GreenEnergy360

Miliband sees jobs boost from renewable energy expansion

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:33:00 +0000

New Energy and Climate Change minister Ed Miliband sees an opportunity for the UK as we teeter on the brink of recession.

"We are clear we need to do more in terms of renewable energy," Miliband told Reuters at a meeting of environment ministers in Luxembourg. "That's an important source of potential employment, and we will only see renewables grow."

Globally, new jobs in the renewable energy industry are expected to run into the millions over the next 10 years. Let's hope that the benefits for the UK are significant.

Will a wind turbine work for you?

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:06:00 +0000

Depending on location, there can be huge variations in outputs from small wind turbines. This makes choosing a wind turbine a risky business, especially in urban areas. Now a new report funded by the Carbon Trust aims to help home and business owners assess the potential of their sites.

The report, based on work carried out by the Met Office, makes interesting reading; on average wind turbines at rural sites will yield about four times the energy of those at urban sites. This is due to higher wind-speed conditions in open areas. Indeed, some urban sites may not pay back the carbon embedded in manufacturing, production and installation of the turbine!

The report caluclates that based on current turbine costs and electricity prices, a saving of 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is possible if 10% of the population installed turbines, or 0.3% of the UK's total CO2 emissions. The report makes some interesting recomendations:

Future grant schemes should award funding only to installations which save reasonable amounts of carbon. How this is to be measured is as yet unclear;
Wind turbine manufacturers should develop and adopt a carbon labelling system for their products, to enable consumers to estimate the lifecycle emissions of their installations (ie. embodied energy payback);
A MINIMUM height limit for stand-alone turbines should be set of at least 11m to the turbine blade tip. This is to maximise the carbon savings of small-scale wind energy,
given the sensitivity of generation to height. However, this flies in the face of many local authorities guidelines for small wind turbines, which specify maximum heights belkow this figure;

You can download the report from the Carbon Trust website.

Solar Power means Green Energy for Schools

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:26:00 +0000

Peacehaven Community School, East Sussex, has become the 100th school to receive solar PV panels under the Co-operative Group's Green Energy for Schools project. To date, 100 schools have been provided with solar PV panels, and the aim is to reach many more.

The PV systems, which cost around £20,000 to install, are part funded through the Government’s Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP). The Co-operative Group fund the other 50 per cent.

Each system is projected to generate around 3,400kWhs of electricity every year - about the same as the annual electricity consumption for a typical home in the UK. Once the first phase of the scheme is complete, the Co-operative planning to invest a further £1m for renewable technologies in schools, including Ground Source Heat Pumps, Biomass Boilers and Wind Turbines.

As well as reducing CO2 emissions, the PV panels could produce electricity be worth around £550 a year for each school. Reduced electricity consumption would save about £350, while each school could expect to earn around £200 as a green energy generator.

Head teacher of Peacehaven School, Helen Cryer, said: “We are delighted to be the 100th school fortunate enough to receive solar panels by virtue of the forward thinking of the Co-operative in conjunction with Government. The technology will demonstrate the importance of renewable resourcing to our students, both in a scientific and ecological way. This will help tremendously in our efforts to become a more sustainable educational environment.”

Schools interested in applying for the Co-operative Green Energy for schools programme should apply here. Further information on solar in schools can be seen at http://www.solar4schools.co.uk/

Record Growth for Renewable Energy

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 06:55:00 +0000

Despite the economic downturn, 2007 saw record growth in renewable energy investment worldwide, according to a new United Nations report. Renewable energy accounted for 23% of total new generation added globally last year, equivalent to 31GW of new power generation capacity. This compares to the peak UK generating capacity of around 60GW.

Wind power attracted the largest share of investment - around £25bn. But spending on solar PV power grew most rapidly – investment of around £12bn in 2007 represents an annual growth rate of over 250% over 3 years. Total spending worldwide on clean energy projects rose to around £60bn in 2007 (a growth of 60 percent on the previous year) according to UNEP's "Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment" report.

In the UK, increasing heat and power fuel prices (British Gas projects rises of up to 30% as predicted earlier in the year by GreenEnergy360.org), along with legislation that specifies levels of renewables in new buildings is helping to expand renewable energy capacity. However, we are still lagging behind our competitors in terms of newly installed renewable energy systems. The sooner the government acts on its own recommendations contained in its recent renewable energy consultation strategy the better! Click on the link to make your contribution to the consultation.

Learn about renewable energy and building design

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:06:00 +0000

We've had a lot of enquiries from building professionals about the best integrated design approaches for renewable energy in buildings. Here at GreenEnergy360.org, we always say "be Lean, then be Green". This means first get the basics of your building right (good insulation, effective solar gain through windows and efficient appliances and fittings). Then think about generating your own heat or electrical power using renewables.

With this in mind, our colleagues at Loughborough University have recently provided a series of workshops called Design4Life, intended for architects, building engineers and other construction professionals. Having attended each and every one, we feel that they are very relevant to the needs of those of you who are embarking on a building project. So, after asking very nicely, Loughborough Uni have kindly agreed to provide us with bite-size recordings of all the Design4Life workshops. To access them, just click here.

Enjoy!

Renewable Energy in Scotland

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:46:00 +0000

This month's regional focus on Scotland contains news of some of the latest renewable energy and energy efficiency developments north of the border.

According to The Scotsman, the amount of green energy generated (or under construction) in Scotland is now enough to power 80 per cent of the country's two million homes, with the total approved renewable energy capacity in Scotland standing at nearly four gigawatts. This means that the Scottish Government is a long way towards meeting its target of 31 per cent of electricity being provided from renewable sources by 2011, equivalent to around five gigawatts of renewable electricity generating capacity.

If you are a farmer or landowner, you may be interested in the Scottish Renewables Forum's ‘Get into Renewables’ initiative. SRF estimates that Scottish farms could generate up to one sixth of Scotland's household electricity demand. What's more, this would contribute significantly to reducing Scottish CO2 emissions while increasing security of energy supply. This could be achieved if each farm installed one 15kW wind turbine (such as that manufactured by Proven Engineering in Stewarton south of Glasgow). Other technologies, including micro-hydro, ground and air source heat pumps, wood fuel boilers and stoves, anaerobic digestion of slurry wastes and solar hot water panels could also contribute. A word of warning though... bear in mind our earlier post about wind turbine siting - not every farm will be a suitable location for a turbine.

For grants and funding in Scotland, the Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) aims to support the development of both community scale and household renewable energy projects. Funding for householders is set at 30% of the installed cost of a renewable measure up to £4,000. Householders can also apply for separate grants for two different technologies. Significantly, builders and developers are now available to apply for grants, which now includes air-source heat pumps.

Finally, congratulations to the South Ayrshire Energy Agency, who have recieved an Ashden Sustainability Commendation for using part of the profits from a wind farm to help those on low incomes in rural areas to draught proof and insulate their lofts and cavity walls and help reduce their ever-rising winter fuel bills. Well done them!

See you later!

Renewable Energy set for Funding Boost

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:56:00 +0000

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!

Small Wind Turbines in Urban Environments

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:23:00 +0000

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!

Renewable Energy in Yorkshire

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:11:00 +0000

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!

Gas & electricity price rises mean better returns for renewable energy

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:33:00 +0000

The prices of gas and electricity are set to increase dramatically again over the next few months. This is due to massive hikes in wholesale costs, along with spiralling oil prices according to major suppliers such as British Gas. This means year-on-year increases to January 2009 in excess of 30% for some consumers.

The upside is that returns on investment for renewable energy technologies will improve. Up to now, GreenEnergy360 calculates returns assuming a relatively conservative fuel price escalator of 12% per year. At a more realistic rate of say 20%, compounded returns can improve dramatically. Why not try our on line renewable energy property assessment to check your own return on investment for renewable energy?

Backbench Revolt over Renewables Policy

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:16:00 +0000

The Government has survived a large-scale revolt by MPs over its renewable energy policy. Plans to implement beneficial "feed-in tariffs" for small renewable energy generators have been rejected, despite considerable cross-party support. The industry regards the tariffs as a key tool in increasing the take-up of PV, wind turbine and hydro technologies, but energy minister Malcom Wickes prefers to wait until a "full review" is completed this summer before making a decision. Feed-in tariffs have been successful in helping our EU neighbours leave the UK far behind in terms of renewable energy generation capacity, which currently stands at around 2.5% in the UK.

To read more, go to BBC news.

Planning Requirements Eased for Renewables

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:08:00 +0000

April 6th 2008 is the date that government red tape is greatly reduced for homeowners considering on-site renewable energy. From this date, the installation of solar thermal or PV panels, ground source heat pumps and other microgeneration technologies won't need planning permission, as long as there is no impact on neighbours. Some of the rules are quite specific - for example, solar panels must not protude more than 200mm from a roof pitch. However, other issues remain unresolved - wind turbines aren't mentioned, and restrictions still apply in conservation areas or on listed buildings.

Planning minister Caroline Flint said; "We want to make it easier to help people reduce their carbon footprint. Technology like solar panels can make a real difference, but homeowners can be put off by the time and expense of getting planning permission. We think it is right that people have more freedom to make these changes providing it has no impact on others."

For more information, see the official Town and Country Planning document.

GreenEnergy360 wins Innovation Award

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:09:00 +0000

GreenEneergy360 is one of 10 Anubis innovation award winners for 2008. The prize, awarded for our unique renewable energy calculator toolkit, comes from the European Regional Development Fund and is designed to support new technology companies at the leading edge of innovation.

At the Anubis award event, Simon Calvert of GreenEnergy360.org said "We are delighted that all our efforts in the development of the GreenEnergy360 service has been rewarded in this way. It's great to have our hard work recognised and gives us extra motivation to further develop the service for the benefit of consumers".

Dr. Paul Rowley of Loughborough University's Centre for Renewable Energy (CREST) said "We take pride in our level of cooperation with technology companies, and the Anubis award is an indication that our partnership with GreenEnergy360.org is a good move all round".

For more information, see the Anubis web site

Renewable Energy Grants to be Revamped

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:26:00 +0000

Look out for the government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme to be revamped. John Moriarty, an official from the Department for Business (BERR) said that changes may include a "feed-in tariff" to boost the take-up of solar PV systems, along with wind and hydro turbines. This means that electricty fed into the grid from small renewable energy systems will be eligible for much higher rates per unit than normal.

In Germany, feed-in-tariffs have been made into a major success. People generating electricity from renewable energy systems are paid generously for the extra power they feed in to the grid. Electricity companies are obliged to buy this energy, and the revenue has helped to kick-start significant investment in greener energy. Since Germany adopted feed-in-tariffs PV installations are more than 200 times that of Britain with 10 times more wind energy.

The UK would be well-advised to follow the German model rather than our Renewables Obligation scheme which has been much less effective in increasing renewable energy capacity.

New Zero-carbon Homes Unveiled

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:08:00 +0000

Scottish builders the Stewart Milne Group have unveiled their designs for one of the UK's first zero-carbon homes. Renewable energy features include a wind turbine and solar panels on the roof. The design is aimed at meeting the Government's new Code for Sustainable Homes. The house will be launched at the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in Watford in June. For more information see http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/consumer/caring/article.html?in_article_id=417916&in_page_id=511

Cheaper Solar PV in Sight

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:42:00 +0000

Within five years, solar power could compete with fossil fuel-generated electricity, even in Britain. And within a decade, the cost may have fallen so dramatically that solar cells could undercut oil, gas, coal and nuclear power by up to 50%, says Anil Sethi, chief executive of Swiss start-up Flisom. To read more, go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/02/19/ccview19.xml

Energy price hikes 'unjustified'

noreply@blogger.com (GreenEnergy360) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:26:00 +0000

A leading energy watchdog has said the latest round of price rises by gas and electricity firms are unjustified and the Competition Commission should investigate. The latest rises are 15% on average, and affect 27 million consumers. Energywatch says the market is not competitive enough and consumers are paying over the odds. To read more, go to news.bbc.co.uk