearly all applications.
Solar Power Portal 24th April 2012 more >>
Worcester Hospice goes Solar
ACORNS Children’s Hospice in Bath Road, Worcester, and Solar Solutions Malvern held a party to celebrate the installation of solar panels on the roof of the hospice to generate free electricity. Solar Solutions, a social enterprise specialising in renewable energy, has installed the panels free of charge and donated the feed-in tariff income to the hospice.
Evesham Journal 24th April 2012 more >>
Bristol Solar Co-operative
A solar energy scheme in Bristol is hoping to switch on investors by launching a community share issue. The not-for profit community-owned Bristol Energy Co-operative is aiming to raise almost £90,000 with the launch of a share issue to realise its plans of installing solar panels on community buildings across the city.
Click Green 24th April 2012 more >>
Green Deal & Solar
SMALL and medium sized businesses in the South West are being urged to invest in skills to meet forecast demand for solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. It comes as new research revealed consumer demand in the region for solar PV will be higher than for any other household energy-saving measure available under the Green Deal. The study, called Research to support the development of a Green Deal Competency Framework, surveyed employers and training providers from the energy assessment, advice and construction sectors.
Exeter Express & Echo 23rd April 2012 more >>
Low Carbon Building Society
Louise Wilson is one of three founders of Abundance Generation, which she describes as being like a building society for low-carbon technology. The firm is the first of its kind, and aims to bridge the gap between the average citizen and the renewable projects sprouting up all over the country by allowing anyone to invest as little as £5 in new ventures. Wilson argues that Abundance provides an alternative to savings accounts and funds that often offer no more than an abstract concept of where your money is going and what the return might be.
Sunday Times 22nd April 2012 more >>
Glasgow Solar
SOLAR Electricity Systems is branching into other forms of energy generation for the home following soaring sales during the Glasgow-based company’s second year of trading. The firm, which has installed 32,000 solar panels on 1,800 houses across Scotland, has signed a deal with boiler specialist Vokera to supply thermal panels used to heat water. It is expected to be the first in a series of agreements to extend the firm’s offering beyond its core business of installing solar panels which generate domestic electricity.
Scotland on Sunday 22nd April 2012 more >>
Baxi Ecogen
Find out all about the brand new Baxi Ecogen – the first micro-CHP, dual energy technique of its kind in the UK. Our short animation will clarify how the unit operates and how you could not only save funds but also get a set value on all the electricity you generate, whether or not you use it yourself or export it back to the grid!
Hojo Energy 21st April 2012 more >>
St Andrews Green Energy Centre
Nearly two years after purchasing the mill, which has lain empty since 2008, the university has said it will move ahead with plans for green energy and knowledge exchange centres for spin-out companies, new business and prototype testing. After 18 months of preparatory work the university is seeking a specialist partner to develop the green energy centre. It will generate and distribute energy from biomass, hydro, ground source heat pumps and gas reclamation from sewage.
Dundee Courier 20th April 2012 more >>
Barker defends solar shambles
Energy and Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker has defended his department’s handling of the solar feed-in tariff after a series of written questions were submitted to parliament questioning the circumstances surrounding recent turmoil in the industry. Caroline Flint, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change lead the enquiry, questioning whether DECC has estimated Government’s potential liability for loss of income following the Supreme Court ruling on its consultation on the feed-in tariff for solar power. Barker responded curtly, declaring that “Government have made no such estimate, as it does not accept that it has any such liability.”
Solar Power Portal 20th April 2012 more >>