week ending 5 April 2013
Solar Surge
The surge in new solar parks across the UK continued to gather pace this week with two major new projects reaching important milestones. Solar PV module supplier Trina Solar reported today that it has successfully completed delivery of 137,000 solar panels to S.A.G. Solarstrom AG for its new 33MW solar farm at the former RAF Wymeswold airfield. Meanwhile, TGC Renewables announced yesterday that it has lodged a planning application for a new 4.5MW solar farm in Somerset.
Business Green 5th April 2013 more >>
Community Tidal
The community company behind a controversially stalled £4m Totnes windfarm is now looking at installing a tidal turbine ‘power station’ in the Dart. The Totnes Renewable Energy Society is launching an investigation into harnessing the power of the river’s tidal flow at the Anchor Stone – the narrowest part of the river between Duncannon near Totnes and Dartmouth. A tidal turbine could produce up to 400KW of electricity – enough to power hundreds of local homes.
Dartmouth Chronicle 5th April 2013 more >>
BBC 2nd April 2013 more >>
Solar Donations
A Midland solar panel company is on track to exceed its charity pledge of £5,000 for a Birmingham children’s hospice. Eco2Solar has raised more than £4,500 towards its £5,000 annual target for Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust.
Birmingham Post 5th April 2013 more >>
Micro-CHP
A group of companies (Baxi, Calor, Ceramic Fuel Cells, E.ON, IE-CHP and Flow Energy) in the micro combined heat and power (micro CHP) sector in the UK has published a report setting out a bold strategic vision for the role of micro CHP as a key component of an emerging smarter energy environment. Micro CHP is a versatile innovation with unique characteristics that has the potential to revolutionalise the way householders and SMEs generate and use energy.
E2B Pulse 4th April 2013 more >>
Smartest Energy
Since SmartestEnergy was launched a decade ago, we have helped many farmers, agricultural businesses and landowners become energy entrepreneurs and we are now the UK’s largest purchaser of electricity from the independent generation sector. If you are looking into generation opportunities for your land, download our “Beginners’ Guide to Farm Generation” here for all the basics you need to know to get started.
Smartest Energy 4th April 2013 more >>
Somerset Solar Farm
Renewable energy project developer, TGC Renewables, has applied for planning permission for a 4.5MW project in Somerset. The proposed project will sit on 10.5 hectares of land to the south-west of the village of Oake. The proposed 16,000 solar modules will help generate enough clean electricity to power over 1,000 local homes.
Solar Portal 4th April 2013 more >>
Solar Century
Solarcentury has announced a series of international appointments as part of its plan to expand into new markets. Solarcentury named Bertrand Belben as the company’s new director of international business development. He will lead the company’s programme for international expansion with a particular focus on emerging markets including Africa and Latin America. Belben has previously been business development director for AES and managing director of Innovent.
Solar Portal 4th April 2013 more >>
Largest Solar Farm
A solar farm capable of powering hundreds of homes has been completed and connected to the National Grid. Limes Farm in Spalding Road, Bourne, is now one of the largest solar farms in the country, with 20,000 5.6MWp solar panels across 30 acres. Lark Energy carried out final testing on the site last week before it went live.
Rutland & Stamford Mercury 4th April 2013 more >>
Peterborough Insulation
British Gas has entered into an innovative new deal with Peterborough City Council that will see it roll out subsidised energy efficiency measures to thousands of homes, creating hundreds of new jobs in the process. The council has announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with British Gas worth up to £20m funded through the new Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, which places a legal requirement on energy suppliers to fund improvements in energy efficiency for certain hard to treat homes and households facing fuel poverty.
Business Green 4th April 2013 more >>
Dorset Solar Farm
PLANS to site one of the UK’s biggest solar energy farms on the outskirts of Christchurch have been approved by councillors. Work has now started on building the 118 acre (48 hectare) farm at Parley on land operated by Eco Sustainable Solutions. The area involved is the equivalent of 65 football pitches and the £15 million scheme will use photovoltaic (PV) panels capable of directly converting sunlight into electrical current.
Dorset Echo 4th April 2013 more >>
Business Green 3rd April 2013 more >>
Solar Portal 2nd April 2013 more >>
Recharge 2nd April 2013 more >>
Solar Street Signs
A MID Devon businessman has been asked to help develop the next generation of street signs, which could save taxpayers thousands of pounds. Nick Bartlett, of South West Solar & Renewable Systems based in Uffculme, is heading to Belgium to work with a technology company testing their latest equipment. The firm makes cutting-edge solar-powered street furniture such as lampposts and even LED zebra crossings.
Exeter Express and Echo 4th April 2013 more >>
Stirling Solar – planners overruled
Plans to install around 160 solar panels on the roof of flats in Stirling will go ahead despite concerns it could set a precedent in the area. Stirling Council’s planning panel voted by a majority to allow the application by the council’s own housing services after councillors heard some residents were spending more than half their income on energy costs. The panels will be put on the front of the roof of 53-57 Lower Bridge Street despite council planners recommending the application be refused. They felt its prominent location would be detrimental to the look of the area.
Stirling Observer 3rd April 2013 more >>
Keighley Solar Firm goes global
A year-old Keighley solar technology firm is looking to go global after securing a six-figure investment from a regional business fund which will boost the development of a prototype product aimed at countries with hot climates. Fullsun Photovoltaics Limited is developing the prototype for a high concentrating photovoltaic (HCPV) solar module which it hopes will make the company a major global player providing new jobs locally.
Bradford Telegraph & Argus 3rd April 2013 more >>
Solar Farmers
Alan Bartlett and Sons’ 1,456-acre carrot and parsnip farm is now benefiting two-fold from the power of the sun after installing a 1.2MW solar PV array to harvest electricity. As farmers, the company recognised the importance of sustainability and its impact on the environment. As a result, the company decided to invest £1 million in over 4,000 solar modules to significantly reduce the farm’s carbon footprint as well as utility bills. Commenting on the solar project, Andrew Foster, finance director at Alan Bartlett and Sons said: “The solar panel installation at the Chatteris factory is a significant investment for the company. The installation will achieve material cost savings for the business and at the same time greatly contribute to our carbon footprint reduction ambitions.”
Solar Portal 3rd April 2013 more >>
Island Community Windfarm
Six years on from the largest community land purchase in Scotland, the turbines of Loch Carnan Community Windfarm are now generating revenue for reinvestment in the islands of Benbecula, Eriskay and South Uist. As one of the key development projects identified at the time of the buyout, the revenue from the windfarm will be pivotal to the regeneration activities that St ras Uibhist was created to deliver. The revenue generated from this 6.9MW windfarm will be instrumental in regenerating these islands and clearly demonstrates the importance of community ownership for rural Scotland.”
Stornoway Gazette 3rd April 2013 more >>
Solar Storage
A battery system to store energy from photovoltaics reaches UK domestic market after success in Germany. Solar PV systems can make electricity on your roof, but not necessarily when you want it. The mismatch can be fixed by selling any surplus via the grid, and taking power back when you need it. This isn’t great for homeowners weighing up an investment in solar panels. Feed-in tariffs can change, and future energy bills are hard to estimate. One answer is to store electricity on site, an option that has been open to German enthusiasts for domestic PV for a while. Now it is coming to market in the UK, with the first system tailored to the single phase electricity supply used in this country.
Green Futures 3rd April 2013 more >>
Solar Flurry
The available rate of Renewable Obligation (RO) support for solar developments dropped from 2ROCs to 1.6ROCs on 1 April. The April reference date caused a steep flurry of activity within the utility-scale solar sector in the UK, so much so that analysts are predicting PV demand in Jan-Mar to exceed the 0.5GW level.
Solar Portal 2nd April 2013 more >>
Wiltshire Solar Farm
A solar farm in Wiltshire which is set to be one of the largest in the region has been granted planning permission. The development at East Farm, Codford St Mary, is set to include a total of 35,000 ground-mounted solar panels.
Insider Media 2nd April 2013 more >>
Energy Bill Revolution
Britain currently suffers one of the highest winter death rates in Europe, with more than 7,000 people dying in cold homes every year. Big companies will start paying the carbon tax from tomorrow. It is expected to raise £1.5billion this year alone, but it could rake in £60billion over 15 years. Campaign group the Energy Bill Revolution is calling on the Government to use the windfall to fund a nationwide programme to make homes energy efficient. It would include free insulation for doors, windows, walls, floors and roofs and create up to 130,000 jobs, giving the economy a boost.
Express 31st March 2013 more >>
Passivhaus
Turning an old railway cottage into a Passivhaus may sound like something strangely futuristic that’s probably designed to sweep away the past. But for Andy and Lorna Simmonds, it was a way to create their dream energy-efficient home. In the process they’ve found themselves at the forefront of a global green movement. The benefits are many. The properties have high levels of insulation and airtightness meaning they need to use very little energy for heating and cooling. As a result, heating bills are slashed – typically by as much as 90 per cent.
Independent 29th March 2013 more >>