News archive
Solar Kinross
Solar Thermal Evacuated Tube Panels on a house in Kinross. Installed by Glendevon Energy. More and more people in areas off the gas grid are looking at renewable alternatives to oil-fired central heating.
week ending 13 March 2009
Proven Cold
Priness Elisabeth Antarctica End of Expedition Assessment.
Video footage 13th Mar 2009 more >>
Sundog become Good
A green energy company based in Penrith – Sundog Solar - is to promoted throughout the UK after entering an agreement with a national electricity provider – Good Energy.
Carlisle News and Star 12th Mar 2009 more >>
Richmond and Twickenham
Pupils at Marshgate Primary School hope to inspire the borough to help protect planet following the launch of their solar energy project. Nearly 40 solar panels have been installed on the school’s roof - and pupils and staff hope as well as producing electricity they will send an encouraging message to others about reducing their carbon emissions.
Richmond and Twickenham Times 12th Mar 2009 more >>
Baxi micro-CHP on its way
With approval from British Gas under its belt, the Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP boiler will hit the domestic market later this year. It will be the first wall-hung combined heat and power unit available in the UK.
You Gen 12th Mar 2009 more >>
Energy Storage
Scientists in the United States have invented a battery that can charge in seconds, promising a revolution in power storage that could also help green cars and renewable energy.
Times 12th Mar 2009 more >>
Bosch – micro-CHP and record solar thermal
Bosch Thermotechnology wants to launch a micro-Combined Heat and Power (micro-CHP) unit by 2011. The company, which owns numerous leading brands including Worcester Bosch and Buderus, made the announcement as it revealed global sales rose seven per cent in 2008 to around 3 billion despite the worsening economic crisis. The company said the political environment and high energy prices were helping maintain demand and it saw record solar thermal sales in Germany.
H&V News 12th Mar 2009 more >>
Irish feed-in tariff
Under the Irish government’s Micro Generation Programme, households and small business owners will also be given the opportunity to benefit from a guaranteed income of Euro 0.19 per kilowatt hour for the excess power their turbines produce.
Edie 11th Mar 2009 more >>
On-site renewables at cliff edge
The Renewable Energy Association, representing the renewables industry, expressed astonishment and concern at the closure of Stream 2 support for PV under the Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP). Only four days after the Government laid out plans for a low-carbon revolution, it announced that the funding stream for the most popular technology, solar power, had run out. No applications made since the 26 February are permissible and the whole stream is due to end in June.
Renewable Energy Association 11th Mar 2009 more >>
Building 12th Mar 2009 more >>
Renewable energy companies have accused the government of undermining its own “green” industrial strategy by ending subsidies for solar energy under the low carbon buildings programme (LCBP). The Renewable Energy Association (REA) said it was “astonishing” and worrying that solar grants had been frozen since 26 February although there was still money in the building programme’s budget.
Guardian 12th Mar 2009 more >>
The Government says it’s looking into the funding gap between the end of LCBP and the start of feed-in tariffs.
New Energy Focus 12th Mar 2009 more >>
Surrey eco-homes
House-hunters looking for a new way of living in leafy Caterham in Surrey need look no further than the launch of its stunning selection of eco-friendly homes.
Easier 11th Mar 2009 more >>
Another Tesco Turbine
Tesco in Amersham has submitted a bid to build a wind turbine in its car park.
Bucks Free Press 11th Mar 2009 more >>
Bradford Primary
An ambitious addition is planned for the project at Swain House Primary, where it is hoped to install a wind turbine and solar panels to teach children about renewable energy. The technology will cost £40,000 with half the money donated by global engineering firm MWH Global and the rest expected to come via a grant from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
Telegraph and Argus 11th Mar 2009 more >>
Microgeneration Payments
I am meant to get a cheque every year as a payment for the electricity that my solar panels generate. But I have never had a penny. Ofcom has a section of five or ten people responding to our complaints and trying to find new reasons not to send us the cash. Ofgem should close down its microgeneration section, and hand £300 a year to anybody who can show them a photograph of solar panels or a wind turbine on their roof. We gain, Ofgem gains, and the taxpayer gains.
Guardian 11th Mar 2009 more >>
Small Hydro
British Waterways is to invest £120m over the next three years in a project aimed at generating enough renewable energy to power thousands of homes. It has signed a partnership with The Small Hydro Company, which develops hydro-electricity installations. The initiative will develop 25 hydro-electricity schemes along British Waterways’ 2,200-mile network of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs.
BBC 11th Mar 2009 more >>
Times 11th Mar 2009 more >>
Guardian 11th Mar 2009 more >>
The Trent has been announced as one of the first five rivers where the process of gaining consent is due to start later this month. Details of the schemes will be revealed when consultation begins.
Nottingham Evening Post 11th Mar 2009 more >>
About 25 small-scale hydroelectric schemes will be built on Britain’s rivers, including the Don, Aire and Ouse, in a programme to generate enough green energy for 40,000 homes, British Waterways has announced.
Bridlington Free Press 12th Mar 2009 more >>
German Micro-CHP
The German heating and air conditioning specialist Vaillant and the Japanese technology company Honda will jointly develop gas-powered micro cogeneration systems for the European market.
ACN newswire 11th Mar 2009 more >>
Honda 10th Mar 2009 more >>
Heating and Ventilating 11th Mar 2009 more >>
H&V News 11th Mar 2009 more >>
Energy Efficiency News 12th Mar 2009 more >>
Fintry Turbine
A community-owned wind turbine is paying for energy efficiency improvements in a community dubbed the greenest village in Scotland. The wind turbine owned by the community of Fintry stands along 14 other turbines on a wind farm.
Low Carbon Economy 10th Mar 2009 more >>
Supermarket Digesters
Two of the nation’s biggest supermarket chains are ramping up their plans to turn unsold goods and food waste into renewable energy, rather than sending it to landfill.
New Energy Focus 10th Mar 2009 more >>
Fenland Digestion
Two multi-million anaerobic digesters are being planned to gobble up farm waste in Fenland.
Wisbech Standard 10th Mar 2009 more >>
St Helen School
Artist’s impressions of the new Hope Academy were released after council bosses announced the building firm appointed to carry out what will be one of the largest construction projects to take place in Newton for generations.It is already being hailed as one of the most sustainable schools in the country, boasting energy-efficient boilers and wind turbines.
St Helens Reporter 10th Mar 2009 more >>
Derry Turbine
A Derry secondary school is planning to harness natural energy by building a wind turbine more than 100 feet high. Oakgrove Integrated College has lodged plans to construct what’s commonly known as a ‘farmer’s turbine’ to boost scientific education on the campus. The plan provides for the installation of a Wind Energy Solutions turbine with a mast measuring 81 feet high and a rotor diameter of 59 feet.
Derry Journal 10th Mar 2009 more >>
Glasgow Eco-school
One of Scotland’s most environmentally-friendly schools has opened its doors to pupils in Glasgow. Merrylee Primary, in the city’s south side, was built using at least 10% recycled materials. Council officials have also approved a 50ft wind turbine for the playground, which will be capable of generating 12% of the building’s electricity.
BBC 10th Mar 2009 more >>
Swift
Developed by Renewable Devices in Scotland, the Swift Wind Turbine is the first quiet rooftop turbine that generates electricity by harnessing the power of the wind as a cost effective energy source for home, commercial, and industrial applications. The Swift generates an of average of 1,680 watts of immediate power, and can produce up to 20% of a home’s electricity with only 12 mph wind speeds. Designed to be environmentally sustainable, the Swift produces more energy in its lifetime of use than is incorporated in the material and processes used to manufacture it.
The Future of Things 10th Mar 2009 more >>
Anaerobic Digestion
THE GOVERNMENT has been accused of falling behind the rest of Europe on anaerobic digestion, as MPs accused ministers of ‘being asleep at the wheel’.
Farmers’ Guardian 9th Mar 2009 more >>
Eco-aliens
PLANS to build ‘eco’ homes and wind turbines in the Flintshire countryside have been thrown out, after being branded “alien and hostile”.
Evening Leader 9th Mar 2009 more >>
Community Wind Farm
EARLY INQUIRIES into a possible wind farm servicing around 1000 homes in Newburgh have been widely welcomed by locals it has been claimed. Spearheaded by a sub-section of the Newburgh Community Trust, the proposal is said to hold direct benefits for residents either by reducing utility bills or in some other form of compensation.
Dundee Courier 9th Mar 2009 more >>
Solar DVDs
A solar-powered DVD player, developed in Wales, is helping to train frontline health workers in Africa.
Western Mail 9th Mar 2009 more >>
Solar Car Parks
When Romag, a UK-based manufacturer of glass and plastic composites, starts producing the PowerPark solar car parking canopy it announced last week, there will be no debate over where it will be made – Consett in County Durham. Romag has backed its commitment to County Durham with £15m ($21m) of investment in its site, mostly in increased manufacturing capacity for its PowerGlaz photovoltaic glass.
FT 9th Mar 2009 more >>
Wind powered street lighting
MINI windmills will be installed on street lights in some areas of Britain in a deal due to be signed with a Scottish wind energy pioneer. David Gordon, chief executive of Glasgow-based Windsave, is understood to be involved in negotiations with three local authorities in England which would see up to 250,000 lights on mainly rural roads and motorways fitted with turbines. The deal would greatly reduce local authority bills, particularly on lights which are on roads that may have a low level of traffic at night.
Scotland on Sunday 8th Mar 2009 more >>
Community Turbine
Udny community wind turbine company is hoping to submit a planning application to erect a £1.25m locally owned wind turbine in April or May.
Press and Journal 7th Mar 2009 more >>
Solar Choice
The country’s largest manufacturer of PV modules told New Energy Focus yesterday it is starting to build consumer-led options into its solar panels, such as the colour of the product. The firm, part of the Japanese electronics conglomerate Sharp, was exhibiting at this week’s Ecobuild event in London’s Earl’s Court, where it has seen “phenomenal” interest in solar roofing systems. Andrew Lee, general manager for module sales at the company, said Sharp was now looking to become much more consumer-friendly in its offering of solar PV systems, offering more choice in appearance and particularly gearing up for the rising interest from the housing trade.
New Energy Focus 6th March 2009 more >>
LPG Micro-CHP
Calor Gas is targeting households using coal and oil for heating purposes to switch to potentially low-carbon LPG systems using fuel cells to provide combined heat and power.
New Energy Focus 6th March 2009 more >>
Harborough Wind
A FAMILY say they are looking forward to many years of clean, free energy after installing a wind turbine on their farm. Mr Wadd said a number of local residents wrote to Harborough District Council planners in support of the project and that he was not aware of anyone who objected to the scheme. West Yorkshire-based green energy company Eagle Power, who constructed and installed the turbine, also helped the Wadds secure a £2,500 grant from the Energy Saving Trust to help realise the project.
Harborough Mail 5th Mar 2009 more >>
Small Hydro
HARNESSING the power of Cragg Brook is one of the options being considered by the Cragg Vale Carbon Neutral Group (CVCNG), write members of the Transition Town Group. The group, started by three friends who met at the Robin Hood, is already brimming with ideas only four months ago after being formed. It works as a network offering support and information to people trying to reduce their carbon footprint.
Hebden Bridge Today 5th Mar 2009 more >>
Small Wind
The Carbon Trust has launched a new “wind estimator” that will allow anyone thinking of installing a small wind turbine to work out how much power it would generate.
New Energy Focus 5th March 2009 more >>
Finance Markets 8th Mar 2009 more >>
Renewable Heat
New Energy Focus and the Renewable Energy Association, are organising a conference on 14th May 2009 – Beyond Merton – on the latest thinking in UK heat policy. There will be high-profile speakers from the public and private sector, including central and local government as well as industry.
New Energy Focus (undated) more >>
