week ending 7 December 2012
Generators use less energy
At first glance this may seem counterintuitive, but it’s always been our belief that when you understand where your energy comes from, you value it more and use it less. And for years our customers have been telling us as much. As one solar PV generator says, “We use electrical appliances during sunny weather and we turn them off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby.” So last year we put the theory to the test, and surveyed our generators on the effect producing their own electricity has on their energy use. This is what they told us: 65% said they had changed their usage patterns to match their generation, indicating an increased awareness of how their generation and consumption related to one another; Nearly 55% claim to have reduced their energy use since installing their generator – nearly a quarter cut their consumption by more than 20%
Good Energy 7th Dec 2012 more >>
Decentralised Energy
Businesses and academics have said the government must establish a “clear vision” for distributed electricity generation if it intends to build a sustainable, secure, and affordable energy system. Around 11 per cent of the UK’s generating capacity – or 9GW – is made up of small units producing electricity near to where it is consumed, and just over half of this comes from renewable technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines, according to a new report by Carbon Connect, part of the Policy Connect think-tank.
Business Green 7th Dec 2012 more >>
Doncaster Solar Farm
A developer wants to turn a former colliery in Doncaster in to Yorkshire’s largest solar energy farm. A planning application has been submitted to use 36 hectares (88 acres) at Askern Colliery for a plant that would create enough electricity to power 4,000 homes. Harworth Estates submitted the plans to Doncaster Council, where a decision is expected early next year.
BBC 7th Dec 2012 more >>
Green Gas Strategy
After the Chancellor backed shale gas, Charlotte Morton of ADBA outlines the benefits of a UK biogas strategy.
Business Green 6th Dec 2012 more >>
The Solar Trade Association (STA) has hit out at government’s newly announced gas strategy over concerns that a ‘dash-for-gas’ scenario threatens the meeting of the binding 2020 renewable energy targets.
Solar Power Portal 6th Dec 2012 more >>
Solar Chaos
The government has been accused of causing investor uncertainty that could cripple the fledgling solar farm market, by delaying a decision on subsidy cuts that are expected to come into effect in less than four months. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) had said it would confirm the latest changes to the Renewable Obligation regime for solar farms by the end of November, ahead of the new rates coming into force on 1 April 2013.
Business Green 6th Dec 2012 more >>
Eco2Solar
KIDDERMINSTER solar energy specialist Eco2Solar has been named National SME Construction Company of the year at the National Constructing Excellence Awards 2012.
Kidderminster Shuttle 6th Dec 2012 more >>
Solar FiTs
No February feed-in tariff cuts as rates remain the same until 1 May 2013.
Solar Portal 5th Dec 2012 more >>
Birmingham Solar Project
Pupils from Sparkhill, Sparkbrook and Small Heath came together to help celebrate the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at Ackers Adventure with an interactive energy-themed play. The new solar panels will help the not-for-profit activity centre reduce its carbon footprint and lower its energy bills. The panels were installed by CORE50, a local energy co-operative, using a £20,000 donation from energy company E.ON’s Sustainable Energy Fund. The fund was established to support projects that create renewable energy, reduce energy use or increase awareness of energy efficiency.
Build 5th Dec 2012 more >>
Coal sites going solar
THE former colliery site at Welbeck, near Worksop, could be transformed into a solar energy farm if plans go ahead. Plans for three solar farms across the region have been submitted by land owner and property developer Harworth Estates and partners Re-Fin Solar and Juwi. The two other former colliery sites are at Bilsthorpe near Mansfield and Gedling on the edge of Nottingham.
Retford Today 5th Dec 2012 more >>
Worcestershire Solar
A GROWING Cleobury Mortimer company which has created new jobs has been visited by the town’s MP. Conservative Philip Dunne called at renewable energy installer EZ Solar’s expanded new premises in Cleobury the week the Government published its Energy Bill. The firm has invested £50,000 in a new solar-powered building on New House Farm industrial estate at Cleobury as its growing business added four more jobs, to take its staff to 14.
Halesowen News 5th Dec 2012 more >>
Free Solar for Tenants
Newark and Sherwood Homes is to provide 135 tenants with free solar installations in the second round of a PV project launched last year. The arm’s length management organisation, which manages social housing for Newark and Sherwood Council, has already installed nearly 300 solar arrays across the homes of elderly and vulnerable tenants with suitable roofs.
Solar Portal 4th Dec 2012 more >>
Eco-islands
EcoIsland is a major UK initiative under which the Isle of Wight plans to become a net energy exporter by 2020, utilising a smart grid infrastructure developed with global technology partners.
Renewable Energy Focus 4th Dec 2012 more >>
Renewable Heat
The government has announced the latest round of funding awards from its renewable heat scheme, confirming that 38 communities will share £3m of funding to support the rollout of domestic renewable heat technologies. The funding was awarded yesterday under the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme, which is acting as a forerunner for the launch of the full domestic RHI scheme next year.
Business Green 4th Dec 2012 more >>
Energise Barnet
Energise Barnet CIC, a social enterprise, has submitted a plan to Barnet Council to create £200 million of social, economic and environmental benefit through the installation of energy saving measures and renewables in 40,000 homes and buildings. Under the plan, the CIC proposes that it provides the operational hub, generating leads for Green Deal Providers and other delivery partners through its referral network of community organisations, businesses and tradespeople.
Green Energy Net 3rd Dec 2012 more >>
Green Deal
As much as 96% of the UK’s population has not heard of or does not understand the Green Deal, the government’s flagship energy efficiency scheme that is due to launch early next year. In a survey by electrical distribution company Rexel, 61% of UK adults said they had not heard of the Green Deal while 35% did not understand it.
Solar Portal 3rd Dec 2012 more >>
High Rise Opportunity
Tower blocks could become exemplars for greener living, but only if governments start to see them as ideal locations for new smart meters and district heating systems, rather than technological challenges. That is the conclusion of a new report by the Green Alliance, which accuses governments of ignoring high-rise apartment blocks in their sustainability policies because cutting energy use and emissions from high-rise buildings is often deemed to be too challenging.
Business Green 3rd Dec 2012 more >>
Solar Devon
A solar park developer said it has successfully paved the way for three solar parks costing £72 million, on farmland in Devon and Somerset – with further projects in the pipeline. Hampshire-based Hive Energy has been given permission by Torridge District Council planners to build a 15mW array of 20,000 solar panels at Knockworthy Farm in Torrington.
Western Morning News 1st Dec 2012 more >>
Gaia Wind
Leading small wind turbine manufacturer Gaia-Wind was today ranked as the fastest growing private firm in Scotland and 8th fastest in the UK in the annually published Fast Track 100 League table. The table sets out the UK’s top 100 fastest growing private firms. The Glasgow based manufacturer has grown in just a few years, from a handful of employees and single figure sales of their 11kW turbine to a major producer and exporter of Scottish manufactured farm scale turbines.
Green Energy.net 30th Nov 2012 more >>
Herald 1st Dec 2012 more >>
Recycle Carbon Tax
New report reveals that recycling carbon tax to make homes energy efficient would create more jobs and generate more economic growth than anything else the Government could do. It could create at least 130,000 jobs when they are most needed. The Energy Bill Revolution is calling on the Government to use the money it gets from carbon taxes to make our homes super-energy efficient. This is the only permanent way to end fuel poverty and drive down household energy bills. Research has already demonstrated the social and environmental benefits of the programme: nine out of ten fuel poor households removed from fuel poverty; four times greater reduction in carbon emissions compared to the Government’s current policies.
Energy Bill Revolution 27th Nov 2012 more >>
Fuel Poverty
Government has slashed support for the fuel poor, cutting spending by a quarter. And they have cut energy efficiency spending on the fuel poor in half despite the fact this is the best long-term solution. They have done this as energy bills continue to rise. No wonder that 1 in 4 households in the UK are now struggling to pay their energy bills.
Energy Bill Revolution 27th Nov 2012 more >>
Mid-size Solar
Utility-scale solar power is now cheaper than many other renewable technologies, including offshore wind and anaerobic digestion. With 4,000 square kilometres of roof space in the UK and abundant brownfield and poor quality agricultural land, the ground - and the roofs - are set for the solar revolution. Or are they?
Utility Week 20th Nov 2012 more >>