week ending 18 January 2013
Solar Storage
The German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) is expected to introduce incentives for PV energy storage systems in February 2013. A spokesperson from BSW-Solar, an association which represents the common commercial interests of businesses within the solar industry, revealed to PV-Tech that it expects the BMU to make an official announcement on the incentives in the next few weeks. Citing a study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, BSW said that grid-connected storage systems could increase the network capacity by 66% while the production could be reduced by 40%.
PV Tech 18th Jan 2013 more >>
Green Deal Expanded
With the full launch of the Green Deal rapidly approaching, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced that the list of eligible measures under the Green Deal has been expanded from 30 to 45. The new additions have been included in the scheme after a DECC consultation. The final draft of the PAS 2030 specification for installation process, process management and service provision is due to published in January.
Solar Portal 18th Jan 2013 more >>
Biomass
New framework will allow public sector to cut carbon emission and reduce heat costs by up to 50% It’s fair to say there’s been a bit of a buzz generated around the release of the Scottish Government’s new public sector procurement framework last week, which has led to us being mentioned in a number of national newspapers and receiving airtime on BBC Radio Scotland! For those of you who missed it, the big news for us is that we’ve been ranked number one on The Biomass Energy Supply Framework, receiving the highest score of all submissions after a rigorous rating system looking at all areas of a company’s operations and ability to deliver biomass projects.
HW energy 17th Jan 2013 more >>
Science Museum Solar Farm Plan
The Science Museum is plotting to install the UK’s largest solar farm at its big-object store in Wroughton, Wiltshire. If approved, the proposed project would supersede the current largest solar park in the UK: Lark Energy’s proposed 32MW development at Wymeswold Airfield, Leicestershire. Working in conjunction with Swindon Commercial Services, a wholly owned company of Swindon Borough Council, the museum is proposing to install a 40MW solar farm across the 80-hectare Wroughton facility.
Solar Portal 17th Jan 2013 more >>
Oxfordshire Solar Farm
A local farmer is considering installing Oxfordshire’s largest solar farm across 30-hectares of land between Barton and Beckley, Oxfordshire. The venture is being proposed by Lancashire-based solar installer Energi in conjunction with one the UK’s largest environmental consultancies, Wolverhampton-based ADAS. Although no formal planning application has been submitted, pre-proposal documents, which have been submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council, detail plans to install 50,600 solar PV panels across the land. The developers estimate that the solar installation could provide enough energy to power around 1,400 local homes.
Solar Portal 17th Jan 2013 more >>
Smart Meters
One major upcoming shift in the UK’s energy system that has not received much attention is smart meters. These are devices that will, among other things, allow people to see in real-time which activities gobble up the most energy. Policy Exchange’s Guy Newey argues for an increased focus on behavioural change to boost energy efficiency.
Business Green 17th Jan 2013 more >>
National Solar Centre
Greg Barker speech at the launch of the National Solar Centre - in full, Climate Change Minister says solar PV will play “a critical role in helping the UK meet its vital renewable energy targets”
Business Green 17th Jan 2013 more >>
Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has predicted the coming years will see a surge in solar installations as the cost of the technology continues to fall and businesses and households realise solar panels offer an effective means of reducing energy bills and carbon emissions.
Business Green 17th Jan 2013 more >>
The government provided a boost for photovoltaic generation yesterday with the launch of the National Solar Centre yesterday. The centre, based in Cornwall, will open in April and will focus on reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) products. Speaking at the launch, energy and climate change minister Greg Barker said: “The coalition’s new Energy Bill is set to revolutionise the investment opportunities in renewables - delivering a fundamental change to the way we generate power in the UK to 2020 and beyond. Solar must be part of that.”
Utility Week 17th Jan 2013 more >>
Barker also predicted that with 1.8GW of solar capacity now installed and the technology included in the government’s Renewables Roadmap for the first time it has the potential to deliver over 20GW of capacity by 2020.
Business Green 17th Jan 2013 more >>
Global Solar
A new report released by the WWF concludes that the solar arrays necessary to meet all the world’s projected energy needs in 2050 would cover under one percent of global land area.
Climate Progress 17th Jan 2013 more >>
Solar Roadshow
Beginning on Thursday 7 February, Rt Hon. Greg Barker, MP, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, will launch a series of seven, half-day events taking place in locations across the UK. Are you a solar installer looking for new ways to revitalise your business and sell your services in challenging market conditions? Are you keen to hear more about the new MCS Guide and want to know how it will impact the products and services you deliver? Maybe, you are considering becoming a Green Deal installer but are confused about how to get involved and want to learn more?
IB Times 17th Jan 2013 more >>
Solar Thermal for Social Housing
Greenfields Community Housing has won grant funding from the Energy Saving Trusts’ Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) to install solar thermal hot water systems in 40 properties, with the aim of reducing hot water bills by up to 50%.
24 Dash 17th Jan 2013 more >>
Energy Efficiency Landlord Loophole
The government is facing pressure to close a loophole in the law that allows some landlords to avoid telling new tenants how energy efficient their property is if they rent out individual rooms. Alan Whitehead to propose a Bill ensuring houses of multiple occupancy landlords provide energy performance certificates.
Business Green 17th Jan 2013 more >>
Behaviour Change
New report finds people could save £75 on bills if they compare energy use with neighbours, as insulation industry reports 1,700 job losses since December.
Business Green 17th Jan 2013 more >>
National Solar Centre
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) will this afternoon cut the ribbon on the BRE National Solar Centre in Cornwall, offering a range of new research and training services to the UK’s solar industry.
Business Green 16th Jan 2013 more >>
Solar Portal 16th Jan 2013 more >>
Energy Management 16th Jan 2013 more >>
Energy Funding
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has today continued its push to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s building stock, with the announcement £46m in new funding has been awarded to over 130 projects.The funding has been distributed to low councils and NGOs with £31m designated for projects to help vulnerable households reduce their energy bills, £10m earmarked to support council-orchestrated Green Deal programmes, and £5m intended to support collective tariff switching schemes.
Business Green 15th Jan 2013 more >>
Basingstoke
BIG changes come from lots of small steps – that’s the driving philosophy behind an organisation determined to make Basingstoke one of the greenest places in the country. The Basingstoke Community Energy Fund Society, created by the Basingstoke Transition Network green movement, wants to see the borough slash its carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.
Basingstoke Gazette 14th Jan 2013 more >>
No solar cash back
Neither solar PV nor thermal will qualify for the £125 million cash back scheme the government is launching to kick-start its flagship Green Deal initiative. Both technologies are in the list of 45 energy efficiency measures qualifying under the Green Deal, but because they also receive subsidy under the feed-in tariff the government said they would be omitted from the cash back scheme.
Solar Portal 14th Jan 2013 more >>
Green Deal
The government will today confirm households taking up Green Deal property improvements could receive over £1,000 in cashback incentives, as ministers look to drive take-up of the new energy efficiency scheme.The Green Deal will launch on January 28, offering households and businesses the opportunity to undertake a wide range of energy efficiency property upgrades at no upfront cost, before paying for the work through a modest levy on their energy bills that will not exceed the savings that result from the improvements.
Business Green 14th Jan 2013 more >>
Welsh Solar
Wales is blazing a trail when it comes to solar energy, new figures reveal. The latest statistics from the UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change show that over 23,000 Welsh homes now have solar panels which generate electricity for their own use and feed surplus power back to the grid. The panels are proving more popular in Wales than the rest of Britain – 177 per 10,000 Welsh homes now have photovoltaic solar panels installed, well above the British average of 118.
South Shropshire Journal 11th Jan 2013 more >>