week ending 13 July 2012
Solar Compensation
The fall-out from the government’s controversial decision last year to cut solar incentives before the completion of a consultation on the proposed cuts looks set to rumble on, after three solar firms today approached the government to request damages totalling £2.2m.
Business Green 13th July 2012 more >>
Solar Portal 13th July 2012 more >>
Edie 13th July 2012 more >>
Guardian 13th July 1012 more >>
New Forest Solar
ONE of the UK’s largest solar panel farms has opened in the New Forest on an estate famed for its Walkers crisps potatoes. Nearly 19,000 solar panels have been installed on 30 acres of land on the Cadland Estate at Fawley to generate enough electricity to power 1,000 homes.
Southern Daily Echo 13th July 2012 more >>
Cornish Solar Farm
Worried homeowners have vowed to fight proposals for the country’s biggest solar farm which would cover 224 acres of Cornish farmland. Good Energy’s proposed scheme could see 135,000 photovoltaic panels installed on farmland near Week St Mary, between Launceston and Bude.
Western Morning News 13th July 2012 more >>
Solar Community Hall
The now solar powered Newport Memorial Hall is reopening with a special event at 7pm tomorrow (Friday), with guest speakers and displays. Regional AM Simon Thomas will officially open the hall’s upgrade which includes 10 kWh of solar PV panels on the roof, a new air tight, super insulated ceiling using natural cellulous fibre, low energy lights, an energy display and green events programme.
Western Telegraph 12th July 2012 more >>
Solar Farm
Spanish solar company, Solaer, has completed its first major project in the UK. Solaer worked together with its long-standing partner, Conergy, to complete the 5MW project, located in the village of Eastcott near Bude in Cornwall.
Solar Portal 12th July 2012 more >>
Solar Thermal
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has called for greater political support for solar thermal power, after a new report found the technology could meet one-sixth of global demand for heating and cooling, saving 800 megatonnes (MT) of CO2 emissions a year by 2050. The IEA launched a report on Monday outlining ways of boosting the global uptake of solar heating and cooling technologies as a means of replacing fossil fuels.
Business Green 12th July 2012 more >>
Staffordshire goes Solar
Staffordshire-based housing association, Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH), has announced an ambitious solar project that will see 180 of its bungalows receive solar arrays. The rollout of solar across the bungalows will allow SARH’s tenants to dramatically reduce their energy bills, as they will have unlimited use of all electricity generated by the solar modules. It is estimated that each household could save over £120 on their annual electricity bills.
Solar Portal 12th July 2012 more >>
South Downs Solar
A winery on a large family-owned estate in West Sussex will tomorrow cut the ribbon on a 50kWp solar array, marking a major step forward in its efforts to cut its environmental footprint. Sothern Renewables installed a 200-panel solar photovoltaic array at the Wiston Estate to generate energy for the grain store and a winery.
Business Green 12th July 2012 more >>
Efficiency Race
A report launched in Washington by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy on Thursday ranked the UK first among the world’s 12 largest economies for reducing pollution in industry, transport, and buildings.
Guardian 12th July 2012 more >>
Solar Car Port
Poole-based renewables specialist, H2Eco, has launched an all-new solar car port system designed and manufactured in Dorset. The ‘Eco Park’ is an integrated parking solution which combines an architectural car parking canopy with a solar photovoltaic system.
Solar Portal 11th July 2012 more >>
Green Car 10th July 2012 more >>
Global Solar
The clean energy sector has continued to perform strongly despite continued global economic hardship, with new investment totaling £38.4 billion in the second quarter of 2012. The figures, published by research company Bloomberg New Energy Finance, reveal that overall, solar accounted for £21.6 billion of global clean-tech investment in Q2, up 19 percent on Q1.The figure means that solar investments accounted for more than half of all global clean energy investment.
Solar Portal 11th July 2012 more >>
VAT Threat
The Treasury has a fight on its hands after the European Commission said UK VAT relief on energy-efficient equipment broke European Union rules. Brussels has threatened to go to the European Court of Justice if VAT on equipment such as insulation and microgeneration is not increased from 5 per cent to 20 per cent within two months. The issue has serious implications for the feed-in tariff scheme and programmes such as the Green Deal.
Utility Week 11th July 2012 more >>
AD lagging behind
THE UK is still lagging behind other countries on its anaerobic digestion (AD) targets, renewable energy experts told a conference. Experts said Defra would be unlikely to reach its objective of 1,000 AD plants by 2020 due to a range of factors, including the unwillingness of banks to lend capital and the complexity and cost of the equipment.
Farmers Guardian 11th July 2012 more >>
Lincolnshire Solar Proposal
A NEW renewable energy project is proposed in Croft, which will produce electricity by harnessing the power of the sun. Juwi Renewable Energies Limited has submitted plans for a Solar Park on land at The Hollies in Croft to East Lindsey District Council.
East Coast Target 11th July 2012 more >>
Solar Portal 10th July 2012 more >>
Skegness Standard 13th July 2012 more >>
FiT Cut
AN EAST Yorkshire company believes the sun will still shine on solar power feeds, despite a reduction to the feed-in tariffs. Payments to homeowners who install solar panels to generate electricity were due to be cut on July 1 but this has now been delayed to August 1, giving people another month to qualify for the higher feed-in tariff.
Hull Daily Mail 11th July 2012 more >>
Efficient Behaviour
The charity Age UK, has published the results of a survey that undertook analysis of the UK’s energy usage trends over the last 60 years. The results show that saving energy has consistently been an aim for the British since the 1950s. Back then, almost nine out of ten people (88 percent) indicated that they took steps to reduce their energy usages. The most popular energy saving practices employed in the 50s were, switching off lights when leaving a room (75 percent) and using draft excluders (72 percent). Nowadays, energy saving practices have increased as a combination of rising energy costs and environmental concerns have led to greater awareness. Over 80 percent of respondents have made changes to their property to cut their energy consumption; 75 percent have installed double glazing, 60 percent installed roof insulation and 38 percent upgraded appliances for more efficient alternatives.
Solar portal 10th July 2012 more >>
Eco Renovation
Sandfield House, an old quarryman’s cottage, is a handsome, warm red-brick house near Ormskirk, close to one of Lancashire’s many disused sandstone quarries that helped build the great industrial cities of the North. Today, the quarry is a nature reserve and the last quarryman left decades ago; gradually new houses all around are replacing the old, inefficient Victorian workers’ terraces. But Chas and Thess Jutla decided to save and future-proof Sandfield House, built in 1870, rather than bulldoze it, and they hope it will still be standing in another 150 years.
Telegraph 10th July 2012 more >>
Northumberland goes Solar
THE future is bright for hundreds of county residents of all ages thanks to an ambitious solar energy scheme. And Ponteland First School’s drive to save even more electricity has been rewarded with a national accolade. A total of 120 schools and community buildings have been fitted with between eight and 40 solar PV panels and it is estimated that each school will save approximately £590 a year on power. The Northumberland County Council project is accompanied by education work as an officer from the authority runs assemblies and class sessions to explain to pupils how solar power works and how they can reduce their energy usage.
Morpeth Herald 10th July 2012 more >>
RSPCA Turbine
THE RSPCA Centre in Brent Knoll has lodged plans for an 11kw wind turbine to supply its electricity. The turbine would be on an 18-metre high mast on the RSPCA grounds. Sedgemoor District Council will determine the application.
This is the West Country 10th July 2012 more >>
Salad Factory
With its wildflower meadow roof merging into the Evesham hills, hempclad walls, solar panels and geothermal pumps, the new £30 million salad factory is arguably one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in the country. Not only that but new technology will improve the quality and shelf life of the 2.2 million salad bags the new factory is able to produce every week, thus reducing wastage.
Farming UK 9th July 2012 more >>
Solar Heating & Cooling
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has launched a roadmap showing how solar energy could account for around one-sixth of the world’s total low-temperature heating and cooling needs by 2050.
Renewable Energy Focus 9th July 2012 more >>
Opinion
A new survey carried out by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has revealed that renewable energy generation in the UK continues to receive incredibly strong public support as part of a diverse energy generation mix. The survey, which consisted of over 2,000 face-to-face in-home interviews, revealed that the overwhelming majority of Brits (83 percent) supported the implementation of solar, making it the most supported form of renewable energy generation, with offshore wind (76 percent) and wave and tidal (75 percent) distant runners-up.
Solar Portal 9th July 2012 more >>
Business Green 9th July 2012 more >>
Energy Saving Foods
Drinkers could soon be supping on a more sustainable pint thanks to new energy-saving technology developed with backing from the government. The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) today announced that it had awarded a total of £500,000 to 21 small businesses working on the development of green food technologies, including a firm that has developed a drinks cooling system that cuts the amount of energy needed to pour a pint of beer.
Business Green 9th July 2012 more >>
Installer awards
Worcester, Bosch Group recently hosted its 12th annual Environment 2020 Awards, to acknowledge and reward those in the heating and plumbing industry who are committed to conserving the environment.
Heating & Plumbing Monthly 9th July 2012 more >>
Sewage Works Turbine
A PLAN to build a new wind turbine at a sewage treatment works in Newport was approved at a council meeting. Newport council planning committee approved a plan from Welsh Water to build the turbine at the sewage treatment works at West Nash Road, Nash.
South Wales Argus 9th July 2012 more >>
Solar Century
Solarcentury has been named amongst the 200 fastest growing private UK companies in terms of international sales in this year’s The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200.
Solar Portal 9th July 2012 more >>
Blackfriars Station
It will be London’s first solar-powered mainline station, generating enough from the capital’s occasional glimpses of the sun for half its electricity needs. The 4,400 panels being installed on the roof of Blackfriars station mostly under a blanket of grey clouds will save Network Rail tens of thousands of pounds a year.
London Evening Standard 9th July 2012 more >>
Micro CHP
Global Micro CHP markets to reach 1bn in 2012. Delta-ee provides commercial insight and market expertise in decentralised energy and low carbon strategies. With in-depth expertise of the European micro-CHP industry, the company has been tracking the micro-CHP markets and technologies since 2004. Delta-ee supports clients through providing strategic insight and rigorous analysis on market size, competitive landscape, regulatory environment, and potential for future growth. Clients include many of the major heating equipment manufacturers, energy companies, and technology developers from around the globe.
The Street 6th July 2012 more >>
WCAX.com 6th July 2012 more >>
Cogeneration 6th July 2012 more >>
Small Wind
A prototype for a new design of wind turbine which could revolutionise the renewables industry has been installed at Keele University. The new vertical-axis turbine, which has been installed at Keele University Science and Business Park by McCamley UK Ltd has been designed to overcome many of the issues which are associated with the current wind turbines. Wind turbines currently used on wind farms rely on a steady wind speed to produce energy whereas the prototype vertical-axis turbine is able to cope with the turbulent and variable wind conditions. When the wind drops below 2-3 metres per second, the turbine will continue to operate, a point at which traditional models stop before using power from the National Grid to restart. The McCamley turbine does not require power to restart making it more efficient.
bDaily 6th July 2012 more >>
Solar Cells
CARDIFF-based technology firm IQE has secured its first major order for concentrating photo-voltaic (CPV) wafers. The order from San Jose, California-based Solar Junction, a major CPV cell developer and manufacturer, is for $1.95m (approximately £1.25m) of wafer products. CPV technology uses optics to concentrate light onto a small, highly efficient solar cell to create electricity. The technology was originally developed to power satellites in space. Such cells have the potential to produce the lowest cost energy in areas with particularly strong sunlight.
Wales Online 6th July 2012 more >>