week ending 20 July 2012
Community Solar
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced its response to the Phase 2B consultation on the feed-in tariff scheme. A large part of the consultation was concerned with how the FiT scheme can be improved to better support community projects. After consultation the department has created a definition of ‘community energy projects’ to apply to the industry. In practice, this means that companies registered as a CIC on the Companies House register and co-operatives or community benefit societies registered on the FSA Mutual’s Public Register will be eligible for community schemes under the FiT. The announcement means that eligible community solar PV projects will now be exempt from the minimum energy efficiency requirement introduced last April. This will apply to all PV installations on non-domestic buildings, including schools and colleges.
Solar Portal 20th July 2012 more >>
RSPB
Earlier this year the RSPB announced plans to build a single wind turbine at its HQ, The Lodge in Sandy, together with green energy company, Ecotricity. After a positive initial local consultation process, the conservation organisation has now been granted planning permission to erect a meteorological mast on the proposed wind turbine site within Sandy Ridge, a field south of the B1042 Potton Road.
Bedfordshire News 20th July 2012 more >>
Manchester Geothermal
GT Energy will today unveil plans to build the UK’s largest commercial deep-geothermal heat plant in Manchester, a move that could herald a further four similar developments in the coming months. The Anglo-Irish company intends to drill two wells around 3,000 metres deep at a half acre site in the Ardwick district of the city to tap into the huge geothermal resource below Manchester. The heat from the 10MWth plant would be then supplied to homes, businesses, and other buildings in the area, including University of Manchester facilities along the Oxford Road Corridor, through a district heating system
Business Green 20th July 2012 more >>
Cumbria Solar
A food company has become one of the biggest solar energy plants in Cumbria Pioneer Foodservice has had 272 solar panels installed on the roof of its cold store at its Rosehill headquarters. The ambitious project makes it the second biggest solar energy plant in Cumbria after M-Sport at Dovenby in Cockermouth.
Cumberland News 20th July 2012 more >>
FiT Review
The Government’s response to Feed-in Tariffs Comprehensive Review Phase 2B: Tariffs for non-PV technologies and scheme administration issues has now been published. These include the Government’s final decisions on tariffs for new anaerobic digestion, hydro, wind and micro-CHP installations, which will take effect from 1 December 2012, and on a range of other proposals included in phase 2B of the review.
DECC 20th July 2012 more >>
This Departmental Note informs the House of two developments aimed at providing greater certainty to Industry and investors and delivering financial sustainability through greater budgetary control for the Government: the publication of a consultation on enhancements to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI); Government’s decisions following consultation on Phase 2B of the comprehensive review of the Feed-in Tariffs scheme
DECC 20th July 2012 more >>
Greater certainty for investors in renewable heat and small scale electricity technologies and a fair deal for consumers were delivered today by Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, as he clarified future arrangements for Feed-in Tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive.
DECC Press Release 20th July 2012 more >>
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published the results of February’s Phase 2B consultation. Following responses from 303 parties and continued analysis from Parsons Brinckerhoff, the department has unveiled the feed-in tariff rates for Hydro-electric, Wind, Anaerobic Digestion (AD) and microCHP technologies.
Solar Portal 20th July 2012 more >>
The government has today revealed new support levels for small scale wind, hydroelectric, anaerobic digestion, and micro combined heat and power (CHP) systems under the feed-in tariff incentive scheme.
Business Green 20th July 2012 more >>
Scottish Hydro
A new £6m hydroelectric scheme is set to power almost a quarter of the 6,200 homes in a Scottish National Park, paving the way for three more similar projects over the next few years. Officially opened yesterday by climate change minister Greg Barker, the 2MW Allt Fionn Hydroelectric Scheme has been installed on land leased from Glenfalloch Estate, near Stirling, and represents the first of four hydroelectric plants planned for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park by developers Osspower.
Business Green 20th July 2012 more >>
Farm Windfall
The owners of a West Yorkshire beef cattle farm have slashed electricity bills and started generating an additional income for their retirement with the help of wind turbines. As well as providing a steady source of free electricity and cutting bills, installing wind turbines has allowed the owners of the farm, Maureen and David Pickford, to benefit from Feed-in Tariff payments (FiTs) for each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated on site.
Farming UK 20th July 2012 more >>
Brighton Energy Co-op
The Brighton Energy Cooperative (BEC) has commissioned its first major project, an 87kWp solar array at Shoreham Port near Brighton. The Coop was able to raise more than £200,000 from the local community in order to fund the install and has enough capital left over to install a further 40kWp of solar across other local sites. The Shoreham project consists of five buildings at Hove Enterprise Centre that will generate around 80,000kWh of clean electricity every year. The power generated will be fed into the local Enterprise Centre and a nearby supply for yacht charging points and the port’s water pumps.
Solar Portal 20th July 2012 more >>
Warwick School
Warwick Independent School’s new sports centre extension will now be home to a renewable energy power plant, thanks to a solar PV installation by Williams Renewables Ltd. The roof-mounted array will help the school generate clean, green electricity – reducing the school’s carbon footprint, reliance on fossil fuels, electricity consumption and utility bills whilst simultaneously boosting climate change awareness amongst pupils.
Solar Portal 20th July 2012 more >>
Aberdeen Council rents out its roofs
Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has approved plans to install solar panels on the roofs of two sports buildings in the city. Members of the Development Management Sub-committee supported the schemes for Westburn Tennis Centre and Beach Leisure Centre. ACC is the first local authority in Scotland to apply for the Rent a Roof scheme and is installing photovoltaic solar panels on 90 public buildings around the city.
Leisure Management 20th July 2012 more >>
Co-operative Energy
The Co-operative is keen to promote the economic, social and environmental benefits of community-owned renewable energy
Guardian 19th July 2012 more >>
Swansea Efficiency
RESIDENTS in Swansea could benefit from lower household energy bills under the latest measures set to be introduced in council-owned homes. Swansea Council is hoping to secure a further grant from the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) which could be used to improve wall insulation, install new boilers and even solar power to heat hot water. Millions of pounds of investment has already been spent in Swansea in recent years, including £1.5 million for loft insulation in council homes and £600,000 in the Hafod renewal area.
South Wales Evening Post 19th July 2012 more >>
Passivhaus
Norfolk-based practice Parsons + Whittley Architects has won the residential category of the first ever UK Passivhaus Awards. The UK Passivhaus Awards were launched by the Passivhaus Trust to celebrate the achievements of Passivhaus pioneers in the UK, to highlight that Passivhaus can apply to any building type and to show that Passivhaus design can create beautiful buildings.
Response Resource 19th July 2012 more >>
Small Wind
A new vertical-axis turbine, the McCamley MT01 Mk2, is a designed specifically these dense urban areas. (V ideo)
Gizmodo 19th July 2012 more >>
Game Changing Efficiency
Knowsley Housing Trust walked away with the inaugural WWF Green Game-Changers Innovation Award at this year’s BusinessGreen Leaders Awards. The Merseyside-based not-for-profit housing association secured the award for its highly innovative work turning three 1950s terrace houses into an exemplar of energy efficient housing – and all without requiring people to leave their home or invest in costly high-tech renewable energy or smart building technologies. The Lordens Road project – which brought together Knowsley Housing Trust with insulation specialist YBS, architects BYA, heating provider The Electric Heating Co, consultancy Solarcrest, and contractor BAAS – took the innovative approach of eschewing yet more in-house or cavity wall insulation in favour of deploying a “Multifoil insulation” shell around the entire exterior of the properties. The net result was a slashing in the level of heat loss from the buildings, confirmed by thermal imaging cameras and air pressure monitoring equipment, and a reduction in the number of air changes per hour
Business Green 19th July 2012 more >>
Sainsbury goes Geothermal
Sainsbury’s has pledged to power 100 of its supermarkets with underground renewable heat, after signing a deal with E.on and Geothermal International as part of efforts to slash its carbon emissions by 2020. The supermarket chain announced two partnerships today that will see car parks in 100 of its larger stores kitted out with both geothermal power plants and ground source heat pumps designed to provide heating, hot water and cooling to stores.
Business Green 19th July 2012 more >>
AD Training
Anaerobic digestion developers are being given the chance to send their apprentices abroad to learn how their German counterparts have succeeded in creating a world-leading biogas industry, as part of a new £60,000 EU-funded initiative. The Renewable Energy Association (REA) confirmed yesterday that it had successfully bid for 76,000 from the EU’s Leonardo da Vinci programme, which funds practical projects for vocational training programmes.
Business Green 19th July 2012 more >>
Renewable Energy Focus 20th July 2012 more >>
Intsallation Rate
The latest solar installation figures from DECC show that install rates have continued to recover after April 1, with 3,051 installations completed in the week ending July 15. The addition 12.95MW of capacity this week means that the industry has installed almost 125MW of <50kWp solar to the national grid, enough to power over 62,000 homes with green electricity.
Solar Portal 19th July 2012 more >>
South West Powers Ahead
Regen SW recently published its “Renewable Energy Progress Report”, which, among other findings, demonstrates that renewable capacity in the South West of the UK has more than doubled over the past year. The renewable electricity capacity grew by 142% from 217MW in 2010/2011 to 525MW in 2011/2012. Solar Power Portal noted that the region’s growth was propelled by solar PV, which accounted for 237MW of all new renewable capacity during the 2011/2012 year. Small-scale solar was the front runner in the installation market taking 160MW of the installed capacity while large-scale solar made up 75MW of the region’s capacity.
PV Tech 18th July 2012 more >>
Solar Portal 17th July 2012 more >>
Windcrop
Windcrop, which installs and maintains small-scale wind turbines free of charge, proudly marked its expansion into Yorkshire by exhibiting at The Driffield Show for the first time - to highlight how it will bring free electricity to the county and help communities cut energy bills and carbon footprint. With its commitment to the environment and its passion for helping local communities to enjoy the benefits of wind generated electricity, Windcrop has already become the largest installer of small-scale wind turbines in the UK.
Driffield Times & Post 18th July 2012 more >>
Agricultural Wind Power
Environmental consultancy ADAS has entered into a joint venture with low-carbon expert company C02Sense to seek out suitable agricultural land for developing and running turbines. The £2.6m deal between the two companies will enable the development of single, medium-scale 500kW turbines on a range of sites. Farmers whose land is used for the turbines could receive up to a million pounds of income over 20 years, with no upfront costs.
Edie 18th July 2012 more >>
South West Farmer 18th July 2012 more >>
Fukushima and Feed-in Tariffs
German solar power producers have set a new record in solar energy production by pumping 14.7TWh of electricity into the power grid during the first six months of 2012. That’s 4.5% of the total power production during that period. So, can we get anywhere close to achieving this here in the UK? And if so, how? Earlier in the year German solar power plants also announced that they produced a world record 22GW of electricity, equal to 20 nuclear power stations at full capacity.
Energy Management 18th July 2012 more >>
CTS Renewables
CTS Solar, a trading name of Commercial Technical Services Ltd, is to offer a range of new renewable energy installation services, including solar thermal, air source heat pumps and biomass. As of the company’s new focus CTS Solar is to be replaced with CTS Renewables.
Solar Portal 18th July 2012 more >>
Flat Pack Turbine
A new prototype wind turbine, 30 years in the making, and designed for flat-pack shipping and easy assembly, has been erected at Keele University in the UK. Like other vertical axis turbines, the prototype, designed by McCamley, is particularly well-suited to the gusting winds of inner cities, though the company is quick to point out the design is also suitable for rural installations. The turbine is able to begin rotating during light breezes as modest as 1.8 m/s (4 mph) in speed.
Gizmag 18th July 2012 more >>
Glastonbury Solar
The installation of a new solar panel roof at Glastonbury Festival’s Worthy Farm will generate almost 45,000 kWh of electricity per year. Festival organiser Michael Eavis has added another 200 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to the 1,100 panels previously installed. Mr Eavis currently owns one of the largest private solar roofs in the UK.
Edie 18th July 2012 more >>
Solar Cuts
A GREEN energy boss says further Government cuts to payments for homeowners installing solar panels could damage the industry. Reductions to the feed-in tariff - a payment for individuals or companies generating their own electricity from photovoltaic (PV) panels - will be brought in on August 1. Originally generous payments encouraged a gold rush of firms installing panels, which prompted the Government to halve the feed-in tariff to the current 21p/kWh, hitting order books. Now rates will be reduced further, and will change every three months based on how many PV panels have been installed nationally - the more panels installed, the lower the rate received by consumers will be.
Newcastle Evening Gazette 18th July 2012 more >>
Industry experts have called for “pragmatic optimism” within the UK solar sector over the coming months at a recent industry seminar hosted by PV distributors SunConnex and EH Smith. Speakers at the seminar spoke of the aggressive rise in energy prices and the predicted fall in module costs by up to 29 percent this year as reasons for industry to remain positive over the future.
Solar Portal 18th July 2012 more >>
Solar College
SIDMOUTH College is celebrating significant savings on electricity costs since the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of its Salcombe block last December. Since being commissioned, the panels have generated 5 mega watts of electricity, saved 2 tons of carbon and paid back £2,000 to the School Fund from feed-in tariff payments. The college budget has also benefited from significant savings on electricity costs. The college’s interest in solar energy arose during a meeting between Sid Valley Energy Action Group (SVEAG) and college staff.
Pulman’s Weekly News 18th July 2012 more >>
Micropower needs tangible commitments
There is a bright future for the microgeneration – if industry and government can come together to overcome “darker times.” That was the warning from Dave Sowden, Chief Executive of the Micropower Council, to Climate Minister Greg Barker at the Micropower Council’s Summer Reception in London earlier this week. Addressing the Minister and the great and good of the microgeneration industry, Mr Sowden said the government must “restore some certainty” by reinforcing its general vision of a decentralised energy future with “tangible commitments” against which the industry can have the confidence to invest. He emphasised that the industry supports DECC’s long-term vision for microgeneration and welcomes many current policies, including the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) schemes. However, he also issued a stark warning: “The reality of today’s market is that the short-term outlook is a very long way from this bright future. And it may come as a surprise, but this has little to do with economic conditions. Sadly it has everything to do with short-term policy uncertainty.”
E2B 18th July 2012 more >>
FiT Round-up
As we near the next deadline, now pushed back from 1st July to 1st August 2012, for ‘degression’ of the Feed-in tariff rates for solar PV, I thought it would be worth a quick round-up of where things stand in terms of incentives.
Green energy Net 17th July 2012 more >>
Bolton Turbine
The Low Carbon Energy Company has announced the completion of the installation of a revolutionary helical wind turbine at St Catherine’s Academy in Bolton (UK). The 1-kW helical wind turbine has been installed to help educate the students in wind technology along with a small PV system (the systems that use solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity).
Renewable Energy Magazine 17th July 2012 more >>
Solar Slate
A MID DEVON firm has become an approved installer for revolutionary solar panels which look just like roof slates. Solar slates are as efficient as normal photo-voltaic panels, but blend seamlessly into existing slate roofs, making them ideal for use in conservation areas, in National Parks, and on listed buildings. South West Solar & Renewable Systems, of Uffculme, is now the accredited installer for solar slate for the whole of Devon and Cornwall.
Mid Devon Gazette 17th July 2012 more >>
Exeter Express & Echo 20th July 2012 more >>
Wind Farming
One of the UK’s largest agricultural consultancies has this week launched a new joint venture designed to help farmers generate additional income from wind power. Farming consultancy ADAS has joined forces with not-for-profit green consultancy group CO2Sense to help identify agricultural land that is suitable for wind turbines.
Business Green 17th July 2012 more >>
Plymouth Solar
THE Sun may not have made much of an appearance in Plymouth this summer but it hasn’t stopped one company installing £400,000 of solar panels. Estover-based Una Group has completed a project to install the largest number of solar panels at any one building in the city by siting 1,000 covering an area in excess of 100,000sq ft.
Plymouth Herald 17th July 2012 more >>
Efficiency Shortfall
The government’s current policies will only deliver one-third of the 150 terawatt hours (TWh) of annual energy savings that are potentially available by 2030, according to new research that should help shape its forthcoming energy-efficiency policy.
Business Green 17th July 2012 more >>
Green Deal
Which?, WWF, and Greenpeace have issued the clearest warning to date that the government’s Green Deal energy-efficiency initiative will “fail” without urgent reforms of the financing scheme. BusinessGreen has learnt the consumer and green groups have joined with energy-efficiency specialist Knauf Insulation and the National Pensioners Convention in writing to Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey to warn that “in its current form... the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) risks not delivering for consumers, the economy or the environment”.
Business Green 17th July 2012 more >>
Speech to Micro Power Council
Greg Barker: The Coalition Government is committed to green growth and has high ambitions. The decarbonisation of our homes and the move to renewable and low carbon technologies is critical to our future energy goals. We know that the microgeneration sector has a part to play, with the potential to provide opportunities for business and jobs. We have seen significant growth on the back of the Feed-In tariffs. I am pleased that working together we have made the necessary changes, which means the scheme is affordable and in a position to continue supporting the growth of the industry over the coming years. With over 285,000 solar PV installations and the UK moving past 1 GW of installed capacity is no mean feat. Under our new, improved scheme, we expect to get an additional 3.6 GW of capacity (620,000 installations) by 2015, but costing just £0.5 billion more. That’s three times as much electricity generation for less than one third of the cost.
DECC 16th July 2012 more >>
Northern Ireland Solar
Northern Ireland shared the same solar radiation as Wales, the Midlands, London and Munich - areas where large solar PV installations have taken place. Amber Green Energy is based in Moy, Co Armagh and Global Solar Renewables in Castlewellan, Co Down. The joint venture said it had achieved sales of £120,000 last month and expects to make £200,000 on three major commercial systems in July and August.
Belfast Telegraph 16th July 2012 more >>
Wind Farming
Matching the renewable technology to the site is crucial to optimise the returns, and in wind-swept East Anglia wind turbines have been the choice for Crown Chicken. “If we can find ways of reducing our electricity costs without having to pay out a lot of money, then I’m all for it,” says agriculture director Matthew Ward. Majoring in broiler production, electricity is a key input for the business which sees 400,000 chickens leaving the company’s farms each week of the year.
Farmers Weekly 16th July 2012 more >>
Eco2Solar
KIDDERMINSTER solar energy specialist Eco2Solar is on line to report record end of year figures. The business completes its fifth financial year end this month and expects to report turnover of more than £5m. Managing director Paul Hutchens said: “These are exciting times for Eco2Solar. Solar energy isn’t just for the future, it is here and now.
Business Desk 16th July 2012 more >>
Zoo Poo
They are unlikely to be aware of the fact, but the inhabitants of London Zoo are playing their part in the fight against climate change, and all thanks to the copious quantities of “zoo poo” they produce. The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has just signed a new six year contract with waste management firm ACM Environmental Plc that will see the company continue with work that has seen it divert up to 98 per cent of the waste from London Zoo and Whipsnade Safari Park from landfill. ACM has developed a process whereby herbivore poo is composted and used as high quality farm fertiliser, while carnivore waste is taken to anaerobic digestion plants in Belvedere and Colnbrook for conversion into usable energy.
Business Green 16th July 2012 more >>
Sustainable Sport
England football coach Gary Neville is helping to kick off a new campaign to encourage sport teams, governing bodie, and fans to take more responsibility for reducing their environmental impact. Sustainability in Sport aims to produce eco-standards for stadiums and pitches, help clubs measure and manage their carbon footprint, engage with sports equipment manufacturers to use more sustainable materials, and run workshops to share expertise and experience.
Business Green 16th July 2012 more >>
Solar Hub
A consortium of UK universities led by Loughborough University, have announced the formation of a SUPERSOLAR Hub to drive research, training and industry partnerships in the burgeoning UK solar energy sector. The £5 million pound SUPERSOLAR project aims to play a prominent role in co-ordinating research activities, establishing networks of academic and industrial researchers, conducting cross-technology research and providing a focal point for international co-operation.
Solar Portal 16th July 2012 more >>
Yorkshire Solar
One of the largest solar photovoltaic installations in the region has been installed at the Yorkshire Showground by a company from Tockwith. Duncan Renewables took less than four weeks to complete the 245kw project, which comprises 980 Suntech panels and covers more than 1,600m sq of roof space at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s headquarters.
Harrogate Advertiser 16th July 2012 more >>
New Forest Solar
A new 5MWp solar installation situated in the New Forest has recently been switched on. The installation includes almost 18,000 solar panels, mounted on nine kilometres of frames and using 5,000 groundscrews, and spans over 30 acres within the Cadland Estate.
Energy Management 16th July 2012 more >>
Green Deal List
IT COULD be Britain’s biggest home makeover. Homeowners and tenants are to be lent up to £10,000 each to make their homes greener. They will be allowed to spend it on high-tech lighting, underfloor heating, wood-burning stoves, french shutters and a range of other “aspirational” improvements, as well as traditional insulation measures. The money will be made available under the “green deal” to be launched this autumn by Greg Barker, the climate change minister, as part of a drive to make Britain’s housing more energy efficient. Last week Barker’s department released a list of 45 types of home improvement that will be acceptable for financing via the green deal. The list also includes LED lighting, new front doors, shower units and taps, roof lights and insulated or heated wooden floors.
Sunday Times 15th July 2012 more >>
Hastings Solar
A PRIMARY school has gone green and embraced solar power. West St Leonards School, in Harley Shute Road, has 120 solar panels installed on its roof and is already seeing the benefits with a drop in its electricity bill and its pupils learning about environmentally friendly methods of generating power.
Hastings Observer 15th July 2012 more >>
Kinross community turbines
KINROSS-SHIRE residents are being invited to find out more about plans to construct three wind turbines. A site about two miles north west of Milnathort at Tillyrie Hill has been earmarked for a community-led wind project. And Milnathort Futures Trust (MFT) is inviting people to find out next week about the project and to air their views.
Perthshire Advertiser 13th July 2012 more >>
Solar Slowdown
The latest solar installation figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that solar installs for the week ending July 8 have dropped by 36.4 percent compared to the week before. The slow down in installation rates bucks the recent trend that had seen installation rates grow steadily week-on-week since the tariff rate dropped to 21p in April. It is hard to pinpoint the reason behind the slowdown but the recent inclement weather in the UK may have had an effect.
Solar Portal 13th July 2012 more >>
Solar Growth
The number of solar PV installations registered in May is more than double that in the same period last year, the Government has revealed. Asked in the House of Commons yesterday how many were installed in the most recent month for which figures are available, energy minister Greg Barker said 13,800 were installed in May 2012. Mr Barker said: “About 13,800 solar PV installations, with a total capacity of 58.5 MW, were confirmed on to the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme’s central register in May 2012. I am pleased to report that that is more than double the number of installations with more than triple the capacity that were confirmed in the same month last year. Preliminary figures indicate even stronger growth this month.”
24 Dash 13th July 2012 more >>
Solar Confusion
Ever since the feed-in tariff rate was axed in half from 43p to 21p the industry has been plagued by chronic confusion in the marketplace. Legal wranglings, deadlines, extensions; it was hard enough to keep on top of market developments for solar companies, let alone customers. The perceived loopholes and the seemingly never-ending string of consultations left the door open for a minority in the solar industry to start publishing unfounded claims, as customers flocked to take advantage of the higher FiT rate.
Solar Portal 13th July 2012 more >>