week ending 5 October 2012
London AD
Questions have to be asked why not a single Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant is in operation, or currently in construction in London, despite strong backing from both the previous Mayor of London and the current Mayor, whose revised strategy says AD is the optimal treatment method for food waste, after waste reduction. The emergence of AD in the capital has finally started, with two plants granted planning permission, but this painfully slow progress raises doubts about the effectiveness of the Mayor’s Waste and Recycling Board as it enters its second term.
Business Green 5th Oct 2012 more >>
Efficiency Directive
The EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive yesterday passed its final hurdle, after it was formally adopted by ministers of member states. Under the new directive, Member States will have until April 2013 to set national targets for energy efficiency cuts, a policy designed to help the EU achieve its headline goal of improving energy efficiency by 20 per cent goal by the end of the decade. The rules also require central governments to renovate three per cent of the floor area of the buildings they own every year from 2014 and complete a formal assessment of the potential for district heating and cogeneration technologies by 2015.
Business Green 5th Oct 2012 more >>
Wessex Wind
Triodos Bank’s renewable energy arm has today completed a deal to build four wind turbines at a Bristol sewage works that should ensure the site produces more energy than it requires. The 8.2MW wind farm adds to major improvements already made at the Wessex Water treatment plant near Avonmouth, which have made the facility self-sufficient in energy and allow it to sell surplus electricity to the grid.
Business Green 5th Oct 2012 more >>
Trouble Ahead
A “green” energy installer who won £120,000 backing from Theo Paphitis on the Dragons’ Den TV programme last year has seen his firm put into administration and his 15 staff made redundant. Chris Hopkins, also a member of the government’s Green Construction Board, partly blames cuts in the feed-in tariff (FiT) subsidy regime for wrecking his business, Ploughcroft Business Services.
Guardian 4th Oct 2012 more >>
Business Matters 4th Oct 2012 more >>
Britain’s nascent “green” business sector has hit trouble with a warning about the future of a pioneering fuel cell developer and of a solar panel factory in Wales. Shares in Ceres Power, which employs 160 staff in Horsham and Crawley in West Sussex, dived 76% after it told the London stock exchange that it may have to wind down or sell off the business. Ceres has been hit by a series of delays on the launch of its combined heat and power (CHP) energy efficient boiler as a result of technical issues with a product designed for homes in Britain and further afield. Meanwhile in Wrexham there are mounting worries that Japanese electronics group Sharp could make further cutbacks at, or even close, a solar panel manufacturing site.
Guardian 4th Oct 2012 more >>
Solar Farm
Renewable energy developer, TGC Renewables, announced today that construction of the 6.2MW solar PV project, at Marley Thatch in South Devon, will now commence. The announcement was made during the Solar Power UK industry event in Birmingham. As well as being the UK’s largest solar PV project to date, Marley Thatch is also the first commercial-scale, ground-mounted project to be connected under the current ROC structure.
Farming UK 4th Oct 2012 more >>
Renewable Heat
WHILE much has been made of government subsidies for solar panels, there is a lesser-known way of getting state financial support for investing in renewable technology. The feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme for solar panels prompted a rush of farmers and landowners looking to set up solar farms with guaranteed long-term financial returns for producing electricity. But an agricultural consultant from Truro believes they are ideally placed to take advantage of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), launched last year. Analysts believe the RHI offers the opportunity to heat properties profitably, offering good returns.
West Briton 4th Oct 2012 more >>
Small-scale renewable
Businesses will still be able to get support for small scale renewable technologies under the government’s renewables obligation (RO), the Department of Energy & Climate Change has decided. Government had suggested excluding new small scale solar, anaerobic digestion, onshore wind and hydro power installations of between 50kW and 5MW from the RO from 1 April 2013 as part of its review of support for renewable electricity between 2013 and 2017. This would have meant that the RO would support renewables over 5MW, with feed-in tariffs (FITs) being aimed at those who invest in solar, small scale wind, anaerobic digestion and hydro power projects under 5MW in size.
Construction Index 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Business Green 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Efficient Energy 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Energy Efficiency News 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
The Renewables Obligation will remain open to new small scale renewables after successful lobbying by the NFU and other trade bodies. The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has confirmed that, despite previous proposals, the Renewables Obligation will still be open to new small scale solar, anaerobic digestion, onshore wind and hydro power installations of between 50kW and 5MW until 2017.
Farm Business 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Farming Online 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Recharge News 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
German Virtual Power Plant
The first commercial fuel cell virtual power plant in Germany has been officially opened in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The network features 25 BlueGen solid oxide fuel cell micro combined heat and power (mCHP) systems supplied by Australian-based Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd. The virtual power plant network is being managed by municipal utility Trianel, which will offer BlueGen units to its customers as part of its EnergieBlock micro CHP offering. The virtual power plant connects 25 BlueGen units, which convert natural gas into electricity and heat with exceptional electrical efficiency. A virtual power plant is a cluster of distributed electricity generation units, controlled and operated by a central entity using integrated software systems. A virtual power plant allows power generation to be modulated up or down to meet peak loads and balance intermittent power from wind or solar, with higher efficiency and more flexibility than large centralised power stations.
Renewable Energy Focus 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Renewable Heat Education
Rexel is advising British consumers need educating on the benefits of renewable heat following the recent publication of wave 2 of DECC’s Public Attitudes Tracker. The company’s survey highlights that 56% of customers have not heard of combined heat and power units, while nearly half (46% and 42% respectively) are unaware of air-source and ground-source heat pumps. However, the government is now ready to work on the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme for summer 2013.
Solar Portal 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Solar Tackling Fuel Poverty
Current uSwitch figures dictate that fuel poverty affects 6.3 million households in the UK. With almost 30,000 deaths blamed on low incomes and high energy bills, John Penny, Policy Advisor at the Chartered Institute of Housing, offered solutions to the audience at Solar Power UK in Birmingham today. The key resolutions, other than to improve disposable income, is to reduce fuel costs through the use of solar PV as well as improving insulation and to reduce consumption by educating the general populace on the advantages of replacing traditional energy generation with renewables.
Solar Portal 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Cambridgeshire Solar Farm
Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire has become home to one of the first major solar power generation plants in the region according to Licolnshire-based Lark Energy, after the company, along with Prosolia UK and Oakapple Renewable Energy, completed a 3.4MW solar farm in the town.
Solar Portal 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Industry Today 2nd Oct 2012 more >>
Building Integrated PV
In a bid to encourage PV installers to take advantage of the growing BIPV market in the UK, PV manufacturer and glass specialist Romag has launched its new BIPV Partnership Programme at Solar Power 2012, which is being held this week in Birmingham, and will be rolling it out across the UK in the coming months.
Solar Portal 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Nottingham Solar
Nottingham-based EvoEnergy has signed a deal to install up to 8,000 solar panels on council buildings across the city. The £3m project will see solar panels fitted to 50 buildings, including schools and council offices. Up to 2MW of generating capacity will be installed in total, the company said.
Construction Index 3rd Oct 2012 more >>
Solar Guide for Local Authorities
Stephen Cirell, one of the most well known experts on local governmental law, has today published a book which confirms that solar PV is still a good option for local authorities and other public bodies. A Guide to Solar PV Projects for Local Authorities and Other Public Bodies is the first detailed guide for public sector bodies on how to undertake a PV project as part of a renewable energy or climate change strategy.
Solar Portal 2nd Oct 2012 more >>
REA News 2nd Oct 2012 more >>
FiTs
Head of FiTs of the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change, Alisdair Grainger, told participants at Solar Power UK in Birmingham that 98.2% of installations under the FiT in the UK are now from PV. The Head of FiTs made a very strong attempt to reassure the audience that cuts to and degression of the FiT in the UK was a positive move.
Solar Portal 2nd Oct 2012 more >>
Solar Thermal
Patrick Allcorn, the Head of Scheme Design of the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), has called for support from the UK solar thermal industry. Speaking at Solar Power UK 2012, which kicked off today and runs until October 4, Allcorn said that the RHI wants to “create the right consultation” but this would require support from the industry in order to ensure sustainable solar thermal growth and balanced distribution of the piece. The domestic RHI aims to deliver domestic renewable heat to help the Renewable Energy Directive to meet its renewable energy target by 2020. Currently, the RHI tariff is set to offer 17.3p per kWh for solar thermal installations which lasts for 20 years.
Solar Portal 2nd Oct 2012 more >>
Ploughcroft
An entrepreneur roofer who won backing for his solar installation business on the Dragons’ Den TV show has fallen into administration. Ploughcroft Building Services boss Chris Hopkins won £120,000 backing for his plan to set up a national photovoltaic panels installer network from business giants Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis on the show. The firm set up a dedicated training division and became the first roofing contractor with an NVQ solar roof training centre and CSCS centre in the UK. But now the Yorkshire firm has collapsed with the loss of 15 jobs some six months after his Dragon backers pulled out of the business.
Construction Enquirer 2nd Oct 2012 more >>
Domestic Electricity Storage
The UK’s first green energy storage system that can be installed as part of a new domestic PV system or retrofitted will be unveiled tomorrow. Solar ENLES claim their storage system, called ‘Sunbat’, will enable domestic users to meet up to 75% of their electrical energy needs from solar PV by storing electricity during the day. The device is available in storage capacities ranging from 9.6kWh to 15.8kWh and can be powered by lithium or lead-gel batteries.
Edie 2nd Oct 2012 more >>
Solar Farming
Farmers planning to take advantage of cash incentives through large scale solar PV installations need to “lodge their intent soon” to avoid a proposal which would drastically reduce the profitability of their installations. REsolved Renewables, part of the ADAS environmental and agricultural consultancy group said a Government proposal to reduce the financial benefits available for large solar schemes under the Renewable Obligation (RO) programme would wipe 25% off the RO element of financial return in the first year, from April 1 2013. It added that a further 13.4% would be cut in 2014 and beyond under the new proposals.
Edie 1st October 2012 more >>
Local Authority Action
The public sector has long been leading the pack when it comes to cutting energy costs and carbon emissions. One of the major drivers put in place by government to encourage local action was a framework of national indicators, which required local authorities to take responsibility for cutting carbon from their own estate. Councils were tasked with reducing per capita CO2 in their areas, reducing fuel poverty and even adapting to climate change. Recent legislation changes have seen this framework scrapped, replaced instead by a voluntary memorandum of understanding between government and the Local Government Association, and a revision of the Nottingham declaration known as climate local. This change in the regulatory environment has happened in parallel with funding cuts for local authorities, meaning that the business case for carbon reduction has to shout louder to be heard. Despite these changes, the need to take action remains very strong. The financial opportunity for councils is particularly compelling – rising energy prices mean that the potential savings get larger every year. These savings alone should make public sector finance directors sit up and listen.
Guardian 1st Oct 2012 more >>
Heat Conference
Heat accounts for nearly half of the UK’s energy use and associated CO2 emissions. To meet the UK’s target to cut 80% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, major cuts in heat-related emissions will be required alongside those in the power sector. This needs to be achieved in the context of rising costs, investment constraints and the need to deliver affordability to the customer. To address this vital issue, the Energy Institute and the Combined Heat and Power Association are hosting the Heat Conference 2012 on Thursday 15 November at the Royal Society, London.
Business Green 1st Oct 2012 more >>
PV Plan
Generating solar energy in dense consumption areas is more cost-effective than concentrating it in areas of high solar irradiation, according to a report by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). The document’Connecting the Sun: Solar photovoltaics (PV) on the road to large-scale grid integration’ said: “PV’s unique ability to produce electricity close to where it is consumed alleviates the need for additional massive investment in new transmission lines”. It added that focusing on dense-consumption areas, such as cities, would require utilities to install only 10% more capacity, and reduce by almost 75% the need to transfer excess electricity produced, compared with siting PV units in less populated sunny areas.
Utility Week 1st Oct 2012 more >>
Fenland Solar
A Fenland village hall is officially green after a £50,000 refurbishment included solar power. Tilney St Lawrence hall had 16 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, a new heating cylinder and roof insulation fitted thanks to funding from various sources.
Eastern Daily Press 1st Oct 2012 more >>
Green Deal
As the evenings grow cooler, what better time to launch the biggest transformation of the nation’s draughty housing stock ever attempted? The government’s “green deal”, which begins on Monday, aims to plug the gaps in 14m of Britain’s leaky homes, making them cosier, cheaper to heat and producing less climate-heating carbon emissions. Yet severe doubts are swirling around the programme like a bitter winter wind, some even whipped up by the government’s own analyses. If the immediate prospects look bleak, Ed Davey, the secretary of state for energy and climate change, sees better weather ahead: “It will be a gradual roll out because it is a new market: we should be looking ahead two, three, four, five years.” Perhaps ministers’ desire to focus on the future is why the green deal launch is set to be quieter than mouse buried under three feet of insulation.
Guardian 1st Oct 2012 more >>
The government’s “green deal” scheme, intended to give householders a environmental makeover, launches on Monday without any of the country’s large retailers signed up – despite a promise that they would play a central role in offering the deal to consumers.
Major retailers such as supermarkets and DIY stores are viewed as essential to the success of the scheme as they are trusted by customers and have the necessary reach to cover the population. But none is ready to join the launch, with several telling the Guardian they would “wait and see” how the scheme worked out before making a final decision whether to support it.
Guardian 1st Oct 2012 more >>
Hydro
TWO of the best-known names in Scottish asset management are teaming up with the Duke of Westminster’s Grosvenor outfit to fund £100 million-worth of hydro-electric power projects north of the Border.
Scotland on Sunday 30th Sept 2012 more >>
Kings Cross Solar
Penrith-based Sundog Energy has been behind a £1.3 million scheme to install a solar glazing system at King’s Cross in London. It was officially powered-up yesterday. Completion of it is another feather in the cap of Sundog, which has also installed solar systems at London’s Olympic Park and Bradford Cathedral. Founder and chairman Martin Cotterell said: “King’s Cross has been a fantastic project to work on – but also a labour of love. “The sheer scale of the installation has presented many major technical and design challenges from day one and there has been no margin for error as the work had to be undertaken whilst the station remained fully operational.
Cumberland News 29th Sept 2012 more >>
PV-tech 28th Sept 2012 more >>
Business Green 1st Oct 2012 more >>
UK AD
New figures show over one million tonnes of organic waste each year now being processed at anaerobic digestion plants. The combination of new corporate waste strategies and council food waste collections has led to a surge in the amount of organic waste being used to generate energy and produce fertiliser.
Business Green 1st Oct 2012 more >>
Solar Twitchers
THE visitor centre at one of East Yorkshire’s most dramatic beauty spots could end up running on solar power. The RSPB hopes to install 144 photovoltaic panels at its site at Bempton Cliffs, near Bridlington, as part of a £100,000 investment.
Hull Daily Mail 29th Sept 2012 more >>
Green Deal
The government is in the process of delivering up to £200m of incentives to help drive early adoption of the scheme, including a recently announced £12m to support Green Deal pilot projects in seven cities across the UK. However, industry sources are continuing to call for more clarity on how the £200m will be spent and what incentives will be offered to early adopters of Green Deal services.
Business Green 29th Sept 2012 more >>
Carbon Negative Social Housing
A PIONEERING eco-housing village where families will be trained to reduce their energy bills has been unveiled in Tyneside. Sinclair Meadows, in South Shields, is believed to be the first carbon negative social housing development in the UK, as its homes generate more energy than they use. The £3.8m development, by Four Housing Group, is designed to surpass the Government’s definition of zero carbon and exceed the minimum requirement for sustainable homes.
Newcastle Journal 28th Sept 2012 more >>
Solar Statistics
Official statistics released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change show that the UK’s 1.38GW of installed solar capacity generated 0.5TWh of electricity in the second quarter of 2012 – an astonishing 840 percent increase from last year when solar contributed just 0.05TWh in the same period.
Solar Portal 28th Sept 2012 more >>