A recent survey conducted by Farming Futures has found that 80% of farmers in the UK want to have solar photovoltaics installation on their roofs within the next three years. These results prove that farmers’ interest in generating renewable electricity has increased dramatically since the launch of the feed-in tariff (FiT), which was launched in April this year.
Recent press coverage has concentrated on the issue of solar installations on farmland and open fields; however the survey’s findings indicate that just under 20% of farmers considering solar want it at this scale, with the majority considering the technology for large farm buildings.
However, while the survey did outline the success of the FiT, it did also highlight farmers’ relatively poor understanding of how the subsidy mechanism works. Only 55.2% understood to what extent they could actually earn from the FiT while 25.4% thought payment was only for generation, or export (19.4%).
Dr. Jonathan Scurlock, Chief Advisor, Renewable Energy and Climate Change at the National Farmers' Union said, "These findings certainly reflect what our members have been saying. Agricultural and horticultural buildings present ideal platforms for solar PV, and small-to-medium sized roof-mounted systems are likely to be an attractive investment. It's hugely encouraging to see our farming industry become stronger through the generation of power, and helping this country reduce its reliance on fossil fuels."
Stephen Frankel, a farmer from Wadebridge said, "We installed solar PV on our barn roof this year, and immediately starting saving on our bills and earning extra income thanks to the FiT. Traditionally, farming revenue is quite seasonal, but now we’re making money by creating clean energy we have the peace of mind of another income, and we’re doing our bit reducing our carbon footprint. I’d recommend any farmer to consider this – our land brings us so much value, so why not our roofs?”
Sustainable farming is at the core of a healthy future for the UK, and it’s great to see farmers recognising the opportunity they now have with solar. Urban Energy welcome the opportunity to help UK farmers get maximum return from their property. Solar power is a sophisticated active industrial building product designed to work with business.
The main findings of the survey are:
*88.1% of Farmers are currently considering renewables on their farm
*Since the introduction of the FiT in April 2010, 83.2% of farmers have considered renewables; as the financial incentive secures a return on investment for 25 years
*Of those considering renewables, an overwhelming 93.3% are interested in solar PV, with wind energy as the second choice
*Of those who have already invested in renewables, only 28.6% have done so in PV; but 85.7% are now considering it
*82.2% of farmers are considering solar PV (93.3% of those interested in renewables (88.1%)
*80.6% of those surveyed are considering solar on a roof
*89.8% of those interested in investing in renewables are planning to do so within the next two years, which would enable them to take advantage of the FiT
*However, only 55.2% understood to what extent they could actually earn from the FiT; being paid for all electricity generated and consumed, as well as that exported. The remainder (25.4%) thought payment was only for generation, or export (19.4%)
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care.
"Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government incentive schemes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Tuesday 14 December 2010
Sunday 31 October 2010
Further energy bill hikes expected
Households are braced for a fresh round of energy bill hikes after Scottish & Southern Energy raised its gas prices by 9.4%.
SSE, which owns Southern Electric, Scottish Hydro and Swalec, blamed the price hike, which will come into effect on December 1, on a 25% increase in the wholesale price of gas this year.
It means the average annual household gas bill for an SSE customer will increase by £5.60 a month to £782. A dual fuel customer's annual bill will rise to £1,226 from £1,159 a year ago.
The timing of the hike could hardly be worse for consumers as it will come at the start of winter when gas consumption soars, and just weeks before Christmas and a planned hike in VAT to 20%.
Mark Todd, director of Energy Helpline, said SSE is the first major supplier to hike gas prices for two years but others are likely to follow suit.
"This is a grim Christmas present for millions of customers before what's predicted to be a very harsh winter," he said.
"We expect there to be a response from the other suppliers, and it's likely there will be at least a few that move before Christmas. UK consumers are in the last chance saloon for cheap energy deals and must act now if they want to keep their costs down."
He also warned the price hikes may not be restricted to gas after EDF became the first major player to put electricity prices up, when it implemented a 2.6% rise on October 1.
Watchdog Consumer Focus said wholesale gas prices are still 40% below their peak in 2008, whereas SSE's prices are just 2% below their 2008 peak.
Audrey Gallacher, head of energy at Consumer Focus, said: "We are worried this could be the start of some serious bad news for all consumers."
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care.
"Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government incentive schemes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
SSE, which owns Southern Electric, Scottish Hydro and Swalec, blamed the price hike, which will come into effect on December 1, on a 25% increase in the wholesale price of gas this year.
It means the average annual household gas bill for an SSE customer will increase by £5.60 a month to £782. A dual fuel customer's annual bill will rise to £1,226 from £1,159 a year ago.
The timing of the hike could hardly be worse for consumers as it will come at the start of winter when gas consumption soars, and just weeks before Christmas and a planned hike in VAT to 20%.
Mark Todd, director of Energy Helpline, said SSE is the first major supplier to hike gas prices for two years but others are likely to follow suit.
"This is a grim Christmas present for millions of customers before what's predicted to be a very harsh winter," he said.
"We expect there to be a response from the other suppliers, and it's likely there will be at least a few that move before Christmas. UK consumers are in the last chance saloon for cheap energy deals and must act now if they want to keep their costs down."
He also warned the price hikes may not be restricted to gas after EDF became the first major player to put electricity prices up, when it implemented a 2.6% rise on October 1.
Watchdog Consumer Focus said wholesale gas prices are still 40% below their peak in 2008, whereas SSE's prices are just 2% below their 2008 peak.
Audrey Gallacher, head of energy at Consumer Focus, said: "We are worried this could be the start of some serious bad news for all consumers."
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care.
"Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government incentive schemes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Wednesday 20 October 2010
Comprehensive Spending Review Summary
Chancellor George Osborne stood up in the House of Commons at 12.30pm today to detail the coalition Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. Some key points:
The efficiency of feed-in tariffs will be improved at the next formal review, rebalancing them in favour of more cost effective carbon abatement technologies. This will save £40 million in 2014-15. Support for lower value innovation and technology projects will also be reduced, saving £70 million a year on average over the Spending Review period.
Therefore feed-in tariffs will be refocused on the most cost-effective technologies in 2014-15. The changes will be implemented at the first scheduled review of tariffs unless higher than expected deployment requires an early review.
The Renewable Energy Association’s (REA) PV Specialist Consultant, Ray Noble said of the review, “This is excellent news for the UK solar industry. It’s exactly what the market needs in order to fulfill its fantastic potential. The outcome of today’s review could not have been better.”
The review also outlined that over one billion pounds will be set aside for the Green Investment Bank, however the Chancellor said that he hopes much more will be invested from private sector and future government asset sales. By injecting such an amount into this bank, the coalition hopes to create jobs and reduce carbon emissions in order to meet the country’s 2050 emissions targets.
The government will also go ahead with the planned Green Deal, which has no upfront cost to homeowners, thus scrapping Warm Front, which spent £280m a year on improving energy efficiency for poorer households.
The Renewable Heat Incentive, funded from AME, will be introduced as planned from 2011-12. This will ensure the UK meets its 2020 renewable energy targets while making efficiency savings of 20%, or £105 million a year, by 2014-15 compared with the previous Government’s plans.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) settlement includes:
- Up to £1 billion of investment to create one of the world’s first commercial scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration plants;
- Over £200 million for the development of low carbon technologies including offshore wind technology and manufacturing at port sites;
- Increased incentives for low carbon energy generation through the Renewable Heat Incentive;
- Enabling households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes at no upfront cost through a Green Deal; and
- Overall savings within DECC’s core resource budget of 30% in real terms by 2014-15, including through cutting lower value projects and focusing on key priorities.
The Spending Review settlement enables DECC to prioritise spending in areas where it can have most impact. For example, new low carbon technologies have the potential to contribute to growth as well as to emissions reductions. The Chancellor also announced that next month, the DECC will outline its reform plan for the next four years.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care.
"Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government incentive schemes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
The efficiency of feed-in tariffs will be improved at the next formal review, rebalancing them in favour of more cost effective carbon abatement technologies. This will save £40 million in 2014-15. Support for lower value innovation and technology projects will also be reduced, saving £70 million a year on average over the Spending Review period.
Therefore feed-in tariffs will be refocused on the most cost-effective technologies in 2014-15. The changes will be implemented at the first scheduled review of tariffs unless higher than expected deployment requires an early review.
The Renewable Energy Association’s (REA) PV Specialist Consultant, Ray Noble said of the review, “This is excellent news for the UK solar industry. It’s exactly what the market needs in order to fulfill its fantastic potential. The outcome of today’s review could not have been better.”
The review also outlined that over one billion pounds will be set aside for the Green Investment Bank, however the Chancellor said that he hopes much more will be invested from private sector and future government asset sales. By injecting such an amount into this bank, the coalition hopes to create jobs and reduce carbon emissions in order to meet the country’s 2050 emissions targets.
The government will also go ahead with the planned Green Deal, which has no upfront cost to homeowners, thus scrapping Warm Front, which spent £280m a year on improving energy efficiency for poorer households.
The Renewable Heat Incentive, funded from AME, will be introduced as planned from 2011-12. This will ensure the UK meets its 2020 renewable energy targets while making efficiency savings of 20%, or £105 million a year, by 2014-15 compared with the previous Government’s plans.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) settlement includes:
- Up to £1 billion of investment to create one of the world’s first commercial scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration plants;
- Over £200 million for the development of low carbon technologies including offshore wind technology and manufacturing at port sites;
- Increased incentives for low carbon energy generation through the Renewable Heat Incentive;
- Enabling households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes at no upfront cost through a Green Deal; and
- Overall savings within DECC’s core resource budget of 30% in real terms by 2014-15, including through cutting lower value projects and focusing on key priorities.
The Spending Review settlement enables DECC to prioritise spending in areas where it can have most impact. For example, new low carbon technologies have the potential to contribute to growth as well as to emissions reductions. The Chancellor also announced that next month, the DECC will outline its reform plan for the next four years.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care.
"Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government incentive schemes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Reaction to George Osborne's Spending Review (FiTs & RHI)
George Osborne announced today continued support of the Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) and the planned start of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
The Government will maintain FiTs at their current level until the planned review date of 2013. These tariffs are essential in driving up renewable energy generation amongst consumers and businesses.
FiTs have a vital role to play in reaching the Government’s commitment to achieving at least a third of energy generation from renewable energy by 2020. Producing and using energy locally and making it a visible part of the local community means that people will value their energy more and use it less.
He also announced that the Government has chosen to support and incentivise renewable heat generation through the RHI scheme. Currently, only 1% of total heat demand comes from renewable sources which the Government clearly recognises needs to rise if the UK is to meet its renewable energy targets. The RHI scheme will significantly boost this volume.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care.
"Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
The Government will maintain FiTs at their current level until the planned review date of 2013. These tariffs are essential in driving up renewable energy generation amongst consumers and businesses.
FiTs have a vital role to play in reaching the Government’s commitment to achieving at least a third of energy generation from renewable energy by 2020. Producing and using energy locally and making it a visible part of the local community means that people will value their energy more and use it less.
He also announced that the Government has chosen to support and incentivise renewable heat generation through the RHI scheme. Currently, only 1% of total heat demand comes from renewable sources which the Government clearly recognises needs to rise if the UK is to meet its renewable energy targets. The RHI scheme will significantly boost this volume.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care.
"Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Friday 15 October 2010
Urban Energy: dispelling solar myths
Myth 1: Photovoltaics are expensive:
Solar photovoltaics are reaching grid parity and are expected to provide electricity as cheap as the National Grid by 2012. Solar PV reaching grid parity is fueled by a number of factors including:
Analysing the cost of photovoltaics should not be considered solely in terms of ‘upfront costs’, since they have many additional benefits:
Myth 2: PV’s cost makes it the least popular renewable energy:
In October 2006, St James homes surveyed almost 100 potential buyers for their new ‘envirohome’, Kennett Island in Reading. They found that solar thermal and PV were the priority requirements for those considering this new type of home. The BBC also found similar statistics in 2006. PV was rated above a wind turbine, grey water recycling, and other energy saving features. As a maintenance free, long lasting technology, many consumers are attracted by its unique ‘fit and forget’ potential.
Myth 3: PV can’t provide all of my electricity
Individual cases differ according to the energy efficiency of a building and energy consumption, however evidence has shown that it is certainly possible to get a household’s electrical needs out of a PV system. According to Energy Savings Trust, the average household consumes 4,000 kWh per year.
An example of PV producing more electricity than used in a home is presented by the Garside Family: Since their system was installed the Garside family have become suppliers of electricity, consuming just 2,600 kWh a year, which is less than the 2,930kWh they produce. This has allowed them to sell their excess production back to their electricity supplier and feed it into the national grid.
Myth 4: PV uses more energy to produce than it gives back:
There is a common but mistaken notion that solar cells never produce more energy than it takes to make them. The term ‘energy payback’ captures this idea. Reaping the environmental benefits of solar energy requires using energy to make the PV system, but the investment is small. Specifically, paybacks for standard, crystalline modules are two to four years (depending on where they are installed). For new, thin-film modules, ‘energy payback’ times of just one year are anticipated.
Myth 5: Solar thermal is less expensive than PV, so a better option:
Solar thermal systems and solar PV are very different technologies. Solar thermal heats water, while PV creates electricity. Both are excellent means of reducing carbon emissions, and it is possible to have both. However, in terms of reducing carbon emissions, PV avoids more carbon emissions as it displaces grid electricity, which (in the UK) is three times more carbon intensive than gas.
Myth 6: The UK does not receive sufficient sun to make PV worthwhile:
Electricity is produced with daylight, not intense sunlight. Although most effective in sunny climates, the UK is still a suitable market. UK irradiance levels stand at 1000W/m2 for London, with a range of 750W/m2 to 1100W/m2 across the UK. There is little difference between solar irradiation in the Scotland and the south coast of England. In fact, solar electric (PV) panels are routinely used in the polar regions to supply power for test equipment. The UK has similar irradiance levels to Germany and the Netherlands.
Myth 7: It’s hard to get planning permission for PV in the UK:
Local government has taken the initiative to encourage the use of renewable energy. In June 2006 Yvette Cooper, Minister for Housing and Planning said:
“It is patently absurd that you should be able to put a satellite dish up on your house but should have to wrestle with the planning process for small scale microgeneration which is no more obtrusive. We want far more microgeneration to be treated as permitted development.”
She added:
“We need to seize on new development as an opportunity not a threat. It is time to rethink the way we build. It is time to rethink the way we design our homes and communities, if we are to build communities for the future that are truly sustainable. Our long term ambition should be zero carbon development and we believe the Thames Gateway offers a fantastic opportunity to lead the way in environmental improvements for new developments. We do not know yet how fast we can get there, but the development industry should be clear about our aims and should start planning now for new investment and innovation to meet our goals.”
Solar has been installed on listed buildings in the UK and in areas of outstanding natural beauty. Previous restrictions can be overcome with technologies such as discrete solar PV and solar thermal tiles that sit flush with the roof, blending seamlessly into the natural roof line.
Myth 8: PV will only work if it is south facing:
The optimal orientation is south facing, however south west and south east orientations are also effective and produce about 70% as much energy as a south facing installation. It is also important to consider inclination: a 35 degree inclination is optimal, but over 90 percent of the maximum annual energy can be created at 10 degree and 50 degree tilts from the horizontal.
Myth 9: PV is unreliable, and its value will diminish over time:
With no moving parts PV does not require any routine maintenance. Its ‘fit and forget’ nature is one of its main appeals. A visual inspection of the panels and the inverter is recommended every year and after 15 years the inverter may need to be replaced but this is only 5% of the system price.
PV is a very low risk technology, with no ongoing engineering costs associated with servicing unlike all other renewable technologies. The longevity and reliability of PV is one of its key strengths as a renewable energy source. PV comes with a 20 to 25 year warranty to produce at least 80% of its optimal production. Manufacturers claim it has at least a 60 year life-span, the very first Sharp module installation in Japan in 1963 is still working today, over 40 years later.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care.
"Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Solar photovoltaics are reaching grid parity and are expected to provide electricity as cheap as the National Grid by 2012. Solar PV reaching grid parity is fueled by a number of factors including:
- Rising global energy prices
- The rise in local and national legislation, and international commitments designed to reduce carbon emissions
- An increase in subsidy support for PV from national governments
Analysing the cost of photovoltaics should not be considered solely in terms of ‘upfront costs’, since they have many additional benefits:
- The inclusion of PV has been shown to increase house value.
- PV also ‘future proofs’ homes or commercial property against rising fuel prices
- Excess electricity can be sold back to the National Grid, the rate for which varies according to your supplier
Myth 2: PV’s cost makes it the least popular renewable energy:
In October 2006, St James homes surveyed almost 100 potential buyers for their new ‘envirohome’, Kennett Island in Reading. They found that solar thermal and PV were the priority requirements for those considering this new type of home. The BBC also found similar statistics in 2006. PV was rated above a wind turbine, grey water recycling, and other energy saving features. As a maintenance free, long lasting technology, many consumers are attracted by its unique ‘fit and forget’ potential.
Myth 3: PV can’t provide all of my electricity
Individual cases differ according to the energy efficiency of a building and energy consumption, however evidence has shown that it is certainly possible to get a household’s electrical needs out of a PV system. According to Energy Savings Trust, the average household consumes 4,000 kWh per year.
An example of PV producing more electricity than used in a home is presented by the Garside Family: Since their system was installed the Garside family have become suppliers of electricity, consuming just 2,600 kWh a year, which is less than the 2,930kWh they produce. This has allowed them to sell their excess production back to their electricity supplier and feed it into the national grid.
Myth 4: PV uses more energy to produce than it gives back:
There is a common but mistaken notion that solar cells never produce more energy than it takes to make them. The term ‘energy payback’ captures this idea. Reaping the environmental benefits of solar energy requires using energy to make the PV system, but the investment is small. Specifically, paybacks for standard, crystalline modules are two to four years (depending on where they are installed). For new, thin-film modules, ‘energy payback’ times of just one year are anticipated.
Myth 5: Solar thermal is less expensive than PV, so a better option:
Solar thermal systems and solar PV are very different technologies. Solar thermal heats water, while PV creates electricity. Both are excellent means of reducing carbon emissions, and it is possible to have both. However, in terms of reducing carbon emissions, PV avoids more carbon emissions as it displaces grid electricity, which (in the UK) is three times more carbon intensive than gas.
Myth 6: The UK does not receive sufficient sun to make PV worthwhile:
Electricity is produced with daylight, not intense sunlight. Although most effective in sunny climates, the UK is still a suitable market. UK irradiance levels stand at 1000W/m2 for London, with a range of 750W/m2 to 1100W/m2 across the UK. There is little difference between solar irradiation in the Scotland and the south coast of England. In fact, solar electric (PV) panels are routinely used in the polar regions to supply power for test equipment. The UK has similar irradiance levels to Germany and the Netherlands.
Myth 7: It’s hard to get planning permission for PV in the UK:
Local government has taken the initiative to encourage the use of renewable energy. In June 2006 Yvette Cooper, Minister for Housing and Planning said:
“It is patently absurd that you should be able to put a satellite dish up on your house but should have to wrestle with the planning process for small scale microgeneration which is no more obtrusive. We want far more microgeneration to be treated as permitted development.”
She added:
“We need to seize on new development as an opportunity not a threat. It is time to rethink the way we build. It is time to rethink the way we design our homes and communities, if we are to build communities for the future that are truly sustainable. Our long term ambition should be zero carbon development and we believe the Thames Gateway offers a fantastic opportunity to lead the way in environmental improvements for new developments. We do not know yet how fast we can get there, but the development industry should be clear about our aims and should start planning now for new investment and innovation to meet our goals.”
Solar has been installed on listed buildings in the UK and in areas of outstanding natural beauty. Previous restrictions can be overcome with technologies such as discrete solar PV and solar thermal tiles that sit flush with the roof, blending seamlessly into the natural roof line.
Myth 8: PV will only work if it is south facing:
The optimal orientation is south facing, however south west and south east orientations are also effective and produce about 70% as much energy as a south facing installation. It is also important to consider inclination: a 35 degree inclination is optimal, but over 90 percent of the maximum annual energy can be created at 10 degree and 50 degree tilts from the horizontal.
Myth 9: PV is unreliable, and its value will diminish over time:
With no moving parts PV does not require any routine maintenance. Its ‘fit and forget’ nature is one of its main appeals. A visual inspection of the panels and the inverter is recommended every year and after 15 years the inverter may need to be replaced but this is only 5% of the system price.
PV is a very low risk technology, with no ongoing engineering costs associated with servicing unlike all other renewable technologies. The longevity and reliability of PV is one of its key strengths as a renewable energy source. PV comes with a 20 to 25 year warranty to produce at least 80% of its optimal production. Manufacturers claim it has at least a 60 year life-span, the very first Sharp module installation in Japan in 1963 is still working today, over 40 years later.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care.
"Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Sunday 10 October 2010
Feed-in tariff scheme proves to be a success
The government's feed-in tariff scheme has already got thousands of people generating their own green electricity.
When the government launched the feed-in tariff scheme in April it was one of a range of policies aimed at inducing people to improve the eco-credentials of their homes.
Now, just five months later, an Ofgem report has revealed that almost 10,000 people have signed up to the scheme, including those that were already using microgeneration technology to power their homes before it started.
Explained simply, the feed-in tariff scheme pays those who generate their own green electricity, even if they don't sell it back to the National Grid. If households do choose to export their electricity then they will be awarded with extra payments.
Energy suppliers pay a certain amount per kilowatt hour (kw/h) of power generated, which remains at a constant level for 20 years, or 25 years if the power is generated from solar power. A further 3p per kw/h will also be paid for any electricity which is sold back to the grid.
This has the two-fold benefit of bringing in added income and reducing household energy bills.
The aim of the scheme was to encourage more people to install microgeneration technology, which is capable of producing small amounts of green electricity. This will in turn increase the amount of energy in the UK being produced by renewable energy sources and reduce the country's carbon emissions.
Figures from the Ofgem report show that in total, £182,059 has been paid out to UK households through the feed-in tariffs. Overall, 9,350 people are now signed up to the scheme.
Nick Medic, head of communications at RenewableUK, said earlier this year that the feed-in tariffs are "revolutionary".
"What the feed-in tariff does is it really simplifies the way in which people can benefit from renewable energy," he explained.
Looking at the electricity generation in terms of installed capacity, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are leading the way with 44 per cent of the share. Solar panels also account for a huge 97 per cent of all installations.
Solar PV technology uses cells to convert the sun's rays into electricity, without requiring direct sunlight, which means it continues to generate power even on a cloudy day. According to the National Home Improvement Show, a typical system can add five per cent to a property's value and generate £700 a year under the feed-in tariff scheme.
Wind turbines provide the next highest proportion of installed power at 35 per cent, followed by hydro at 21 per cent.
It's not just homeowners that are looking to benefit from the feed-in tariff scheme either. Domestic dwellings make up the highest single proportion of installed capacity at 46 per cent, but there are also high numbers of commercial and community projects registered with the scheme.
Stuart Pocock, technical director at the Renewable Energy Association, said that more commercial enterprises are showing interest.
"Obviously it's slightly different for the commercial sector because there is still planning permission needed and there are more hoops to jump through, but the feedback we're getting is that yes, it is appearing to be of interest for certain parts of the market," he explained.
If you're thinking about joining in with the feed-in tariff scheme then there are a number of steps that should be followed.
Firstly, you should make sure that your home complies with all basic existing energy-efficiency measures. You should then decide which technology is best suited for your home and select an installer that is registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
Once the technology is installed, give your certificate of eligibility to your energy supplier, which will cross reference your details with a central database, and install a new meter to read how much power the technology is generating.
The feed-in tariff is, of course, still in its infancy, but if the success of the similar scheme in Germany is anything to go by, the initiative is only likely to grow in popularity.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
When the government launched the feed-in tariff scheme in April it was one of a range of policies aimed at inducing people to improve the eco-credentials of their homes.
Now, just five months later, an Ofgem report has revealed that almost 10,000 people have signed up to the scheme, including those that were already using microgeneration technology to power their homes before it started.
Explained simply, the feed-in tariff scheme pays those who generate their own green electricity, even if they don't sell it back to the National Grid. If households do choose to export their electricity then they will be awarded with extra payments.
Energy suppliers pay a certain amount per kilowatt hour (kw/h) of power generated, which remains at a constant level for 20 years, or 25 years if the power is generated from solar power. A further 3p per kw/h will also be paid for any electricity which is sold back to the grid.
This has the two-fold benefit of bringing in added income and reducing household energy bills.
The aim of the scheme was to encourage more people to install microgeneration technology, which is capable of producing small amounts of green electricity. This will in turn increase the amount of energy in the UK being produced by renewable energy sources and reduce the country's carbon emissions.
Figures from the Ofgem report show that in total, £182,059 has been paid out to UK households through the feed-in tariffs. Overall, 9,350 people are now signed up to the scheme.
Nick Medic, head of communications at RenewableUK, said earlier this year that the feed-in tariffs are "revolutionary".
"What the feed-in tariff does is it really simplifies the way in which people can benefit from renewable energy," he explained.
Looking at the electricity generation in terms of installed capacity, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are leading the way with 44 per cent of the share. Solar panels also account for a huge 97 per cent of all installations.
Solar PV technology uses cells to convert the sun's rays into electricity, without requiring direct sunlight, which means it continues to generate power even on a cloudy day. According to the National Home Improvement Show, a typical system can add five per cent to a property's value and generate £700 a year under the feed-in tariff scheme.
Wind turbines provide the next highest proportion of installed power at 35 per cent, followed by hydro at 21 per cent.
It's not just homeowners that are looking to benefit from the feed-in tariff scheme either. Domestic dwellings make up the highest single proportion of installed capacity at 46 per cent, but there are also high numbers of commercial and community projects registered with the scheme.
Stuart Pocock, technical director at the Renewable Energy Association, said that more commercial enterprises are showing interest.
"Obviously it's slightly different for the commercial sector because there is still planning permission needed and there are more hoops to jump through, but the feedback we're getting is that yes, it is appearing to be of interest for certain parts of the market," he explained.
If you're thinking about joining in with the feed-in tariff scheme then there are a number of steps that should be followed.
Firstly, you should make sure that your home complies with all basic existing energy-efficiency measures. You should then decide which technology is best suited for your home and select an installer that is registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
Once the technology is installed, give your certificate of eligibility to your energy supplier, which will cross reference your details with a central database, and install a new meter to read how much power the technology is generating.
The feed-in tariff is, of course, still in its infancy, but if the success of the similar scheme in Germany is anything to go by, the initiative is only likely to grow in popularity.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Thursday 16 September 2010
Don’t Buy Solar From Cold Callers!
Solar power is getting increasingly affordable. Switching to solar power can certainly save you a lot of money on your home energy bills. However, you have to be careful about where you purchase your solar power from. Many consumers are getting lured in by cold callers who contact them with “great deals” on solar and end up spending far more than they should.
Urban Energy offers the following warnings about sellers who call you out of the blue offering solar power deals:
- Claiming that their rates are heavily discounted. Many of these cold callers will state that they’re offering you the best rate available when this simply isn’t true. A lot of people haven’t done enough research into solar power to know whether or not the claim is correct. As with any other big purchase, it’s very important to shop around to learn about pricing before you buy.
- Neglecting to mention the feed-in tariff. In the UK there’s a feed-in tariff, also called the Clean Energy Cash Back Scheme, that allows you to get money back when you use solar power. It provides a fixed income for the energy that you generate and use in your home. If you produce excess energy then you can sell it back to the grid. It’s designed to offer a nice tidy profit to energy-conscience consumers after a twenty-five year period has passed. If cold callers don’t mention it then it may be because they are pocketing this money for themselves.
- The catch. In some cases, the offer for solar power may sound like it’s a good one but then it involves a catch. For example, the price may be low (and even free) but then there’s a monthly or annual required maintenance charge that is very pricey. Carefully ask about the terms when someone calls you to talk about solar power. Don’t agree to anything that’s not in writing.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Urban Energy offers the following warnings about sellers who call you out of the blue offering solar power deals:
- Claiming that their rates are heavily discounted. Many of these cold callers will state that they’re offering you the best rate available when this simply isn’t true. A lot of people haven’t done enough research into solar power to know whether or not the claim is correct. As with any other big purchase, it’s very important to shop around to learn about pricing before you buy.
- Neglecting to mention the feed-in tariff. In the UK there’s a feed-in tariff, also called the Clean Energy Cash Back Scheme, that allows you to get money back when you use solar power. It provides a fixed income for the energy that you generate and use in your home. If you produce excess energy then you can sell it back to the grid. It’s designed to offer a nice tidy profit to energy-conscience consumers after a twenty-five year period has passed. If cold callers don’t mention it then it may be because they are pocketing this money for themselves.
- The catch. In some cases, the offer for solar power may sound like it’s a good one but then it involves a catch. For example, the price may be low (and even free) but then there’s a monthly or annual required maintenance charge that is very pricey. Carefully ask about the terms when someone calls you to talk about solar power. Don’t agree to anything that’s not in writing.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
UK Renewable Energy: first few months of the FiT Scheme
A report from the UK's Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) shows over 9,000 renewable energy systems installed in the country are now participating in the UK's feed in tariff scheme.
Figures up to 9 September 2010 show that 9,350 units are now registered to participate, including systems installed since the feed in tariff scheme was rolled out in April and installations that were previously claiming payments under the Renewables Obligation.
Of those, 2,771 new installations were registered between 1 April 2010 and 30 June 2010; representing 15.2 MW of total installed capacity.
The UK feed in tariff scheme not only covers solar panel based installations, but wind, hydro, and anaerobic digestion, up to a maximum capacity of 5MW, and micro-CHP up to 2kW.
To date, just under half of the total installed capacity under the scheme are domestic systems and most of the installations in the domestic sector were based on solar panels.
The program is based on a gross feed in tariff model rather than net, meaning that participants receive the premium payment for all electricity produced, rather than just the surplus exported to the mains grid.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Figures up to 9 September 2010 show that 9,350 units are now registered to participate, including systems installed since the feed in tariff scheme was rolled out in April and installations that were previously claiming payments under the Renewables Obligation.
Of those, 2,771 new installations were registered between 1 April 2010 and 30 June 2010; representing 15.2 MW of total installed capacity.
The UK feed in tariff scheme not only covers solar panel based installations, but wind, hydro, and anaerobic digestion, up to a maximum capacity of 5MW, and micro-CHP up to 2kW.
To date, just under half of the total installed capacity under the scheme are domestic systems and most of the installations in the domestic sector were based on solar panels.
The program is based on a gross feed in tariff model rather than net, meaning that participants receive the premium payment for all electricity produced, rather than just the surplus exported to the mains grid.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Saturday 4 September 2010
£7bn rooftop bonanza for British homes
As many as half of Britain's homes could earn around £600 a year from roof top solar panels with some earning as much as £1000.
Research carried out by British Gas suggests that over 12 million households have roofs that could benefit from solar panel installations which would produce enough electricity for up to half their household needs.
By cutting their electricity bill and earning money through the Government's Feed-in Tariff scheme - a scheme that pays owners of solar panels for the ‘renewable' electricity they generate - the average household would be better off by around £600 a year and those with bigger systems could benefit by up to £1000.
Collectively, British homes could be £7bn a year better off.
The market for solar installations and other microgeneration technology in the UK is expected to grow rapidly with the new Government support scheme. British Gas predicts that within a decade, one quarter of households will have small-scale microgeneration technology in their homes.
Solar energy will also enable millions of consumers to benefit from carbon savings. An average rooftop could save up to 692 kg of CO2 each per year. As a nation, this means we could make a saving of over 8.5 million tonnes of CO2.
Installing solar panels will create a regular, tax-free income for homeowners. Not only that but the income is index-linked and guaranteed by the Government for the next 25 years. As it typically gives returns of 5-8% it's potentially far better than most current bond or gilt investments. It is also a great way to keep your electricity bills down.
Solar power will revolutionise the way British homes generate and use energy. The time is right for customers to reap the benefits of this technology, cut their electricity bills, reduce their carbon footprint and earn a yearly income.
Source: Catherine Deshayes @ propertytalklive
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Research carried out by British Gas suggests that over 12 million households have roofs that could benefit from solar panel installations which would produce enough electricity for up to half their household needs.
By cutting their electricity bill and earning money through the Government's Feed-in Tariff scheme - a scheme that pays owners of solar panels for the ‘renewable' electricity they generate - the average household would be better off by around £600 a year and those with bigger systems could benefit by up to £1000.
Collectively, British homes could be £7bn a year better off.
The market for solar installations and other microgeneration technology in the UK is expected to grow rapidly with the new Government support scheme. British Gas predicts that within a decade, one quarter of households will have small-scale microgeneration technology in their homes.
Solar energy will also enable millions of consumers to benefit from carbon savings. An average rooftop could save up to 692 kg of CO2 each per year. As a nation, this means we could make a saving of over 8.5 million tonnes of CO2.
Installing solar panels will create a regular, tax-free income for homeowners. Not only that but the income is index-linked and guaranteed by the Government for the next 25 years. As it typically gives returns of 5-8% it's potentially far better than most current bond or gilt investments. It is also a great way to keep your electricity bills down.
Solar power will revolutionise the way British homes generate and use energy. The time is right for customers to reap the benefits of this technology, cut their electricity bills, reduce their carbon footprint and earn a yearly income.
Source: Catherine Deshayes @ propertytalklive
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Thursday 19 August 2010
A hundred days of the 'greenest-ever' government
In an era when everything environmental - including biodiversity, waste, and fish stocks - is measured with indicators announcing that you will be the UK's "greenest-ever government", begs a number of questions - most obviously, "measured how?"
If you preside over a fall in greenhouse gas emissions while seeing numbers of farmland birds tumble, for example, how should those two trends be balanced against each other? Which is more important in assessing whether you are the "greenest ever"?
For many in the climate field, the coalition government began with a positive bang, by announcing it would not support the construction of a new runway at Heathrow Airport.
This had become a symbolic indicator of whether government was prepared to fight the green corner against business interests.
But it was also a simple measure by which the Conservatives and Lib Dems could distance themselves from their Labour predecessors, given that all three main parties are basically in the same climate camp.
Since then, Chris Huhne's Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has taken other small steps designed to stimulate a growth in green energy, such as allowing councils to sell renewable electricity generated on their lands - a policy that builds on Labour's introduction of feed-in tariffs for renewables.
Delivering on the economy?
On the other hand, budget cuts for DECC have led to the scaling down or scrapping of funds designed to support offshore wind, biomass and geothermal energy.
There have been similar small steps towards improving home insulation, regarded in many circles as a win-win-win, as it reduces energy spend, cuts emissions and tackles fuel poverty.
But like Labour, the coalition is a long way short of establishing the nationwide energy efficiency scheme recommended by the Committee on Climate Change, the government's advisers, who called last year for a street-to-street programme that would insulate 10 million lofts and 7.5 million cavity walls by 2015.
More small steps are anticipated in coming months, including realisation of the Green Investment Bank, a review of the electricity market structure and a strategy to stimulate energy micro-generation.
Climate of austerity
The potential of the new austerity to scupper DECC initiatives is a concern raised by Mike Childs, head of climate with Friends of the Earth UK, "The future is looking ominous," he says.
"The Treasury is threatening the much-heralded 'Green Deal' on energy efficiency for homes, to starve the new Green Investment Bank of cash, and cut the Renewable Heat Incentive which would reduce rewards for generating heat from renewable sources."
So far, the government's headline commitment to cutting emissions and developing a low-carbon economy has not been challenged by the climate-sceptic rump of the Conservative Party; the maths of coalition politics do not permit it.
Nevertheless, practical moves to reduce emissions are influenced by numerous departments - the Treasury, Communities and Local Government, Transport - and some of those departments may see initiatives retarded rather than advanced by chiefs who do not share Mr Huhne's enthusiasm for carbon restraint.
Internationally, Mr Huhne recently joined counterparts from France and Germany in calling for the EU to raise its collective emissions-cutting pledge to 30% on 1990 levels by 2020, rather than the current 20%.
Although that has won plaudits, it is tempered by data showing that the recession has lowered emissions so much across the bloc that 30% looks much more achievable today than it did two years ago. Real ambition, some are saying, now implies calls for a 40% cut.
Overall, DECC's first 100 days under the coalition are marked by three over-arching themes:
Mr Huhne has acknowledged that the UK lags most of western Europe woefully on renewables. Whether that gap shrinks or expands over the next few years will be a litmus test of the "greenest-ever" claim.
Wider vision
Under Labour, there were times when the word "environment" seemed to have become replaced by the narrower "climate", so high did the latter ride up the overall agenda - certainly in terms of the political noise.
On that measure, the coalition looks, sounds and feels very different.
Biodiversity, the economics of nature loss, reducing waste and producing energy from it: Caroline Spelman's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has been vocal on all of these issues during its initial 100 days.
Ms Spelman's initial list of priorities included: an "absolute commitment" to reversing the trend toward reduction in biodiversity seeking "genuine reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)... for farmers, taxpayers, consumers and the environment alike" maintaining an increase in the money that taxpayers spend on flood defences this year, with "no impact on the number of households that we protect"
There has certainly been more talk about biodiversity than was common under Labour, although you could argue this is largely down to the coalition's accession coinciding with the run-up to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting in October.
But there are concerns that the government's structural and fiscal reforms are going to work against its headline commitment to the issue.
"It's difficult to be optimistic," says Matt Shardlow, chief executive of the wildlife charity Buglife.
"We've seen in the first 100 days an agenda dominated by cuts, and... there's a feeling of hard-won gains, such as the contribution of agro-environment resources of CAP spending to the environment, being under threat."
Ms Spelman has announced major cuts to the 90-odd "arm's-length" bodies funded by DEFRA.
Some are uncontroversial. But budgetary slashing for Natural England, the statutory conservation agency for England, has aroused major concern, with about one-third of its staff likely to go.
Twenty-five organisations including major players such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have sent a letter to government warning that cuts "could have profound and perhaps irreversible consequences for wildlife, landscapes and people".
They have also raised the alarm over proposals to sell off some of the UK's wildlife reserves, although the full picture of what's being proposed has yet to emerge.
And the decision to axe funding for the Sustainable Development Commission has raised in some people's minds questions of whether the coalition is prepared to countenance the really big questions of whether the UK economy, with its continued commitment to growth, is developing along inherently unsustainable lines.
Biodiversity protection may also suffer from the government's commitment to localism, according to Mr Shardlow.
Putting important wildlife sites under local aegis may sound attractive, but he argues that if your aim is a coherent biodiversity strategy across regions, then you have to organise work on a pan-regional basis.
"If you devolve it too far down, you go way beyond the place where the expertise lies," he says.
"You may have people in every village who know where they would like their playing ground to be situated, but you don't have people in every village who know how to conserve endangered bees."
Caroline Spelman's commitment to flood protection may have a sting in the tail as well. This forms a major component of Environment Agency spending; so if that is to be preserved, everything else the agency does may face a disproportionately large cut.
DEFRA is also talking a local game on waste and bio-energy, aiming to encourage local initiatives that would develop a "zero-waste UK", with technologies such as anaerobic digesters coming into increasing use.
But as with Labour, the question remains of how to make this happen without a raft of financial carrots and sticks - something that is likely to prove difficult given this government's cost-cutting agenda.
Culling costs
The Court of Appeal, meanwhile, has removed one of the coalition's biggest potential banana-skins, with its decision last month that the proposed badger cull in Wales could not proceed.
Urged on by DEFRA's Agriculture Minister Jim Paice, the coalition was set to begin culling in England within a few years.
As Labour realised, such a decision would be hugely contentious. The Welsh postponement gives a little more breathing space in which other cattle TB curbs can be shown to work, and for development of a vaccine to advance, making it less likely that the government will need to make a quick decision.
If you had to paint a picture of the coalition so far, you would probably sketch a stern-faced accountant at work inside a big tent carrying the word "society".
Strategies on environment and climate are tucked away in the tent somewhere. They already look different from when Gordon Brown and then David Cameron went to see the Queen 100 days ago; but what it all means for the environment has yet to become entirely clear.
Reference: BBC News, Environment correspondent, Richard Black
If you preside over a fall in greenhouse gas emissions while seeing numbers of farmland birds tumble, for example, how should those two trends be balanced against each other? Which is more important in assessing whether you are the "greenest ever"?
For many in the climate field, the coalition government began with a positive bang, by announcing it would not support the construction of a new runway at Heathrow Airport.
This had become a symbolic indicator of whether government was prepared to fight the green corner against business interests.
But it was also a simple measure by which the Conservatives and Lib Dems could distance themselves from their Labour predecessors, given that all three main parties are basically in the same climate camp.
Since then, Chris Huhne's Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has taken other small steps designed to stimulate a growth in green energy, such as allowing councils to sell renewable electricity generated on their lands - a policy that builds on Labour's introduction of feed-in tariffs for renewables.
Delivering on the economy?
On the other hand, budget cuts for DECC have led to the scaling down or scrapping of funds designed to support offshore wind, biomass and geothermal energy.
There have been similar small steps towards improving home insulation, regarded in many circles as a win-win-win, as it reduces energy spend, cuts emissions and tackles fuel poverty.
But like Labour, the coalition is a long way short of establishing the nationwide energy efficiency scheme recommended by the Committee on Climate Change, the government's advisers, who called last year for a street-to-street programme that would insulate 10 million lofts and 7.5 million cavity walls by 2015.
More small steps are anticipated in coming months, including realisation of the Green Investment Bank, a review of the electricity market structure and a strategy to stimulate energy micro-generation.
Climate of austerity
The potential of the new austerity to scupper DECC initiatives is a concern raised by Mike Childs, head of climate with Friends of the Earth UK, "The future is looking ominous," he says.
"The Treasury is threatening the much-heralded 'Green Deal' on energy efficiency for homes, to starve the new Green Investment Bank of cash, and cut the Renewable Heat Incentive which would reduce rewards for generating heat from renewable sources."
So far, the government's headline commitment to cutting emissions and developing a low-carbon economy has not been challenged by the climate-sceptic rump of the Conservative Party; the maths of coalition politics do not permit it.
Nevertheless, practical moves to reduce emissions are influenced by numerous departments - the Treasury, Communities and Local Government, Transport - and some of those departments may see initiatives retarded rather than advanced by chiefs who do not share Mr Huhne's enthusiasm for carbon restraint.
Internationally, Mr Huhne recently joined counterparts from France and Germany in calling for the EU to raise its collective emissions-cutting pledge to 30% on 1990 levels by 2020, rather than the current 20%.
Although that has won plaudits, it is tempered by data showing that the recession has lowered emissions so much across the bloc that 30% looks much more achievable today than it did two years ago. Real ambition, some are saying, now implies calls for a 40% cut.
Overall, DECC's first 100 days under the coalition are marked by three over-arching themes:
- fiscal stringency
- consultation on detailed policy measures
- emphasising the tie-up between restraining emissions, energy security and "green" jobs
Mr Huhne has acknowledged that the UK lags most of western Europe woefully on renewables. Whether that gap shrinks or expands over the next few years will be a litmus test of the "greenest-ever" claim.
Wider vision
Under Labour, there were times when the word "environment" seemed to have become replaced by the narrower "climate", so high did the latter ride up the overall agenda - certainly in terms of the political noise.
On that measure, the coalition looks, sounds and feels very different.
Biodiversity, the economics of nature loss, reducing waste and producing energy from it: Caroline Spelman's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has been vocal on all of these issues during its initial 100 days.
Ms Spelman's initial list of priorities included: an "absolute commitment" to reversing the trend toward reduction in biodiversity seeking "genuine reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)... for farmers, taxpayers, consumers and the environment alike" maintaining an increase in the money that taxpayers spend on flood defences this year, with "no impact on the number of households that we protect"
There has certainly been more talk about biodiversity than was common under Labour, although you could argue this is largely down to the coalition's accession coinciding with the run-up to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting in October.
But there are concerns that the government's structural and fiscal reforms are going to work against its headline commitment to the issue.
"It's difficult to be optimistic," says Matt Shardlow, chief executive of the wildlife charity Buglife.
"We've seen in the first 100 days an agenda dominated by cuts, and... there's a feeling of hard-won gains, such as the contribution of agro-environment resources of CAP spending to the environment, being under threat."
Ms Spelman has announced major cuts to the 90-odd "arm's-length" bodies funded by DEFRA.
Some are uncontroversial. But budgetary slashing for Natural England, the statutory conservation agency for England, has aroused major concern, with about one-third of its staff likely to go.
Twenty-five organisations including major players such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have sent a letter to government warning that cuts "could have profound and perhaps irreversible consequences for wildlife, landscapes and people".
They have also raised the alarm over proposals to sell off some of the UK's wildlife reserves, although the full picture of what's being proposed has yet to emerge.
And the decision to axe funding for the Sustainable Development Commission has raised in some people's minds questions of whether the coalition is prepared to countenance the really big questions of whether the UK economy, with its continued commitment to growth, is developing along inherently unsustainable lines.
Biodiversity protection may also suffer from the government's commitment to localism, according to Mr Shardlow.
Putting important wildlife sites under local aegis may sound attractive, but he argues that if your aim is a coherent biodiversity strategy across regions, then you have to organise work on a pan-regional basis.
"If you devolve it too far down, you go way beyond the place where the expertise lies," he says.
"You may have people in every village who know where they would like their playing ground to be situated, but you don't have people in every village who know how to conserve endangered bees."
Caroline Spelman's commitment to flood protection may have a sting in the tail as well. This forms a major component of Environment Agency spending; so if that is to be preserved, everything else the agency does may face a disproportionately large cut.
DEFRA is also talking a local game on waste and bio-energy, aiming to encourage local initiatives that would develop a "zero-waste UK", with technologies such as anaerobic digesters coming into increasing use.
But as with Labour, the question remains of how to make this happen without a raft of financial carrots and sticks - something that is likely to prove difficult given this government's cost-cutting agenda.
Culling costs
The Court of Appeal, meanwhile, has removed one of the coalition's biggest potential banana-skins, with its decision last month that the proposed badger cull in Wales could not proceed.
Urged on by DEFRA's Agriculture Minister Jim Paice, the coalition was set to begin culling in England within a few years.
As Labour realised, such a decision would be hugely contentious. The Welsh postponement gives a little more breathing space in which other cattle TB curbs can be shown to work, and for development of a vaccine to advance, making it less likely that the government will need to make a quick decision.
If you had to paint a picture of the coalition so far, you would probably sketch a stern-faced accountant at work inside a big tent carrying the word "society".
Strategies on environment and climate are tucked away in the tent somewhere. They already look different from when Gordon Brown and then David Cameron went to see the Queen 100 days ago; but what it all means for the environment has yet to become entirely clear.
Reference: BBC News, Environment correspondent, Richard Black
Saturday 14 August 2010
UK councils can sell renewable electricity
Local councils around the UK will be allowed to sell renewable electricity to the grid, following an overturn of the ban on this by Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne.
Only 0.01% of electricity in England is generated by local authority-owned renewable energy sources at the moment.
The ban on local authorities selling renewable electricity will end on 18 August, which with the benefits of the feed-in tariff, could generate up to £200 million a year in income for local authorities across England and Wales.
At present local authorities are able to put any renewable electricity they generate to local use, and to benefit from the associated feed-in tariff for projects smaller than 5 MW. But they are restricted from selling any excess renewable electricity into the grid (other than that generated from combined heat and power), and also from benefiting from the additional export component of the feed-in tariff.
Gordon Edge, Director of Policy at RenewableUK says: “This decision is very good news for councils, the environment and local communities alike. Councils have a vital role to play in the switch to a new low-carbon economy and today’s announcement means they can now take full advantage of the feed-in-tariff and the Renewables Obligation to deliver long-term benefit to their communities by way of additional income. In doing so we hope to see local authorities becoming champions of renewable energy and encouraging wider support."
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Only 0.01% of electricity in England is generated by local authority-owned renewable energy sources at the moment.
The ban on local authorities selling renewable electricity will end on 18 August, which with the benefits of the feed-in tariff, could generate up to £200 million a year in income for local authorities across England and Wales.
At present local authorities are able to put any renewable electricity they generate to local use, and to benefit from the associated feed-in tariff for projects smaller than 5 MW. But they are restricted from selling any excess renewable electricity into the grid (other than that generated from combined heat and power), and also from benefiting from the additional export component of the feed-in tariff.
Gordon Edge, Director of Policy at RenewableUK says: “This decision is very good news for councils, the environment and local communities alike. Councils have a vital role to play in the switch to a new low-carbon economy and today’s announcement means they can now take full advantage of the feed-in-tariff and the Renewables Obligation to deliver long-term benefit to their communities by way of additional income. In doing so we hope to see local authorities becoming champions of renewable energy and encouraging wider support."
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Experts warn "Be wary of 'solar for free' offers"
Be wary of 'solar for free' offers, householders told. With companies offering to fit homes with solar panels for free, experts say you can save more by paying for them yourself. Homeowners would be better off paying for their own solar panels, say experts.
Householders tempted by a rash of new "solar for free" offers could double their financial savings by paying for the panels themselves, experts have warned.
The advice comes as installations of solar photovoltaic panels have exploded in the UK, with the number installed in four months in 2010 more than doubling on the whole of 2009 since a government financial incentive was launched in April.
Spurred by the new feed-in tariff scheme that pays small scale generators of green electricity, a glut of companies are offering to fit thousands of homes with solar panels for free. Under the "rent your roof" model, the companies earn the tariff worth approximately £835 a year and the homeowner benefits from an annual saving of around £110 off their electricity bill.
But homeowners would almost certainly be better off paying for the solar panels themselves, even taking into account interest on a loan for the upfront cost of around £10,000 for a typical home. "Looking at the figures, it [paying for panels yourself] looks like a better deal on paper," Liz Laine, says energy expert at Consumer Focus. She added that consumers should go into such deals "with their eyes open". Simon Osborn, policy advisor at Which?, said: "If you have the means to pay for solar panels yourself, then you may well be better off arranging to have them installed yourself." Consumer Focus has also published a checklist of 24 questions people should ask before signing up, including who has liability if something goes wrong with the panels.
Under the "free solar" model, a homeowner would save in the region of £2,750 on energy bills over 25 years, the length of the tariff offer. By paying for their own panels with a loan at 7.7% interest repaid over 10 years and earning income from the feed-in tariff, they could save around £6,506 over the same period.
Since the tariff started on 1 April, 12.12 megawatt peak (MWp) of solar panels have been installed at 4,822 homes, up from 3.8MWp in 2007, 4.42 MWp in 2008 and 5 MWp in 2009. Solar panel makers are responding to the demand, with Sharp announcing it will double annual production at its UK plant to 500 MW in December. The Wrexham plant, which currently employs 750 people, has seen the UK's share of its output rise from 1% to 10%.
"A large number of companies are setting up to do PV [solar photovoltaic panels]," said Ray Noble, solar specialist at the Renewable Energy Association (REA). "Things are moving from a cottage industry to building scale industry, and creating a high number of jobs too."
The tariffs for solar and other renewable "microgeneration" are a key part of the UK's plan to cut carbon emissions and hit an EU target of generating a fifth of energy from renewable sources by 2020. The government forecasts installations driven by the tariff will account for 1.6% of the UK's electricity consumption in 10 years' time.
The rate of the UK tariff, currently set at 43.1p per KWh for solar PV on existing properties, is fixed until 31 March 2012, when it will be reviewed before decreasing each year. There is disagreement between industry figures over whether the current solar gold rush could force an earlier review. "I think the rate of uptake will be so fast the government will have to do an emergency review (of the rates) or possibly suspend them," Alistair Roberts, project manager at energy co-op Renew, recently told the ENDS Report. "I don't think there's a risk of an emergency review in the next two years, as government needs as much help as possible to hit carbon targets," said Noble at the REA.
Ref: The Guardian 09/08/2010: Adam Vaughan
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Householders tempted by a rash of new "solar for free" offers could double their financial savings by paying for the panels themselves, experts have warned.
The advice comes as installations of solar photovoltaic panels have exploded in the UK, with the number installed in four months in 2010 more than doubling on the whole of 2009 since a government financial incentive was launched in April.
Spurred by the new feed-in tariff scheme that pays small scale generators of green electricity, a glut of companies are offering to fit thousands of homes with solar panels for free. Under the "rent your roof" model, the companies earn the tariff worth approximately £835 a year and the homeowner benefits from an annual saving of around £110 off their electricity bill.
But homeowners would almost certainly be better off paying for the solar panels themselves, even taking into account interest on a loan for the upfront cost of around £10,000 for a typical home. "Looking at the figures, it [paying for panels yourself] looks like a better deal on paper," Liz Laine, says energy expert at Consumer Focus. She added that consumers should go into such deals "with their eyes open". Simon Osborn, policy advisor at Which?, said: "If you have the means to pay for solar panels yourself, then you may well be better off arranging to have them installed yourself." Consumer Focus has also published a checklist of 24 questions people should ask before signing up, including who has liability if something goes wrong with the panels.
Under the "free solar" model, a homeowner would save in the region of £2,750 on energy bills over 25 years, the length of the tariff offer. By paying for their own panels with a loan at 7.7% interest repaid over 10 years and earning income from the feed-in tariff, they could save around £6,506 over the same period.
Since the tariff started on 1 April, 12.12 megawatt peak (MWp) of solar panels have been installed at 4,822 homes, up from 3.8MWp in 2007, 4.42 MWp in 2008 and 5 MWp in 2009. Solar panel makers are responding to the demand, with Sharp announcing it will double annual production at its UK plant to 500 MW in December. The Wrexham plant, which currently employs 750 people, has seen the UK's share of its output rise from 1% to 10%.
"A large number of companies are setting up to do PV [solar photovoltaic panels]," said Ray Noble, solar specialist at the Renewable Energy Association (REA). "Things are moving from a cottage industry to building scale industry, and creating a high number of jobs too."
The tariffs for solar and other renewable "microgeneration" are a key part of the UK's plan to cut carbon emissions and hit an EU target of generating a fifth of energy from renewable sources by 2020. The government forecasts installations driven by the tariff will account for 1.6% of the UK's electricity consumption in 10 years' time.
The rate of the UK tariff, currently set at 43.1p per KWh for solar PV on existing properties, is fixed until 31 March 2012, when it will be reviewed before decreasing each year. There is disagreement between industry figures over whether the current solar gold rush could force an earlier review. "I think the rate of uptake will be so fast the government will have to do an emergency review (of the rates) or possibly suspend them," Alistair Roberts, project manager at energy co-op Renew, recently told the ENDS Report. "I don't think there's a risk of an emergency review in the next two years, as government needs as much help as possible to hit carbon targets," said Noble at the REA.
Ref: The Guardian 09/08/2010: Adam Vaughan
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Wednesday 4 August 2010
UK PV Solar Power Grows 1,500%
Move over Germany and Spain - according to a recent report from iSuppli Corp, the United Kingdom is the fastest-growing country for solar panel installations this year.
Installations of solar panel based solar power systems in the United Kingdom will reach 96 Megawatts (MW) in 2010, up an incredible 1,500% from 6 MW in 2009; dramatically outpacing the growth of the next fastest-growing nation, Spain, by more than double.
"Things definitely are looking brighter for the solar market in the United Kingdom in 2010, as the country has adopted attractive Feed-in-Tariffs (FiT) to promote PV adoption," said Dr. Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for iSuppli.
Reference: Energy Matters
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Installations of solar panel based solar power systems in the United Kingdom will reach 96 Megawatts (MW) in 2010, up an incredible 1,500% from 6 MW in 2009; dramatically outpacing the growth of the next fastest-growing nation, Spain, by more than double.
"Things definitely are looking brighter for the solar market in the United Kingdom in 2010, as the country has adopted attractive Feed-in-Tariffs (FiT) to promote PV adoption," said Dr. Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for iSuppli.
Reference: Energy Matters
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Wednesday 30 June 2010
UK - Renewable energy feed-in tariffs set to transform rural estate incomes
Some key facts:
- Rural estates and farms can generate significant extra income from renewable energy feed-in tariffs (FiTs)
- FiT payments are index linked and guaranteed for up to 25 years
- You can still claim FiTs even if you use the electricity yourself
- Most rural estates can benefit from some sort of renewable energy scheme
Rural estates and farms could use the new renewable energy feed-in tariff scheme to increase their annual income by tens of thousands of pounds each year.
A hypothetical “renewable energy” estate is described below utilising all the main forms of renewable energy – solar, wind, hydro and anaerobic digestion. also shown is how much income could be derived annually from each using feed-in tariffs:
*Income figures will vary based on local conditions and equipment performance. They do not include tax.
** A 250kw turbine produces an equivalent amount of energy to that consumed by 125 three-bed houses for a year.
If the electricity produced is used on the estate the annual benefit increases to £1.1m. This is because the estate will still receive the FiT payments, but will be saving on its current electricity expenditure.
Feed-in tariffs were introduced in the dying days of the Labour government and were designed to encourage people to create their own renewable electricity. An index-linked payment guaranteed for up to 25 years is made for each unit of electricity produced even if it used by the generator for their own consumption. The tariff varies depending on how the energy is being generated and the scale of the scheme. The smaller the scheme and the longer its potential payback, the larger the payment.
FIT rates:
We have already seen a huge surge in enquiries from landowners looking to take advantage of feed-in tariffs. One of the most attractive things about them is that the payments are guaranteed for up to 25 years, which means it is now easier to get bank funding to set up renewable energy projects.
Reassuringly in the current fiscal environment, there is also no danger that FiTs will be hit by government cuts because they are funded by electricity generators (via our bills) not the exchequer.
Although it would be unusual for a typical rural estate to be able to utilise renewable energy to the same extent as our idealised estate, there are very few rural properties that cannot benefit from FiTs in one form or another. The estate shows the extent of the potential income available, even from relatively modest schemes. The wind turbines we are using, for example, are much smaller than those used in large-scale wind farms.
At a time when the income streams on many rural estates are under threat from poor agricultural commodity prices and falling farm subsidy payments, renewable energy will play an increasingly important role in securing a viable future for landowners and farmers.
Next year we should see even greater opportunities when details of the Renewable Heat Incentive are finalised. This will pay a tariff for heat produced by renewable sources and could be of real benefit to rural landowners who use a lot of heat themselves or who can supply heat to other users.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
- Rural estates and farms can generate significant extra income from renewable energy feed-in tariffs (FiTs)
- FiT payments are index linked and guaranteed for up to 25 years
- You can still claim FiTs even if you use the electricity yourself
- Most rural estates can benefit from some sort of renewable energy scheme
Rural estates and farms could use the new renewable energy feed-in tariff scheme to increase their annual income by tens of thousands of pounds each year.
A hypothetical “renewable energy” estate is described below utilising all the main forms of renewable energy – solar, wind, hydro and anaerobic digestion. also shown is how much income could be derived annually from each using feed-in tariffs:
- Two wind turbines (two 250kW** turbines wind speed of 7m/s) create an annual income* of £300,000 assuming all electricity produced is exported to the national grid.
- An anaerobic digester (350kW system 200 cows & 600 acres of maize) creates an extra £460,000 per year
- A modest hydroelectric scheme (100kW water turbine) adds £190,000.
- The contribution from photovoltaic solar panels (900 sq/m - 450 panels - on dairy roof) is £26,300
*Income figures will vary based on local conditions and equipment performance. They do not include tax.
** A 250kw turbine produces an equivalent amount of energy to that consumed by 125 three-bed houses for a year.
If the electricity produced is used on the estate the annual benefit increases to £1.1m. This is because the estate will still receive the FiT payments, but will be saving on its current electricity expenditure.
Feed-in tariffs were introduced in the dying days of the Labour government and were designed to encourage people to create their own renewable electricity. An index-linked payment guaranteed for up to 25 years is made for each unit of electricity produced even if it used by the generator for their own consumption. The tariff varies depending on how the energy is being generated and the scale of the scheme. The smaller the scheme and the longer its potential payback, the larger the payment.
FIT rates:
- Anaerobic digestion 9.0 -11.5 pence/kWh over 20 years
- Hydro 4.5– 19.9 p/kWh over 20 years
- Solar photovoltaic 29.3 – 41.3 p/kWh over 25 years
- Wind 4.5 – 34.5 p/kWh over 20 year
We have already seen a huge surge in enquiries from landowners looking to take advantage of feed-in tariffs. One of the most attractive things about them is that the payments are guaranteed for up to 25 years, which means it is now easier to get bank funding to set up renewable energy projects.
Reassuringly in the current fiscal environment, there is also no danger that FiTs will be hit by government cuts because they are funded by electricity generators (via our bills) not the exchequer.
Although it would be unusual for a typical rural estate to be able to utilise renewable energy to the same extent as our idealised estate, there are very few rural properties that cannot benefit from FiTs in one form or another. The estate shows the extent of the potential income available, even from relatively modest schemes. The wind turbines we are using, for example, are much smaller than those used in large-scale wind farms.
At a time when the income streams on many rural estates are under threat from poor agricultural commodity prices and falling farm subsidy payments, renewable energy will play an increasingly important role in securing a viable future for landowners and farmers.
Next year we should see even greater opportunities when details of the Renewable Heat Incentive are finalised. This will pay a tariff for heat produced by renewable sources and could be of real benefit to rural landowners who use a lot of heat themselves or who can supply heat to other users.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Renewables account for 3.1% of UK energy in 2009
Renewables accounted for 3.1% of the UK's primary energy requirements in 2009 - up 0.4% from the year before, according to the latest statistics published by Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
The figure - which includes renewables used for transport and heat as well as electricity generation - is up from 2.6% in 2008 and 2.2% in 2007.
When measured using the slightly different methodology of the 2008 EU Renewable Energy Directive - which measures energy on a net calorific value basis and includes a cap on fuel used for aviation - this equates to 3% of energy consumption coming from renewables.
This is up from 2.4% in 2008 and 1.8% in 2007 and means that the UK is now one-fifth of the way towards meeting its Directive target to produce 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
The data was contained in a special feature, entitled ‘Renewable Energy in 2009' which was published by DECC yesterday (June 24) alongside its June edition of Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices.
The article updates information on renewable energy published by DECC in June 2009, looks at the latest position and provides the first look at the statistics on renewable energy production and use in the UK in 2009. It also breaks down energy generation by source and type - including electricity, heat production and renewable fuels.
Electricity
For electricity, the figures show that 6.6% of that sold by licensed suppliers in the UK was generated from renewables eligible for the Renewables Obligation, up from a revised 5.3% in 2008.
Wind continued to be the leading renewable technology for generating electricity (37%), with hydro second (21 %), followed closely by landfill gas (20%). Generation from wind was four percentage points higher than in 2008, whilst hydro's contribution was three percentage points lower.
Total electricity capacity in 2009 amounted to more than 8GW, compared with 6.8GW in 2008 - an increase of 1.2GW (18%). The main contributors to this increase were 663MW from onshore wind (+24%), 355MW from offshore wind (+61%), 81MW from plant biomass (+41%) and 77MW (+8%) from landfill gas.
Heat
For renewable heat, which is produced from around 14% of renewable sources, the main sources were found to be direct combustion of biomass (93%), active solar heating and geothermal aquifers. Domestic use of wood is the main contributor to renewable heat (39%) followed by plant biomass (21%) and industrial use of wood and wood waste (17%).
While use of renewable heat has historically been on the decline, the report noted that it had started to grow and "further significant growth" was anticipated, due to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which is expected to provide a financial incentive from April 2011.
Transport fuel
Liquid biofuels for transport comprised nearly 15% of total renewable sources in 2009. In this period, 1,044 million litres of biodiesel and 317 million litres of bioethanol were consumed up from 886 million litres and 206 million litres in 2008 respectively. Biodiesel accounted for 4.2% of diesel, and bioethanol 1.4% of motor spirit. Their combined contribution was 2.9%.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
The figure - which includes renewables used for transport and heat as well as electricity generation - is up from 2.6% in 2008 and 2.2% in 2007.
When measured using the slightly different methodology of the 2008 EU Renewable Energy Directive - which measures energy on a net calorific value basis and includes a cap on fuel used for aviation - this equates to 3% of energy consumption coming from renewables.
This is up from 2.4% in 2008 and 1.8% in 2007 and means that the UK is now one-fifth of the way towards meeting its Directive target to produce 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
The data was contained in a special feature, entitled ‘Renewable Energy in 2009' which was published by DECC yesterday (June 24) alongside its June edition of Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices.
The article updates information on renewable energy published by DECC in June 2009, looks at the latest position and provides the first look at the statistics on renewable energy production and use in the UK in 2009. It also breaks down energy generation by source and type - including electricity, heat production and renewable fuels.
Electricity
For electricity, the figures show that 6.6% of that sold by licensed suppliers in the UK was generated from renewables eligible for the Renewables Obligation, up from a revised 5.3% in 2008.
Wind continued to be the leading renewable technology for generating electricity (37%), with hydro second (21 %), followed closely by landfill gas (20%). Generation from wind was four percentage points higher than in 2008, whilst hydro's contribution was three percentage points lower.
Total electricity capacity in 2009 amounted to more than 8GW, compared with 6.8GW in 2008 - an increase of 1.2GW (18%). The main contributors to this increase were 663MW from onshore wind (+24%), 355MW from offshore wind (+61%), 81MW from plant biomass (+41%) and 77MW (+8%) from landfill gas.
Heat
For renewable heat, which is produced from around 14% of renewable sources, the main sources were found to be direct combustion of biomass (93%), active solar heating and geothermal aquifers. Domestic use of wood is the main contributor to renewable heat (39%) followed by plant biomass (21%) and industrial use of wood and wood waste (17%).
While use of renewable heat has historically been on the decline, the report noted that it had started to grow and "further significant growth" was anticipated, due to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) which is expected to provide a financial incentive from April 2011.
Transport fuel
Liquid biofuels for transport comprised nearly 15% of total renewable sources in 2009. In this period, 1,044 million litres of biodiesel and 317 million litres of bioethanol were consumed up from 886 million litres and 206 million litres in 2008 respectively. Biodiesel accounted for 4.2% of diesel, and bioethanol 1.4% of motor spirit. Their combined contribution was 2.9%.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Monday 28 June 2010
Taking charge: building Britain's electric car infrastructure
Cars are ingrained into our culture and, more importantly, into our infrastructure. Petrol stations are plentiful and fuel consumption is easily understood. It’s actually pretty difficult to run out of petrol. But as more electric cars come onto our roads, the picture could change in many ways. Is a full charge equivalent to a full tank of petrol? Where and how will you charge your car? What kind of infrastructure will we need to make sure that people will be able to charge their cars when they need to? And how will you pay for the electricity?
It’s a complicated subject that will affect a range of industries and sectors, many of which have not been involved with each other before. Electricity suppliers, for example, haven’t had to be overly concerned with the business of automotive manufacturers. Power generation hasn’t had to be linked to the way people drive. But all of that is going to have to change. And soon.
Many automotive manufacturers see electric cars as a major market opportunity and they want to grab it:
Prof Roger Kemp, Lancaster University:
"This all comes down to the Climate Change Act 2008," said Prof Roger Kemp of Lancaster University, one of the authors of a recent report from the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) on the issues connected with electric cars. "When the discussion of the act first started, it talked about a 60 per cent cut in CO2 emissions by 2050; but roughly a month before it became law, that was changed to an 80 per cent cut. At the time, I don’t think anyone in the engineering profession realised what a dramatic change that was going to be."
The numbers are important here because fully a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions come from road vehicles. "If you have to make an 80 per cent reduction, then you absolutely have to do something about road vehicles," Kemp added. "Either you have to make a draconian cut in the amount of energy used in road vehicles, or you end up with electric vehicles."
If you think about electric vehicles as a way to meet those obligations, then you have to think big. "We aren’t talking about tens of thousands of electric cars, or even hundreds of thousands," Kemp said. "There are something like 30 million cars on the roads of Britain at the moment. So, if 10, 15 or 20 million of those become electric cars, what are the implications of that?"
The automotive sector isn’t dragging its feet. "We have been really struck by the readiness of motor manufacturers to meet the challenge of electric vehicles," Kemp said. "Many companies see this as a major market opportunity and they want to grab it; Nissan’s Leaf electric family car, which will be built in the UK, is a great example."
The development of electric vehicle technology itself is an issue, according to Kemp, particularly when it comes to batteries. Lithium-ion seems to be the most likely system, but these batteries, which Kemp described as scaled-up laptop batteries, are not cheap. A car would probably need a battery weighing 50-100kg; at current prices, that would cost more than a medium-sized car. "We have to bring down the price to something that makes the overall offering attractive to consumers," he added.
But it’s the wider issue of infrastructure that could be the bigger challenge. The targets of the Climate Change Act are the mid-term driver, but the new government has piled on the pressure. The Tory-Liberal coalition policy document issued following the election contained a commitment to construct a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles within the life of this parliament – the next five years. Once started, an infrastructure will have its own momentum; it will evolve over time, but the way it is first established will dictate its shape and the way it develops. So how do we make sure we get it right?
Neil Butcher, ARUP:
One good way is to see how people use electric cars and use that information to inform the establishment of an infrastructure. Last year, the Technology Strategy Board set up eight consortia to conduct ’demonstrator trials’ of electric vehicles, the largest of which, based in the West Midlands, recently issued its first report. The CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Vehicle Demonstrators) consortium, led by ARUP and involving E.On along with Aston, Birmingham and Coventry universities, will study a fleet of 110 vehicles, of which the first 25 – Mitsubishi iMiEVs – are already in the field. The rest of the fleet, consisting of 40 Smart FourTwo EVs, 25 Tata Indica Vistas, five Land Rover range extenders, five LTI black taxis, and 10 micro:cab urban hydrogen fuel-cell cars, will roll onto the streets in the coming months.
"Part of the idea is just to make electric vehicles a more common sight on the roads," said Neil Butcher, project co-ordinator at ARUP. "We want people to see that they’re just cars, like any other car, and they mix with ordinary traffic and aren’t any sort of hazard. Public acceptance of them as something normal is actually a very important part of their take-up." Butcher is doing his bit in this: he’s one of the iMiEV drivers, as are television presenters Robert Llewellyn and Quentin Wilson.
But the main role of the project is to see how drivers use their cars. Each driver has a charging point set up at their home, capable of charging the car to 85 per cent capacity in 20 minutes; some also have one at their workplace, or will use public charging points. The cars will charge to full capacity from a standard power socket in eight hours. "We want to log how far a typical journey is; how often people recharge and where they do it; how fast they go; what sort of traffic they travel in; all that sort of thing," Butcher said. "That will give us the information we need to decide how to set up charging infrastructure."
Among the issues is how much power would need to be routed to particular locations at particular times. For example, one obvious place to site charging points is a car park. But depending on how people charge their cars, this could create problems. "Let’s imagine the car park at Old Trafford football ground," said Kemp. "You could have 5,000 people driving there for an evening game; they get to the ground around 6pm and plug their cars in. Then they expect them to be fully charged about three hours later when they leave." That, he said, is a huge amount of power at a time where there currently isn’t much demand and, at the moment, the distribution system isn’t set up to cope. "It’s a massive challenge to the distribution network and it would be difficult to fund economically, because it’s only going to be used once or twice a week for certain parts of the year."
Butcher believes that the answer might be in different types of charging point. He said: "We’re involved in developing fast-charging points, such as the ones installed at our drivers’ homes. The idea is that they would be installed at motorway services and suchlike, and they would charge the car in half an hour or so."
The infrastructure would still have to be set up to cope with demand, however. This, Butcher suggested, would be an ideal application of smart grid technology. "More than 90 per cent of all cars are parked at any one time," he said. "The smart grid idea is that your car is always plugged in when it’s parked and the battery acts as a reservoir to supply power during the day. At night, when the electricity is cheap, the battery charges up."
The road to electric cars is clearly a long one, and as beset with possible obstructions as the M25 at rush hour. The journey needs a series of good navigators and a decent map. Kemp, however, made a crucial point. "Any electric vehicle is only as green as the electricity that charges it. There is little likelihood of making big savings in CO2 if we continue to burn coal or gas. If we’re serious about this, greening the electricity supply has to be the biggest prerequisite."
Reference: The Engineer: 28 June 2010: Stuart Nathan
Solar-powered charging stations:
Solar-powered PV stations can offer a recharging bay for electric cars in open-air car parks - photovoltaic modules standing over and above a car parking bay.
The PV panels generate electricity to charge electric vehicles parking underneath, or to feed into the national grid or a building's power supply when it is not being used to charge up an electric vehicle.
Organisations installing such systems could receive Government feed-in tariffs making the systems financially beneficial. A typical system would be capable of generating capacity of 1.7kW for each parking bay.
The new ‘PowerPark’ at Gateshead Civic Centre is a car parking canopy made with PowerGlaz PV panels. Funded by regional development agency, One North East, the solar-powered canopy is manufactured through a partnership between solar PV producer, Romag and steel-sheet manufacturer, Tegrel and has been delivered and installed by British Gas. This collaboration intends to deliver solar-powered charging stations across the region.
Such ‘PowerPark’ canopies are suitable for use in car parks at airports, stations, supermarkets, shopping centres, offices and public buildings including sports and leisure facilities. The canopy generates electricity which can be sold into the national grid as well as charging electric vehicles. Gateshead is part of the North East’s LCEAs (Low Carbon Economic Area).
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
It’s a complicated subject that will affect a range of industries and sectors, many of which have not been involved with each other before. Electricity suppliers, for example, haven’t had to be overly concerned with the business of automotive manufacturers. Power generation hasn’t had to be linked to the way people drive. But all of that is going to have to change. And soon.
Many automotive manufacturers see electric cars as a major market opportunity and they want to grab it:
Prof Roger Kemp, Lancaster University:
"This all comes down to the Climate Change Act 2008," said Prof Roger Kemp of Lancaster University, one of the authors of a recent report from the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) on the issues connected with electric cars. "When the discussion of the act first started, it talked about a 60 per cent cut in CO2 emissions by 2050; but roughly a month before it became law, that was changed to an 80 per cent cut. At the time, I don’t think anyone in the engineering profession realised what a dramatic change that was going to be."
The numbers are important here because fully a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions come from road vehicles. "If you have to make an 80 per cent reduction, then you absolutely have to do something about road vehicles," Kemp added. "Either you have to make a draconian cut in the amount of energy used in road vehicles, or you end up with electric vehicles."
If you think about electric vehicles as a way to meet those obligations, then you have to think big. "We aren’t talking about tens of thousands of electric cars, or even hundreds of thousands," Kemp said. "There are something like 30 million cars on the roads of Britain at the moment. So, if 10, 15 or 20 million of those become electric cars, what are the implications of that?"
The automotive sector isn’t dragging its feet. "We have been really struck by the readiness of motor manufacturers to meet the challenge of electric vehicles," Kemp said. "Many companies see this as a major market opportunity and they want to grab it; Nissan’s Leaf electric family car, which will be built in the UK, is a great example."
The development of electric vehicle technology itself is an issue, according to Kemp, particularly when it comes to batteries. Lithium-ion seems to be the most likely system, but these batteries, which Kemp described as scaled-up laptop batteries, are not cheap. A car would probably need a battery weighing 50-100kg; at current prices, that would cost more than a medium-sized car. "We have to bring down the price to something that makes the overall offering attractive to consumers," he added.
But it’s the wider issue of infrastructure that could be the bigger challenge. The targets of the Climate Change Act are the mid-term driver, but the new government has piled on the pressure. The Tory-Liberal coalition policy document issued following the election contained a commitment to construct a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles within the life of this parliament – the next five years. Once started, an infrastructure will have its own momentum; it will evolve over time, but the way it is first established will dictate its shape and the way it develops. So how do we make sure we get it right?
Neil Butcher, ARUP:
One good way is to see how people use electric cars and use that information to inform the establishment of an infrastructure. Last year, the Technology Strategy Board set up eight consortia to conduct ’demonstrator trials’ of electric vehicles, the largest of which, based in the West Midlands, recently issued its first report. The CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Vehicle Demonstrators) consortium, led by ARUP and involving E.On along with Aston, Birmingham and Coventry universities, will study a fleet of 110 vehicles, of which the first 25 – Mitsubishi iMiEVs – are already in the field. The rest of the fleet, consisting of 40 Smart FourTwo EVs, 25 Tata Indica Vistas, five Land Rover range extenders, five LTI black taxis, and 10 micro:cab urban hydrogen fuel-cell cars, will roll onto the streets in the coming months.
"Part of the idea is just to make electric vehicles a more common sight on the roads," said Neil Butcher, project co-ordinator at ARUP. "We want people to see that they’re just cars, like any other car, and they mix with ordinary traffic and aren’t any sort of hazard. Public acceptance of them as something normal is actually a very important part of their take-up." Butcher is doing his bit in this: he’s one of the iMiEV drivers, as are television presenters Robert Llewellyn and Quentin Wilson.
But the main role of the project is to see how drivers use their cars. Each driver has a charging point set up at their home, capable of charging the car to 85 per cent capacity in 20 minutes; some also have one at their workplace, or will use public charging points. The cars will charge to full capacity from a standard power socket in eight hours. "We want to log how far a typical journey is; how often people recharge and where they do it; how fast they go; what sort of traffic they travel in; all that sort of thing," Butcher said. "That will give us the information we need to decide how to set up charging infrastructure."
Among the issues is how much power would need to be routed to particular locations at particular times. For example, one obvious place to site charging points is a car park. But depending on how people charge their cars, this could create problems. "Let’s imagine the car park at Old Trafford football ground," said Kemp. "You could have 5,000 people driving there for an evening game; they get to the ground around 6pm and plug their cars in. Then they expect them to be fully charged about three hours later when they leave." That, he said, is a huge amount of power at a time where there currently isn’t much demand and, at the moment, the distribution system isn’t set up to cope. "It’s a massive challenge to the distribution network and it would be difficult to fund economically, because it’s only going to be used once or twice a week for certain parts of the year."
Butcher believes that the answer might be in different types of charging point. He said: "We’re involved in developing fast-charging points, such as the ones installed at our drivers’ homes. The idea is that they would be installed at motorway services and suchlike, and they would charge the car in half an hour or so."
The infrastructure would still have to be set up to cope with demand, however. This, Butcher suggested, would be an ideal application of smart grid technology. "More than 90 per cent of all cars are parked at any one time," he said. "The smart grid idea is that your car is always plugged in when it’s parked and the battery acts as a reservoir to supply power during the day. At night, when the electricity is cheap, the battery charges up."
The road to electric cars is clearly a long one, and as beset with possible obstructions as the M25 at rush hour. The journey needs a series of good navigators and a decent map. Kemp, however, made a crucial point. "Any electric vehicle is only as green as the electricity that charges it. There is little likelihood of making big savings in CO2 if we continue to burn coal or gas. If we’re serious about this, greening the electricity supply has to be the biggest prerequisite."
Reference: The Engineer: 28 June 2010: Stuart Nathan
Solar-powered charging stations:
Solar-powered PV stations can offer a recharging bay for electric cars in open-air car parks - photovoltaic modules standing over and above a car parking bay.
The PV panels generate electricity to charge electric vehicles parking underneath, or to feed into the national grid or a building's power supply when it is not being used to charge up an electric vehicle.
Organisations installing such systems could receive Government feed-in tariffs making the systems financially beneficial. A typical system would be capable of generating capacity of 1.7kW for each parking bay.
The new ‘PowerPark’ at Gateshead Civic Centre is a car parking canopy made with PowerGlaz PV panels. Funded by regional development agency, One North East, the solar-powered canopy is manufactured through a partnership between solar PV producer, Romag and steel-sheet manufacturer, Tegrel and has been delivered and installed by British Gas. This collaboration intends to deliver solar-powered charging stations across the region.
Such ‘PowerPark’ canopies are suitable for use in car parks at airports, stations, supermarkets, shopping centres, offices and public buildings including sports and leisure facilities. The canopy generates electricity which can be sold into the national grid as well as charging electric vehicles. Gateshead is part of the North East’s LCEAs (Low Carbon Economic Area).
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Wednesday 23 June 2010
Government is failing consumers by neglecting to publicise vital information about the Feed-In Tariff
Urban Energy are agree with other experts in the renewable energy field that believe the Government is failing consumers by neglecting to publicise vital information about the Feed-In Tariff widely enough.
The UK's Feed-In Tariff came into effect in April 2010 and offers generous financial incentives to consumers opting to install solar PV panels in their homes. Yet despite this, there has been relatively little by way of information and publicity about the tariff made available to consumers.
The Government has introduced this amazing scheme. They've made solar panels an investment, rather than an expense. But we're still continually finding that people simply either don't know exactly what it's all about or even don't know about it at all! The Feed-In Tariff here is particularly generous. It's been covered in newspapers and on TV all over the globe, yet we're failing to inform the very people it benefits, the UK consumers.
It is hoped that the Feed-In Tariff will encourage a higher uptake of solar panel installation here in the UK and that this in turn will contribute to the Government's carbon emission reduction targets. Publicising the tariff is imperative to the success of meeting these targets.
The British Government has pledged to cut our carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. Feed-In Tariffs are an incredible way to encourage solar installation and therefore reduce carbon emissions but if consumers aren't even aware of it, we'll never see its full potential.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
The UK's Feed-In Tariff came into effect in April 2010 and offers generous financial incentives to consumers opting to install solar PV panels in their homes. Yet despite this, there has been relatively little by way of information and publicity about the tariff made available to consumers.
The Government has introduced this amazing scheme. They've made solar panels an investment, rather than an expense. But we're still continually finding that people simply either don't know exactly what it's all about or even don't know about it at all! The Feed-In Tariff here is particularly generous. It's been covered in newspapers and on TV all over the globe, yet we're failing to inform the very people it benefits, the UK consumers.
It is hoped that the Feed-In Tariff will encourage a higher uptake of solar panel installation here in the UK and that this in turn will contribute to the Government's carbon emission reduction targets. Publicising the tariff is imperative to the success of meeting these targets.
The British Government has pledged to cut our carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. Feed-In Tariffs are an incredible way to encourage solar installation and therefore reduce carbon emissions but if consumers aren't even aware of it, we'll never see its full potential.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
UK June 2010 Budget: Renewable Energy Related Changes
The UK Government has announced a range of spending cuts in its revised budget for 2010, and there have been fears that this would hit the renewable energy industry. Here’s the (renewable) energy related changes.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has summarised the UK Budget 2010 revisions affecting renewable sources and ‘conventional’ energy.
Among the points are that:
“The Prime Minister has pledged to make this the greenest government ever.”
The UK needs £200 billion of investment to 2020 to provide secure low-carbon and renewable energy.
“This will require reform of the energy market and action to attract additional private sector funding.”
How to reach the goals
Assessing how the energy tax framework can provide the right incentives for investment, alongside wider market reforms. The Government will publish proposals in the autumn to reform the climate change levy in order to provide more certainty and support to the carbon price.
However, the relevant legislation will not be brought forward until the Finance Bill 2011.
Detailed proposals on the creation of the Green Investment Bank will be put forward.
The Government is also establishing a Green Deal for households in the Energy Security and Green Economy Bill to help householders invest in energy efficiency improvements.
In addition the creation of green financial products to provide individuals with opportunities to invest in the infrastructure necessary to support the green economy will continue.
Compared to the coalition Government’s manifesto, the summary from DECC seems even vaguer on the Government’s commitment to investment in renewable energies at a first glance.
Climate Change Capital positive
Climate Change Capital Vice-Chairman, James Cameron, comments on the Budget: “It sets out an ambitious set of proposals for stimulating investment in the low carbon economy, with key policies including energy market reform, the creation of a Green Investment Bank and the introduction of a reformed upstream Climate Change Levy.
“Many of these proposals are subject to consultation, so we hope that this process helps to ensure that policies are able to deliver low carbon investment at the speed and scale required to tackle climate change, while also creating the industries and jobs of the future.
"This Budget increases opportunities for our business to invest in the UK," he concludes.
Reference: renewableenergyfocus.com
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has summarised the UK Budget 2010 revisions affecting renewable sources and ‘conventional’ energy.
Among the points are that:
“The Prime Minister has pledged to make this the greenest government ever.”
The UK needs £200 billion of investment to 2020 to provide secure low-carbon and renewable energy.
“This will require reform of the energy market and action to attract additional private sector funding.”
How to reach the goals
Assessing how the energy tax framework can provide the right incentives for investment, alongside wider market reforms. The Government will publish proposals in the autumn to reform the climate change levy in order to provide more certainty and support to the carbon price.
However, the relevant legislation will not be brought forward until the Finance Bill 2011.
Detailed proposals on the creation of the Green Investment Bank will be put forward.
The Government is also establishing a Green Deal for households in the Energy Security and Green Economy Bill to help householders invest in energy efficiency improvements.
In addition the creation of green financial products to provide individuals with opportunities to invest in the infrastructure necessary to support the green economy will continue.
Compared to the coalition Government’s manifesto, the summary from DECC seems even vaguer on the Government’s commitment to investment in renewable energies at a first glance.
Climate Change Capital positive
Climate Change Capital Vice-Chairman, James Cameron, comments on the Budget: “It sets out an ambitious set of proposals for stimulating investment in the low carbon economy, with key policies including energy market reform, the creation of a Green Investment Bank and the introduction of a reformed upstream Climate Change Levy.
“Many of these proposals are subject to consultation, so we hope that this process helps to ensure that policies are able to deliver low carbon investment at the speed and scale required to tackle climate change, while also creating the industries and jobs of the future.
"This Budget increases opportunities for our business to invest in the UK," he concludes.
Reference: renewableenergyfocus.com
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Monday 21 June 2010
Festival founder builds UK's biggest solar farm
The countdown is on as Glastonbury Festival goers pack up their belongings and get ready for what is looking like a very hot week ahead.
Sunshine is never guaranteed at the festival but that has not deterred the founder of the event from building Britain's biggest privately owned solar farm.
Michael Eavis, who will host the 40th festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton over the weekend will become the first person to take advantage of the Government's new, heavily subsidised scheme to create an array of solar panels.
It features the feed-in tariff, under which participants are paid for the electricity they produce, even if they use it themselves.
More than 1,100 panels, costing £550,000 and covering 1,500sqm, will be installed on the roof of the Mootel, the barn where Mr Eavis keeps his cows while the festival is held on his fields.
The panels will generate 200 kilowatts of electricity, enough power in a year to meet the needs of 40 homes.
Mr Eavis will sell the electricity to the National Grid at a premium rate, guaranteed by the Government for 25 years. He expects to earn about £45,000 a year (£1,125,000 over 25 years) from the feed-in tariff as well as reducing his own energy bills, meaning that the system will pay for itself in six years.
Mr Eavis told The Times newspaper: "I've been planning this for a long time but the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has brought home just how urgent it is that we move to renewable electricity. We have already bought all the recycled fat from chip shops that we can find to run the generators during the festival and we wanted to create a permanent source of renewable energy. It makes sense to use some of the massive amount of free energy that comes from the sun."
He said that feed-in tariffs, which all homeowners will be obliged to pay for through higher energy bills, were a "great offer" for landowners such as him. Mr Eavis designed the barn roof to face south and reinforced girders were installed to support 22.5 tons of panels. Construction of the solar array will begin in August, and Mr Eavis is already planning to seek permission for a similar-sized array on another building.
"We will benefit from this. But when it starts generating a profit, I will spend all that money on more solar energy, so it will be a good investment for the nation," he said.
Mr Eavis is putting £50,000 of his own money into the project and the rest is being funded by Triodos Bank, which invests in renewable energy projects.
Hundreds of other farmers are expected to strike similar deals in the next few years.
The biggest solar array so far is on the side of the Co-op Tower in Manchester. Mr Eavis's is the biggest privately owned solar array and the largest mounted on a roof.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Sunshine is never guaranteed at the festival but that has not deterred the founder of the event from building Britain's biggest privately owned solar farm.
Michael Eavis, who will host the 40th festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton over the weekend will become the first person to take advantage of the Government's new, heavily subsidised scheme to create an array of solar panels.
It features the feed-in tariff, under which participants are paid for the electricity they produce, even if they use it themselves.
More than 1,100 panels, costing £550,000 and covering 1,500sqm, will be installed on the roof of the Mootel, the barn where Mr Eavis keeps his cows while the festival is held on his fields.
The panels will generate 200 kilowatts of electricity, enough power in a year to meet the needs of 40 homes.
Mr Eavis will sell the electricity to the National Grid at a premium rate, guaranteed by the Government for 25 years. He expects to earn about £45,000 a year (£1,125,000 over 25 years) from the feed-in tariff as well as reducing his own energy bills, meaning that the system will pay for itself in six years.
Mr Eavis told The Times newspaper: "I've been planning this for a long time but the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has brought home just how urgent it is that we move to renewable electricity. We have already bought all the recycled fat from chip shops that we can find to run the generators during the festival and we wanted to create a permanent source of renewable energy. It makes sense to use some of the massive amount of free energy that comes from the sun."
He said that feed-in tariffs, which all homeowners will be obliged to pay for through higher energy bills, were a "great offer" for landowners such as him. Mr Eavis designed the barn roof to face south and reinforced girders were installed to support 22.5 tons of panels. Construction of the solar array will begin in August, and Mr Eavis is already planning to seek permission for a similar-sized array on another building.
"We will benefit from this. But when it starts generating a profit, I will spend all that money on more solar energy, so it will be a good investment for the nation," he said.
Mr Eavis is putting £50,000 of his own money into the project and the rest is being funded by Triodos Bank, which invests in renewable energy projects.
Hundreds of other farmers are expected to strike similar deals in the next few years.
The biggest solar array so far is on the side of the Co-op Tower in Manchester. Mr Eavis's is the biggest privately owned solar array and the largest mounted on a roof.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Sunday 20 June 2010
Guest article from Barbara Young @ www.12voltsolarpanels.net
What exactly is solar energy ?
Solar energy is radiant energy which is produced by the sun. Each day the sun radiates, or sends out, a huge quantity of energy. The sun radiates more energy in a second than people have used since the beginning of time!
The energy of the Sun comes from within the sun itself. Like other stars, the sun is known as a big ball of gases––mostly hydrogen and helium atoms.
The hydrogen atoms in the sun’s core combine to create helium and generate energy in a process called nuclear fusion.
During nuclear fusion, the sun’s extremely high pressure and temperature cause hydrogen atoms to come apart and their nuclei (the central cores of the atoms) to fuse or combine. Four hydrogen nuclei fuse to become one helium atom. However the helium atom contains less mass compared to four hydrogen atoms that fused. Some matter is lost during nuclear fusion. The lost matter is emitted into space as radiant energy.
It takes countless years for the energy in the sun’s core to make its way to the solar surface, and then just a little over eight minutes to travel the 93 million miles to earth. The solar energy travels to the earth at a speed of 186,000 miles per second, the speed of sunshine.
Only a small percentage of the energy radiated by the sun into space strikes the earth, one part in two billion. Yet this amount of energy is enormous.
Where does all this energy go ?
About 15 percent of the sun’s energy that hits our planet is reflected back to space. Another 30 percent is used to evaporate water, which, lifted in to the atmosphere, produces rainfall. Solar power is also absorbed by plants, the land, and the oceans. The remaining could be used to supply our energy needs.
Who invented solar technology ?
Folks have harnessed solar power for hundreds of years. Since the 7th century B.C., people used simple magnifying glasses to concentrate the light of the sun into beams so hot they'd cause wood to catch fire. Over 100 years ago in France, a scientist used heat from a solar collector to produce steam to drive a steam engine. In the beginning of this century, scientists and engineers began researching ways to use solar energy in earnest. One important development was a remarkably efficient solar boiler invented by Charles Greeley Abbott, an American astrophysicist, in 1936.
People and world governments remained largely indifferent to the possibilities of solar energy prior to the oil shortages of the1970s. Today, people use solar technology to heat buildings and water and to generate electricity.
How we use solar energy today ?
Solar power is used in a number of different ways, of course. There are two standard forms of solar energy:
* Solar thermal energy collects the sun's warmth through one of two means: in water or in an anti-freeze (glycol) mixture.
* Solar photovoltaic energy converts the sun's radiation to usable electricity.
Let us discuss the five most practical and popular methods solar energy is employed:
1. Small portable solar photovoltaic systems. We see these used everywhere, from calculators to solar garden products. Portable units can be utilised for everything from RV appliances while single panel systems can be used traffic signs and remote monitoring stations.
2. Solar pool heating. Running water in direct circulation systems via a solar collector is an extremely practical way to heat water for your pool or hot tub.
3. Thermal glycol energy to heat water. In this method (indirect circulation), glycol is heated by sunshine and the heat is then transferred to water in a hot water tank. This method of collecting the sun's energy is much more practical now than in the past.
4. Integrating solar photovoltaic energy into your home or business power. In numerous parts of the world, solar photovoltaics is an economically feasible method to supplement the power of your home. An increasingly popular and practical way of integrating solar energy into the power of your home or business is through the use of building integrated solar photovoltaics.
5. Large independent photovoltaic systems. For those who have enough sun power at your site, you could possibly go off grid. It's also possible to integrate or hybridize your solar energy system with wind power or other forms of sustainable energy to stay 'off the grid.'
How do Photovoltaic panels work ?
Silicon is mounted beneath non-reflective glass to produce photovoltaic panels. These panels collect photons from the sun, converting them into DC electrical energy. The energy created then flows into an inverter. The inverter transforms the power into basic voltage and AC electric power.
Solar cells are prepared with particular materials called semiconductors like silicon, which is presently the most generally used. When light hits the Photovoltaic cell, a specific share of it is absorbed inside the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is given to the semiconductor.
The power unfastens the electrons, permitting them to run freely. Solar cells also have more than one electric fields that act to compel electrons unfastened by light absorption to flow in a specific direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by introducing metal links on the top and bottom of the -Photovoltaic cell, the current can be drawn to use it externally.
Do you know the benefits and drawbacks of solar energy ?
Solar Pro:
- Heating our homes with oil or propane or using electricity from power plants running with oil and coal is a cause of global warming and climate disruption. Solar energy is clean and environmentally-friendly.
- Solar hot-water heaters require little maintenance, and their initial investment may be recovered in just a relatively small amount of time.
- Solar hot-water heaters can work in almost any climate, even just in very cold ones. Simply choose the best system for your climate: drainback, thermosyphon, batch-ICS, etc.
- Maintenance costs of solar powered systems are minimal and also the warranties large.
- Financial incentives can reduce the cost of the first investment in solar technologies.
Solar Cons:
- The initial investment in solar hot-water heaters or in PV electric systems is higher than that required by conventional electric and gas heating systems.
- The payback period of solar PV electric systems can be high (dependent on size of system), as well as those of solar space heating or solar cooling (solar domestic hot-water heating payback is short or relatively short).
- Solar hot-water heaters do not heat water in the central heating system (domestic radiators).
- Some hvac (solar space heating and the solar cooling systems) are very expensive, and rather untested technologies.
- The efficiency of solar powered systems is rather determined by sunlight resources. The distance from the equator has significant impact on the amount of solar energy reaching your solar panel. The closer you are to the equator, the more electricity your solar panels generate.
Who am I ? - Barbara Young writes on http://www.12voltsolarpanels.net/ her personal hobby site. Her work is devoted to helping people save energy using solar powered energy to eliminate CO2 emissions and energy dependency.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Solar energy is radiant energy which is produced by the sun. Each day the sun radiates, or sends out, a huge quantity of energy. The sun radiates more energy in a second than people have used since the beginning of time!
The energy of the Sun comes from within the sun itself. Like other stars, the sun is known as a big ball of gases––mostly hydrogen and helium atoms.
The hydrogen atoms in the sun’s core combine to create helium and generate energy in a process called nuclear fusion.
During nuclear fusion, the sun’s extremely high pressure and temperature cause hydrogen atoms to come apart and their nuclei (the central cores of the atoms) to fuse or combine. Four hydrogen nuclei fuse to become one helium atom. However the helium atom contains less mass compared to four hydrogen atoms that fused. Some matter is lost during nuclear fusion. The lost matter is emitted into space as radiant energy.
It takes countless years for the energy in the sun’s core to make its way to the solar surface, and then just a little over eight minutes to travel the 93 million miles to earth. The solar energy travels to the earth at a speed of 186,000 miles per second, the speed of sunshine.
Only a small percentage of the energy radiated by the sun into space strikes the earth, one part in two billion. Yet this amount of energy is enormous.
Where does all this energy go ?
About 15 percent of the sun’s energy that hits our planet is reflected back to space. Another 30 percent is used to evaporate water, which, lifted in to the atmosphere, produces rainfall. Solar power is also absorbed by plants, the land, and the oceans. The remaining could be used to supply our energy needs.
Who invented solar technology ?
Folks have harnessed solar power for hundreds of years. Since the 7th century B.C., people used simple magnifying glasses to concentrate the light of the sun into beams so hot they'd cause wood to catch fire. Over 100 years ago in France, a scientist used heat from a solar collector to produce steam to drive a steam engine. In the beginning of this century, scientists and engineers began researching ways to use solar energy in earnest. One important development was a remarkably efficient solar boiler invented by Charles Greeley Abbott, an American astrophysicist, in 1936.
People and world governments remained largely indifferent to the possibilities of solar energy prior to the oil shortages of the1970s. Today, people use solar technology to heat buildings and water and to generate electricity.
How we use solar energy today ?
Solar power is used in a number of different ways, of course. There are two standard forms of solar energy:
* Solar thermal energy collects the sun's warmth through one of two means: in water or in an anti-freeze (glycol) mixture.
* Solar photovoltaic energy converts the sun's radiation to usable electricity.
Let us discuss the five most practical and popular methods solar energy is employed:
1. Small portable solar photovoltaic systems. We see these used everywhere, from calculators to solar garden products. Portable units can be utilised for everything from RV appliances while single panel systems can be used traffic signs and remote monitoring stations.
2. Solar pool heating. Running water in direct circulation systems via a solar collector is an extremely practical way to heat water for your pool or hot tub.
3. Thermal glycol energy to heat water. In this method (indirect circulation), glycol is heated by sunshine and the heat is then transferred to water in a hot water tank. This method of collecting the sun's energy is much more practical now than in the past.
4. Integrating solar photovoltaic energy into your home or business power. In numerous parts of the world, solar photovoltaics is an economically feasible method to supplement the power of your home. An increasingly popular and practical way of integrating solar energy into the power of your home or business is through the use of building integrated solar photovoltaics.
5. Large independent photovoltaic systems. For those who have enough sun power at your site, you could possibly go off grid. It's also possible to integrate or hybridize your solar energy system with wind power or other forms of sustainable energy to stay 'off the grid.'
How do Photovoltaic panels work ?
Silicon is mounted beneath non-reflective glass to produce photovoltaic panels. These panels collect photons from the sun, converting them into DC electrical energy. The energy created then flows into an inverter. The inverter transforms the power into basic voltage and AC electric power.
Solar cells are prepared with particular materials called semiconductors like silicon, which is presently the most generally used. When light hits the Photovoltaic cell, a specific share of it is absorbed inside the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is given to the semiconductor.
The power unfastens the electrons, permitting them to run freely. Solar cells also have more than one electric fields that act to compel electrons unfastened by light absorption to flow in a specific direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by introducing metal links on the top and bottom of the -Photovoltaic cell, the current can be drawn to use it externally.
Do you know the benefits and drawbacks of solar energy ?
Solar Pro:
- Heating our homes with oil or propane or using electricity from power plants running with oil and coal is a cause of global warming and climate disruption. Solar energy is clean and environmentally-friendly.
- Solar hot-water heaters require little maintenance, and their initial investment may be recovered in just a relatively small amount of time.
- Solar hot-water heaters can work in almost any climate, even just in very cold ones. Simply choose the best system for your climate: drainback, thermosyphon, batch-ICS, etc.
- Maintenance costs of solar powered systems are minimal and also the warranties large.
- Financial incentives can reduce the cost of the first investment in solar technologies.
Solar Cons:
- The initial investment in solar hot-water heaters or in PV electric systems is higher than that required by conventional electric and gas heating systems.
- The payback period of solar PV electric systems can be high (dependent on size of system), as well as those of solar space heating or solar cooling (solar domestic hot-water heating payback is short or relatively short).
- Solar hot-water heaters do not heat water in the central heating system (domestic radiators).
- Some hvac (solar space heating and the solar cooling systems) are very expensive, and rather untested technologies.
- The efficiency of solar powered systems is rather determined by sunlight resources. The distance from the equator has significant impact on the amount of solar energy reaching your solar panel. The closer you are to the equator, the more electricity your solar panels generate.
Who am I ? - Barbara Young writes on http://www.12voltsolarpanels.net/ her personal hobby site. Her work is devoted to helping people save energy using solar powered energy to eliminate CO2 emissions and energy dependency.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Renewable Heat Incentive will go ahead
After a period of uncertainty caused by the change in government, it seems that the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is still very much in the pipeline. Speaking today at Portcullis House, Charles Hendry, Minister of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, confirmed that the Government is looking seriously at the RHI and understands the benefits it can bring but that there are challenges in how to pay for it. These will be welcome words for the industry and all those who have or are considering investing in renewable heating systems, especially after the abrupt closure of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
The Renewable Heat Incentive will be a payment for generating heat from renewable sources. Like the Feed-In Tariffs, it is set centrally, however where it differs slightly is that it is administered by the official regulator Ofgem. However, the Renewable Heat Incentive is still for everyone – homeowners, tenants, businesses, schools, hospitals, farmers or landlords.
Householders will save money by not having to use any gas or oil, the prices of which have risen steadily in recent years. Additionally, they will be paid up to 18p/kWh for the hot water and heat they generate and use. It depends on exactly what systems are employed and how large they are as to what the exact tariff level is.
Tariffs will last between 10 and 23 years depending on the type of system. Solar thermal payments will run for 20 years. Which should be more than enough time to pay off their installation costs. Most will be paid for in about seven to nine years. According to the government, which has set the tariff levels, the average user will earn a return of around 8 to 12% per annum.
Tariffs will be paid starting in April 2011. However, any suitable system installed from now July 15th 2009 will be eligible for the tariffs when they begin. There are technical and accreditation requirements (MCS) but recommended suppliers will be able to cope with this.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
The Renewable Heat Incentive will be a payment for generating heat from renewable sources. Like the Feed-In Tariffs, it is set centrally, however where it differs slightly is that it is administered by the official regulator Ofgem. However, the Renewable Heat Incentive is still for everyone – homeowners, tenants, businesses, schools, hospitals, farmers or landlords.
Householders will save money by not having to use any gas or oil, the prices of which have risen steadily in recent years. Additionally, they will be paid up to 18p/kWh for the hot water and heat they generate and use. It depends on exactly what systems are employed and how large they are as to what the exact tariff level is.
Tariffs will last between 10 and 23 years depending on the type of system. Solar thermal payments will run for 20 years. Which should be more than enough time to pay off their installation costs. Most will be paid for in about seven to nine years. According to the government, which has set the tariff levels, the average user will earn a return of around 8 to 12% per annum.
Tariffs will be paid starting in April 2011. However, any suitable system installed from now July 15th 2009 will be eligible for the tariffs when they begin. There are technical and accreditation requirements (MCS) but recommended suppliers will be able to cope with this.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
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