week ending 24 May 2013
Solar Parks
Griff Rhys Jones has effectively leveraged his celebrity status to decry the “random desecration” of the countryside that solar parks represent in his opinion. But not all Britons feel that way. Recently, I was shown around two 5MW solar parks in the Midlands which were both visually harmonious with the landscape and complementary to the farmland on which they sit. The sites, developed by Islip-based Axiom Solar Limited, were extensively reviewed and given approval by their host communities and planning authorities, having amply satisfied all of their visual, environmental, and community use concerns. With careful planning and thorough community engagement, Axiom believes that (contrary to Griff’s assertions) solar parks will continue to be welcomed in the UK.
Solar Portal 24th May 2013 more >>
The comedian Griff Rhys Jones has accused the government of “random desecration” of the countryside and despoiling “pristine landscapes” through its subsidies to wind turbines and solar power.
Guardian 22nd May 2013 more >>
Good Energy
Renewable energy business Good Energy Group has secured £10.6m towards the development of new onshore wind farm in Yorkshire. The Chippenham-based company has secured the funding from Investec Bank with the remaining cost of the £16m project to be provided from existing cash resources. The 8.2MW farm site is located in Hampole near Doncaster and was acquired from RWE Npower Renewables Ltd earlier this year.
Insider Media 24th May 2013 more >>
Money AM 24th May 2013 more >>
Negawatts
The EMA has welcomed the proposed amendments to the Energy Bill noting that the “Government proposes to amend the Energy Bill such that a market wide financial incentive to encourage permanent reductions in electricity demand could be delivered via the Capacity Market.”
Information Daily 23rd May 2013 more >>
The government has this week confirmed plans designed to encourage businesses to curb their electricity consumption and invest in energy efficiency as a way of helping to deliver substantial cuts in national power demand and reducing the need for costly new power plants. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will include an amendment in the forthcoming Energy Bill, allowing energy efficiency projects to compete for back up capacity contracts against generation plants. As a result, businesses could be paid to reduce energy use at peak times, in the same way as energy companies will receive capacity payments for operating back-up power plants.
Business Green 23rd May 2013 more >>
Householders would foot the bill for supermarkets to turn down fridges at night and for councils to fit low-wattage street lights under government plans to encourage energy efficiency. The Government included the “negawatts not megawatts” plan in its controversial energy Bill yesterday. Companies that make energy-efficient air-conditioning units for offices, furnaces for factories or housing insulation, for example, will be able to take part in “capacity auctions”. As power station developers bid to build capacity, measured in megawatts, energy-saving companies could also bid with measures to remove the need for that capacity.
The Times 22nd May 2013 more >>
Businesses and green groups have welcomed government plans to pay companies to curb their energy use, despite concerns that its chosen method for driving reductions in power demand could fail deliver the £2.3bn of promised economic savings by 2030. The government yesterday unveiled its much anticipated response to a consultation on how to boost energy efficiency investment and help reduce the need for costly new power plants. The new plans will see demand reduction and demand response schemes that see firms paid to reduce energy use during periods of peak power demand funded through the capacity market, which was originally designed to incentivise the development of back-up power plants.
Business Green 22nd May 2013 more >>
Southampton Solar Park
Lightsource Renewable Energy has announced the acquisition of a 6.3MW solar park in Southampton, developed and built by Solarcentury. Commenting on the company’s latest solar asset, managing director of delivery for Lightsource, Kareen Boutonnat, said: “Utility scale solar PV like this site on Chalcroft Farm is a key component in the UK’s drive towards achieving its renewable energy targets.”
Solar Portal 23rd May 2013 more >>
Somerset Solar Park
Renewable energy firm Green Energy UK Direct has revealed plans to build a solar energy park on land at Downs Farm at Dundry Downs in the village.
H&V News 23rd May 2013 more >>
Green Deal Danger
The Government’s policy to reduce energy use could open the door to mass mis-selling of products that claim to save consumers money, MPs have warned. The Green Deal aims to encourage consumers to insulate their houses and improve their heating systems. The Government is providing a slice of cheap finance to companies that offer loans to customers who want to reduce their energy use. They pay back the loans through savings on their energy bills and, once they are repaid, benefit from lower bills.
Times 23rd May 2013 more >>
Hydrogen City
ABERDEEN City Council today announced ambitious plans to develop Europe’s oil capital as a centre of excellence in the creation of new hydrogen technologies. As part of the drive Councillor Barney Crockett, the leader of the city council, launched the authority’s new hydrogen strategy framework aimed at helping diversify the city’s existing energy expertise.
Scotsman 23rd May 2013 more >>
Demand-Side Management
Energy efficiency improvements can potentially provide energy services at a lower cost than new energy supply: the cheapest energy is the energy we don’t use. Amory Lovins, chairman and chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute, famously coined the term ‘negawatt’ to capture the concept and value of energy not used. Leading commentators agree that energy efficiency improvements are the first and most important step in the pathway to a low carbon economy. The International Energy Agency (IEA), the McKinsey Global Institute and Professor Nick Stern all point out that energy demand reduction is the most effective and cheapest option to reach our carbon targets. Analysis for the UK Committee on Climate Change by Ricardo-AEA provides a similar assessment of the situation in Britain.
Politics 23rd May 2013 more >>
Solar Aid
The UK-based charity SolarAid has been selected as one of 10 Google Global Impact Challenge finalists. The search engine giant is offering the finalists the opportunity to win a £500,000 Global Impact Award.
Solar Portal 23rd May 2013 more >>
Solar Costs
The UK’s minister for energy and climate change, Greg Barker, has arrived in Brussels today to lobby the European Commission (EC) over proposed plans to impose trade duties on Chinese-manufactured solar products. The UK government has broken its silence over the ongoing EC investigations, urging other EU member states to vote against provisional proposals that will see an average levy of 47% applied to all Chinese-manufactured solar products in the UK. Barker has personally written to all 26 EU environment ministers ahead of his visit, calling on his peers to “follow the UK in backing the growth of solar”.
Solar Portal 23rd May 2013 more >>
Sleaford Solar Plan
A chicken farm near Sleaford could be transformed into a 239-acre Eco Park – generating enough solar energy to power 6,000 homes. It would also provide recreation and educational opportunities. The land at Boiling Wells Farm, between Rauceby and Sleaford, has been identified by Kinetica as having the potential of generating 22 megawatts of renewable energy and create a number of local jobs. The proposals, still in their infancy, feature a visitor and education centre, new habitat creation including grassland and wildflower meadows in and around the solar panels, enhanced footpaths, nature trails and recreation areas.
Sleaford Standard 23rd May 2013 more >>
Commonwealth Turbine
AT a height of 125m it is one of the tallest structures in Glasgow. The £5million wind turbine at the top of Cathkin Braes – one of the highest points in Glasgow – has now been formally unveiled. The massive structure is sited at the first tricky section of the new mountain bike track being built for next year’s Commonwealth Games. As a result, it will provide a stunning image for the 1billion people who will watch the Games on televisions around the world.
Evening Times 23rd May 2013 more >>
Small Wind
The UK’s smallest wind turbine will be on show at the 2013 Rutland County Show on June 2, at Burley-on-the Hill. The turbine is made by Evance, of Loughborough, specialists in small wind turbines.
Leicester Mercury 23rd May 2013 more >>
Solar Industry
Consolidation and oversupply in the PV industry has forced capital expenditure to their lowest levels since 2006, information and analytics company IHS said this week.
Solar Portal 22nd May 2013 more >>
What does success look like?
Parliament’s Energy and Climate Change (ECC) committee has told the government to get a move on with monitoring the success of its core energy efficiency policies in a new report, out today. The ECC committee is concerned the government hasn’t worked out what a successful energy efficiency rollout would look like, let alone how to assess whether it meets those criteria.
Carbon Brief 22nd May 2013 more >>
Guardian 22nd May 2013 more >>
Business Green 22nd May 2013 more >>
Siemens, Unilever and Alstom are among a group of leading companies calling on EU leaders to support ambitious energy efficiency legislation that would help to drive energy-saving investments beyond 2020. In an open letter the companies from the construction, transport, IT and chemicals sectors say adopting a strong energy efficiency target and policy regime for the 2020s would drive growth and job opportunities, as well as improve EU competitiveness, rather than slow the recovery.
Business Green 22nd May 2013 more >>
Green Deal
The Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) today publishes two detailed Policy Briefings that considers one of the key energy issues affecting vulnerable communities fuel poverty – and how it is being tackled and should be tackled. It particularly focuses on the positive role Local Authorities can bring to bear in promoting innovative strategies to assist those most affected by fuel poverty through more determined energy efficiency programmes. The report also considers the UK Government s much trumpeted Green Deal as the vehicle for promoting financial support for energy efficiency programmes and tackling fuel poverty.
NFLA 21st May 2013 more >>
Concern is mounting that the government’s Green Deal will be undersubscribed and mis-sold, giving energy efficiency a bad name. Industry watchers have warned there is already evidence of mis-selling, even as take-up remains modest three months after launch. A cross-party group of MPs has launched a report into the progress of the flagship scheme, in which they criticise the Department of Energy and Climate change for failing to establish clear success criteria. Meanwhile, a survey by Which? found that 46 per cent of homebuyers would be put off by a Green Deal loan attached to a property. At a debate on restoring trust in the energy sector hosted by Edelman last week, one audience member said he had been told three or four misleading things in a sales call.
Utility Week 21st May 2013 more >>
Baywind Co-op
Plans to repower a 16-year-old community wind farm project in Cumbria have been backed by councillors. Five turbines were installed at Harlock Hill, near Ulverston in 1997 by Barrow-based community co-operative Baywind. Barrow Borough Council has agreed to back the plans to double the size of all five turbines. But the site straddles two local authority areas and one – South Lakeland Council – has already refused permission for them to be upgraded. Baywind has partnered with Dutch-owned wind power firm Infinergy and says the existing turbines are no longer efficient. A spokesman for the company said they would now appeal against South Lakeland Council’s decision.
BBC 21st May 2013 more >>
Scottish Efficiency
MORE than one in five households in Scotland have received help from the Scottish Government and energy companies to reduce their heating bills, new figures showed today. More than 540,000 homes received free or subsidised professionally installed cavity wall or loft insulation through the Carbon Emission. Reduction Target scheme – an initiative which places an obligation on electricity and gas suppliers to tackle energy efficiency and fuel poverty. The Scottish Government has made available £79 million to tackle fuel poverty over the next year.
Scotsman 21st May 2013 more >>
Farming Energy
When considering on-farm renewable energy project, it is vital to see it from the outset in the context both of ownership and timing. This means matching income generation to income needs and structuring ownership to accommodate those changing needs and attitudes to risk.
Farmers Weekly 21st May 2013 more >>
Farmers are more likely to install renewable energy projects on their land if they have face-to-face meetings with industry experts, according to a survey published yesterday. Agricultural land makes up 70% of the UK, comprising more than 248,000 farms. However, research published earlier this year revealed that despite 95% of farmers believing renewable energy plays a vital role in the UK’s farming future, 42% were holding back from making an investment due to confusion over the options.
Solar Portal 21st May 2013 more >>
More Solar Farms Planned
Freetricity is on track to install around 68MW of energy through solar farms across the UK, despite a potential looming crisis caused by the EU’s threat of imposing substantial trade duties on Chinese products. In addition to its established residential solar business, Freetricity is pressing ahead with 68MW of solar farms through joint ventures with companies including Anesco and Sona UK, with another 50MW in the pipeline.
Solar Portal 21st May 2013 more >>
Solar Education
Simon Fowler, technical director for Pioneer’s Signature Solar Division, is visiting schools in the Chelmsford area local to the company’s operational base to explain to students about the benefits of generating solar energy and the benefits it can bring to homes and businesses. Taking the view that energy efficiency must be ingrained into our young people, Signature Solar began the series of presentations at local schools with a view to this being spread as the company’s Signature Solar Dealer Network grows.
Glass & Glazing 21st May 2013 more >>
Welsh Solar Firm goes Bust
Cardiff-based solar panel installation firm PV Solar Solutions has entered administration and ceased trading. At the height of the market back in 2011 PV Solar Solutions posted a turnover of £7 million, but this had plummeted to around just £1 million by the time the administrator Mazars was called in at the end of April, according to Mazars director Keith Morgan. PV Solar Solutions’ headcount had also shrunk to just five employees by the time firm entered administration and ceased trading on 9 May.
Solar Portal 21st May 2013 more >>
Small Wind
Kingspan Wind is launching its new, much anticipated, high performance KW15 wind turbine, details of which will be made public for the first time at the All-Energy Exhibition & Conference, 22-23 May 2013. The company will also be providing information about its new free insurance package – believed to be the most comprehensive on the market – as well as advice on finance and the ease with which landowners can achieve planning permission for small turbines. The KW15 is the latest addition to Kingspan Wind’s acclaimed small turbine portfolio and the launch is expected to generate enormous interest, particularly among agricultural and rural communities. The company’s other turbines, the KW3 and KW6, already enjoy worldwide popularity, with over 4,400 currently operating in 60 countries, many with more than 20 years’ continuous operation. Gavin Kerr, Technical Sales Manager for Kingspan Wind advises: “The launch of our new 15Kw turbine demonstrates our commitment to advancing and expanding our existing product portfolio, and it positions Kingspan Wind firmly as a global leader in the small wind turbine arena. The 15Kw turbine has been extensively tested to ensure that it matches the durability and efficiency of the existing KW series - widely regarded as the most reliable wind turbines on the market.”
Sourcewire 21st May 2013 more >>
Eco2Solar
KIDDERMINSTER businessman Paul Hutchens has earned the Environmental Award in the ninth annual Institute of Directors (IoD) West Midlands Director of the Year Awards. Renewable energy entrepreneur Mr Hutchens accepted the accolade from John Phillips, IoD regional director, during the awards ceremony at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. The award recognises Mr Hutchens’ leadership and achievements since setting up Eco2Solar in 2007.
Kidderminster Shuttle 21st May 2013 more >>
Council Performance
A third of all local authorities in England and Wales could be in breach of an EU directive designed to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings. The low-level of compliance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), with which councils have had to comply since August 2007, was uncovered by the Property and Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) following a freedom of information request.
Business Green 21st May 2013 more >>
Renewable Heat
Payments to help householders switch from heating their homes with oil to greener systems such as biomass boilers and solar thermal will double in most cases, the government is to announce on Monday. The grants were intended as a stopgap measure until the start this summer of the government’s bigger renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme – ongoing payments akin to the feed-in tariff for solar panels but for generating low-carbon heat. But in March, the RHI was postponed until 2014, in a delay that industry said it was “bitterly disappointed” with.
Guardian 20th May 2013 more >>
H&V News 21st May 2013 more >>
Solar Portal 20th May 2013 more >>
DECC 20th May 2013 more >>
Solar Park Refused
Planning officials at South Northamptonshire Council have refused to approve changes made to a 5MW solar park built earlier this year, effectively stripping it of planning consent post-construction.
Solar Portal 20th May 2013 more >>
British Gas Solar
Fund and asset manager Bluefield Partners today announced a deal to finance solar PV facilities across UK industrial and commercial sites owned by British Gas clients. Under the terms of the cooperation agreement, Bluefield has been granted exclusivity for the funding of all commercial and industrial solar PV installed by British Gas. Industrial customers able to offer a long-term lease on available ground or rooftop space will have a solar plant designed and installed by British Gas providing power for direct use on site.
Solar Portal 20th May 2013 more >>
BT goes 100% renewable
BT will source all its electricity from renewable sources after signing an agreement with Npower. The move forms part of the company’s Better Future strategy and is estimated to cut BT’s footprint by one million tonnes of CO2 every year. Last year, the company consumed 2.3GWh of energy running its UK networks, data centres and offices accounting for around 0.76% of all the electricity consumed in the UK.
Solar Portal 20th May 2013 more >>
Business Green 20th May 2013 more >>
Plymouth Solar
Plymouth City Council has invited solar business leaders to attend a supplier open day on 22 May, as part of its planned energy project. The authority is aiming to install solar panels on 14 more council buildings, in addition to the four that already have PV arrays. It estimates that the proposed new solar project could provide contracts totaling more than £500,000.
Solar Portal 20th May 2013 more >>
Which on Green Deal
A new Which? survey has revealed that it still pays to think carefully about whether a Green Deal loan is right for you, if you’re looking to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Our results indicate that prospective home buyers are wary of buying a property that has a Green Deal loan attached to it. However, awareness of the scheme has significantly increased.
Which? 19th May 2013 more >>
Observer 19th May 2013 more >>
Solar Portal 20th May 2013 more >>
External Wall Insulation in Stockton
A pioneering £20m scheme which has warmed up hundreds of families in Stockton is being extended across the whole borough. GoWarm, run by community interest company Community Energy Solutions (CES) and Stockton Council, has brought warmer homes, lower energy bills and 500 new jobs. It has already helped people in 1,700 homes across Stockton and Thornaby to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their fuel bills by up to £750 a year. Now, after Stockton Council signed an agreement to continue its partnership with CES until 2015, the scheme is being extended to cover the entire borough. All the borough’s remaining 5,000 privately-owned solid wall homes will be offered external wall insulation free of charge and many will qualify for new boilers and central heating. If the 5,000 homes are completed in the next two years this will represent a £20m investment.
Evening Gazette 18th May 2013 more >>
Community turbine thrown out
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a community-owned wind turbine to help power Denholm and Ancrum are dead in the water. Around 80 locals packed into Denholm Village Hall last Thursday night to give the scheme – which was offered to the villages by local farmer Jim Shanks, whose original proposal for a 74m high turbine was thrown out by councillors last month – a resounding thumbs down. A two-hour presentation from Community Energy Scotland area development officer Andy Maybury failed to convince attendees – among whom were members of the Minto Hills Conservation Group and Denholm Community Council – of the merits of the proposal.
Hawick News 18th May 2013 more >>
Low Carbon Housing
Nik and Laura Glazebrook and their daughters Thea, two, and baby Joss seem an unlikely family to start a revolution. Yet they may just possibly be that. The Glazebrooks are part of an international project to test out the design, construction and technology of a new generation of houses that can reduce carbon emissions on a grand scale and – perhaps equally as important – wean Europe off Russian gas. Despite their experimental nature, these houses are not one-off homes that only the super-rich can afford. They are all modest, family homes often in suburban areas, built to a realistic budget: low-energy homes for all, with low bills and bright and airy living spaces.
Telegraph 17th May 2013 more >>
Small-scale Biomass
The Equitix-managed Energy Saving Investments fund has awarded £4.9m to small-scale biomass boiler projects. The group, in which the UK Green Investment Bank is a cornerstone investor, said the cash leverages a further £5.1m from the Equitix Energy Efficiency Fund. The £10m project is being led by Roundwood Energy and will see inefficient heating systems in community facilities replaced with biomass boilers. Investments are expected to fund more than 60 projects from a varied mix of public and private sector organisations.
Renews 17th May 2013 more >>
Scotsman 18th May 2013 more >>
Community Energy
Campaigners are calling for an amendment to the Energy Bill and are asking supporters of community energy projects to garner support from their MPs. A group of 17 co-operatives and civil society organisations, including the Co-operative Group, Co-operatives UK, National Trust, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and the Transition Network, want community schemes to be exempted from the proposed regime by allowing projects up to 20MW in size to access the fixed Feed-in Tariff scheme instead.
Co-operative News 16th May 2013 more >>
Community Energy Saving Programme
The Community Energy Saving Programme report provides details on the achievement of the targets and obligations under the programme, which ended on 31 December 2012. CESP was a policy, set down in legislation, designed to improve domestic energy efficiency standards in the most deprived geographical areas across Great Britain. It was a separate programme to the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) which made energy efficiency measures available to all consumers.
H&V News 16th May 2013 more >>