Solar Farming
Renewable energy project developer, Grupotec Renewables, has announced that it has secured a project pipeline of 200MW in the UK. The London-based developer says that the pipeline consists entirely of ground-mounted solar farms ranging in size from 5MW to 30MW. Grupotec has also revealed that there is a possibility of adding a further 100MW to the pipeline.
Solar Portal 18th July 2014 read more »
Plans have been announced for a sun-powered renewable energy plant on the outskirts of Scunthorpe – near the Tata Steel works. Developer Kinetica Solar intends to generate sufficient electricity to power 11,500 homes a year. The firm says: “It will have a low visual impact and make use of lower grade agricultural land with good access.”
Scunthorpe Telegraph 18th July 2014 read more »
Plans for an 84-acre solar park have been made public. Solstice Renewables are consulting with the public over their hopes for a 15 megawatt solar park at Newnham Estate. The site, currently used for grazing, could generate enough renewable electricity to supply the equivalent of 4,500 average homes. The Wiltshire-based firm showed off their proposals and spoke to members of the public at Hemerdon Village Hall yesterday.
Plymouth Herald 18th July 2014 read more »
Energy Efficiency Funding
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey has unveiled details of a new £20m fund to incentivise businesses, industry and other organisations to improve energy efficiency. Announced at the CBI’s Energy Conference earlier today (17 July), the Electricity Demand Reduction (EDR) auction will allow firms to compete for cash to fund projects that reduce electricity demand.
Edie 17th July 2014 read more »
DECC 17th July 2014 read more »
Solar Portal 17th July 2014 read more »
Households could pay millions of pounds on their energy bills to provide supermarkets and airports with free LED lighting, under energy department plans to cut the UK’s power usage. Ed Davey, the energy secretary, on Thursday announced £20m taxpayer cash for a trial scheme in which businesses will be offered funding to carry out energy efficiency improvements “like replacing old light bulbs with LEDs or improving motors and pumps”. Firms will compete for the funding in a reverse auction, and will be able to bid for the entire cost of the work to be covered, or for it to be partially subsidised. They should then enjoy cheaper energy bills as a result, Mr Davey said. More than 300 organisations including “hospitals, airports and supermarket chains” have already express interest in the auction, the Department of Energy and Climate Change said.
Telegraph 17th July 2014 read more »
There is an implicit incentive in traditional economic regulation which compels utilities (meaning the main components of energy systems (producers/generators, transmitters, distributors and retail / supply) to encourage consumption rather than to reduce energy use. Utilities make more money selling energy than they can when encouraging an efficient use of it. This is at odds with current energy policy and is sometimes known as the throughput incentive. Many utilities in the US have dealt with this problem by ‘decoupling’ utility revenues from throughput incentives, and this is talked about in a short-hand way as decoupling. The energy system structure and its regulation is different in the US than in GB. GB already has some regulation which is meant to ‘decouple’ the incentive to supply from revenues. The question is whether US decoupling regulation is preferable and/or better to that in place in the UK?
IGov 18th July 2014 read more »
Scottish Efficiency
Scottish social landlords can now apply for a share of £4.5 million for energy efficiency measures through the Scottish Government’s Green Homes Cashback scheme. The new scheme provides funding for householders and landlords towards the cost of efficiency measures, such as boiler upgrades and home insulation. Councils and registered social landlords can claim up to a total of £250,000 in funding to help pay for energy efficiency improvements to their housing stock.
Utility Week 18th July 2014 read more »
City Energy
Cities and local authorities could become rivals to the big six energy companies through decentralised generation, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
Utility Week 17th July 2014 read more »
Solar Portal 17th July 2014 read more »
Some of the UK’s largest cities and local authorities are moving into the energy business – according to a new report from think-tank IPPR. The projects, mapped by Energydesk, are currently small-scale and may be doing little to trouble the Big Six utilities. However, the report suggests cities and local authorities could in future disrupt the business model of massive commercial players by investing significant sums in low-carbon energy.
Energy Desk 16th July 2014 read more »
Cities and local authorities across Britain can provide alternatives to the ‘big six’ by creating affordable renewable energy, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). The report, ‘City energy: A new powerhouse for Britain’, states that Britain’s cities should take on the challenge of tackling the energy crisis and contribute to the nation’s renewable energy targets.
Edie 17th July 2014 read more »
Cities should invest in green energy production to compete with the main UK energy suppliers, a centre-left think tank has recommended. UK cities and local authorities could reap the benefits of renewable energy subsidies, a report by IPPR suggested. Regulators are currently probing whether the “big six” UK energy suppliers prevent effective competition in the UK energy market.
BBC 17th July 2014 read more »
Herald 17th July 2014 read more »
This report explores the options and the potential for cities to engage in the energy supply market and raise finance for investment in low-carbon energy infrastructure – particularly in local energy generation. There are opportunities for Britain’s cities in the energy sector that could aid efforts to create a cleaner, smarter and more affordable energy system, provide an alternative to the big utilities, and boost local economies in the process. Many of these opportunities can be delivered under existing local authority powers, and are just waiting to be realised. However, there is more that the national government can do to help unlock the full potential of cities. This report considers what cities can do in two areas: engaging in the energy supply market, and raising finance for investment in low-carbon energy infrastructure – particularly local energy generation. This would both unlock the potential of local low-carbon generation, and help bring an end to the overcharging of low-income consumers by energy companies.
IPPR 17th July 2014 read more »
Solar Budget
The fate of the UK’s PV market over the next five years is likely to be determined to a large extent by a budget announcement which is expected by October, according to analyst Finlay Colville of NPD Solarbuzz. In an exclusive two-part blog for Solar Power Portal, this week, Colville puts forward his five-year forecast for UK solar, including downside, upside and baseline scenarios. He writes that this year and the first part of 2015, driven by the need to qualify for existing support mechanisms, the UK market will be “by far the most important market in the EU”.
Solar Portal 17th July 2014 read more »
Solar Independence Day
Renewable energy funds have raised over £1 billion in the past 12 months as investors are attracted to the promise of a solid yield. But what are investors actually putting their money into? I took advantage of ‘Solar Independence’ day to head to Wymeswold Solar Farm in Leicestershire, the UK’s biggest, to find out more. It’s owned by the Foresight Solar investment trust, one of three solar funds in the UK. Watch the video to see what I found
City Wire 17th July 2014 read more »
Visitors were able to learn more about solar energy when they visited a farm near Swaffham on Friday taking part in Solar Independence Day. The date, July 4, was chosen by the Solar Trade Association to coincide with American Independence Day to show that increased independence is one of the main benefits of solar energy
Lynn News 11th July 2014 read more »
Solar Reshuffle
Following a major government re-shuffle earlier this week apparently to oust the “stale, pale and male” incumbents of prime minister David Cameron’s cabinet, the UK solar industry has some new parliamentary voices. The reshuffle sees former aide to chancellor George Osborne, Amber Rudd, promoted to junior minister at the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Rudd will be joined at DECC by Matthew Hancock, taking over from Michael Fallon as minister of state for energy and business. Hancock is another MP said to have the Treasury ear of Osborne. It’s widely been taken as a positive for the solar industry that two ministers chummy with Osborne are to join DECC. Previously the Treasury and DECC were almost “warring parties”, says external affairs manager at the Sustainable Energy Association, Emma Pinchbeck. “The Treasury might have more interest […] we welcome the attention.” Rudd and Hancock are now responsible for the green industry, as well as energy efficiency, fuel poverty and carbon budgets. However the promotions of Rudd and Hancock are also laden with the weighty responsibility of filling a hole left by a very outspoken solar advocate, namely Greg Barker, who tendered his resignation in the reshuffle. His decision to resign as minister leaves his oft-stated 20GW solar by 2020 ambition unfulfilled.
PV Tech 17th July 2014 read more »
Solar School
If it reaches the target by the end of term, Mabe School, which has 118 pupils, will become the first primary in Cornwall to install solar PV panels on its roof to generate renewable energy as part of the Solar Schools project – but needs £1,400 to do it. Pupils and staff at the school have raised £11,000 so far through fundraising events and donations and last week renewable energy company RES donated £1,000.
West Briton 17th July 2014 read more »
Community Wind for North East
A company which plans to help communities develop their own renewable energy systems like wind turbines for cash has been launched. It follows the initiative by The Berwick upon Tweed Community Development Trust, owned by local people, which will benefit from a £2.3m windfall over the next 25 years. The money will be used to provide benefits for residents, unemployed and older people, businesses and visitors to live, work and play in the town. The social business, Community Renewable Energy, CoRE, organised the installation of the turbine working along with Berwick Trust. However the work of CoRE has now ended and in its wake the new company has been set up called Sustainable Community Energy North East (SCENE). Working in partnership with the North East Social Enterprise Partnership, it is looking to use the Berwick scheme as one of its business models.
Journal 17th July 2014 read more »
Solar Futures
In the second part of this exclusive two part blog for Solar Power Portal, NPD Solarbuzz team leader Finlay Colville discusses the key factors influencing the different scenarios for UK solar PV deployment over the next five years. The first part of the blog was featured on Solar Power Portal on 15 July 2014.
Solar Portal 17th July 2014 read more »
In the first of a new exclusive two part blog for Solar Power Portal, NPD Solarbuzz team leader Finlay Colville discusses different scenarios for annual solar PV deployment in the UK out to 2018. The second part of the blog will discuss the different scenarios in greater detail, highlighting also the importance of the Levy Control Framework budget on the amount of incentivised solar PV on offer to the UK industry.
Solar Portal 15th July 2014 read more »
Warrington Council goes for 1.5k solar homes
Warrington Council has sanctioned a £5.25 million investment in a solar scheme that will install PV on 1,500 properties and three sheltered housing schemes. The project builds on a successful pilot that the council ran with Golden Gates Housing Trust in 2011 which saw 623 properties across the council fitted with solar. The extended solar scheme is predicted to save those tenants with solar fitted an estimated £233 per year on their energy bills.
Solar Portal 16th June 2014 read more »
BDaily 16th July 2014 read more »
Birmingham’s Solar Canals?
Covering our canals with a canopy of solar panels might not be the most popular of ideas, especially with local residents, Visit Birmingham and the City tourism bigwigs.
Birmingham Post 16th July 2014 read more »
Solar FiT Legal Action
Solarlec is one of 14 companies claiming £132 million in damages from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The company’s director Nicholas Keighley tells Peter Bennett why the company felt legal action was necessary.
Solar Portal 15th July 2014 read more »
Solar Predictions
The Solar Trade Association is calling for the National Grid to look again at its predictions for solar power in coming decades. In forecasts published by the grid operator, the National Grid’s statistics on current and future solar arrays are said to fall far below other estimates and need to be revised upwards. Solar Trade Association chief executive PaulBarwell commented: “It is frustrating that both the Government and the National Grid are basing important decisions on out of date data. This undermines what the solar industry has achieved so far and risks holding back solar’s potential.
H&V News 15th July 2014 read more »
Renewable Energy Focus 14th July 2014 read more »
Solar Portal 11th July 2014 read more »
4ECO
UK renewable company 4Eco has revealed that it has quadrupled its workforce in less than two years. The company, which designed and manufactures the immerSun energy management device, has achieved a turnover of £3 million over the last 18 months. In the corresponding time 4Eco has grown to a 17-strong team and claims to have won the title of market leader for renewable immersion switches.
Solar Portal 14th July 2014 read more »
Community Energy
More than £500k has been secured by 30 local renewable energy projects across the UK as the first recipients of investment from the Government’s Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF). Unveiled today (14 July) by the Fund’s administrator WRAP, the 30 projects receiving loans represent a variety of technologies, including community-scale solar power, hydro, wind and anaerobic digestion.
Edie 14th July 2014 read more »
Green Deal
The coalition’s flagship insulation programmes have failed to put the UK on the right track to meet its commitments on cutting greenhouse gases, a review by the statutory advisers on climate change has found. The number of cavity wall insulations – one of the most effective measures for cutting energy use – has plunged by more than two-thirds owing to a change in government schemes to encourage insulation. The judgement is the first clear statutory assessment of the “green deal” and “energy company obligation”, the government’s twin schemes to cut energy wastage by investing in efficiency measures for domestic properties, and has found both wanting. The green deal, under which householders can apply for loans to provide their homes with energy-savings installations such as insulation, has long been criticised for failing to attract enough takers, partly because the cost of paying back the loans is so high.
Guardian 15th July 2014 read more »
The most generous cashback in the Government’s overhauled Green Deal scheme could be gone in one month, the Telegraph can disclose. Households have claimed £25m from the Government to install insulation and double glazing in the first month of a new cashback scheme. The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) said 4,405 households in England and Wales have received vouchers to carry out home improvements under the second phase of the Green Deal. The first phase, a loan scheme, was criticised for being too complicated.
Telegraph 13th July 2014 read more »
It was an energy policy hailed by the government as the “biggest home improvement programme since the second world war”, one that would cut energy bills for 14m homeowners. But only 18 months after it was introduced, the highly vaunted green deal has been branded a “complete flop” amid criticism that forced ministers to announce the troubled scheme had been reorganised.
Guardian 11th July 2014 read more »
Bute Community Wind
The organisation behind a community wind energy generation scheme for Bute has invited firms to submit bids for a feasibility study into the project. Bute Community Power (BCP) intends to have a contractor appointed by the beginning of August to carry out the study, which will form the basis of a planning application for the project. The organisation – set up as a ‘community benefit society’ – is also stepping up its consultation with island residents and visitors on the possibility of a small-scale project featuring one or two wind turbines on privately-owned land on Bute.
Buteman 13th July 2014 read more »
Appliances
Middle-class families should stop buying large fridges in order to save energy and tackle climate change, a government-commissioned report has suggested. Families could save up to £36 a year on their electricity bills by replacing large fridge-freezers or televisions with smaller appliances, according to a study published by the Department for Energy and Climate Change. The report found that the average family fridge had grown in volume by two fifths since 1985, amid a fashion for large American-style appliances, while the average television had grown by more than seven inches since 2004. It warned that the trend undermined attempts to cut carbon emissions.
Telegraph 11th July 2014 read more »