News archive
Proven power
A Proven Turbine on the Isle of Skye.
The Company says if 50% of Scottish farmers installed Proven turbines it
could provide 50% of Scottish electricity.
week ending 1 August 2008
Payback period going down
A PERTHSHIRE business that launched a pioneering miniature wind turbine project is hoping to beat the massive rises in energy costs that are crippling the country. The six kilowatt turbine, costing £16,000, produces an average of 6000 kilowatt hours per year, which is equivalent to the electricity consumed by an average household in four to six months. When it was installed the payback time was 15 years , but with the price of electricity now rising, this has gone down to nine years.
Dundee Courier 1st August 2008 more >>
Mr and Mrs Lunan have installed a six kilowatt wind turbine, geothermal heating, solar panels and low u-value windows, which have a special coating to reflect heat back in. With the gas price hike, the couple are set to see an early payback.
Dundee Courier 1st August 2008 more >>
China
China is the world’s leading producer of energy from renewable sources and is on the way to overtaking developed countries in creating clean technologies, according to a report by the Climate Group. Published today, the group’s report, China’s Clean Revolution, shows that supportive government policies investing billions of dollars in energy efficiency and renewables are driving huge levels of innovation in China.
Guardian 1st August 2008 more >>
Local Energy
LOCAL RENEWABLE energy projects will be one of the most important ways of fighting off spiralling fuel bills, while slowing climate change at the same time, according to environmental charity, WWF Scotland. The body said a move away from fossil fuels towards the kind of eco-friendly energy measures becoming more popular among households and businesses is vital. Mini wind turbines, solar power and heat pumps will all play their part.
Dundee Courier 1st August 2008 more >>
Solar Advance
A new breakthrough could allow sunshine to become one of the most important sources of clean renewable energy, it has been claimed. Up to now solar power has been a “Cinderella” energy source because storing the sun’s energy is so expensive and inefficient. Now scientists believe they have overcome the problem using technology inspired by photosynthesis in plants.
Daily Express 1st August 2008 more >>
Scotsman 1st August 2008 more >>
In what scientists are calling a “giant leap” toward clean energy, researchers at MIT have developed a way to store solar energy for use when the sun does not shine, paving the way to large-scale solar power.
FT 1st August 2008 more >>
Scientists have devised a cheap and simple method of turning water into rocket fuel using solar power in a development that could generate a new source of green energy for the home and workplace.
Independent 1st August 2008 more >>
Dundee architect speaks
Professor Ric Russell, based in Broughty Ferry at Nicoll Russell Studios, said, “Investment for the long term is for people to have wind turbines on the roof of their homes. Energy saving is a huge issue and wind turbines offer a major solution to the problem. From the highest level to local level there should be changes made for the benefit of everyone to ensure this problem with rising gas bills can be reduced.
Dundee Evening Telegraph 31st July 2008 more >>
Monifieth Turbine
James Armstrong, of Tay Street in Monifieth, had a micro-wind turbine fitted to his house one year ago and said he would recommend the device to anyone looking to save money as well as the environment.
Dundee Courier 31st July 2008 more >>
What Gordon should say:
The challenge is to make ourselves as energy-independent as possible. To encourage use of solar energy, we will adopt the German model by which owners of solar cells profit from selling surplus energy to the national grid. Offshore wind turbines and tidal energy systems will get tax breaks, funded by money from petrol taxes and a windfall tax on oil company profits. We’ll insulate more homes than ever before. We are not going to be reliant on other people for our electricity.
Guardian 31st July 2008 more >>
Cheap Energy
The time of cheap energy is not past; it is ahead of us. If we do not wish to be dependent on potentially unstable oil-supplying countries forever, waiting for them to gradually empty our coffers, we must invest in solar technology. We must increase the efficiency and decrease the price of different types of solar cells, heat pumps, insulation, energy storage and transportation methods.
Scotsman 31st July 2008 more >>
Islington Turbine
THE HIGHEST wind turbine in Islington has been officially launched. The new 12-metre wind turbine sits on top of the 18-storey, 55-metre-high Kestrel House in City Road, Finsbury. It is the third wind energy scheme backed by Islington Council as part of its aim to be “London’s greenest borough”. Islington Council has also erected a wind turbine in Gillespie Park, Highbury, and the one on the roof of the Municipal Offices in Upper Street, Islington.
Islington Gazette 30th July 2008 more >>
Green Building 30th July 2008 more >>
Heat Strategy
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee said in its recently released report, ‘Climate Change and Local, Regional and Devolved Government’ that there was inconsistency in the implementation and development of climate change policy across central, regional and local government – including the effective development of low carbon heating strategies.
Green Building 30th July 2008 more >>
Yorkshire Eco-Village
ROTHERHAM’S first eco-housing development could be in line for an award.
Henley Rise at Masbrough has 23 homes each with its own wind turbine and solar panels. They were designed to cut energy bills by 70 per cent and the estate could now be the first eco-friendly development to win a ‘Building for Life’ Gold Award.
Sheffield Star 30th July 2008 more >>
Welsh Eco-Village
A NEW eco-village to be built in rural Wales could become the model for sustainable communities across Britain and help fight soaring living costs, its designers claimed yesterday.
Western Mail 30th July 2008 more >>
Digestion
Britain has fallen well behind much of Europe when it comes to utilising manure from farms and waste from abattoirs and food processors to create gas and electricity.
Guardian 30th July 2008 more >>
Asda Turbine Refused
Supermarket giant ASDA has been told it cannot build a wind turbine the size of Northampton’s lift tower at a warehouse after residents raised concerns about the scheme’s safety.
Northampton Chronicle 30th July 2008 more >>
M&S goes for offsite turbines.
Two turbines built in Buchan will power M&S stores.
Aberdeen Press and Journal 29th July 2008 more >>
Green Building 30th July 2008 more >>
Zero carbon in Shetland
The remarkable ecological credentials of timber frame housing are being proved in one of the most comprehensive trials ever in a wind-swept bay on the Shetland island of Unst. A standard house type supplied from the Scotframe Timber Engineering Homes Portfolio range, has been used as the basis of the Zero Carbon House Project, which is attracting international attention and has support from the Scottish Government. The implications of the project are enormous, not only for the concept of “unplugging” from mains services but for sustainable and affordable housing – both key objectives of the current Scottish and UK administrations.
Allmedia Scotland 29th July 2008 more >>
Green Hospital
LOCAL health chiefs have launched work on a new £21.5million community hospital in Ayrshire. It will use a number of renewable technologies, including a wind turbine, a biomass boiler plant which burns wood pellets to produce energy, and equipment to collect rainwater to use for flushing toilets.
Glasgow Evening Times 29th July 2008 more >>
Botanic Gardens
A NEW visitor pavilion to help keep the public up to date with progress on the Royal Botanic Garden’s new multi-million pound visitor centre is set be unveiled tomorrow.
The new £16 million John Hope Gateway visitor centre is aimed at communicating science on all levels to the public. The centre, named after John Hope, the Regius Keeper and King’s Botanist from 1761 1786, is designed to be as sustainable as possible, with wind turbines, a biomass boiler and rainwater collection. It is due to open to the public in spring 2009.
Edinburgh Evening News 29th July 2008 more >>
Edinburgh Evening News 31st July 2008 more >>
Baxi
Baxi is offering an improved product line and is gearing up for the launch of a new micro-CHP boiler – Ecogen – in the autumn. With energy costs rising the market for all renewable technology will improve. Baxi believes the biggest opportunity is with micro-CHP where it is easier to explain to the consumer about a boiler which looks very much like a boiler looks today, runs more efficiently and generates electricity effectively for free.
H&V News 29th July 2008 more >>
Certification
A fully-fledged quality mark scheme has been established to give consumers confidence in the standards they can expect from green energy products and installers. Building on a two year development phase, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has approved plans to open up the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) to a number of certification providers to give the industry more options when seeking approval for products and services.
BERR 29th July 2008 more >>
Business Green 29th July 2008 more >>
New Energy Focus 29th July 2008 more >>
Building 31st July 2008 more >>
Solar Stevenage
A SCHOOL that is working hard to reduce its carbon footprint has had solar panels installed. Pupils at Thomas Alleyne in Stevenage switched on the £20,000 solar panels just before the start of the summer holiday. It is among 100 schools across the UK successfully nominated by Co-operative staff to have the panels installed.
The Comet 29th July 2008 more >>
Basingstoke School
A SOLAR panel and a wind turbine have been donated to Overton C E Primary School after the village’s residents won an energy-saving competition. The Switch on to Climate Change competition, run by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, encouraged people to claim free energy-saving light bulbs. Overton residents claimed more than any other ward in the borough, winning a £1,000 prize, which had to be spent on a green initiative.
This is Hampshire 28th July 2008 more >>
Congleton Council Tax Rebates
Warm Homes Grants are still available to homeowners across the Borough of Congleton. Congleton Borough Council are working in partnership with Energy Projects Plus to help homeowners improve the insulation of their homes, by giving £100 cashback for every measure installed. The scheme has been running for nearly 12 months, and has helped nearly 300 households to install loft insulation or cavity wall insulation to make their homes warmer. Money is also available to help people suffering with certain health conditions to repair or replace central heating systems, and for householders wanting to install renewable energy technology such as wind power or solar panels.
Congleton Borough Council 28th July 2008 more >>
Isle of Gigha
Renewable Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of the heritage trust. Its modest wind farm, the first community-owned project to be connected to the national grid, is known locally as the Three Dancing Ladies - Faith, Hope and Charity. It generated a £100,000 profit to reinvest in the community over its first full year of operation. Turnover has been increasing year on year since, but profits have been increasingly used to buy back shares in the company.
Herald 28th July 2008 more >>
Solar Germany
Germany has reinforced its status as the world leader in solar power generation, after less stringent cuts in renewable energy subsidies than had been anticipated. Although not the world’s sunniest country, Germany is among the global leaders when it comes to the number of solar panels adorning household roofs.
FT 28th July 2008 more >>
Straw Power
Supermarket giant Tesco has announced plans to build the UK’s first Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant to be fuelled entirely by straw. The company said it has been granted approval to begin work on the 5MW plant at its distribution centre in Goole - adding that it expected the facility to save up to 17,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
Enviro Solutions 27th July 2008 more >>
Off-Grid
Living off grid creating your own power rather than being connected to the national grid is having something of a Hollywood moment. Stars as diverse as Daryl Hannah and Cate Blanchett are going energy-sufficient and living the good life Noughties-style, with solar panels and wind turbines.
Sunday Times 27th July 2008 more >>
Micro CHP
Spanish utility ENDESA has signed an agreement with Disenco Energy plc to undertake testing and trials of the company’s micro-combined heat and power (m-CHP) appliances for homes and small businesses. Disenco Energy’s HomePowerPlant allows on-site heat and electricity generation from natural gas with 92% energy conversion efficiency. Excess electricity generated by the system can also be exported back to the National Grid.
Energy Efficiency News 25th July 2008 more >>
