week ending 17 August 2012
Morrison’s Advice
Morrisons has published the second in a series of independent guidebooks aimed at offering advice to UK farmers interested in utilising their land to develop renewable energy projects. Energy in Farming includes case studies of wind, solar, solar thermal, hydro, heat pump, biomass boiler and anaerobic digestion projects across the farming spectrum, with sections for dairy, poultry, arable and red meat producers.
Solar Portal 17th Aug 2012 more >>
Pilkingtons
UK-based glass manufacturer Pilkington has announced plans to let go another 90 jobs after a disappointing performance amidst the global recession. The St.Helens glass manufacturer who specialises in solar applications, announced that quarterly sales dropped by three percent to £1.08 billion.
Solar Portal 17th Aug 2012 more >>
How much does solar cost?
According to the latest research conducted by energy efficiency specialists The Eco Experts 92 percent of people in the UK are worried about rising energy bills while 66 percent don’t realise how little it could cost to switch to renewable energy. The research project, which was launched to gauge public opinion on energy costs and to find out what the public understands about renewable energy, surveyed 1,994 UK consumers about energy use and about the sustainable alternatives to buying from the National Grid.
Solar Portal 17th Aug 2012 more >>
BASIC Solar
Cornwall’s Renewable Energy Co-operative (R-ECO) has collaborated with eight competitors to form the Bristol Area Solar Installers Co-operative (BASIC). This is believed to be the first case in the solar industry, where would-be competitors have joined forces to deliver large scale projects providing free solar energy systems to areas in fuel poverty. R-ECO says that by forming a consortium and pooling expertise, projects can be delivered quickly and efficiently while retaining local jobs and using local suppliers.
Business Cornwall 16th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Farmers Market
SOUTH Molton firm Source Renewable has completed a contract to fit large solar photovoltaic arrays on six Mole Valley Farmers stores. Source Renewable worked with Mole Valley to help it reduce its carbon footprint, reduce its electricity bills and generate more than a 10 per cent return on its investment per year. The firm has just installed more than 700 solar panels on the six stores at South Molton, Cullompton, Newton Abbott, Frome, Liskeard, and St Columb, totalling 180 kW of electricity capacity.
North Devon Journal 16th Aug 2012 more >>
Social Housing Benchmark
Knights Place has set a new benchmark for eco-buildings, prompting one of the judges to say: “Just imagine if every public building in the UK was built this way!” Having looked at several low energy design options and following widespread consultation with potential tenants, architects Gale & Snowden decided upon using a ‘Passivhaus’ approach to achieve an exceptionally energy efficient building. Passivhaus is a rigorous standard for energy efficiency in a building and requires exceptional levels of air tightness which, together with high levels of insulation, high performance, triple glazed windows and doors, thermal bridge free detailing and the use of a more than 90 per cent efficient ventilation system, reduces the overall heating demand to a minimum so that a traditional heating system isn’t required.
Western Morning News 16th Aug 2012 more >>
Co-own a wind farm
A renewable energy company is offering people the chance to co-own a wind farm by taking part in an £8m public share issue. Triodos Renewables runs Caton Moor Wind Farm, a group of wind turbines in an upland area east of Lancaster and Morecambe Bay. It is issuing around 4.2 million shares at £1.90 per ordinary share, with a minimum investment of £570. The firm said all proceeds would be invested back into building new onshore wind power assets, to expand its portfolio of eight renewable energy projects in the UK.
H&V News 16th Aug 2012 more >>
Lancashire Evening Post 15th Aug 2012 more >>
Air-to-water Heat Pumps
The Micropower Council yesterday led a call to the government to end to the “distorted” UK renewable heating market. Under current arrangements, certain renewable heat technologies are eligible to receive the government’s renewable heat tariff, which operates like the feed-in tariff for renewable energy technologies. The Micropower Council, along with the Heat Pumps Association, BEAMA and the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council, want to see the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) extended to include air-to-water heat pumps, which are currently exempt from the scheme.
Energy Efficiency News 16th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Loans
Businesses keen to install solar arrays are being offered low interest loans worth up to £1m, which should allow them to deliver savings that are significantly greater than the loan repayments. Solar specialist Engensa launched the new SolarLoan for businesses yesterday, following hot-on-the-heels of the launch of a similar service for domestic customers earlier this month.
Business Green 16th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Portal 15th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Shine
The investment case for large UK solar projects is looking strong, thanks to falling equipment costs and steady subsidies.
Environmental Finance 15th Aug 2012 more >>
Small-Scale Renewables
The former chief executive of Climate Exchange is raising money for a company that will invest in small-scale renewable energy generation in the UK.Neil Eckert established Aggregated Micro Power (AMP) after he left UK-listed Climate Exchange following its acquisition by Intercontinental Exchange for close to $600 million in July 2010. London-based AMP develops and finances small-scale generation projects – 1MW or less – that use biomass energy, hydroelectric or waste-to-energy technologies. So far, it has commissioned one project, has four under contract and has “a host” of projects in the pipeline, Eckert told Environmental Finance. The firm is focusing on UK projects, but hasn’t ruled out going overseas, he added.
Environmental Finance 15th Aug 2012 more >>
PV Partnership
Durham-based solar panel manufacturer, Romag, has joined forces with Suffolk-based renewable energy company, Mosscliff Environmental Ltd, in order to offer a unique, British manufactured solar array to the renewables sector. The two companies have agreed to conjoin their manufacturing abilities to offer, for the first time, UK manufactured goods and engineering expertise to the domestic market. The two companies have already begun installing ground mounted solar arrays across East Anglia and the rest of the UK.
Solar Portal 15th Aug 2012 more >>
Largest Solar Roof in North
The renewable energy and energy efficiency firm Eco Environments has installed almost 1,700 Hyundai solar panels on the roof of a temperature controlled storage and distribution specialist Cold Move. The record-breaking project at Cold Move’s depot in Goldborne, Warrington, comprised of 1077 panels with a capacity of 250kWp. A further 150kWp made up of 600 panels was then installed at Cold Move’s headquarters in Oswestry.
Edie 15th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Farm Deal
A deal to buy three large solar PV farms in Cornwall has been completed by asset management firm Infrared Capital Partners with debt finance from a consortium of banks. The three field-based schemes will generate up to 15MW. Accredited under the feed in tariff (fit) scheme before subsidies for large solar were slashed by three quarters last summer, the installations will receive support of 30.7p/kWh.
Utility Week 15th Aug 2012 more >>
Aberdeen’s Buses
ABERDEEN’S hydrogen buses are to be fuelled using energy from onshore wind turbines.
At the announcement of the final £3.3 million for the £20m Aberdeen hydrogen bus scheme it was revealed that a windfarm site 10 to 15 miles from the Kingswells refuelling station would provide the power necessary for the process.
Evening Express 15th Aug 2012 more >>
Energy Efficiency News 15th Aug 2012 more >>
Business Green 15th Aug 2012 more >>
Green Tomato Energy
London-based renewable energy firm, Green Tomato Energy, is the latest solar installer to become a member of The Green Deal Finance Company (TGDFC) ahead of the Green Deal’s launch in October. Green Tomato Energy believes that joining TGDFC will help it expand its energy efficiency offerings to a wider number of home owners.
Solar Portal 14th Aug 2012 more >>
Eco2Solar
Kidderminster solar energy specialist Eco2Solar donated its time free to install new systems at Northfield Ecocentre. It has been working with the Birmingham-based charity to help reduce carbon emissions at its base. Eco2Solar has installed two solar PV systems at the ecocentre, which is well-known for its work within the community promoting practical ways to protect the environment.
Express & Star 14th Aug 2012 more >>
Reduced VAT
Quick, take advantage of the reduced VAT rate of 5% on energy saving materials, which includes Air Source Heat Pumps, as this may all change next year!
24 Dash 13th August 2012 more >>
Ground Source Loan Scheme
A new finance scheme has been launched to help farmers and other suitable businesses install a ground-source heating system. The scheme from Ardenham Energy and investors Sun and Soil allows businesses with a high heat requirement - such as a large farmhouse and several converted offices - to get a heat pump system installed for free.
Farmers Weekly 13th Aug 2012 more >>
FiT Cuts
The self-proclaimed ‘Certainty for Solar’ regulations introduced by DECC provided “a strong, sustainable foundation for growth for the solar sector.” Broadly speaking the changes meant that eligible tariffs for solar installations would reduce by anywhere between 3.5-28 percent every three months, depending on the capacity installed. If uptake stalled then the tariff cuts could be skipped for up to two quarters.
Solar Portal 13th Aug 2012 more >>
Quiet Revolution
Quietrevolution has awarded a £2m contract to Hutchinson Engineering to supply more than 400 vertical axis wind turbines, after the two firms worked together to deliver a wind turbine for the Olympic Games. Cheshire-based Hutchinson designed the 18 metre-high vertical axis wind turbine located near Portland Marina in Dorset – the venue for the Olympic Games sailing events.
Business Green 13th Aug 2012 more >>
Largest Solar Operator in Europe
Sainsbury’s has installed 69,500 new photovoltaic solar panels, or 16 MW of power, across 169 stores to make it the largest solar panel operator in the UK and Europe.
Retail Bulletin 13th Aug 2012 more >>
Company Savings
Energy costs are a significant factor in any business, yet many companies underestimate just how much they could save by switching to more efficient equipment or even generating their own power. Last year, the Carbon Trust carried out a study revealing that even straightforward energy efficiency projects, such as upgrading heating and lighting, training staff to use less power and implementing energy saving policies, would deliver an internal rate of return of 20 per cent for the average company.
New Business 13th Aug 2012 more >>
NI Energy Co-op
THE newly apppointed chairman of Northern Ireland’s first community wind energy co-operative – Drumlin Wind Energy Co-op – is calling on people throughout County Down to invest in and benefit directly from the community-focused venture.
Banbridge Leader 12th Aug 2012 more >>
Renewable Income
Renewable energy could soon overtake tourism as a key source of extra income for rural communities, says the NFU after a survey of more than 400 farmers on their uptake of clean energy technologies such as solar panels, small-scale wind turbines and renewable heat systems.
South West Farmer 12th Aug 2012 more >>
Microgeneration - what do customers want?
Within the next five years, four percent of owner-occupiers in Great Britain are ‘very likely’ to invest in a microgeneration technology, according to our customer research. Who are these customers? What stops them making the decision to invest? Which offerings do they find most attractive? And which microgeneration technology will they choose?
Delta Energy & Environment 12th Aug 2012 more >>
Solar Scotland
SOLAR energy is becoming a more attractive solution for consumers trying to save money on energy bills – and Scotland is already ahead of the game, according to energy experts. New research from uSwitch.com shows the average consumer can save more than £1,000 a year on household bills by having solar panels installed. And soaring energy bills make solar a more attractive proposition than ever – even north of the Border. People who have already fitted solar panels are saving an average of £82.50 a month or £1,000 a year on their household energy bills.
Scotsman 11th Aug 2012 more >>