PowerRouter – Self-Generating Solar Energy

The PowerRouter is the ideal solution for the use of self-generated solar power (self-use). Why sell your surplus energy to the grid at a lower price, when you can store it for later use and receive a higher incentive for generating and using your own solar energy? Just connect solar energy and batteries to the PowerRouter and monitor and control where and when you use it. The PowerRouter allows you to optimize, control and manage yourself-generated energy. The PowerRouter is perfectly equipped to make the most efficient use of the self-use regulations. Use your own energy whenever you need it most.

http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/solar-energy/self-generating-solar-energy/


Urban Energy

We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Solar Feed in Tariffs from November 2012

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced that it's official deployment figures for the period from the 1st May 2012 to the 31st July 2012 are available to the public. This announcement is particularly significant, as it is these figures that will determine what the solar Feed-in Tariff rates are from November.

DECC has split installations into 3 size-based categories. Domestic scale installations (0-10kW), have totalled 164MW of capacity in the 3 month period. This falls within the 100-200MW threshold and so a 3.5% reduction will be implemented on the two tariff bands within this category. ≤4kW installations will receive 15.44p per kWh produced (down from 16p) and the >4-10kW rate will be 13.99p (down from 14.5p) from November 1st.

Small commercial installations (10-50kW) hit 57MW. The threshold here was just 50MW and so a 3.5% degression will also affect these tariff rates. As of November, the >10-50kW FIT rate will be 13.03p/kWh down from 13.5p.

The final category, large commercial installations (50kW-5MW), capacity only reached 14MW, which is less than the degression threshold. As a result the tariffs for larger installations will remain untouched, at least until February 2013.

Urban Energy

We are an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economical and environmentally sound green energy solutions for homes and businesses in the South West.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system i.e solar panels, to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house installation team and electrical division, it is our promise to you the customer, that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

The Granary, Phillips Lane, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury SP1 3YR
Tel: 0800 2321624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Energy Performance Certificate

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC):

An EPC is an energy efficiency assessment of your home or business dwelling; all properties require one when they are built, sold or rented. Like appliances, they are rated from A to G with 'A' being the highest level of efficiency. They contain information about the current performance of your property and give you a rank based on this. They also make recommendations about measures you could introduce to make your home more efficient, reduce your carbon emissions and boost your rating. D is the average rating for houses in the UK; it is estimated that around 50% of houses are below this level.

In the main, your EPC rating will be based on a few key factors:

•              When your property was built.

•              Whether the property is insulated and to what degree.

•              How modern the heating system is and what fuel is used.

•              The property's ventilation characteristics.

Why you need one:

From 20 March 2012, the Feed-in Tariff rules require level 'D' Energy Performance Certificates.

From April, customers installing solar PV will be required to produce an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of a minimum of level D in order to claim the full feed-in tariff rate of 21p/kWh. Those who do not supply this as part of their FIT application will receive a lower tariff (9p/kWh) for the full duration of the tariff lifetime.

How to get one:

Urban Energy have fully trained EPC assessors. We offer an EPC survey as part of our installation package, however should you require just the EPC assessment; we are able to provide you with this service for a fee of £65.00.

                              

How is the assessment carried out:

During the assessment you can make it easier for your assessor by telling him about any energy saving measures you have installed. If you have had cavity insulation it's not always easy to see without knowing it's there and it could mean you get a lower rating than you deserve.

It is also worth noting that, in some cases, installing a solar PV or solar thermal system will boost your rate enough to raise your EPC level to a D. We will let you know if this is the case for your property. It should be noted that a property must already have an EPC rating of D or above to achieve the higher tariff for PV installations.

Urban Energy

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

Our experienced surveyors can carry out a free, no obligation survey of your house or business that can help you save thousands of £’s per annum. We have our own fully qualified installers, electricians and plumbers who oversee every aspect of every installation.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

Eco Barn Showroom now open: 10.00 – 5.00 Monday to Friday and 10.00 – 4.00 Saturday

Call us on: 0800 232 1624 or 01722 335 322
Email us at: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

UK government loses Supreme Court case against solar feed-in tariffs

The UK government’s doomed case against the challenge to its planned cuts of solar feed-in tariffs has been rejected by the Supreme Court.

The last ditch attempt by the government to overthrow previous decisions by the High Court and the Court of Appeal that its action to cut solar feed-in tariffs during the consultation period as “legally flawed” failed on Friday 23 March 2012.

The Supreme Court’s rejection of the government’s appeal marks the end of the legal wrangle and leaves the thousands of homeowners and businesses who installed solar panels after the 12 December cut-off date and before 3 March better off.

The lucky ones will now receive the higher FIT rate of 43.3p per kWh, instead of the lower rate of 21p.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said he was “disappointed” that the Supreme Court did not to grant permission to hear the case, but said that the ruling “draws a line under the case”, which was instigated by his predecessor Chris Huhne.

“We will now focus all our efforts on ensuring the future stability and cost effectiveness of solar and other microgeneration technologies for the many, not the few,” he said.

Andy Atkins, the executive director of Friends of the Earth, which brought the challenge along with other solar installers, welcomed the ruling that the government’s “botched… solar plans are illegal”.

“[The] landmark decision which will prevent ministers causing industry chaos with similar subsidy cuts in future,” he added. “The Coalition must now get on with the urgent task of restoring confidence in UK solar power.”

For further information:
www.decc.gov.uk
www.foe.co.uk/

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:

Call: 0800 232 1624

Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

Come and meet the Urban Energy team face to face!

Urban Energy - Green Solutions

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

Our experienced surveyors can carry out a free, no obligation survey of your house or business that can help you save thousands of £’s per annum. We have our own fully qualified installers, electricians and plumbers who oversee every aspect of every installation.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

Come and meet the Urban Energy team face to face at the following locations/events:

Wednesday 28th March

Somerley Park Horse Trials, Hants

www.somerleyparkhorsetrials.co.uk/

Saturday 31st March

The Maltings, Salisbury

Saturday 31st March

The Love Food Festival, Bristol

www.lovefoodfestival.com/spring.html

Sunday 1st April

The Love Food Festival, Bristol

www.lovefoodfestival.com/spring.html

***Come and join us on Saturday 28th April for our Family Fun Day at our new Eco Barn at Stratford-sub-Castle***

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 panel supporters given slither of hope in battle to stop cuts to feed-in tariff scheme

Supporters of Britain's hugely generous solar panel subsidy scheme were thrown a lifeline today after the High Court agreed to hear an application for permission to challenge a decision that would see it scaled back.

Friends of the Earth and two solar companies will argue their case at a hearing on Thursday 15 December.

An earlier High Court ruling, on 25 November, rejected permission for a legal challenge.

But FoE will argue again that the Government's decision to dramatically reduce the amount paid by 'feed-in tariffs' - on 12 December - is unlawful because the Government is currently running a consultation into the system that will not end until 23 December.

It will also ask the court to cap its potential legal costs for the case because, it says, international rules specify that costs should be limited in public interest cases on the environment.

Andy Atkins, FoE director, said: 'We strongly believe Government plans to abruptly slash solar subsidies are illegal, we hope the High Court agrees to allow our case to be heard as soon as possible.

'In a time of economic gloom, the solar industry has been one of the UK's brightest success stories, enabling homes and communities across the country to free themselves from expensive fossil fuels.'

More than 14,000 households registered for the scheme in October, the last time full figures were published, taking the total to 90,000. It compares with just 2,000 home registering in October 2010.

But November's full-month figures are expected to show another 40,000 households have taken advantage of the scheme, taking the total to 130,000.

Changes to the scheme were announced on 31 October, sparking a rush to beat the 12 December deadline.

Urban Energy

Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:

Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

2020 Renewable Energy Targets & The Green Investment Bank

Europe has set itself a target share of energy usage from renewable sources of 20% by 2020, with the UK’s target contribution 15%.  But by 2010, we had reached just one fifth of our target.

To hit this target, the UK is adopting a three pronged approach – increasing electricity production from renewables to 30% of total capacity from the current 8.6%; growing renewable heat to 12% from its current 1.5%, and quadrupling the use of renewable fuels in our transport sector.

But do we have the right policy mix to drive the switch to renewables and do consumers still have the appetite for change, given the stuttering economic recovery and rising energy bills?

The Renewables Obligation (RO), which forces energy suppliers to source an increasing percentage of generation from renewables, has succeeded in raising the percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources to 8.6% from 1.8%, when first introduced.

Things changed again last year with the introduction of feed-in tariffs for small scale renewables, with generous tariff payments prompting rapid growth in solar PV developments. The success of this scheme has seen the government reduce the tariffs.

Renewable heat is less advanced. The government announced the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which makes payments to renewable heat installation owners and bio-methane producers over a 20 year period, with the tariffs delivering a healthy 12% return. However, its introduction was delayed after wrangles with Europe over state aid rules and tariff levels. 

All of these renewables policy measures have a unique context in the UK, given the Climate Change Act 2008, which sets a legally binding target to reduce carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050 – perhaps an opportunity for the UK to ‘lead from the front’ internationally.

The UK created the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme to meet the EU target to save 20% of primary energy consumption by 2020 through energy efficiency. It encourages large energy consumers to adopt energy management strategies to reduce consumption and although criticized for being over complex, it has certainly enlivened the energy efficiency debate.

We need hard cash to provide new energy infrastructure, but will the new Green Investment Bank deliver? With £3bn initial government funding, it will invest in green projects and hope to attract £15bn private sector investment to accelerate the de-carbonisation of energy production - a modest start towards the estimated £110bn needed to de-carbonise the power sector.

Urban Energy

Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:

Call: 0800 232 1624

Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

Energy efficiency and renewable energy subsidies

The government wants to encourage everyone to think about how they can pay less on fuel - a pretty sensible idea when energy bills are rising and fuel poverty is on the increase.

It also wants to reduce the UK's carbon emissions to help it meet stringent and legally-binding climate change targets.

One way it is looking to achieve both these aims is by offering incentives for people to become more efficient in the way they use energy, and by encouraging them to start generating their own.

There are three main subsidies on offer.

Renewable Heat Premium Repayment

Under the Renewable Heat Premium Repayment (RHPR), anyone living in England, Scotland or Wales can claim a voucher to help pay for renewable energy generation in their home:

Solar panels to heat water - £300

Air source heat pump, which extracts heat from the outside air - £850

Ground source heat pump, which extracts heat from the ground - £1,250

Biomass boiler, which burns wood to provide heat and/or hot water - £950.

Every household is allowed to apply for one voucher per technology.

The scheme runs until the end of March next year.

Anyone can apply for solar panel funding, and if you do not use gas as your main heating fuel, you can apply for air and ground source pumps and biomass boilers.

So far, the scheme, which began at the beginning of August, has issued almost £2m worth of vouchers. It will be reviewed at £10m.

The Energy Savings Trust (EST), which is a charity offering advice on how best to take advantage of the subsidies on offer, is managing the scheme and can be contacted on 0800 512 012.

The RHPR was designed as an interim measure to keep momentum in the push for energy efficiency, and will be replaced in the autumn of next year with the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Feed-in tariffs

These subsidies, also available only in England, Scotland and Wales, mean you get paid for the electricity you generate from renewable sources - both the power that you use and that which you export to the national grid - up to a maximum of five megawatts.

They cover a number of different technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, anaerobic digestion, combined heat and power and hydroelectricity.

The so-called big six energy suppliers - British Gas, EDF, E.On, nPower, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern - are required by law to pay you for the energy you generate, but some smaller providers are not. There are 21 registered providers in total.

Feed-in tariffs are designed to benefit you in three ways:

You will be paid a set amount for each unit of electricity you generate, depending on the technology you have installed, and these are set for the full term of the tariff - between 10 and 25 years. Rates are also linked to inflation

You will receive an additional set payment for every unit that you sell back to the national grid, regardless of the technology you are using

Obviously your energy bills will be lower as you will have to buy less electricity from the grid.

All plant and contractors will need to be properly certified for you to qualify for the scheme.

Boiler scrappage scheme

This scheme has closed in England and Wales but is still open in Scotland.

Homeowners can receive up to £400 towards the cost of upgrading an old boiler to a more modern, energy-efficient alternative.

As long as you use a certified boiler and installer, you can claim back the money by sending a completed scheme voucher and invoice for the works to the EST.

Grants and discounts

The are numerous other grants and offers available, many of which relate to insulation, which is seen as the most cost-effective way of reducing energy use, especially when you consider that more than 10 million homes in the UK have lofts that are under-insulated.

Some of these are offered on a local authority level, so will vary depending on where you live. The EST has a webpage which highlights relevant offers depending on your postcode.

Urban Energy

Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:

Call: 0800 232 1624

Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

Automotive Manufacturers Race to Corner Green Market

Nissan will produce a plug-in hybrid vehicle as part of its on-going efforts to become the world leader in low-carbon motoring by 2016.

The manufacturer launched its new five-year environmental plan today, reiterating its goal of selling 1.5 million electric cars by 2016 and introducing new targets to improve fuel economy across its fleet by 35 per cent against 2005 levels, reduce CO2 emissions per vehicle produced by 20 per cent, and increase the use of recycled materials to 25 per cent by the same date.

"More consumers are demanding products in line with their values, including cars and trucks with a lower carbon footprint," Carlos Ghosn, Nissan president and chief executive, said in a statement. "At the same time, we are using technology to make our factories greener and more efficient."

More than 16,000 LEAF electric cars have been sold worldwide to date and the Japanese company, along with French partner Renault, plans to add another three electric models to its fleet by the end of fiscal year 2017.

Nissan also said it aims to release a new plug-in hybrid and lead the development of an all-new fuel cell electric vehicle in conjunction with Daimler.

Toyota announced over the weekend that it will produce hybrid vehicles and key components in China by 2015 as it bids to close ground on GM and Nissan, which will respectively launch the Chevrolet Volt and the LEAF in the country over the next few months.

Volkswagen, also popular in China, is similarly set to begin local production of pure electric cars in 2013 or 2014.

The plug-in version of the Prius is expected to be available in China from 2013, and Akio Toyoda, Toyota's president, told reporters that a pure electric vehicle would also be launched that year. This is likely to be an electric version of its RAV 4 compact SUV.

Urban Energy

Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

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 solar panel installation hotspots revealed

Small-scale energy generation using solar panels or wind turbines has grown by 400% in less than 18 months in the UK, with Sheffield seeing the biggest increase in renewable installations per 1,000 people.

The new study looked at the growth in renewable energy capacity in the UK's large cities since the government's feed-in tariff (FIT) launched last April. The scheme offers guaranteed cash payments to households and communities who produce their own electricity.

Top of the table was Sheffield, which increased its renewable energy capacity, of which 99% is solar, to more than 3.5 kilowatts electrical per 1,000 people (kWe is a measure of electrical power). Here's the top 10:

1. Sheffield

2. Leeds

3. Bristol

4. Bradford

5. Birmingham

6. London

7. Liverpool

8. Edinburgh

9. Manchester

10. Glasgow

London added more renewable power than all the other cities, but only ranked sixth on the list when the data was assessed per head.

Solar panels on the rise

Solar panels are the most popular way of generating renewable power, accounting for 75% of feed-in tariff scheme payments, according to the study by energy consultancy AEA. Wind power accounts for 14%.

So far, more than 44,000 solar installations have been registered for the FIT, with small domestic systems making up the majority (38,300).

Overall, Cornwall is the area which generates the most solar photovoltaic (PV) power in the UK, with more than 1,000 solar installations and three megawatts electrical (MWe) capacity. Aberdeenshire generates the most wind power and Perth and Kinross the most hydro electricity.

Solar power benefits

Urban Energy research has found it is possible to make up to £38,000 profit from a 4kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system over 25 years, under the FIT – the pay back can be as little as 6 years. To qualify you must use products and installers registered under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

This data shows that you do not need to live on the equator to generate electricity from solar panels. The UK has enough daylight to generate good returns. If you are considering cashing in on the generous FIT scheme, we would advise you do so before April 2012, since the tariff is likely to be changed then, most probably decreasing slightly.

Urban Energy

Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:

Call: 0800 232 1624

Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

Is solar the future for energy production?

It is no longer credible to say that solar can’t play a major role in a sustainable energy mix. Deutsche Bahn intends to run the entire German railway system on wind, solar and hydropower. The German economics ministry has collaborated with German companies to run a scaled model of the national economy on a real mix of renewables, including solar, and concluded that a healthy modern economy could be run on renewables, including baseload electricity. In a report due out later this year, the International Energy Agency will admit that solar can provide 60% of global electricity by 2060.

It is not good enough to say, as some do, that if a global mass market is inevitable, the UK should sit back and partake come the day, not before. This is a strategic miscalculation. We do not want to be importing every aspect of our energy infrastructure ad infinitum. National security considerations such as peak oil increasingly demand that we have domestic industries that are as stand-alone as humanly possible.

In this respect there should be many opportunities for the government. The prime minister has emphasised the Big Society idea as a flagship programme of his tenure, and he envisions many of the jobs that must countervail the austerity measures will come from British participation in the green industrial revolution that he says is unfoldling around the world. Solar is an important part of that. Ask the Chinese. In 2000 they had little solar. Now every second solar cell is made in China. The government would not have to do much to fashion a Big Society/green industrial revolution case-history worth boasting about.

Around the nation, as things stand, thousands of jobs are being created in the embryonic British solar industry. Tens of thousands of citizens are in the process of being empowered in community projects. The cause of this is a solar-energy feed-in tariff: a market-enablement process used by over 40 countries around the world that entails premium pricing for solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity funded by a small levy on all energy bills. With its feed-in tariff introduced in April last year, the UK has belatedly joining the party in one of the fastest growing markets of any kind globally.

The opportunities extend well beyond solar. Solar generation would soon be marriable at scale with the energy efficiency measures due to be stimulated by the government’s Green Deal. Innovative integrated energy-services financing would become possible, unleashing substantial net energy cost savings.
Feed-in tariffs are supposed to decrease annually, as solar prices fall. That is part of their inate attraction. Unlike nuclear, solar does not need subsidising forever. But the staged reductions in tariff, down to zero within the decade, have to match the market. It is no good introducing sudden deep cuts. That stalls a market, as a number of governments have discovered this year.

The first reductions for UK rooftop solar PV tariffs will begin in April 2012, and are under review right now. The government has to get this just right. Reductions in tariff have to be deep enough to fairly reflect falling solar prices, and not too deep to stall the development of a domestic UK solar industry.

Ministers like Greg Barker and Chris Huhne understand. Others do not. They listen to the calls of the nuclear and gas industries, who among others lobby to slow or kill the solar rollout in multiple countries by cutting feed-in tariffs to the bone. In France, for example, the nuclear industry has all but emasculated the French solar feed in tariff, and hence market.

Creating a Big Society/green-industrial-revolution case-history worth bragging about will involve the government creating a smooth glide path to solar grid parity in electricity markets. This in turn will involve not listening to many of the lobbyists working for the big energy companies, and many civil servants too. They are too wedded to the past, and cannot see what Silicon Valley investors, and the Chinese see.

Urban Energy

Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:

Call: 0800 232 1624

Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

Lack of information preventing UK homes from going green

A recent survey has revealed that UK residents are reluctant to install green technology due to a lack of awareness about the related cost savings and government incentives.

This lack of awareness – the ‘Green Gap’ – is holding back the uptake of renewable energy sources in UK homes, according to the report. Whilst 61% of participants were keen to install systems such as solar panels and biomass-fuelled heating, 57% said they wouldn’t consider installing any of the listed renewable technologies, because they viewed them as too expensive.

Of the 2,000 survey participants, a third didn’t know how much money they could save or earn by generating their own energy, whilst 65% were completely unaware of the government’s Feed-in Tariff programme.

This programme requires energy suppliers to pay households that generate their own electricity from renewable sources, and also allows any surplus energy to be sold back to the National Grid.

The survey also revealed considerable confusion surrounding the government’s Green Deal, with 54% unable to correctly identify the Deal’s focus on energy efficiency incentives. 14% thought it was concerned with the protection of forests, while 9% believed it was aimed at increasing the use of electric vehicles.

Urban Energy

Urban Energy are delighted that nearly half the population would like to install renewable energy technologies; what worries us is the lack of awareness surrounding it. To bridge the Green Gap it’s essential we continue to educate consumers and break down some of the myths surrounding the Green Deal, energy efficiency and microgeneration.

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:

Call: 0800 232 1624

Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/

PV & Feed in Tariff (FIT) - self fund or rent-a-roof option?

Everyone engaged in property matters will have come across the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, in order to reduce electricity consumption from the grid and to take advantage of Government’s feed- in-tariff (FiT) scheme. Social landlords and local authorities are making moves to undertake feasibilities and to commission installations. A key issue for their feasibility thinking is whether to self-fund installations or to do so via a third party, also known as the ‘rent-a-roof’ option.

How does each option work?
Self funding is on the face of it very simple, the property owner might choose to finance it with cash (savings) or a loan. Indeed with interest rates on savings and other ‘low risk’ investments so low, using spare cash to fund smaller PV installation and then collecting the FiTs that are generated from it, represent very good rates of return. However, larger installations may require the owner to borrow part of or all of the sums required to finance the installation. In such circumstances, with lending costs around 4-5%, this still represents a viable option, with typical PV installations giving returns of approximately 10% per year for 25 years - very attractive in today's market.

Rent-a-roof is a mechanism to facilitate funding of the upfront installation by a third party.  An investor will provide the funds necessary to undertake the installation; in return the investor will receive the vast majority of the FiT proceeds. This is established by the property owner granting a lease to the investor for the roof space, upon which the installation is fitted. The investors will typically be looking for returns in excess of other relatively low risk investments.

Assessing Feasibility
The starting point for any property owner thinking of installing PV panels through the rent-a-roof scheme is to contact the third party who will establish which properties are suitable, what the expected capital costs are and what revenue may be generated. The usual starting point is to undertake a desktop study where each property is assessed, via web-based imagery, such as Google Earth, to determine the suitability of the property for a PV installation. If the third party deems that they can make a good return on their investment they will send a sales team to validate the Google Earth survey by on-site surveys. The financial feasibility of any particular installation is a reflection of the electricity that it will generate.

This can be calculated for each property, by reference to:

- The size of the proposed installation
- The efficiency of the panels to be installed
- The expected amount of daylight hours that a property should be exposed to over the course of a year
- The orientation of the property, relative to South.

An algorithm will then calculate the amount of electricity that the installation should produce and hence the overall ‘income’ that is derived, made up of three things:

1) The tariff paid for the generation of the electricity
2) The tariff paid for selling surplus electricity back to the grid
3) The saving that the property occupier makes on using the generated electricity.

It would be usual to produce a cash-flow forecast, which would include the initial cost of installation and the forecasted ‘income’ over 25 years.

The forecast allows the property owner to:
- Assess in cash terms the revenue that would be generated.
- Assess the ‘attractiveness’ of the return, relative to other options.
- Determine if self funding or rent-a-roof might be the best option.
- The potential impact on the value of the property.
- The impact on others with an interest in the property.

The practical consequences of giving a long-term lease interest over the roof of the property, in the rent-a-roof option, must be carefully considered. While the lease will identify who has what rights and responsibilities, the involvement of a third party in the property will be an added complication, for example where maintenance has to be done to the roof, for home insurance quotes or potentially when the property is to be rented out or sold on.

- Where the property is tenanted, the lease or tenancy agreement may need changing to facilitate granting a lease under the rent-a-roof option.

Urban Energy

Urban Energy has earned a reputation as the south’s leading renewable energy specialist. This has been achieved by ensuring that from the initial point of client contact we offer 1st class customer service and care.

We only install products that lead the way within the renewable energy industry and that are renowned for their high quality and ecologically sound production. This reflects our own high standards and quality assurance.

We understand that introducing a renewable energy system to either your home or business is an investment that lasts for many years. With our in-house electrical and plumbing division it is our promise to you the customer that your satisfaction and peace of mind throughout this period is our number one priority.

For further information about Urban Energy products and services:

Call: 0800 232 1624

Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk

Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/