A report from the UK's Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) shows over 9,000 renewable energy systems installed in the country are now participating in the UK's feed in tariff scheme.
Figures up to 9 September 2010 show that 9,350 units are now registered to participate, including systems installed since the feed in tariff scheme was rolled out in April and installations that were previously claiming payments under the Renewables Obligation.
Of those, 2,771 new installations were registered between 1 April 2010 and 30 June 2010; representing 15.2 MW of total installed capacity.
The UK feed in tariff scheme not only covers solar panel based installations, but wind, hydro, and anaerobic digestion, up to a maximum capacity of 5MW, and micro-CHP up to 2kW.
To date, just under half of the total installed capacity under the scheme are domestic systems and most of the installations in the domestic sector were based on solar panels.
The program is based on a gross feed in tariff model rather than net, meaning that participants receive the premium payment for all electricity produced, rather than just the surplus exported to the mains grid.
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care."
Urban Energy is an innovative organisation specialising in the financing, design and installation of economic and environmentally sound solar powered energy systems for commercial property (private and public) and domestic dwellings. Our expertise in the field of Government sponsored funding programmes and solar power products will provide individuals and organisations with an excellent opportunity to overcome capital cost barriers, save money on energy bills, increase profit margins, increase the value of their property and reduce their carbon footprint.
Urban Energy employ the very best engineers in this field, all of which are fully qualified, MCS certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Showing posts with label Ofgem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ofgem. Show all posts
Thursday, 16 September 2010
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/
Sunday, 21 February 2010
OFGEM WARNS HOUSEHOLDS COULD FACE 25% INCREASE TO BILLS IN 10 YEARS TIME!
In a report out 03.02.2010, Ofgem has given its biggest indication yet that bills will rise dramatically over the next decade. It has announced that bills could rise by up to 25% in the next ten years due to factors such as the global financial crisis, tough environmental targets and increasing gas import dependency. Based on today’s average bill size of £1,239, this will mean bills could hit £1,549 in ten year’s time[1].
However, uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, is warning that Ofgem could be underestimating the increases. It says that ongoing pricing trends coupled with required investment could see household energy bills hit as high as £4,733 a year by 2020[2], nearly four times higher than they are today. The additional cost of investment alone is expected to add £548 a year onto household bills[2].
Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch, says: “Today’s report is one of many recent announcements from Ofgem, which have gradually lifted the lid on what household energy bills are expected to look like in the future. When you add the pieces together it’s a big wake-up call and raises serious concerns about the ongoing affordability of our energy. While investment in the sector is crucial, there can be no doubt that it will have a big impact on household energy bills and this has to be explained to consumers now so that they can start taking action to protect themselves in the future.
"The £5,000 a year energy bill may seem like an outside possibility, but we have to remember that energy bills doubled in the last five years alone and that the huge investment needed to keep the lights on in Britain will alone add £548 a year onto our bills. The fact is we are entering a new era of high cost energy and households will have to adapt their behaviour accordingly by paying the lowest possible price for their energy and reducing the amount they use.”
£233.5 billion investment – what are the key costs?[2]
Renewable energy generation - £112.5 billion
Power plants (including gas-fired, coal-fired and nuclear) - £52.1 billion
Upgrading pipes, networks and gas storage - £39.8 billion
Roll-out of smart metering - £13.4 billion
Carbon emissions reduction target - £15.7 billion
Total = £233.5 billion
Reference: uSwitch.com
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
The Feed in Tariff (FiT) announced earlier this month, for introduction in April 2010, means that every household installing solar electric photovoltaic (PV) panels could earn over £1000/year for 25 years.
These new tariffs will allow people to turn their homes into mini-power stations. For householders who have a south-facing roof, PV panels are really worth looking at. Not only are they a sound financial investment (approx.10% return on your initial investment), they will also allow you to do your part in tackling climate change.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
1. Based on a medium user consuming 3,300 kWh electricity and 20,500 kWh gas, on a standard plan, paying on receipt of bill with bill sizes averaged across all regions. In 2004, the average annual dual fuel bill was £580. At present it is £1,239.
2. Based on a medium user consuming 3,300 kWh electricity and 20,500 kWh gas, on a standard plan, paying on receipt of bill with bill sizes averaged across all regions. The £4,733 figure takes into account pricing trends over the last 5 years and investment costs required by the energy industry. According to Ernst & Young, reported in The Times on Monday 25th May, 2009 in an article written by Robin Pagnamenta, these investment costs total £233.5 billion and imply a total bill of £8,977 or £598 a year for the next 15 years for every household. However, Ernst & Young factored in £112.5 billion for renewable generation and £15.7 billion of Carbon Emission Reduction Targets (CERT) investment. Consumers are already contributing for these items on their bills: according to Ofgem, in 2006/07, the Renewable Obligation cost each domestic consumer about £10 a year plus, under the CERT scheme we are all paying an extra £19 a year on gas and £18 on electricity to provide funding to support energy efficiency measures. Therefore, to reflect these costs across all domestic energy accounts we have added £548 a year onto household energy bills instead of the £598 a year predicted by Ernst & Young.
However, uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, is warning that Ofgem could be underestimating the increases. It says that ongoing pricing trends coupled with required investment could see household energy bills hit as high as £4,733 a year by 2020[2], nearly four times higher than they are today. The additional cost of investment alone is expected to add £548 a year onto household bills[2].
Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch, says: “Today’s report is one of many recent announcements from Ofgem, which have gradually lifted the lid on what household energy bills are expected to look like in the future. When you add the pieces together it’s a big wake-up call and raises serious concerns about the ongoing affordability of our energy. While investment in the sector is crucial, there can be no doubt that it will have a big impact on household energy bills and this has to be explained to consumers now so that they can start taking action to protect themselves in the future.
"The £5,000 a year energy bill may seem like an outside possibility, but we have to remember that energy bills doubled in the last five years alone and that the huge investment needed to keep the lights on in Britain will alone add £548 a year onto our bills. The fact is we are entering a new era of high cost energy and households will have to adapt their behaviour accordingly by paying the lowest possible price for their energy and reducing the amount they use.”
£233.5 billion investment – what are the key costs?[2]
Renewable energy generation - £112.5 billion
Power plants (including gas-fired, coal-fired and nuclear) - £52.1 billion
Upgrading pipes, networks and gas storage - £39.8 billion
Roll-out of smart metering - £13.4 billion
Carbon emissions reduction target - £15.7 billion
Total = £233.5 billion
Reference: uSwitch.com
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
The Feed in Tariff (FiT) announced earlier this month, for introduction in April 2010, means that every household installing solar electric photovoltaic (PV) panels could earn over £1000/year for 25 years.
These new tariffs will allow people to turn their homes into mini-power stations. For householders who have a south-facing roof, PV panels are really worth looking at. Not only are they a sound financial investment (approx.10% return on your initial investment), they will also allow you to do your part in tackling climate change.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
For further information about Urban Energy products and services:
Call: 0800 232 1624
Email: info@urbanenergy.org.uk
Website: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
1. Based on a medium user consuming 3,300 kWh electricity and 20,500 kWh gas, on a standard plan, paying on receipt of bill with bill sizes averaged across all regions. In 2004, the average annual dual fuel bill was £580. At present it is £1,239.
2. Based on a medium user consuming 3,300 kWh electricity and 20,500 kWh gas, on a standard plan, paying on receipt of bill with bill sizes averaged across all regions. The £4,733 figure takes into account pricing trends over the last 5 years and investment costs required by the energy industry. According to Ernst & Young, reported in The Times on Monday 25th May, 2009 in an article written by Robin Pagnamenta, these investment costs total £233.5 billion and imply a total bill of £8,977 or £598 a year for the next 15 years for every household. However, Ernst & Young factored in £112.5 billion for renewable generation and £15.7 billion of Carbon Emission Reduction Targets (CERT) investment. Consumers are already contributing for these items on their bills: according to Ofgem, in 2006/07, the Renewable Obligation cost each domestic consumer about £10 a year plus, under the CERT scheme we are all paying an extra £19 a year on gas and £18 on electricity to provide funding to support energy efficiency measures. Therefore, to reflect these costs across all domestic energy accounts we have added £548 a year onto household energy bills instead of the £598 a year predicted by Ernst & Young.
Friday, 19 February 2010
Ofgem badge launched to help consumers identify green electricity tariffs.
Because coal-fired power stations are so obviously bad for the environment and electricity so profligately used, governments have been quick to hand out environmentally friendly regulations to its generators and suppliers.
An integrated power company in the UK must now, by law,
a) increasingly source its power from renewable energy
b) undertake a certain level of activity to improve energy efficiency in households,
c) pay a fixed reward to consumers producing their own renewable electricity (so-called 'feed-in' tariffs) and d) ensure their total emissions stay within a fixed cap (or buy in emissions reductions from elsewhere to compensate).
Soon they will also be required to collect a levy to be spent on capturing and storing carbon underground. It may not be long before they are also obliged to go nuclear.
All this regulation is absolutely essential for driving investment in climate solutions but it makes the act of choosing an electricity tariff considered 'greener' than average almost impossible. The good news is that by the time electricity reaches us it's already got all the legal green obligations priced into it. So we are all doing our bit via our bills already. But if you don't think the government's obligations are going fast or far enough and want to exercise your consumer power to go further, it quickly gets complicated trying to work out if that thing you want done is really additional or just meeting a legal requirement.
Ofgem's new trademarked label for green electricity tariffs is a welcome step forward. Help is at hand for the consumer seeking to navigate this carbon policy jungle.
A new panel of auditors has taken Ofgem's guidelines, issued last year, and scrutinised proposed green tariffs wishing to bear the new trademark – those that have passed will be announced today. The crucial test: is this product doing something that wasn't required of the electricity company already? Broadly, three things qualify – investing in (but not owning) community renewables projects too small to be part of the renewables obligation (point a. above), paying for energy efficiency projects that do not qualify for the existing requirement, and buying and cancelling emissions permits that would be otherwise used to allow pollution to carry on.
Of these, by far the easiest to audit and most clear in terms of doing something new, is the last: permit cancellation. The Environmental Audit Committee report, issued yesterday, clearly recommended that caps on emissions, in the UK and Europe, be significantly tightened. This must ultimately be achieved by changes to the policy at EU level but it can also be helped along by action by member states and by consumers.
Fewer permits in circulation mean less pollution. So tariffs that cancel them are good. More investment in renewable power and electrical energy efficiency unfortunately cannot be guaranteed to do the same unless some of the fixed supply of pollution permits are also cancelled. If they are not, they will be sold to someone else who will use them to pollute.
This fact has long been ignored in Europe though it has been the subject of intense debate in Australia, where the government is trying to introduce caps on emissions, and has already been addressed in the existing US regional cap and trade scheme. This has to change.
The Ofgem guidelines go a long way towards untangling the many overlapping climate policies that now exist. They are not perfect and there is still a long way to go to increase awareness and make the distinction clear between cancelling pollution permits and the much-criticised use of 'carbon offsetting', which is not the same thing.
If this can be achieved and more policies and products be aligned so that we get the number of permits in circulation down, then this new scheme will be an efficient way to harness green consumer power.
Reference: Bryony Worthington; director of Sandbag.org.uk campaigner for tighter caps on pollution.
URBAN ENERGY:
Switching to energy suppliers that have the Ofgem badge is a great start, but why not produce your own electricity & hot water by installing solar photovoltaic (pv) and solar thermal panels? Become a microgenerator, and get paid by the government to do it!
URBAN ENERGY THERMAL:
Solar panels are typically located on the roof of your house or commercial property. These panels are able to convert everyday sunlight into heat energy stored within a cylinder, where it can be used to provide hot water for your home or business.
URBAN ENERGY SOLAR ELECTRICAL POWER:
Photovoltaic (PV) panels can be installed ‘on’ or ‘within’ the roof of your commercial property or home and are designed to convert day light into usable solar electricity. The solar electricity generated will be able to power any electrical device within the building without compromising quality of delivery. Their Photovoltaic panels have been designed to work within a grid system to permit the sale of redundant electricity to power suppliers, eradicating the need for unnecessary and costly battery systems found on other types of installations. Please visit our website for more information: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
An integrated power company in the UK must now, by law,
a) increasingly source its power from renewable energy
b) undertake a certain level of activity to improve energy efficiency in households,
c) pay a fixed reward to consumers producing their own renewable electricity (so-called 'feed-in' tariffs) and d) ensure their total emissions stay within a fixed cap (or buy in emissions reductions from elsewhere to compensate).
Soon they will also be required to collect a levy to be spent on capturing and storing carbon underground. It may not be long before they are also obliged to go nuclear.
All this regulation is absolutely essential for driving investment in climate solutions but it makes the act of choosing an electricity tariff considered 'greener' than average almost impossible. The good news is that by the time electricity reaches us it's already got all the legal green obligations priced into it. So we are all doing our bit via our bills already. But if you don't think the government's obligations are going fast or far enough and want to exercise your consumer power to go further, it quickly gets complicated trying to work out if that thing you want done is really additional or just meeting a legal requirement.
Ofgem's new trademarked label for green electricity tariffs is a welcome step forward. Help is at hand for the consumer seeking to navigate this carbon policy jungle.
A new panel of auditors has taken Ofgem's guidelines, issued last year, and scrutinised proposed green tariffs wishing to bear the new trademark – those that have passed will be announced today. The crucial test: is this product doing something that wasn't required of the electricity company already? Broadly, three things qualify – investing in (but not owning) community renewables projects too small to be part of the renewables obligation (point a. above), paying for energy efficiency projects that do not qualify for the existing requirement, and buying and cancelling emissions permits that would be otherwise used to allow pollution to carry on.
Of these, by far the easiest to audit and most clear in terms of doing something new, is the last: permit cancellation. The Environmental Audit Committee report, issued yesterday, clearly recommended that caps on emissions, in the UK and Europe, be significantly tightened. This must ultimately be achieved by changes to the policy at EU level but it can also be helped along by action by member states and by consumers.
Fewer permits in circulation mean less pollution. So tariffs that cancel them are good. More investment in renewable power and electrical energy efficiency unfortunately cannot be guaranteed to do the same unless some of the fixed supply of pollution permits are also cancelled. If they are not, they will be sold to someone else who will use them to pollute.
This fact has long been ignored in Europe though it has been the subject of intense debate in Australia, where the government is trying to introduce caps on emissions, and has already been addressed in the existing US regional cap and trade scheme. This has to change.
The Ofgem guidelines go a long way towards untangling the many overlapping climate policies that now exist. They are not perfect and there is still a long way to go to increase awareness and make the distinction clear between cancelling pollution permits and the much-criticised use of 'carbon offsetting', which is not the same thing.
If this can be achieved and more policies and products be aligned so that we get the number of permits in circulation down, then this new scheme will be an efficient way to harness green consumer power.
Reference: Bryony Worthington; director of Sandbag.org.uk campaigner for tighter caps on pollution.
URBAN ENERGY:
Switching to energy suppliers that have the Ofgem badge is a great start, but why not produce your own electricity & hot water by installing solar photovoltaic (pv) and solar thermal panels? Become a microgenerator, and get paid by the government to do it!
URBAN ENERGY THERMAL:
Solar panels are typically located on the roof of your house or commercial property. These panels are able to convert everyday sunlight into heat energy stored within a cylinder, where it can be used to provide hot water for your home or business.
URBAN ENERGY SOLAR ELECTRICAL POWER:
Photovoltaic (PV) panels can be installed ‘on’ or ‘within’ the roof of your commercial property or home and are designed to convert day light into usable solar electricity. The solar electricity generated will be able to power any electrical device within the building without compromising quality of delivery. Their Photovoltaic panels have been designed to work within a grid system to permit the sale of redundant electricity to power suppliers, eradicating the need for unnecessary and costly battery systems found on other types of installations. Please visit our website for more information: http://www.urbanenergy.org.uk/
Thursday, 4 February 2010
The Prospect of a Power Cut!
When the energy regulator sounds the alarm over the risk of national power failure we should all listen. Yesterday Ofgem released a report warning of "reasonable doubt" over the security and sustainability of Britain's power supplies. It points to a combination of dwindling domestic gas reserves, a reliance on unstable foreign suppliers and a shortage of infrastructure investment. The regulator also reiterated a previous warning that without drastic action to expand supply many homes will soon find energy prices unaffordable.
The regulator rightly argues that the energy sector needs an overhaul if we are to meet this challenge. But what, precisely, is to be done? The solutions to the shortage of infrastructure investment already exist. The problem is that they are not being implemented speedily enough. Greater government support for wind, solar and wave generation would address the challenge of energy security and carbon emissions at the same time.
Reference: The Independent
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, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
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 regulator rightly argues that the energy sector needs an overhaul if we are to meet this challenge. But what, precisely, is to be done? The solutions to the shortage of infrastructure investment already exist. The problem is that they are not being implemented speedily enough. Greater government support for wind, solar and wave generation would address the challenge of energy security and carbon emissions at the same time.
Reference: The Independent
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, certified and Government approved to carry out this task, complying with strict guidelines and are members of the Solar Trade Association.
0% interest instalment payment program available for domestic solar thermal and photovoltaic systems.
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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