Urban Energy are responsible for repairs and maintenance for the lifetime of the installation. The IWA insurance scheme, renewable every 5 years, covers your installation in the event Urban Energy cease trading.
The cost of the IWA warranty for first 5 years is included in your initial quotation, after 5 years we will offer an extension of five years to your IWA warranty which includes a service for £150.00 + VAT. This can be done every 5 years for the lifetime of your installation.
The equipment is covered by a manufacturers 10 year performance guarantee with a 20/25 year lifespan guarantee.
Urban Energy are a lifetime member of the IWA scheme our membership number is UAN.02.10:
http://www.iwa.biz/
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 27 May 2010
Emergency Budget: Coalition Government sets June 22nd date.
The coalition government will hold its emergency Budget on 22 June.
The Tories pledged before the election to hold a Budget within 50 days of coming to power to show their intention to get to grips with the deficit.
Mr Osborne confirmed the date at a briefing with Lib Dem David Laws, who is the Treasury Chief Secretary.
As part of their coalition deal, the two parties agreed to make £6 billion in spending cuts in the current year.
Labour's last Budget was held at the end of March, weeks before the start of the general election. When they came to office in 1997, Labour also held a Budget within three months of being elected.
Mr Osborne refused to be drawn on the details of next month's statement - which is expected to start at the later time of 1530 BST - but said the "bulk" of his deficit-reduction measures would take the form of spending cuts rather than tax rises.
"A new, strong coalition government is going to do what the Labour government failed to do and let Britain live within its means," he said.
New Coalition British Govt. agrees on More Feed-in Tariffs:
Less than two months after Britain's Labour Party launched its highly regarded feed-in tariff (FiT) program, the newly elected conservative/lib-dem government has announced the program will be expanded. The announcement is included in the coalition government's agreement published as the new government took office.
The coalition government of the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Democrats have issued statements in the past supporting the principle of feed-in tariffs for developing Britain's renewable energy potential.
In his first press conference since becoming chancellor, Mr Osborne announced an audit of all government spending over the past year - to be carried out by the new Office for Budget Responsibility.
He said the government will announce next week how it plans to make £6 billion in spending cuts this year, focusing on reducing the size of quangos and cutting IT, consultancy and advertising expenditure.
New Coalition British Govt. pledges to increase targets for renewables:
A document outlining the basis of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration states: “We are agreed that we would seek to increase the target for energy from renewable sources, subject to the advice of the climate change committee."
Both the Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Lib Dem Nick Clegg, expressed support for a low carbon economy in their first press conference.
Cameron promised the new government would be "passionate about building a green economy", with Clegg outlining plans to ensure "fine words on the environment are finally translated into action".
There has been considerable unease in the wind sector about Conservative plans to abolish the Renewable Obligations (RO) scheme and replace it with a feed in tariff (FiT) for large scale renewables.
The Lib Dem position has been to maintain RO, although a party environment adviser says that "positions will be worked out jointly from now on" adding that "nothing has been decided yet".
In a pledge yet to be clarified by the new government, the document promises "the full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity – as well as the maintenance of banded ROCs".
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) coming April 2011:
Next April, the new Renewable Heat Incentive begins. As currently proposed, it will expand twelvefold during the decade the amount of heat generated from renewable sources.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will guarantee payments for up to 23 years for those who install technologies such as solar thermal, ground or air source heat pumps, biomass boilers or bio-methane or bio-diesel projects.
It is envisaged that you will earn a fixed income for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of heat you produce. Solar thermal is expected to receive the following tariff:
Up to a 45 kW system will attract an RHI of 18 pence per kWh for 20 years*
45 kW to 500 kW will attract an RHI of 17 pence per kWh for 20 years*
The sums involved are huge. According to the published cost benefit analysis, the cumulative gross resource costs of all these payments may reach £26.7 billion. Officials are quoting publicly an even higher figure of £36 billion.
It is hoped that the scheme will help deliver 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide savings by 2020, though two million of these are already accounted for by the European Emissions Trading Scheme. Around 85 per cent of the 73 terawatt hours of savings anticipated will be from non-residential buildings. Conversely, of the 1.87 million installations, some 1.72 million – or one in 14 – households will participate; just 144,000 installations will be made in the commercial and public sectors.
So, one in 14 households – predominantly those with spare cash to invest – will get a 12 per cent tax free return on investment. While the remaining 13 out of 14 will just see their fuel bills rise that much more.
*TBC out for consultation
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 Tories pledged before the election to hold a Budget within 50 days of coming to power to show their intention to get to grips with the deficit.
Mr Osborne confirmed the date at a briefing with Lib Dem David Laws, who is the Treasury Chief Secretary.
As part of their coalition deal, the two parties agreed to make £6 billion in spending cuts in the current year.
Labour's last Budget was held at the end of March, weeks before the start of the general election. When they came to office in 1997, Labour also held a Budget within three months of being elected.
Mr Osborne refused to be drawn on the details of next month's statement - which is expected to start at the later time of 1530 BST - but said the "bulk" of his deficit-reduction measures would take the form of spending cuts rather than tax rises.
"A new, strong coalition government is going to do what the Labour government failed to do and let Britain live within its means," he said.
New Coalition British Govt. agrees on More Feed-in Tariffs:
Less than two months after Britain's Labour Party launched its highly regarded feed-in tariff (FiT) program, the newly elected conservative/lib-dem government has announced the program will be expanded. The announcement is included in the coalition government's agreement published as the new government took office.
The coalition government of the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Democrats have issued statements in the past supporting the principle of feed-in tariffs for developing Britain's renewable energy potential.
In his first press conference since becoming chancellor, Mr Osborne announced an audit of all government spending over the past year - to be carried out by the new Office for Budget Responsibility.
He said the government will announce next week how it plans to make £6 billion in spending cuts this year, focusing on reducing the size of quangos and cutting IT, consultancy and advertising expenditure.
New Coalition British Govt. pledges to increase targets for renewables:
A document outlining the basis of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration states: “We are agreed that we would seek to increase the target for energy from renewable sources, subject to the advice of the climate change committee."
Both the Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Lib Dem Nick Clegg, expressed support for a low carbon economy in their first press conference.
Cameron promised the new government would be "passionate about building a green economy", with Clegg outlining plans to ensure "fine words on the environment are finally translated into action".
There has been considerable unease in the wind sector about Conservative plans to abolish the Renewable Obligations (RO) scheme and replace it with a feed in tariff (FiT) for large scale renewables.
The Lib Dem position has been to maintain RO, although a party environment adviser says that "positions will be worked out jointly from now on" adding that "nothing has been decided yet".
In a pledge yet to be clarified by the new government, the document promises "the full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity – as well as the maintenance of banded ROCs".
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) coming April 2011:
Next April, the new Renewable Heat Incentive begins. As currently proposed, it will expand twelvefold during the decade the amount of heat generated from renewable sources.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will guarantee payments for up to 23 years for those who install technologies such as solar thermal, ground or air source heat pumps, biomass boilers or bio-methane or bio-diesel projects.
It is envisaged that you will earn a fixed income for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of heat you produce. Solar thermal is expected to receive the following tariff:
Up to a 45 kW system will attract an RHI of 18 pence per kWh for 20 years*
45 kW to 500 kW will attract an RHI of 17 pence per kWh for 20 years*
The sums involved are huge. According to the published cost benefit analysis, the cumulative gross resource costs of all these payments may reach £26.7 billion. Officials are quoting publicly an even higher figure of £36 billion.
It is hoped that the scheme will help deliver 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide savings by 2020, though two million of these are already accounted for by the European Emissions Trading Scheme. Around 85 per cent of the 73 terawatt hours of savings anticipated will be from non-residential buildings. Conversely, of the 1.87 million installations, some 1.72 million – or one in 14 – households will participate; just 144,000 installations will be made in the commercial and public sectors.
So, one in 14 households – predominantly those with spare cash to invest – will get a 12 per cent tax free return on investment. While the remaining 13 out of 14 will just see their fuel bills rise that much more.
*TBC out for consultation
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/
Tuesday 25 May 2010
DECC - Renewable Heat Incentive Consultation on the proposed RHI financial support scheme
Renewable energy, as part of our wider switch to a low carbon economy, plays a vital part in our work to tackle climate change and maintain secure energy supplies.
The Renewable Energy Strategy (RES), published on 15 July 2009, sets out the path towards achieving our target of 15% of our overall energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020.
In order to enable individuals, communities and others who are not professionals in the energy business to play their part in bringing forward renewable energy, the Government committed to introducing clean energy cash-back for renewable electricity and heat. We will deliver clean energy cash-back for renewable heat through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
The consultation document sets out the Government’s proposals on the design and operation of the Renewable Heat Incentive, with the aim of providing financial support that encourages individuals, communities and businesses to switch from using fossil fuel for heating, to renewable technologies and sources.
Key aspects of the RHI:
The scheme should support a range of technologies, including air, water and ground-source heat pumps (and other geothermal energy), solar thermal, biomass boilers, renewable combined heat and power, use of biogas and bioliquids and the injection of biomethane into the natural gas grid.
RHI payments to be claimed by, and paid to, the owner of the equipment.
In small and medium-sized installations, both installers and equipment to be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or equivalent standard, helping to ensure quality assurance and consumer protection.
Payments will be paid over a number of years; annually for installations below 45 kW and quarterly for those above this level; and always subject to conditions such as continuing to operate and maintain the equipment.
Tariff levels have been calculated to bridge the financial gap between the cost of conventional and renewable heat systems at all scales, with additional compensation for certain technologies for an element of the non-financial cost (e.g. the inconvenience of digging up a garden to install a ground-source heat pump). Tariff levels are proposed to provide a rate of return of 12% on the additional capital cost of renewables, with a lower rate of return of 6% given to solar thermal.
Payments to be calculated on the annual amount of heat output, expressed in kilowatt hours (kWh). At the small and medium scale, the amount of heat generated by the equipment is proposed to be estimated (or “deemed”) when installed in most cases. This will allow the beneficiary of the incentive to receive a set amount based on the deemed output, to encourage low energy consumption and discourage wasting heat.
For large installations and process-heating, heat output to be metered, and the total annual support calculated from the actual energy generated, multiplied by the tariff level.
The RHI will remain open to new projects until at least 2020. Its design and tariff levels will be reviewed from time to time for new projects, so as to adapt to changes in technology costs and other circumstances.
As announced in the RES, installations complete after 15 July 2009 are eligible.
Ofgem will administer the RHI, making incentive payments to recipients and taking responsibility for auditing and enforcing the scheme. Ofgem are to devise a simple process for accrediting smaller installations. This is to ensure that standards are met and payments can be made.
The Energy Act 2008 provides the statutory powers for a renewable heat incentive scheme to be introduced across England, Wales and Scotland.
The detailed legal framework will be set out in secondary legislation.
Reference: DECC Consultation on Renewable Heat Incentive and the proposed RHI financial support scheme. February 2010.
Many UK benefits of a strong RHI
Renewable heat means greater energy security for the UK at a time when a business-as-usual scenario will leave the UK dependent on imports for 80% of its natural gas requirement by 2020. The UK’s entire Renewable Energy Strategy, covering heat, electricity and transport is estimated to reduce fossil gas imports by 20-30% by 2020. Renewable heat will play a major role in this reduction. The technologies involved are proven and available, and in most cases have been used for many years. The great diversity of renewable heat technologies means that renewable heat can work in almost any situation, making it an attractive option for the 2 million homes off the gas grid, where heating options are more limited and more expensive.
Renewable heat avoids emissions associated with the generation of heat energy from fossil fuels. Organic waste streams offer the greatest environmental benefit of all renewables by transforming problematic wastes that can give off methane if left untreated, into energy1 , including heat.
The increasing demand for sustainable wood fuel will also provide an incentive for active investment and management of UK woodlands, allowing for greater biodiversity.
Ambient technologies like solar thermal are already popular and make up the great majority of micro renewable installations in the UK today. The RHI will make these technologies more affordable, bringing down costs over time.
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 Energy Strategy (RES), published on 15 July 2009, sets out the path towards achieving our target of 15% of our overall energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020.
In order to enable individuals, communities and others who are not professionals in the energy business to play their part in bringing forward renewable energy, the Government committed to introducing clean energy cash-back for renewable electricity and heat. We will deliver clean energy cash-back for renewable heat through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
The consultation document sets out the Government’s proposals on the design and operation of the Renewable Heat Incentive, with the aim of providing financial support that encourages individuals, communities and businesses to switch from using fossil fuel for heating, to renewable technologies and sources.
Key aspects of the RHI:
The scheme should support a range of technologies, including air, water and ground-source heat pumps (and other geothermal energy), solar thermal, biomass boilers, renewable combined heat and power, use of biogas and bioliquids and the injection of biomethane into the natural gas grid.
RHI payments to be claimed by, and paid to, the owner of the equipment.
In small and medium-sized installations, both installers and equipment to be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or equivalent standard, helping to ensure quality assurance and consumer protection.
Payments will be paid over a number of years; annually for installations below 45 kW and quarterly for those above this level; and always subject to conditions such as continuing to operate and maintain the equipment.
Tariff levels have been calculated to bridge the financial gap between the cost of conventional and renewable heat systems at all scales, with additional compensation for certain technologies for an element of the non-financial cost (e.g. the inconvenience of digging up a garden to install a ground-source heat pump). Tariff levels are proposed to provide a rate of return of 12% on the additional capital cost of renewables, with a lower rate of return of 6% given to solar thermal.
Payments to be calculated on the annual amount of heat output, expressed in kilowatt hours (kWh). At the small and medium scale, the amount of heat generated by the equipment is proposed to be estimated (or “deemed”) when installed in most cases. This will allow the beneficiary of the incentive to receive a set amount based on the deemed output, to encourage low energy consumption and discourage wasting heat.
For large installations and process-heating, heat output to be metered, and the total annual support calculated from the actual energy generated, multiplied by the tariff level.
The RHI will remain open to new projects until at least 2020. Its design and tariff levels will be reviewed from time to time for new projects, so as to adapt to changes in technology costs and other circumstances.
As announced in the RES, installations complete after 15 July 2009 are eligible.
Ofgem will administer the RHI, making incentive payments to recipients and taking responsibility for auditing and enforcing the scheme. Ofgem are to devise a simple process for accrediting smaller installations. This is to ensure that standards are met and payments can be made.
The Energy Act 2008 provides the statutory powers for a renewable heat incentive scheme to be introduced across England, Wales and Scotland.
The detailed legal framework will be set out in secondary legislation.
Reference: DECC Consultation on Renewable Heat Incentive and the proposed RHI financial support scheme. February 2010.
Many UK benefits of a strong RHI
Renewable heat means greater energy security for the UK at a time when a business-as-usual scenario will leave the UK dependent on imports for 80% of its natural gas requirement by 2020. The UK’s entire Renewable Energy Strategy, covering heat, electricity and transport is estimated to reduce fossil gas imports by 20-30% by 2020. Renewable heat will play a major role in this reduction. The technologies involved are proven and available, and in most cases have been used for many years. The great diversity of renewable heat technologies means that renewable heat can work in almost any situation, making it an attractive option for the 2 million homes off the gas grid, where heating options are more limited and more expensive.
Renewable heat avoids emissions associated with the generation of heat energy from fossil fuels. Organic waste streams offer the greatest environmental benefit of all renewables by transforming problematic wastes that can give off methane if left untreated, into energy1 , including heat.
The increasing demand for sustainable wood fuel will also provide an incentive for active investment and management of UK woodlands, allowing for greater biodiversity.
Ambient technologies like solar thermal are already popular and make up the great majority of micro renewable installations in the UK today. The RHI will make these technologies more affordable, bringing down costs over time.
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 20 May 2010
New Conservative British Govt. Agrees on More Feed-in Tariffs
Less than two months after Britain's Labour Party launched its highly regarded feed-in tariff (FiT) program, the newly elected conservative government has announced the program will be expanded. The announcement is included in the coalition government's agreement published as the new government took office.
The coalition government of the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Democrats have issued statements in the past supporting the principle of feed-in tariffs for developing Britain's renewable energy potential.
The Tories said during the campaign that they would scrap the current Renewable Obligation (RO), the British form of Renewable Portfolio Standards, and use feed-in tariffs to develop renewable energy.
Britain is one of Europe's renewable energy laggards. Despite the best wind resource in Europe, the county has only developed 4,000 megawatts (MW) of generation after two decades of effort. During the same period, Germany has installed 25,000 MW of wind capacity. France, itself a laggard, has installed as much as Britain in half the time. Both Germany and France use feed-in tariffs.
The agreement implies that the new government will expand the feed-in tariff policy further to encompass more than the "microgenerators" covered under the existing program while maintaining the Renewable Obligation Certificates that are the heart of the RO program. Specifically, the agreement states: "The full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity - as well as the maintenance of banded ROCs"
In another measure of how far the conservatives has moved toward the rapid development of renewable energy can be found in the Tory manifesto published prior to the election. The manifesto's section on sustainability singles out Freiburg, Germany for adulation with a picture of the solar seidlung in the city's famed Vauban quarter. The solar development in the picture was all driven by Germany's "banded" system of feed-in tariffs, since emulated in Britain's new program.
The coalition agreement also stipulates that the two parties will "seek to increase the target for energy from renewable sources" over that of the previous Labour government.
The agreement also has an intriguing passage on nuclear power that may be a harbinger of a change in conservative policies in other English-speaking countries.
"Liberal Democrats have long opposed any new nuclear construction. Conservatives, by contrast, are committed to allowing the replacement of existing nuclear power stations provided they are subject to the normal planning process for major projects (under a new national planning statement) and provided also that they receive no public subsidy."
Nuclear plants receive various subsidies in both Canada and the US, most famously exemption from risk insurance. Further, the Obama administration announced earlier this year a new subsidy program for new nuclear construction in the US.
Only time will tell whether the statement was simply rhetorical and the Tories define "subsidies" narrowly enough to permit the government to fund the new reactors proposed by Electricité de France.
Reference: Renewable Energy World, Paul Gipe, May 2010.
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 coalition government of the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Democrats have issued statements in the past supporting the principle of feed-in tariffs for developing Britain's renewable energy potential.
The Tories said during the campaign that they would scrap the current Renewable Obligation (RO), the British form of Renewable Portfolio Standards, and use feed-in tariffs to develop renewable energy.
Britain is one of Europe's renewable energy laggards. Despite the best wind resource in Europe, the county has only developed 4,000 megawatts (MW) of generation after two decades of effort. During the same period, Germany has installed 25,000 MW of wind capacity. France, itself a laggard, has installed as much as Britain in half the time. Both Germany and France use feed-in tariffs.
The agreement implies that the new government will expand the feed-in tariff policy further to encompass more than the "microgenerators" covered under the existing program while maintaining the Renewable Obligation Certificates that are the heart of the RO program. Specifically, the agreement states: "The full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity - as well as the maintenance of banded ROCs"
In another measure of how far the conservatives has moved toward the rapid development of renewable energy can be found in the Tory manifesto published prior to the election. The manifesto's section on sustainability singles out Freiburg, Germany for adulation with a picture of the solar seidlung in the city's famed Vauban quarter. The solar development in the picture was all driven by Germany's "banded" system of feed-in tariffs, since emulated in Britain's new program.
The coalition agreement also stipulates that the two parties will "seek to increase the target for energy from renewable sources" over that of the previous Labour government.
The agreement also has an intriguing passage on nuclear power that may be a harbinger of a change in conservative policies in other English-speaking countries.
"Liberal Democrats have long opposed any new nuclear construction. Conservatives, by contrast, are committed to allowing the replacement of existing nuclear power stations provided they are subject to the normal planning process for major projects (under a new national planning statement) and provided also that they receive no public subsidy."
Nuclear plants receive various subsidies in both Canada and the US, most famously exemption from risk insurance. Further, the Obama administration announced earlier this year a new subsidy program for new nuclear construction in the US.
Only time will tell whether the statement was simply rhetorical and the Tories define "subsidies" narrowly enough to permit the government to fund the new reactors proposed by Electricité de France.
Reference: Renewable Energy World, Paul Gipe, May 2010.
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 12 May 2010
Feed in Tariffs
Feed-in tariffs (FiTs), have been available since April 1 2010, and are designed to incentivise businesses and individuals to install small scale electricity generating technologies by guaranteeing a minimum payment for the electricity generated as well as the electricity exported to grid.
The scheme is designed to incentivise everything from a one kilowatt (kW) system fitted to a single home to a five megawatt (MW) wind turbine powering a whole community.
Either way, the incentive comes in three parts:
- The generation tariff, which takes the form of a fixed payment from the business’s or individual’s electricity supplier for every unit of energy or kilowatt hour (kWh) generated
- An export tariff, which will pay an extra 3p/kWh, in addition to the generation tariff, for any electricity not used on-site and ‘exported’ to the grid
- Offsetting of on-site use of electricity – where the business or individual uses the electricity on-site, this can be offset against electricity that would otherwise have been bought elsewhere.
At the moment, the FiT scheme only applies in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has not yet taken a decision on implementing the scheme.
What technologies are supported by the scheme?
Small scale, low carbon electricity technologies initially eligible for the scheme include: wind; solar photovoltaics (PV); hydro; anaerobic digestion; and, as a pilot, domestic scale microCHP (with a capacity of 2kW or less).
The pilot for domestic scale microCHP (micro combined heat and power) is initially designed to support up to 30,000 installations, with a review to start once the 12,000th installation is completed.
Solid or liquid biomass technologies are not currently covered by the FiT scheme, although they will continue to receive support under the Renewables Obligation (RO). The decision to exclude biomass from the FiT scheme when it is already covered by the RO, has been described as “confusing” by campaign group Friends of the Earth.
The idea is that FiT should only support tried and tested technologies that can be effectively deployed in the short term. Wave, tidal and pyrolysis technologies are not currently covered.
New technologies will be considered for inclusion under FiT at the first of the scheme’s reviews, due in 2013.
Is accreditation needed?
To qualify for a FiT payment, it will be necessary to use a product and installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
According to Ofgem, MSC approved products and installers must be used for any installation after April 1 2010 if it is is wind, PV or hydro at or below 50kw capacity, or fossil fuel CHP at or below 2kw.
Wind, PV and hydro above 50kw and anaerobic digestion systems of any size do not require MSC approval – indeed, the MCS does not certify these yet – instead, they must seek accreditation from Ofgem.
Microgenerators transferring to FiT, that have already gained accreditation under the RO, do not need MSC certification.
How much do you get?
Tariff levels vary depending on the type and scale of installation, ranging from 4.5p kWh for some hydro to 41.3p for retrofit PV (though will generally be in the ballpark of 20-35p/kWh) for installations completed between July 15 2009 and March 31 2012.
The tariff is fixed for the lifetime of the installation (usually 20 years, but 25 years for PV) and linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to ensure it holds its value in real terms.
Payments for some technologies will be fixed at a lower rate after the FiT scheme has been running for two or three years, reflecting the fact that the cost of these technologies is expected to fall over time.
More information?
DECC The Government Response to the Consultation on Feed-in Tariffs
Ofgem
Carbon Trust
Energy Saving Trust
Renewable Energy Association
British Wind Energy Association
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 scheme is designed to incentivise everything from a one kilowatt (kW) system fitted to a single home to a five megawatt (MW) wind turbine powering a whole community.
Either way, the incentive comes in three parts:
- The generation tariff, which takes the form of a fixed payment from the business’s or individual’s electricity supplier for every unit of energy or kilowatt hour (kWh) generated
- An export tariff, which will pay an extra 3p/kWh, in addition to the generation tariff, for any electricity not used on-site and ‘exported’ to the grid
- Offsetting of on-site use of electricity – where the business or individual uses the electricity on-site, this can be offset against electricity that would otherwise have been bought elsewhere.
At the moment, the FiT scheme only applies in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has not yet taken a decision on implementing the scheme.
What technologies are supported by the scheme?
Small scale, low carbon electricity technologies initially eligible for the scheme include: wind; solar photovoltaics (PV); hydro; anaerobic digestion; and, as a pilot, domestic scale microCHP (with a capacity of 2kW or less).
The pilot for domestic scale microCHP (micro combined heat and power) is initially designed to support up to 30,000 installations, with a review to start once the 12,000th installation is completed.
Solid or liquid biomass technologies are not currently covered by the FiT scheme, although they will continue to receive support under the Renewables Obligation (RO). The decision to exclude biomass from the FiT scheme when it is already covered by the RO, has been described as “confusing” by campaign group Friends of the Earth.
The idea is that FiT should only support tried and tested technologies that can be effectively deployed in the short term. Wave, tidal and pyrolysis technologies are not currently covered.
New technologies will be considered for inclusion under FiT at the first of the scheme’s reviews, due in 2013.
Is accreditation needed?
To qualify for a FiT payment, it will be necessary to use a product and installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
According to Ofgem, MSC approved products and installers must be used for any installation after April 1 2010 if it is is wind, PV or hydro at or below 50kw capacity, or fossil fuel CHP at or below 2kw.
Wind, PV and hydro above 50kw and anaerobic digestion systems of any size do not require MSC approval – indeed, the MCS does not certify these yet – instead, they must seek accreditation from Ofgem.
Microgenerators transferring to FiT, that have already gained accreditation under the RO, do not need MSC certification.
How much do you get?
Tariff levels vary depending on the type and scale of installation, ranging from 4.5p kWh for some hydro to 41.3p for retrofit PV (though will generally be in the ballpark of 20-35p/kWh) for installations completed between July 15 2009 and March 31 2012.
The tariff is fixed for the lifetime of the installation (usually 20 years, but 25 years for PV) and linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to ensure it holds its value in real terms.
Payments for some technologies will be fixed at a lower rate after the FiT scheme has been running for two or three years, reflecting the fact that the cost of these technologies is expected to fall over time.
More information?
DECC The Government Response to the Consultation on Feed-in Tariffs
Ofgem
Carbon Trust
Energy Saving Trust
Renewable Energy Association
British Wind Energy Association
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/
'Climate dice' now dangerously loaded: leading scientist
Evidence for global warming has mounted but public awareness of the threat has shrunk, due to a cold northern winter and finger-pointing at the UN's climate experts, a top scientist warned Wednesday.
James Hansen, a leading NASA scientist whose testimony to the US Congress in 1988 was a landmark in the history of climate change, said he was worried by "the large gap" in knowledge between specialists and the public, including politicians.
"That gap has increased substantially in the last year," Hansen told a press conference during a visit to Paris.
"While the science was becoming clearer, the public's perception became less clear, in part because of the unusually cold winter in both North America and Europe, and in part because of the inappropriate over-emphasis on small minor errors in IPCC documents and because of the so-called Climategate."
The IPCC -- the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- is under fire for several errors that appeared in a key 2007 report.
Its authors have acknowledged the mistakes, but say the overall conclusions of the report, that man-made greenhouse gases are changing the climate, remain solid.
The "Climategate" affair relates to stolen emails exchanged among British scientists that, sceptics said, showed they had ignored evidence that natural, rather than man-made, causes were to blame for climate change. The scientists have been cleared by a British parliamentary panel.
"The winter was not cold if you look over the whole world: December, January, February was the second warmest in 130 years," Hansen noted.
"It was cool at mid-latitudes in the northern hemisphere but unusually warm in the Arctic and that has a simple explanation: there is a chaotic variation in the pressure in the Arctic region. But it's just chaotic variation, there is no reason that it will be repeated."
He added: "We have to look at the frequency of events. Seven out of the last 10 winters in Europe have been warmer than the long-term average, and eight out of 10 in the United States.
"So the climate dice are being loaded at a rate which is in very close agreement with what was predicted ago a few decades ago based on the expected global warming."
Hansen is director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, but stressed he was speaking in a private capacity.
He blasted governments for "ignoring... basic scientific facts" by continuing to depend on fossil fuels, build more coal-fired plants and drill for oil in the deep ocean and the Arctic.
And he said that the poor outcome of December's climate summit in Copenhagen was predictable.
"Frankly, there was a realisation that you can't have 180 countries making the initial agreement, it has to be the major players. So, Europe, the US and China, and probably India, need to agree that there needs to be a carbon price and then it's very easy to make that global."
Reference: James Hansen, NASA
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/
James Hansen, a leading NASA scientist whose testimony to the US Congress in 1988 was a landmark in the history of climate change, said he was worried by "the large gap" in knowledge between specialists and the public, including politicians.
"That gap has increased substantially in the last year," Hansen told a press conference during a visit to Paris.
"While the science was becoming clearer, the public's perception became less clear, in part because of the unusually cold winter in both North America and Europe, and in part because of the inappropriate over-emphasis on small minor errors in IPCC documents and because of the so-called Climategate."
The IPCC -- the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- is under fire for several errors that appeared in a key 2007 report.
Its authors have acknowledged the mistakes, but say the overall conclusions of the report, that man-made greenhouse gases are changing the climate, remain solid.
The "Climategate" affair relates to stolen emails exchanged among British scientists that, sceptics said, showed they had ignored evidence that natural, rather than man-made, causes were to blame for climate change. The scientists have been cleared by a British parliamentary panel.
"The winter was not cold if you look over the whole world: December, January, February was the second warmest in 130 years," Hansen noted.
"It was cool at mid-latitudes in the northern hemisphere but unusually warm in the Arctic and that has a simple explanation: there is a chaotic variation in the pressure in the Arctic region. But it's just chaotic variation, there is no reason that it will be repeated."
He added: "We have to look at the frequency of events. Seven out of the last 10 winters in Europe have been warmer than the long-term average, and eight out of 10 in the United States.
"So the climate dice are being loaded at a rate which is in very close agreement with what was predicted ago a few decades ago based on the expected global warming."
Hansen is director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, but stressed he was speaking in a private capacity.
He blasted governments for "ignoring... basic scientific facts" by continuing to depend on fossil fuels, build more coal-fired plants and drill for oil in the deep ocean and the Arctic.
And he said that the poor outcome of December's climate summit in Copenhagen was predictable.
"Frankly, there was a realisation that you can't have 180 countries making the initial agreement, it has to be the major players. So, Europe, the US and China, and probably India, need to agree that there needs to be a carbon price and then it's very easy to make that global."
Reference: James Hansen, NASA
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/
New UK government pledges to increase targets for renewables
The new UK coalition government has pledged to increase the country’s renewable energy targets.
A document outlining the basis of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration states: “We are agreed that we would seek to increase the target for energy from renewable sources, subject to the advice of the climate change committee."
Both the Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Lib Dem Nick Clegg, expressed support for a low carbon economy in their first press conference.
Cameron promised the new government would be "passionate about building a green economy", with Clegg outlining plans to ensure "fine words on the environment are finally translated into action".
There has been considerable unease in the wind sector about Conservative plans to abolish the Renewable Obligations (RO) scheme and replace it with a feed in tariff (FiT) for large scale renewables.
The Lib Dem position has been to maintain RO, although a party environment adviser says that "positions will be worked out jointly from now on" adding that "nothing has been decided yet".
In a pledge yet to be clarified by the new government, the document promises "the full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity – as well as the maintenance of banded ROCs".
The text also promises a series of measures to support the development of a low carbon economy, which include:
- The establishment of a smart grid and the roll-out of smart meters
- Measures to promote a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion
- The creation of a green investment bank
- The provision of home energy improvement paid for by the savings from lower energy bills
- Measures to encourage marine energy
- The provision of a floor price for carbon, as well as efforts to persuade the EU to move towards full auctioning of ETS permits
- Mandating a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Reference: Ben Backwell, RECHARGE. Published: Wednesday, May 12 2010
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/
A document outlining the basis of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration states: “We are agreed that we would seek to increase the target for energy from renewable sources, subject to the advice of the climate change committee."
Both the Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Lib Dem Nick Clegg, expressed support for a low carbon economy in their first press conference.
Cameron promised the new government would be "passionate about building a green economy", with Clegg outlining plans to ensure "fine words on the environment are finally translated into action".
There has been considerable unease in the wind sector about Conservative plans to abolish the Renewable Obligations (RO) scheme and replace it with a feed in tariff (FiT) for large scale renewables.
The Lib Dem position has been to maintain RO, although a party environment adviser says that "positions will be worked out jointly from now on" adding that "nothing has been decided yet".
In a pledge yet to be clarified by the new government, the document promises "the full establishment of feed-in tariff systems in electricity – as well as the maintenance of banded ROCs".
The text also promises a series of measures to support the development of a low carbon economy, which include:
- The establishment of a smart grid and the roll-out of smart meters
- Measures to promote a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion
- The creation of a green investment bank
- The provision of home energy improvement paid for by the savings from lower energy bills
- Measures to encourage marine energy
- The provision of a floor price for carbon, as well as efforts to persuade the EU to move towards full auctioning of ETS permits
- Mandating a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Reference: Ben Backwell, RECHARGE. Published: Wednesday, May 12 2010
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 10 May 2010
RHI - Coming Next April
Next April, the new Renewable Heat Incentive begins. As currently proposed, it will expand twelvefold during the decade the amount of heat generated from renewable sources.
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will guarantee payments for up to 23 years for those who install technologies such as solar thermal, ground or air source heat pumps, biomass boilers or bio-methane or bio-diesel projects.
It is envisaged that you will earn a fixed income for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of heat you produce. Solar thermal is expected to receive the following tariff:
Up to a 45 kW system will attract an RHI of 18 pence per kWh for 20 years*
45 kW to 500 kW will attract an RHI of 17 pence per kWh for 20 years*
*TBC out for consultation
The sums involved are huge. According to the published cost benefit analysis, the cumulative gross resource costs of all these payments may reach £26.7 billion. Officials are quoting publicly an even higher figure of £36 billion.
It is hoped that the scheme will help deliver 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide savings by 2020, though two million of these are already accounted for by the European Emissions Trading Scheme. Around 85 per cent of the 73 terawatt hours of savings anticipated will be from non-residential buildings. Conversely, of the 1.87 million installations, some 1.72 million – or one in 14 – households will participate; just 144,000 installations will be made in the commercial and public sectors.
So, one in 14 households – predominantly those with spare cash to invest – will get a 12 per cent tax free return on investment. While the remaining 13 out of 14 will just see their fuel bills rise that much more.
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 (RHI) scheme will guarantee payments for up to 23 years for those who install technologies such as solar thermal, ground or air source heat pumps, biomass boilers or bio-methane or bio-diesel projects.
It is envisaged that you will earn a fixed income for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of heat you produce. Solar thermal is expected to receive the following tariff:
Up to a 45 kW system will attract an RHI of 18 pence per kWh for 20 years*
45 kW to 500 kW will attract an RHI of 17 pence per kWh for 20 years*
*TBC out for consultation
The sums involved are huge. According to the published cost benefit analysis, the cumulative gross resource costs of all these payments may reach £26.7 billion. Officials are quoting publicly an even higher figure of £36 billion.
It is hoped that the scheme will help deliver 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide savings by 2020, though two million of these are already accounted for by the European Emissions Trading Scheme. Around 85 per cent of the 73 terawatt hours of savings anticipated will be from non-residential buildings. Conversely, of the 1.87 million installations, some 1.72 million – or one in 14 – households will participate; just 144,000 installations will be made in the commercial and public sectors.
So, one in 14 households – predominantly those with spare cash to invest – will get a 12 per cent tax free return on investment. While the remaining 13 out of 14 will just see their fuel bills rise that much more.
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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