News archive
week ending 4 September 2009
Anaerobic Cumbria
Plans are about to be submitted for a new green initiative which founders claim will provide huge benefits to Cumbria’s farming economy. A public meeting and exhibition is being held in Silloth today to explain proposals to turn farm mulch into energy. Community Renewable Energy North West (CoRE NW) is working with a co-operative of farmers, who will supply mainly manure and silage to set up a cluster of ‘energy farms’. The first of these will be the Blackdyke Industrial Estate Energy Farm in Silloth. The energy farm will centre around a large anaerobic digester.
Cumberland News 4th Sept 2009 more >>
Mendip Efficiency
PEOPLE who live and work in Mendip are eager to work together to reduce energy consumption. That’s the optimistic finding at the conclusion of a successful three-year project run by the Mendip Partnership for Energy, a sub group of the Mendip Strategic Partnership, which brings business, statutory and voluntary sector representatives together to plan and deliver vital services in the district.
Western Gazette 4th Sept 2009 more >>
Hill Farming
The fortunes of hill sheep farming have changed dramatically as a result of booming prices at the autumn sheep sales. Despite improved profits from sheep, the best enterprise for a hill farm is still a group of wind turbines. Wind turbines can generate £8-10,000/megawatt, so the bigger turbines can leave the landowner £16-20,000 of income every year. In other words, a group of a dozen or so wind turbines, in the right location, can generate an annual income of £0.25 million. You have to keep a lot of sheep to beat that and that is why the race is on to generate power from wind turbines
Herald 4th Sept 2009 more >>
Capital Low Carbon Zones
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson has today (September 3) revealed the identity of 10 London ‘low carbon zones’ which will share £3 million funding for pioneering alternative energy and lowering carbon emissions.
New Energy Focus 3rd Sept 2009 more >>
Solar Pavements
An innovative project that could revolutionise America’s roads has received $100,000 (£61,400) in funding from the US Department of Transportation. Idaho-based start up Solar Roadways aims to produce parking lots and roads paved with solar panels that could generate almost enough energy to power the entire world, according to the husband and wife team that have developed the concept.
Business Green 3rd Sept 2009 more >>
Nottingham School
A SCHOOL which recently installed a wind turbine is one of the first entries in the 2009 Green Guardians Awards. The annual competition, run by Notts Wildlife Trust, recognises local individuals, schools, community groups and businesses who are making an effort to help the environment.
Nottingham Evening Post 3rd Sept 2009 more >>
Fuel Poverty Study
A RESEARCH project at Sheffield Hallam University is investigating how hard-up families may in future benefit from a new generation of clean energy sources. In charge of the project is Dr Fin O’Flaherty from the university’s Materials and Engineering Research Institute, with the help of funding from the charitable trust Eaga.
Sheffield Star 3rd Sept 2009 more >>
Low Carbon Leeds
The low-carbon Greenhouse housing development on Beeston Hill is in part a restoration of a derelict 1930s workers’ hostel and partly newly built. It is practically zero carbon and exceptionally energy-efficient. There are plans for an off-site wind turbine up to 300ft tall, making it one of the tallest structures in the city. The Energy Saving Trust has recognised its green goals, providing £245,000 funding through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
Beeston Today 3rd Sept 2009 more >>
Training
PTS is helping to teach future generations of installers about energy efficiency by sponsoring the Low Carbon Initiative at South Lanarkshire College in Glasgow. The College offers renewable energy related courses and has recently started construction on its own low carbon house. The building will show apprentices the number of energy efficient options available and illustrate how a Code Level 5 rating can be achieved.
ADF Online 3rd Sept 2009 more >>
Proven Marathon
Staff and friends of Proven Energy are going to take part in the Glasgow Half-Marathon and 10k on Sunday September 6th 2009. We would like to show our support for the company founder Gordon Proven, who is living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). By entering the Half-Marathon and 10k we hope to raise funds for the charity MND Scotland, which provides research and support for those affected by MND.
Just Giving 3rd Sept 2009 more >>
Community Hydro
Due to overwhelming interest in community owned hydro schemes, Water Power Enterprises (h2oPE) are running a series of free workshops for community groups wanting to set up community owned small-scale hydro schemes.Workshops take place at Manchester Knowledge Capital, Oxford Rd, Manchester.
H2ope – next workshop 29th Sept 2009 more >>
Climate Challenge
Fife are Newburgh Community Trust and North Howe Transition Toun CaRB (carbon reduction in buildings) project will receive £235,850 towards developing a community-owned wind farm with a generating capacity equivalent to the trust area’s electricity consumption. The CaRB initiative gets £114,361 for energy efficiency measures in the community to reduce carbon emissions and fuel poverty. By developing broad partnerships the project will raise social resilience and local control in the face of an unpredictable energy future.
Dundee Courier 3rd Sept 2009 more >>
Eaga
Eaga is to focus on new renewable energy technology for householders as it diversifies from its original mission of combating fuel poverty. The green support services company, which was established in 1990 to lead government-funded efforts to improve conditions for vulnerable people in energy inefficient homes, would now focus on a broader agenda, according to Drew Johnson, chief executive.
FT 3rd September 2009 more >>
Energy Payback
After an energy audit on her home this summer, Meredith Keelan spent $12,000 to install six solar panels and deep insulation in her attic. She fitted a solar-powered attic fan and bought a new fuse box. The solar fan means her mechanical ones rarely blow. Ms Keelan uses three times less power during the day, when the solar panels power her home, than at night, when she relies on the grid.
FT 3rd Sept 2009 more >>
Efficiency Drive
Around 90,000 homes in the poorest areas of the UK should have their energy bills cut under a £350 million government scheme that launched yesterday. Energy companies will spend the money over three years to improve the energy efficiency of homes. The aim is to cut emissions by an average of 20 per cent, and to focus on alleviating fuel poverty. The launch of the Community Energy Saving Programme comes as the government pledged its support to the 10:10 campaign.
Inside Housing 2nd Sept 2009 more >>
Leeds Heating Scheme
A new eco-heating scheme is proving hot stuff in Bramley. The scheme offers people in areas with no mains gas the opportunity to have a new eco-heating system installed, and has recently been working on the Poplars Estate in Bramley.
Bramley Today 2nd Sept 2009 more >>
Distributed Energy
What percentage of the electricity will be generated by distributed energy sources by 2050, i.e. power plants less than 10 MW? The combination of a rapid development of new generation technologies and an EU energy policy that promotes the use of DG can result in a relative fast change. On the other hand, introduction of CCS or a revival of nuclear could reduce the introduction of DG. The political issue of security of supply of fossil fuel further complicates the equation.
Leonardo Energy 2nd Sept 2009 more >>
Community Investment
Community investment is fast becoming a popular way of financing initiatives ranging from renewable energy, agriculture and food to transport and other local services.
Guardian 2nd Sept 2009 more >>
Eco-Open Day
ECO-FRIENDLY homes and gardens in the Black Isle and Easter Ross will be open to the public on Saturday to give an insight into how to live cheaper and greener lives.
Press and Journal 2nd Sept 2009 more >>
Wind Farming in Barnet
The radical design of Whitings School will act as a blueprint for three remaining schools due to be rebuilt over the next year as part of Barnet Council’s First Class Schools scheme. Solar panels, ground source heat pumps, a small wind turbine and rainwater collection tanks will make the school one of the greenest in the borough. Overall, 20 per cent of the building’s energy needs will be met from renewable sources.
Hendon & Finchley Times 1st Sept 2009 more >>
No trouble at mill
A 185-year-old mill could once more become a source of renewable energy, almost a century after shutting down. Vital restoration work is taking place at Higherford Mill, which is thought to have ceased life as a water-powered cotton spinning mill in 1914.
Burnley Citizen 1st Sept 2009 more >>
Oxford 10:10
OXFORD has been described as a leader in the fight to tackle global warming after promising to slash its carbon emissions by 10 per cent next year. The city council is one of a handful of local authorities to sign up to 10:10, a new national campaign aimed at getting hundreds of thousands of organisations across Britain to reduce their carbon footprint.
This is Oxfordshire 1st Sept 2009 more >>
Highland Lessons
A PIONEERING school in a remote part of the Highlands could give lessons to other areas in developing energy-efficient classes, it has been claimed. The school is so well insulated and draught-proofed that the heat from the children, staff and computers is enough to warm the building.
Scotsman 1st Sept 2009 more >>
BBC 1st Sept 2009 more >>
P&J 1st Sept 2009 more >>
Scottish Government Release 31st Aug 2009 more >>
EST Survey
Survey from Energy Saving Trust finds that people may be willing to pay more for a home with a renewable energy source.
Business Green 1st Sept 2009 more >>
New Energy Focus 2nd Sept 2009 more >>
Welsh Permitted Development
Welsh Assembly Government planning rules which aim to make installing domestic renewable micro-generation equipment easier, came into force yesterday (September 1).
New Energy Focus 2nd Sept 2009 more >>
Low Carbon Economy 2nd Sept 2009 more >>
CHP Growth
Seven schemes which aim to link housing developments to new and existing renewable energy plants have been rewarded with £8.8 million worth of funding in the second round of the low carbon infrastructure initiative. The succesful schemes, which were named last week, will receive the money from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), a national housing and regeneration agency for England funded by the government’s department of Communities and Local Government (CLG), which co-ordinates the infrastructure initiative as a partnership between the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and CLG.
New Energy Focus 1st Sept 2009 more >>
10:10 Campaign
Pete Postelthwaite and his wife Jacqui Morrish have gone to great lengths to reduce their family’s emissions, slashing them in the last two years by a staggering 87%.This is partly thanks to a 6kW, 11-metre high wind turbine that they installed last November.
Guardian 1st Sept 2009 more >>
Fife Plan
A report on Fife’s Renewable Energy opportunities – Growing Fife’s Economy - was given the backing of council members at the recent Enterprise, Environment & Transportation Committee. The document covers the major Renewable Energy projects that are planned or already operating within Fife. The details on each project include the amount of electricity generated, carbon emissions saved and jobs created. The report also highlights the significant economic opportunities there are within various Renewable Energy sectors and how Fife can fully exploit them.
Fife Council 31st Aug 2009 more >>
Solar spree
PRODUCING your own electricity can offer returns that are almost three times better than the top savings accounts, according to analysts. From this month, until April 2010, homeowners who invest in equipment such as solar panels and wind turbines will be able to benefit from a £2,500 government grant, as well as a new “feed in tariff”, which pays for the electricity they produce whether they use it or not.
Sunday Times 30th Aug 2009 more >>
Solar Finance
Until now, householders have lavished large sums on solar panels to help the planet rather than themselves. But now solar panels are a good investment if you apply for a £2,500 grant before April, because of a sharp change in government policy.
Independent 29th Aug 2009 more >>
Eco-house for the rich
Barnsley Hill Farm however, which has a spa, cinema and seven bedrooms, trumps Highgrove by using 10 per cent of the energy required to run a normal house. It is almost 100 per cent carbon neutral, has a humidity level of the Sahara desert (so no dust mites, smells or condensation) and underfloor heating powered by solar panels.
Telegraph 28th Aug 2009 more >>
Wood Fuel
The Forestry Commission is currently working to increase the amount of wood fuel used by two million tonnes each year from 2020. Much of their focus is to convince farmers and landowners to utilise wood from currently under-managed woodlands for local heat generation in modern, efficient boilers.
Farmers Guardian 28th Aug 2009 more >>
Green History
Sudbury Hall and Museum of Childhood became one of the first National Trust-owned mansions to be powered by small-scale renewable energy when it formed a green partnership witn NPower last year. The property’s bio-mass wood pellet boilers were installed a year ago this month and, since then, Sudbury’s annual carbon emissions have dropped from more than 52 tonnes to under 12.
Burton Mail 28th Aug 2009 more >>
Derby Telegraph 28th Aug 2009 more >>
Poo Power
The Mayor will work with Thames Water and other partners to identify ways to use sewage to provide renewable energy and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
eGov Monitor 28th Aug 2009 more >>
GLA 28th Aug 2009 more >>
Lancashire Funding
£4.5 million funding pot is available for rural businesses seeking to improve productivity and development.This funding is available to improve productivity and growth in rural Lancashire, and could involve projects as varied as helping rural businesses to diversify, providing access to training and skills development or renewable energy installations.
North West Regional Development Agency 27th Aug 2009 more >>
