Urban Energy actively supporting Solar Aid, enabling some of the poorest communities on the planet to receive clean, free energy:
Hi all at Urban Energy!
During my recent trip to Kenya and Tanzania last month, my colleagues and I made a series of short films about our work on the ground and how our donors and supporters are having a real impact on the lives of thousands of people. I’d love you to watch this short film. Please simply type: urbanenergy.mysolaraid.org into your web browser to view the special web page and to watch the short film. I hope you enjoy it! I look forward to catching up soon.
All the best,
Anna
Marketing Manager
SolarAid
http://defaultrecord1.mysolaraid.org/links/Microsites/8f9a5b31_fe4c_4056_9c05_a40fed929aa8/www/index.html?enc=5e6zaFEYMp2YYTDybwVAt/nvcnURQhK020/eECFlH6vHCX/dRH3w/7znXH9cNDzs7AXY3ug2BgQxdW4PJBfuXIQfcydyvoufunwoibyzTHVEFiTrvbTTS/wLZOLuXyksTG0Ny5VpY4SN93RY4Bdy9BMZxNmDnaqRzjrWh6UQIwURLCOWTnyEbxNJy4CyrxRq2KaLM4RjAAwcUpIXk1FRsEdpdTay7BxtU5BgR3uDJces0KJeluvdKGd2a8ArhEKSRyRzfTE3W1OhJDePILJzabs4I27GE7QGhBOhcJooibg=&
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 carbon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carbon. Show all posts
Friday, 5 March 2010
Monday, 1 March 2010
Is it time to generate your own domestic power?
Will the government's feed in tariff scheme which guarantees a rate of payment for renewable energy sold back to the grid tempt you to install your own solar panels or wind turbine? Here are some thoughts from members of the public:
It would appear that now is possibly the best time ever to consider installing some form of domestic microgeneration, be it solar photovoltaic panels for electricity, solar thermal energy for hot water or even wind turbines in some circumstances.
Economically speaking? Yes. There has never been a better time, and there will probably never be a better time in the next couple of decades, to make a profit from domestic micro-renewables in the UK.
We believe microgeneration has the potential to deliver significant amounts of energy, helping increase the UK's energy security, reduce its carbon emissions and, importantly, to influence consumer behaviour surrounding energy use. We've found that if you are generating your own power you tend to be far more careful about how you use it.
So far the uptake of microgeneration technology has been low in the UK compared with, say, Germany. Our research shows that this is due to several barriers: economics, planning, access to good information and consumer confidence. The introduction of feed in tariffs 'FiTs' certainly make the economics of microgeneration far more attractive, particularly with interest rates currently so low in the UK.
However we'd always recommend that before you invest in microgeneration technology you first address the energy efficiency of your property. It's also important to make sure you choose the right technology for it to be effective - there's no point installing a wind turbine unless you live somewhere windy (which rules out most urban locations) and the best results for solar pv are south-facing roofs.
Micro-generation isn't silver bullet to fight climate change, but it is a step in the right direction. More importantly, it is about taking responsibility for your own actions.
It is all to easy to flick a switch, and power arrives. If you generate your own, it is amazing how frugal you can be in your energy use. Even if it is renewable.
However, I work on a more important principle. The Government admits that power cuts are coming, and fuel prices are set to rocket. Given the winter we have just had, I think it could actually be about having a modicum of heat whilst the rest of the country shivers.
Currently around 100,000 people in the UK generate their own power - around 90% through solar thermal. If the government's target of 750,000 is to be reached, however, we think it'll take more than feed-in tariff, they'll also need to look at removing some of the other obstacles, especially planning.
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/
It would appear that now is possibly the best time ever to consider installing some form of domestic microgeneration, be it solar photovoltaic panels for electricity, solar thermal energy for hot water or even wind turbines in some circumstances.
Economically speaking? Yes. There has never been a better time, and there will probably never be a better time in the next couple of decades, to make a profit from domestic micro-renewables in the UK.
We believe microgeneration has the potential to deliver significant amounts of energy, helping increase the UK's energy security, reduce its carbon emissions and, importantly, to influence consumer behaviour surrounding energy use. We've found that if you are generating your own power you tend to be far more careful about how you use it.
So far the uptake of microgeneration technology has been low in the UK compared with, say, Germany. Our research shows that this is due to several barriers: economics, planning, access to good information and consumer confidence. The introduction of feed in tariffs 'FiTs' certainly make the economics of microgeneration far more attractive, particularly with interest rates currently so low in the UK.
However we'd always recommend that before you invest in microgeneration technology you first address the energy efficiency of your property. It's also important to make sure you choose the right technology for it to be effective - there's no point installing a wind turbine unless you live somewhere windy (which rules out most urban locations) and the best results for solar pv are south-facing roofs.
Micro-generation isn't silver bullet to fight climate change, but it is a step in the right direction. More importantly, it is about taking responsibility for your own actions.
It is all to easy to flick a switch, and power arrives. If you generate your own, it is amazing how frugal you can be in your energy use. Even if it is renewable.
However, I work on a more important principle. The Government admits that power cuts are coming, and fuel prices are set to rocket. Given the winter we have just had, I think it could actually be about having a modicum of heat whilst the rest of the country shivers.
Currently around 100,000 people in the UK generate their own power - around 90% through solar thermal. If the government's target of 750,000 is to be reached, however, we think it'll take more than feed-in tariff, they'll also need to look at removing some of the other obstacles, especially planning.
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/
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Global Warming? Rubbish! Just another way of taxing the public, isn't it?
1. People say the world isn’t really getting warmer, some years are just hotter than others, and it varies/goes around in cycles.
a. The 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1997. That’s a fact, based on recorded temperatures since 1850 (when reliable records began). Over the last 100 years the Earth has warmed by about 0.75 degrees Celsius and the speed it is warming at is getting faster. These days the UK Spring arrives about 10 days earlier than it did in the 1970s. In 159 years of records, the 10 hottest years have been in the last 12 years.
b. Arctic sea ice is melting, the extent it reaches has shrunk by about 10% every 10 years since the late 70s. The smallest amounts of Arctic summer ice on record were in the last 3 years: 2007-2009. In a few decades, large parts of the Arctic Ocean are expected to have no late summer sea-ice at all.
2. People say we’ve nothing to do with it.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere have gone up 38% since 1750 - the year the industrial revolution started. Rising levels of greenhouse gases are directly linked to human activity like burning fossil fuels and clearing forests. There is a clear link between more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and global warming.
3. But not all scientists agree though, right?
The overwhelming majority of climate scientists agree that human induced climate change poses a huge threat to the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is not run by any government – ‘intergovernmental’ means it answers to all 192 governments signed up to it. Its reports are written by independent scientists. It is one of the most rigorous scientific bodies that exists. It brings together many thousands of scientists from countries all over the world to put together the best assessments of climate science available. What about the leaked emails from the University of East Anglia? Don’t they undermine the science? There is an independent review looking at this incident. But there is an overwhelming consensus, based on decades of climate science and the work of thousands of scientists around the world which says that climate change is real and a major threat.
4. It’s too late, we just need to accept it.
This international scientific panel says we need to stop the world getting more than 2 degrees warmer if we want to avoid dangerous climate change. After that it becomes harder to produce food and competition for water, sea level rises and loss of species get much worse. We've got the technologies we need for a low-carbon world we just need to go for it now. It'll cost much less to go low carbon than it will to let climate change happen.
5. A bit of melting ice and slightly hotter summers, what’s the problem?
Global sea levels have already risen by 10 centimetres in the last 50 years, thanks to melting ice and warming oceans. This is already threatening low-lying countries, such as islands and Bangladesh. Millions more people are expected to be flooded every year by 2080. Latest predictions suggest the sea could rise by 1 metre this century. In Europe alone this could affect over 20 million people. And it looks like the sea is rising more quickly now than in the 20th century.
6. Some countries have always had droughts, it’s nothing new.
Severe droughts are now twice as common as they were in 1970. More drought is affecting which crops we can grow effectively. Global demand for food is expected to nearly double by 2050. But by 2025, lack of water could mean we produce a third less of the volume of cereals we currently eat – that’s the same as losing the entire grain crops of India and the US combined.
7. Global warming is just to do with natural changes in the Sun.
Scientists are clear that there is strong evidence that changes in solar radiation could not have caused the rapid warming we have seen over the past fifty years. The Met Office has stated that since the Industrial Revolution, additional greenhouse gases have had about ten times the effect on the climate as changes in the Sun’s output.
8. We’ve all got a lot on our plate – let’s worry about it later.
Even if all greenhouse gas emissions stopped tomorrow, we are already locked into a global temperature rise of at least 1.4 degrees Celsius (since 1750) because of the delayed impact between emissions and temperature. It is already happening, and we need to act now to stop it getting much worse.
9. It won’t happen to us though.
Developed countries suffer impacts too. The 2003 heat wave in western Europe, which caused 35,000 deaths (2,000 in the UK), is already twice as likely to happen again next year. By the 2040s Europe will consider such a summer normal. By 2060s they will consider it cool.
10. Surely it’s only the odd polar bear, who cares?
Species are already being forced to migrate or adapt. Scientists think that around 20% of species will become extinct with 2 degrees of warming – and it will be a real challenge, even if we act right now, to keep to that limit.
Reference: Act On CO2penhagen
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 some households installing solar electric photovoltaic (PV) panels could earn > £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, 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/
a. The 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1997. That’s a fact, based on recorded temperatures since 1850 (when reliable records began). Over the last 100 years the Earth has warmed by about 0.75 degrees Celsius and the speed it is warming at is getting faster. These days the UK Spring arrives about 10 days earlier than it did in the 1970s. In 159 years of records, the 10 hottest years have been in the last 12 years.
b. Arctic sea ice is melting, the extent it reaches has shrunk by about 10% every 10 years since the late 70s. The smallest amounts of Arctic summer ice on record were in the last 3 years: 2007-2009. In a few decades, large parts of the Arctic Ocean are expected to have no late summer sea-ice at all.
2. People say we’ve nothing to do with it.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere have gone up 38% since 1750 - the year the industrial revolution started. Rising levels of greenhouse gases are directly linked to human activity like burning fossil fuels and clearing forests. There is a clear link between more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and global warming.
3. But not all scientists agree though, right?
The overwhelming majority of climate scientists agree that human induced climate change poses a huge threat to the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is not run by any government – ‘intergovernmental’ means it answers to all 192 governments signed up to it. Its reports are written by independent scientists. It is one of the most rigorous scientific bodies that exists. It brings together many thousands of scientists from countries all over the world to put together the best assessments of climate science available. What about the leaked emails from the University of East Anglia? Don’t they undermine the science? There is an independent review looking at this incident. But there is an overwhelming consensus, based on decades of climate science and the work of thousands of scientists around the world which says that climate change is real and a major threat.
4. It’s too late, we just need to accept it.
This international scientific panel says we need to stop the world getting more than 2 degrees warmer if we want to avoid dangerous climate change. After that it becomes harder to produce food and competition for water, sea level rises and loss of species get much worse. We've got the technologies we need for a low-carbon world we just need to go for it now. It'll cost much less to go low carbon than it will to let climate change happen.
5. A bit of melting ice and slightly hotter summers, what’s the problem?
Global sea levels have already risen by 10 centimetres in the last 50 years, thanks to melting ice and warming oceans. This is already threatening low-lying countries, such as islands and Bangladesh. Millions more people are expected to be flooded every year by 2080. Latest predictions suggest the sea could rise by 1 metre this century. In Europe alone this could affect over 20 million people. And it looks like the sea is rising more quickly now than in the 20th century.
6. Some countries have always had droughts, it’s nothing new.
Severe droughts are now twice as common as they were in 1970. More drought is affecting which crops we can grow effectively. Global demand for food is expected to nearly double by 2050. But by 2025, lack of water could mean we produce a third less of the volume of cereals we currently eat – that’s the same as losing the entire grain crops of India and the US combined.
7. Global warming is just to do with natural changes in the Sun.
Scientists are clear that there is strong evidence that changes in solar radiation could not have caused the rapid warming we have seen over the past fifty years. The Met Office has stated that since the Industrial Revolution, additional greenhouse gases have had about ten times the effect on the climate as changes in the Sun’s output.
8. We’ve all got a lot on our plate – let’s worry about it later.
Even if all greenhouse gas emissions stopped tomorrow, we are already locked into a global temperature rise of at least 1.4 degrees Celsius (since 1750) because of the delayed impact between emissions and temperature. It is already happening, and we need to act now to stop it getting much worse.
9. It won’t happen to us though.
Developed countries suffer impacts too. The 2003 heat wave in western Europe, which caused 35,000 deaths (2,000 in the UK), is already twice as likely to happen again next year. By the 2040s Europe will consider such a summer normal. By 2060s they will consider it cool.
10. Surely it’s only the odd polar bear, who cares?
Species are already being forced to migrate or adapt. Scientists think that around 20% of species will become extinct with 2 degrees of warming – and it will be a real challenge, even if we act right now, to keep to that limit.
Reference: Act On CO2penhagen
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 some households installing solar electric photovoltaic (PV) panels could earn > £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, 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/
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/
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Is solar power a bright investment?
If you install a typical £12,500 photovoltaic (PV) system on your roof, the new feed in tariff should give you a return of at least £25,000. So what's the catch? There isn't one!
If the government offered to pay you £1,000 a year for the next 25 years, in return for an up-front investment of £12,500, you'd snap it up in a second. Well, that's pretty much the deal on offer this week after the government finally revealed what it will pay those who install electricity generating solar panels – in and around their homes – through the new "Feed-in Tariffs" (FITs).
After years of campaigning by environmental groups – helped in small part by this newspaper – the government has finally agreed to reward households and businesses installing electricity-generating measures with enough of a return to make it a serious financial, as well as an environmental, investment. If you've got the money and, crucially, a sunny, south-facing roof, you can earn a 7%-10% tax-free return, an income that will rise in line with inflation. At the same time, you get to do more than your fair share in reducing the UK's carbon emissions.
In the week that the energy regulator, Ofgem, warned the nation to expect 20% electricity price hikes by 2020, and warned future supplies were in jeopardy, investors in solar panels will have the added benefit of being a net provider of electricity, and largely insulated from future price hikes that could see household bills top £2,000 a year by 2020.
Announcing the new tariffs' introduction this week, the energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband said the guaranteed income would be a big incentive for householders "to make the move to low carbon living".
"The feed-in tariff will change the way householders and communities think about their future energy needs, making the payback for investment far shorter than in the past."
Although Milliband announced a number of tariffs – including what the government will pay those installing wind turbines – the one that will appeal most to the average UK householder will be for installing photovoltaic (PV) solar panels – at a typical cost of £12,500.
From 1 April, households with approved schemes will be paid for the electricity they generate, even if they use all of it themselves.
The level of payment depends on the technology and whether it is being fitted to an existing home, or installed as part of newbuild. Importantly, future payments are guaranteed for the next 25 years and have been, unexpectedly, linked to inflation.
Anyone fitting a typical £12,500, 2.5kW PV system to their existing home will initially be paid 41.3p per kilowatt hour (kWh) generated. Enough, according to Miliband, to reward them with up to £900 in the first year on top of a £140-a-year saving on their bills.
The measure, which is inevitably quite complicated, is designed to reward those who reduce their own electricity consumption by installing low-energy lighting and A-rated white goods, and to ultimately export excess electricity generated back to the grid.
Households get an extra 3p for each kWh they export on top of the 41.3p they get paid for all units generated. Those building PV roof panels into a new-build home get a slightly lower tariff (36.1p per kWh). The fact that the payments are not taxed make it a particularly rewarding investment for higher-rate taxpayers – those earning more than just over £43,000.
The feed-in rates change depending on which year you install the technology. They will also apply to installations commissioned since July 2009 when the policy was announced. Early adopters, who have installed grant-assisted PV and registered for the ROC scheme, will also receive payments, but at just 9p/kWh. The payments will physically come from your existing electricity supplier, but will be overseen by the regulator Ofgem.
Reference: The Guardian
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Homeowners with flat roofs may well find they can install a system, as will those with conventional roofs that face a few degrees either side of south, east or west. Panels perform best in unshaded sites angled towards the sun at a pitch of 30-40 degrees.
Prior to this week's announcement, grants of up to £2,500 had been available to those installing PV panels under the terms of the government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme. There are still grants available for other green technologies. FITs now provide the entire financial incentive for PV installers.
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, they will also allow you to do your part in tackling climate change.
Our homes are responsible for over a fifth of UK emissions, but by fitting renewable electricity systems and wind turbines, we can be part of a greener, safer future.
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/
If the government offered to pay you £1,000 a year for the next 25 years, in return for an up-front investment of £12,500, you'd snap it up in a second. Well, that's pretty much the deal on offer this week after the government finally revealed what it will pay those who install electricity generating solar panels – in and around their homes – through the new "Feed-in Tariffs" (FITs).
After years of campaigning by environmental groups – helped in small part by this newspaper – the government has finally agreed to reward households and businesses installing electricity-generating measures with enough of a return to make it a serious financial, as well as an environmental, investment. If you've got the money and, crucially, a sunny, south-facing roof, you can earn a 7%-10% tax-free return, an income that will rise in line with inflation. At the same time, you get to do more than your fair share in reducing the UK's carbon emissions.
In the week that the energy regulator, Ofgem, warned the nation to expect 20% electricity price hikes by 2020, and warned future supplies were in jeopardy, investors in solar panels will have the added benefit of being a net provider of electricity, and largely insulated from future price hikes that could see household bills top £2,000 a year by 2020.
Announcing the new tariffs' introduction this week, the energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband said the guaranteed income would be a big incentive for householders "to make the move to low carbon living".
"The feed-in tariff will change the way householders and communities think about their future energy needs, making the payback for investment far shorter than in the past."
Although Milliband announced a number of tariffs – including what the government will pay those installing wind turbines – the one that will appeal most to the average UK householder will be for installing photovoltaic (PV) solar panels – at a typical cost of £12,500.
From 1 April, households with approved schemes will be paid for the electricity they generate, even if they use all of it themselves.
The level of payment depends on the technology and whether it is being fitted to an existing home, or installed as part of newbuild. Importantly, future payments are guaranteed for the next 25 years and have been, unexpectedly, linked to inflation.
Anyone fitting a typical £12,500, 2.5kW PV system to their existing home will initially be paid 41.3p per kilowatt hour (kWh) generated. Enough, according to Miliband, to reward them with up to £900 in the first year on top of a £140-a-year saving on their bills.
The measure, which is inevitably quite complicated, is designed to reward those who reduce their own electricity consumption by installing low-energy lighting and A-rated white goods, and to ultimately export excess electricity generated back to the grid.
Households get an extra 3p for each kWh they export on top of the 41.3p they get paid for all units generated. Those building PV roof panels into a new-build home get a slightly lower tariff (36.1p per kWh). The fact that the payments are not taxed make it a particularly rewarding investment for higher-rate taxpayers – those earning more than just over £43,000.
The feed-in rates change depending on which year you install the technology. They will also apply to installations commissioned since July 2009 when the policy was announced. Early adopters, who have installed grant-assisted PV and registered for the ROC scheme, will also receive payments, but at just 9p/kWh. The payments will physically come from your existing electricity supplier, but will be overseen by the regulator Ofgem.
Reference: The Guardian
URBAN ENERGY
Our mission: “To provide and install, sustainable, world class, clean energy products with the highest level of service and care”.
Homeowners with flat roofs may well find they can install a system, as will those with conventional roofs that face a few degrees either side of south, east or west. Panels perform best in unshaded sites angled towards the sun at a pitch of 30-40 degrees.
Prior to this week's announcement, grants of up to £2,500 had been available to those installing PV panels under the terms of the government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme. There are still grants available for other green technologies. FITs now provide the entire financial incentive for PV installers.
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, they will also allow you to do your part in tackling climate change.
Our homes are responsible for over a fifth of UK emissions, but by fitting renewable electricity systems and wind turbines, we can be part of a greener, safer future.
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/
Sunday, 7 February 2010
New plan gives solar power to the people!
Government launches scheme to light a fire under microgenerators, and help them save – and make – money.
Short-term, the prospects for home-energy prices are looking brighter – British Gas has just reduced tariffs by 7 per cent and the other big suppliers are likely to follow. However, Ofgem, the regulator, is warning that down the line we could see our bills rise by 25 per cent over the next 10 years, and even that energy supplies could become scarce. But just as news came in that energy prices are set to rise dramatically, homeowners were offered hope with the launch of a new government incentive.
Hoping to encourage a movement towards renewable energy, the Government has finalised details of its feed-in tariffs, which reward people who produce their own energy by investing in technology such as solar panels and small wind turbines.
"This new scheme is a fantastic opportunity for householders to make money, cut fuel bills and play their part in slashing carbon-dioxide emissions," says Dave Timms, green homes campaigner for eco-action group Friends of the Earth. "Developing the UK's massive small-scale renewable energy potential will help to tackle climate change, create new green jobs and industries, and increase our energy security."
From 1 April, any household generating its own energy will be rewarded with tax-free payments. The cashback levels will depend on the technology used, with solar panels attracting the most generous payments. Further payments will be awarded to householders directing any energy they don't need back to the National Grid.
The type of technology used will depend on the property type. So a solar photovoltaic (PV) system needs a south-facing, preferably sloping, roof. In England and Scotland, planning permission is not usually required, although there are some restrictions in terms of size, and exceptions apply for any listed buildings, and properties near a conservation area, national park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In Wales and Northern Ireland, householders must consult their local authorities about planning permission.
With the new tariffs, the potential returns that this type of technology can reap are impressive. A typical domestic solar system of 12 panels, for example, will generate £1,048 in savings and income a year.
Overall, householders can expect a pay-back of between 5 and 8 per cent a year, so the move will go some way to alleviate the high initial costs. The Government has also confirmed that tariffs will be paid for up to 25 years, and, as the tariffs are linked to inflation, the real rate of return could end up as high as 10 per cent.
Anyone who has had an installation commissioned since July 2009, when the policy was first announced, will be able to apply for the scheme. The incentives are also open to businesses, communities, farmers, schools and hospitals, although the payments vary.
Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, has said that over the next decade he predicts that one in 10 homes will have installed renewable power. These tariffs are going to generate rates of return that will beat high-street savings accounts by a mile, at the same time as they save carbon and generate jobs in a new fast growing, British industry.
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/
Short-term, the prospects for home-energy prices are looking brighter – British Gas has just reduced tariffs by 7 per cent and the other big suppliers are likely to follow. However, Ofgem, the regulator, is warning that down the line we could see our bills rise by 25 per cent over the next 10 years, and even that energy supplies could become scarce. But just as news came in that energy prices are set to rise dramatically, homeowners were offered hope with the launch of a new government incentive.
Hoping to encourage a movement towards renewable energy, the Government has finalised details of its feed-in tariffs, which reward people who produce their own energy by investing in technology such as solar panels and small wind turbines.
"This new scheme is a fantastic opportunity for householders to make money, cut fuel bills and play their part in slashing carbon-dioxide emissions," says Dave Timms, green homes campaigner for eco-action group Friends of the Earth. "Developing the UK's massive small-scale renewable energy potential will help to tackle climate change, create new green jobs and industries, and increase our energy security."
From 1 April, any household generating its own energy will be rewarded with tax-free payments. The cashback levels will depend on the technology used, with solar panels attracting the most generous payments. Further payments will be awarded to householders directing any energy they don't need back to the National Grid.
The type of technology used will depend on the property type. So a solar photovoltaic (PV) system needs a south-facing, preferably sloping, roof. In England and Scotland, planning permission is not usually required, although there are some restrictions in terms of size, and exceptions apply for any listed buildings, and properties near a conservation area, national park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In Wales and Northern Ireland, householders must consult their local authorities about planning permission.
With the new tariffs, the potential returns that this type of technology can reap are impressive. A typical domestic solar system of 12 panels, for example, will generate £1,048 in savings and income a year.
Overall, householders can expect a pay-back of between 5 and 8 per cent a year, so the move will go some way to alleviate the high initial costs. The Government has also confirmed that tariffs will be paid for up to 25 years, and, as the tariffs are linked to inflation, the real rate of return could end up as high as 10 per cent.
Anyone who has had an installation commissioned since July 2009, when the policy was first announced, will be able to apply for the scheme. The incentives are also open to businesses, communities, farmers, schools and hospitals, although the payments vary.
Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, has said that over the next decade he predicts that one in 10 homes will have installed renewable power. These tariffs are going to generate rates of return that will beat high-street savings accounts by a mile, at the same time as they save carbon and generate jobs in a new fast growing, British industry.
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/
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/
Sunday, 31 January 2010
What is a Feed in Tariff (FiT)?
WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT GETTING FiTs IN THE NEW YEAR?:
The UK Government is to support a new era of small-scale renewable electricity with the announcement on Monday 01.02.2010 of the final structure of Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) for small-scale generators.
FiTs are a per-unit support payment (p/kWh) for electricity generation and are already widely in operation in other EU Member States to support renewables.
The Government claims the introduction of FiTs on April 1 2010 will signify a major departure from how small low-carbon generators in the UK are currently rewarded.
The new FiT scheme, to be unveiled on Monday morning by Energy Minister Ed Miliband is designed to “provide the right level of simplicity” to encourage non-energy professionals to invest in small-scale generation.
It will provide non-taxable, cash-linked incentives to encourage those generators to consume the electricity they generate and become more energy efficient while they do so.
The scheme will operate on two levels and allows fixed payment from the electricity supplier for every kilowatt hour (kWh) generated, known as the “generation tariff”.
Another payment will be made additional to the generation tariff for every kWh exported to the wider energy market, to be called the “export tariff”.
The renewable technologies that will qualify for FITs payments are anaerobic digestion, biomass, hydro, Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and wind.
Only small-scale generators with a capacity of up to 5 megawatt can be considered for inclusion and both the installer and the equipment must be accredited by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
According to the proposals, generators will be guaranteed a market for their exports at a long-term guaranteed price. The generator may choose whether to sell exported electricity to the supplier at this guaranteed export tariff, or negotiate a price for exported electricity in the open market.
In addition, generators will benefit because they will have the opportunity to use that electricity on-site to offset some or all of the electricity they would otherwise have had to buy.
He will also reveal details of a renewable heat scheme (RHI), which will be launched following a similar FiT-style consultation next year. Reference 'Click Green' 31.01.2010
URBAN ENERGY:
“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. Their 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.
URBAN ENERGY SOLAR HEATING:
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 useable 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/
The UK Government is to support a new era of small-scale renewable electricity with the announcement on Monday 01.02.2010 of the final structure of Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) for small-scale generators.
FiTs are a per-unit support payment (p/kWh) for electricity generation and are already widely in operation in other EU Member States to support renewables.
The Government claims the introduction of FiTs on April 1 2010 will signify a major departure from how small low-carbon generators in the UK are currently rewarded.
The new FiT scheme, to be unveiled on Monday morning by Energy Minister Ed Miliband is designed to “provide the right level of simplicity” to encourage non-energy professionals to invest in small-scale generation.
It will provide non-taxable, cash-linked incentives to encourage those generators to consume the electricity they generate and become more energy efficient while they do so.
The scheme will operate on two levels and allows fixed payment from the electricity supplier for every kilowatt hour (kWh) generated, known as the “generation tariff”.
Another payment will be made additional to the generation tariff for every kWh exported to the wider energy market, to be called the “export tariff”.
The renewable technologies that will qualify for FITs payments are anaerobic digestion, biomass, hydro, Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and wind.
Only small-scale generators with a capacity of up to 5 megawatt can be considered for inclusion and both the installer and the equipment must be accredited by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
According to the proposals, generators will be guaranteed a market for their exports at a long-term guaranteed price. The generator may choose whether to sell exported electricity to the supplier at this guaranteed export tariff, or negotiate a price for exported electricity in the open market.
In addition, generators will benefit because they will have the opportunity to use that electricity on-site to offset some or all of the electricity they would otherwise have had to buy.
He will also reveal details of a renewable heat scheme (RHI), which will be launched following a similar FiT-style consultation next year. Reference 'Click Green' 31.01.2010
URBAN ENERGY:
“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. Their 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.
URBAN ENERGY SOLAR HEATING:
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 useable 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/
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