Renewable Energy set for Funding Boost
The Government's eagerly awaited renewable energy strategy, published on 26th June, will contain a number of measures designed to boost microgeneration, including solar thermal, PV, small wind, heat pump and biomass technologies. Under the new proposals, up to a third of UK homes could be fitted with solar hot water systems, small wind turbines, solar photovoltaic (PV) or ground source heat pumps. The strategy includes the recommendation to provide preferential 'feed-in tariffs' for small generators, which have been instrumental in helping develop the renewable energy sector in countries such as Spain and Germany. The renewable energy recommendations are combined with stringent energy efficiency requirements, supported by loans, grants and incentives for householders and small businesses.
Energy Minister Malcom Wickes says that there is now a "huge momentum" towards renewable energy and that the government will ensure that carbon emission reduction will be the "core concept behind our energy strategy". He described the plan as "the most ambitious renewable energy strategy for Britain that we have ever seen".
Fine words from Mr. Wickes. However, we at GreenEnergy360.org have heard similar sound bites from previous Ministers, but past renewable energy strategies have yet to be tranlated into real action. Unfortunately, the Government's track record in this respect doesn't bear scrutiny. We shall see this time around!
Labels: biomass, energy efficiency, funding, government, grants, heat pump, renewable energy, solar, wind
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Small Wind Turbines in Urban Environments
A number of you have contacted GreenEnergy360 to ask about the feasibility of siting small wind turbines in built up areas (which includes villages and dispersed settlements). Well, the latest research from Loughborough University and other Institutions shows that in general, energy yields from micro-wind turbines are not as high as expected. The
NOABL wind speed database is commonly used to obtain an approximate wind speed for specific sites, and provides an average reading for a 1km square. This means that NOABL does not take into account local obstructions such as nearby trees or buildings, and can in some instances over-estimate wind speed by a factor of 4 or more! This is bad news, as the power in the wind is proportional to the
cube of the wind speed.
The latest computer simulation work at Loughborough shows that small turbines mounted on or near buildings can return 'capacity factors' as low as 3-5%, far below manufacturers' quoted figures of 20-25%. These results are backed up to osme extent by the latest measured data from
the Warwick Wind Trials. The message here is 'tread with care' - if you live in a village, town or city, the chances are that a small wind turbine will yield dissapointing results.
However, the news isn't all bad - if you live in a more exposed rural location, yields from micro-wind turbines can be more encouraging, as more than one GreenEnergy360.org user has told us. If you would like to explore the performance of two 5kW wind turbines in rural Nottinghamshire(manufactured by Proven and ISKRA), then we recommend visiting the
Hockerton Housing Project Website.
Caveat Emptor!
Labels: cost, economics, energy, payback, turbine, wind
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Renewable Energy in Yorkshire
This month's regional focus on Yorkshire and the Humber highlights some of the leading initiatives across the region.
Firstly, Kirklees Council is widely regarded as one of the country's foremost local authorities in implementing renewable energy solutions for domestic and public buildings. From
photovoltaics to biomass to small
wind turbines, Kirklees have implemeted a number of leading edge projects. Click the links to see case studies, or go to the
Kirklees Council website for further information.
With funding for renewable energy always an issue, the good news is that Future Energy Yorkshire (FEY) has £5 million of funding available to encourage the development of new renewable electricity generation in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Log on to
FEY for more information, or phone Jemma Benson on 0113 237 8422. The Expression of Interest deadline is 30th June 2008. The full application form must be received by 31st July. You can search for other funding opportunities by using FEY's
'Eddy' tool.
Finally, you may be surprised at the number of renewable energy installations across the Yorks and Humber region. This
interactive map provides a wealth of information, including locations and contact details of a variety of renewable energy technologies. Happy hunting!
Labels: energy, solar, wind, yorkshire
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