Wind Energy and renewable energy blog

How do I know if a Green Electricity Tariff is Genuine?

With all of the big 6 energy companies and a number of smaller independent companies now selling green electricity how are we supposed to know which tariffs are genuinely encouraging new renewable energy generation in the UK and which are begrudgingly doing the bare minimum?

All electricity retailers in the UK are required to supply a proportion of their electricity from renewable sources (currently 11%). If they don’t they have to pay a ‘buyout’ fee – a bit like a fine. So how do you find out whether your chosen green electricity supplier is being forced into supplying your electricity from renewable sources as part of its legal obligation or whether it is going the extra mile in encouraging new renewable energy because you are paying a green electricity rate?

Duke of Edinburgh is “seriously misinformed” warns wind energy industry

RenewableUK, the trade association representing the wind, wave and tidal industry, has responded to remarks made by the Duke of Edinburgh about wind energy.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive, Maria McCaffery MBE, said: “Contrary to the Duke’s comments, the irrefutable facts are that wind energy is providing a clean, secure supply of electricity to more than three million homes in the UK, displacing six and a half million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year”.

UK Renewables Output up by 50% In 2011

The recently released renewables ouput figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change have shown a significant increase in output from the sector throughout the UK. Commenting on these figures, Niall Stuart, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said:

“The figures show that even in an exceptionally dry and calm year, renewables still met over 30 per cent of the annual demand for electricity from every home and business in Scotland. This reinforces that the sector is now a major part of our energy mix, and a significant part of our economy.”

Discounted Barns in Exchange for Solar Energy

A UK based company has come up with a novel way to encourage farmers and businesses to install solar panels on barns and car ports. Lumicity are offering to build new barns and car ports up to the value of £40,000 in return for reaping the rewards from the solar panels that they will install and connect to the national grid.

Anti Wind Turbine Campaigners Fail to Pay Council Tax

UK anti wind turbine campaigners Jane and Julian Davies are being taken to court for unpaid council tax it has emerged this week.

The Spalding Guardian reported today that South Holland District Council has won liability orders to recover £110,000 outstanding in unpaid business rates and council tax.

Jane and Julian Davis travel the UK and abroad to speak out against wind farms and advise people who want to object to local wind farm proposals.

The Davis’s reportedly owe over £1000 to their local council

German Company Renerco Buys UK Wind Farms

Munich based renewable energy company Renerco has just completed the purchase of its second UK wind farm.

The purchase of Kildrummy wind farm in Scotland was completed under a framework agreement with German utility giant RWE. The 8 wind turbine, c. 18 Megawatt wind farm is located 50km west of Aberdeen and construction is due to start in early 2012. The wind farm construction contract negotiation is currently underway.

US Governors ask President to Boost Wind Energy

A coalition of 24 US governors from the major parties and each region of the country has asked the administration to take steps to provide a more favourable business climate for the expansion of wind energy according to the American Wind Energy Association.

Demands are being made for a seven-year extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to provide consistent, low tax rates for wind energy.

British Firm Wins Australian Solar Thermal Bid

British company Wind Prospect has won a bid to develop the largest solar powered energy plant in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Australian arm of the renewable energy company made the bid as part of the ‘Solar Dawn Consortium‘ alongside Areva and CS Energy.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard made the announcement following an 18-month competitive process which started in late 2009.

New UK Renewable Energy Tariff Rates Confirmed

The new feed in tariff rates for small scale renewable energy were confirmed today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

The revised Feed In Tariff rates are due to be implemented on 1st August 2011.

The rate for larger scale solar energy projects of 250 kW – 5MW has been dramatically reduced from 30.7 pence per kWh to 8.5 pence. As a result the UK is unlikely to see proposals for ground based solar parks of this scale.

Further Doubt for UK Offshore Wind Industry

Offshore wind energy may not be needed to meet UK climate change targets according to a new report by the UK’s Committee for Climate Change.

The report recommends that “if a set of alternative options can be found to meet the EU renewable energy target, then offshore wind ambition in 2020 could be moderated.”

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive, said:

Canada Favours Vestas Wind Turbines

Canada has placed more orders with Vestas than any other wind turbine manufacturer according to the Vestas representatives.

As of December 31, 2010, Vestas had supplied 1,021 wind turbines to Canada totaling 1,683 megawatts (MW) of installed wind capacity.

The track record continues this month with Vestas receiving a 104 MW order for 58 V90-1.8 MW turbines for a Canadian wind energy project.

UK Marine Energy Funding Under Threat

British renewable energy trade association RenewableUK is launching a campaign to urge the Government not to cut funding for Britain’s marine energy sector.

The ‘SeaPower’ campaign is being unveiled at the world’s largest wave and tidal energy conference and exhibition, which is being held in London this week. The keynote speaker is the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, Greg Barker.

RenewableUK’s Wave and Tidal Development Manager, Oliver Wragg, said:

“Our new report, “Wave and Tidal Energy in the UK” shows that Britain has the opportunity to lead the world in developing the emerging marine energy industry. This sector has the potential to employ 10,000 people and generate revenues of nearly £4bn per year by 2020. The removal of £42 million of ring-fenced funding through the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund (MRDF) means that there will be no guaranteed support for the development of this technology from the end of March this year.”

EU Set to Exceed 2020 Renewable Energy Target

The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has this week predicted that the EU will exceed its target of 20% of energy from renewable energy by 2020.

Justin Wilkes from EWEA said that all 27 National Renewable Energy Action Plans have been submitted to the European Commission and that EWEA has done an analysis of the plans.

Government to sell English Forests for Quick Buck

With areas of UK forestry mooted suitable for commercial development – the coaltion government has spotted a opportunity to sell off this publically owned asset for a quick buck.

Many forests owned by the Forestry Commission are potentially suitable for tourism, leisure and renewable energy projects such as wind farms, as well as commercial forestry. Indeed such projects already exist in the UK’s publically owned forests from wind farms to Go Ape ‘tree top adventures’.

Concerned Response to UK Electricity Reform Proposals

UK electricity reform proposals to abolish the Renewables Obligation in place of a new Feed in Tariff have been met with a concerned response.

The new UK electricity reform ‘Feed in Tariff with Contract for Difference’ (FIT CFD) announced last week is set to replace the Renewables Obligation (RO) for renewable energy projects built after 2017. More costly renewable energy technologies such as offshore wind energy are expected to receive a premium rate.

The government is also proposing fast- tracking the next adjustment to the RO to apply from Spring 2013. The announcements have caused unease in the UK renewables sector, although the market reform changes will not necessarily apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

UK Electricity Reform to introduce new Feed in Tariff

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne today announced the reform of the UK electricity market.

Huhne says the reforms are necessary to deal with increased electricity demand, ageing power stations and the need for low carbon energy sources in order to meet climate change challenges. The changes are likely to mean new feed in tariffs for larger scale low carbon technologies.

The government believes that all low carbon electricity generation needs support to capture its benefits to our climate and to ensure security of supply. The department of energy and climate change want the true costs of unabated fossil fuels and the benefits of low carbon electricity to be captured in policy.

Mitsubishi Aquires Scottish R&D Company

The Guardian reported this week that Mitsubishi has taken over the Scottish renewable energy technology company Artemis Intelligent Power.

The Japanese company has said that the move will lead to an investment of £100m over 5 years and an additional 200 green jobs.

Solar Energy Expansion in South West England

Since the introduction of the UK feed in tariff, solar power has started to become a serious contender in the UK renewable energy market.

The first solar power project of any scale was consented in Cornwall in October of this year. The £4m, 1.3 Megawatt purpose built solar farm is expected to generate enough electricity for the annual needs of 287 homes.

With the UK government offering a whopping 29.3 pence per kWh, solar energy technology has seen a huge increase in popularity

Pickles Guilty of Abusing Powers

UK Secretary of State for Communities Eric Pickles unlawfully used his powers to abolish regional plans, the High Court has ruled this week.

In an embarassing blow to the government the High Court upheld a challenge by housebuilder CALA homes to the government saying they had no right to wipe out the whole tier of regional plans without going through the proper channels. The result is that the government will be required to introduce primary legislation to formally revoke the regional plans.

Prime Minister Confirms Offshore Wind Energy Fund

Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed today that the government will not cut the port infrastructure fund designed to help bring on stream facilities for offshore wind energy around the UK.

David Cameron said “We need thousands of offshore turbines in the next decade and beyond… To help secure private sector investment in this technology, we’re providing up to £60 million to meet the needs of offshore wind infrastructure at our ports. And to help move things forward, the Crown Estate will also work with interested ports and manufacturers to realise the potential of their sites. It’s a triple win. It will help secure our energy supplies, protect our planet and the Carbon Trust says it could create 70,000 jobs.”