week ending 10 August 2012
Solar Loans
Householders who want to install solar panels on their roof, but can’t stump up the cash, can now obtain a specialist loan to buy a system and keep all the income it generates. Installer Engensa has started offering the loans at a competitive 7.9% APR. They are for up to £50,000, have to be taken over 10 years, but can be repaid at any time without the early repayment charges that many lenders impose.
Guardian 10th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Aviva
Aviva, the FTSE 100 insurer, has paid an estimated £100m for a portfolio of solar rooftop systems in what it says is the largest residential renewables transaction ever seen in the UK. The deal was done by Aviva Investors, the asset management arm, through its infrastructure fund and involves the transfer of about 7,000 solar photovoltaic systems from HomeSun Holdings, a private London-based company. Most of the panels were installed during the “gold rush” of solar when there was a rise in domestic installations up to the end of 2011. That came to an end at the turn of the year when the government announced a sudden drop in the “feed-in tariff” subsidy - the guaranteed rate at which homeowners sell energy back to the National Grid - a move that was challenged by green groups. However, ministers insist that the subsidies are still generous enough to encourage homeowners and companies to keep installing panels. HomeSun built up its portfolio by installing and maintaining solar systems on homeowners’ roofs for free in return for the solar subsidy. The company will continue to service the panels although Aviva Investors said it intended to build up its portfolio of solar systems and develop its own ability to operate such assets.
FT 10th Aug 2012 more >>
AD NE
The first commercial food waste anaerobic digestion plant in the North East of England could soon be up and running, after Emerald Biogas today announced that it had secured a £850,000 loan from government-backed waste advisory body WRAP.
Business Green 10th Aug 2012 more >>
Renewable Energy Focus 9th Aug 2012 more >>
Peterborough Solar
Housing association Accent Nene has hailed its first foray into an environmentally-friendly heating system a success. Its first home was trialled for solar heating in Truman Avenue, March, which saw a new boiler, solar panels and a hot water cylinder installed.
Peterborough Evening Telegraph 10th Aug 2012 more >>
FiT Cuts
The latest installation figures published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that installations have dropped by over 75 percent in the aftermath of the latest FiT cut, which saw the rate drop from 21p/kWh to 16p/kWh for domestic installations.
Solar Portal 10th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Farms
Public “goodwill” towards large-scale solar farms will eventually run out as more massive applications are lodged in the Westcountry, an expert has predicted. Companies are currently competing in a “dash” to secure the best sites for photovoltaic (PV) panels in Cornwall, where solar radiation levels are higher than anywhere else in the country, with Devon close behind.
Western Morning News 10th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Farm Expansion
Green energy firm Freewatt has revealed it is planning to treble the size of its existing solar farm in Lincolnshire, after the falling cost of solar technologies and the recent confirmation of subsidy levels made the expansion of the site financially viable.
Business Green 9th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Portal 7th Aug 2012 more >>
Social Housing RHI
Social housing landlords have been given another chance to bid for a share of a multimillion-pound government fund designed to reduce the upfront cost of installing renewable heating systems, such as biomass boilers and air source heat pumps.
Business Green 9th Aug 2012 more >>
Green Deal Finance
Top UK solar energy installer EvoEnergy have joined The Green Deal Finance Company (TGDFC) after a loan of £7 million from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The loan given to TGDFC will go towards the development of financial structures and credit rating of the company, enabling them to offer lower prices to households looking to improve sustainability. TGDFC are a not-for-profit organisation set up to provide low cost solutions to allow for the wide scale installation of energy efficient measures in homes as a part of the Government’s Green Deal programme to lower carbon emissions whilst being cost effective.
BDaily 9th Aug 2012 more >>
Following the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) awarding of a £7 million loan to the Green deal Finance Company, a host of solar companies have come forward to announce their involvement in the scheme.
Solar Portal 9th Aug 2012 more >>
Wrexham Solar
Sharp Solar has completed the installation of 3,000 solar arrays across Wrexham, in one of the largest council-led solar schemes in the UK. The £15 million project will see Wrexham become the country’s top authority for reducing carbon emissions and in the top ten percentile for the whole of the UK. Around 5MW of capacity on around 3,000 properties has been installed.
Solar Portal 9th Aug 2012 more >>
Green Deal Loan Guarantee
Plans to insulate millions of homes and businesses through the soon-to-be-launched Green Deal scheme received a major boost today, after the Treasury revealed the flagship energy efficiency scheme would be an early candidate for its new £40bn loan guarantee programme.
Business Green 8th Aug 2012 more >>
Co-op Energy
The Co-operative has this week confirmed that its new energy customers were supplied with 100 per cent renewable energy last year, enabling the company to meet its carbon targets for its first year of operation. When Co-operative Energy launched in May 2011 it set a target to supply electricity containing less than half the national average of carbon by April 2012.
Business Green 8th Aug 2012 more >>
Aberfeldy Hydro
A PRESENTATION offering Aberfeldy residents a chance to take a half share in a hydro scheme has been met with strongly divided opinions. Mark Jenison of Realise Renewables spoke to about 23 members of the public and eight Community Councillors at the Town Hall in Aberfeldy.
Perthshire Advertiser 7th Aug 2012 more >>
University Solar
The University of the West of England (UWE) has fitted solar systems to campus roofs as part of its plan to halve carbon emissions by 2021. The panels have been fitted to the roofs of the Bristol-based University’s Centre for Sport and Department of Planning and Agriculture centre at the Frenchay Campus.
Edie 7th Aug 2012 more >>
Bristol Solar
The Bristol Area Solar Installers Co-operative (BASIC) has begun the installation of the first solar panels in its innovative Lockleaze ‘Streets of Solar’ scheme. The solar scheme marks the first of a potential 300 arrays to be installed across the Lockleaze area of Bristol. BASIC was formed when nine local solar installers came together in order to provide a platform for community investment across the Greater Bristol area. The co-op aims to install in excess of 750kWp of solar across the local area, including many schools and community buildings. Continuing the co-op’s local focus, an important facet of he group’s ethos is that local jobs are retained through using local suppliers and sub-contractors whenever possible.
Solar Portal 7th Aug 2012 more >>
FiT Cuts
London-based solar installer, Joju Solar, has announced that it is unfazed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) latest round of feed-in tariff cuts which are dominating the headlines. The solar specialist points to the rising cost of electricity and the falling cost of solar as the main reason for industry to take heart. The current trend means that, especially for commercial applications, solar PV is the cheapest way of supplying electricity to a building.
Solar Portal 7th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Investment
A building society is investing in renewable energy with the help of a business with a local base. Melton Mowbray Building Society is working with solar power experts So Gecko, which also has offices in Melton, to use the sun’s rays to power its head office. The mutual will also be able to make a return from the Government-backed feed-in-tariff scheme, while surplus electricity will be sold back to the National Grid. Some 200 solar panels have been fixed to the roof of the main office in Leicester Road, and it is estimated the building society will have made a return on its investment within 10 years.
Leicester Mercury 7th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Fish
A home for tens of thousands of fish is being powered and heated by green energy. The farm, at Welton Cliff, is using solar panels and a biomass plant to supply its electricity and heat
Lincolnshire Echo 7th Aug 2012 more >>
Non-Domestic Energy Efficiency
Green offices and public sector buildings expected to be among the beneficiaries as Department for Business allocates £100m to fund managers.
Business Green 6th Aug 2012 more >>
Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty is to partner with a number of local authorities in a move that could see thousands of energy efficiency measures installed in homes across the country under the government’s forthcoming Green Deal and ECO schemes.
Business Green 6th Aug 2012 more >>
Green Deal Register
The government is plannnig to this week invite businesses to start applying for its official Green Deal stamp of approval, further preparing the ground for the launch of the energy efficiency scheme this autumn.
Business Green 6th Aug 2012 more >>
A £7m loan from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will allow new Green Deal providers to access cash - through a not-for-profit mutual - allowing them to offer energy upgrades to homes. Green deal providers - which will include housing associations - will administer energy improvement works to homes locally which will be paid back through energy savings attached to energy bills. Today marks the official opening day for Green Deal provider registrations. The Green Deal Finance Company (GDFC) has been advanced the £7m loan which it will use to offer green deal providers low-cost finance.
24 Dash 8th Aug 2012 more >>
DECC Press Release 8th Aug 2012 more >>
Community Energy
There is growing support for community energy schemes, says Merlin Hyman. We’ve seen an extraordinary growth in community groups who want to harness natural resources and generate their own energy. Not only are they reducing their impact on the climate, but they are also generating an income, reducing their existing energy costs and creating local jobs. Across the South West, many inspiring communities are now actively pursuing community energy projects. Low Carbon Ladock in Cornwall, a co-operative with more than 100 members, has been very successful in installing pioneering renewable energy projects. In 2009, with support from Community Energy Plus, it won £500,000 through the Government’s Low Carbon Community Challenge to introduce low-carbon technologies in the parish.
Western Morning News 6th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Supermarket
UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s has claimed the title of the largest rooftop PV operator in the UK with a total output of 16MW. As part of its solar efforts, the supermarket behemoth has installed a total of 69,500 PV solar panels on the rooftop of 169 of its UK stores, helping the company to cut its CO2 emissions by an estimated 6,800 tonnes per year. It will also help the company to reduce its energy consumption and, in turn, lower its utility bills.
PV Tech 6th Aug 2012 more >>
Energy Efficiency News 6th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Task Force
In a recent Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) blog, Energy Minister Greg Baker outlined plans to bring down the costs of solar installations for consumers. In the blog, the Minister noted the cost of solar panels and inverters has come down significantly and he has set up a ‘cost reduction task force’ with the industry to help reduce installation costs.
Heating & Plumbing Monthly 6th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Temple
A Sikh temple is harnessing the sun’s rays to supply its electricity. Leicester’s Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, in Evington, has installed 400 solar panels on its roof in what leaders believe is a first for any temple in England.
Leicester Mercury 4th Aug 2012 more >>
Green Investment
Investors looking for a green home for their cash that will hopefully deliver a healthy financial return are being targeted by a new public share issue aimed at raising £8m to invest in wind farms and other renewable energy projects. Provided you can invest at least £570, you can become a shareholder in Triodos Renewables, an independent company operating eight sites around the UK – seven onshore wind farms and a hydroelectric scheme – that can generate enough renewable power for almost 24,000 homes. Meanwhile, those with less to invest may be interested in a separate project to install solar panels on homes in the South Downs region of England, where the minimum investment is just £5.
Guardian 3rd Aug 2012 more >>
Biomass Burning
A free event designed to help hard-pressed businesses save cash and cut their carbon footprint by using local firewood takes place later this month. Farmers, tourism companies, hotel owners and anyone else keen to find out more about the benefits of burning wood are invited to the event in Airth Castle Hotel on August 9. Organised by Central Scotland Woodfuel Forum (CSWF), it will explore the incentives and cutting edge technology for burning wood.
Falkirk Herald 3rd Aug 2012 more >>