Wind Energy and renewable energy blog

Nearly 12% of UK’s Electricity Now Produced by Renewables

New figures published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show renewable energy is now providing almost 12% of the UK’s electricity.

The amount of electricity generated from renewable sources increased to 11.7% in the third quarter of 2012, up from 9.1% in the same period in 2011. New renewable energy generating plant is responsible for the increase. Wind energy made the biggest contribution of all the renewable technologies, generating 45% of renewable electricity.

Greenpeace Uncover Tory Wind Energy Plot

Greenpeace has released under-cover videos of Tory politicians revealing their plot to prevent further wind energy in England. The series of vidoes showing a Greenpeace activist posing as an anti-wind campaigner talking with MP Chris Heaton Harris, Lord Howell and former Tory minister Peter Lilley reveal a plan to try and de-rail climate change commitments [...]

Support for UK Onshore Wind to be reduced by 10%

Financial support for onshore wind farms in the UK is to be reduced by 10% from 2013 it was announced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) yesterday.

The change to the value of the renewable obligation certificate (ROC) will mean every megawatt hour of electricity generated by onshore wind farms will attract 0.9 ROCS rather than 1.

DECC say that this reduction in support will reduce the contribution of large-scale onshore wind energy towards the 2020 target by 0.6-0.8%. DECC say the reason for the drop is evidence showing predicted falling costs by 3.6% in the period to 2016.

Scottish Wind Farm attracts 250,000 Visitors

Whitelee Wind Farm near Glasgow in Scotland has attracted nearly 250,000 visitors according to the operators of its visitor centre. The visitor centre is run by wind farm owner Scottish Power Renewables and Glasgow Science Centre. As a result of the huge number of people wanting to see the wind farm since it opened in [...]

Osborne Supports Death Nail for Onshore Wind Energy in England

George Osborne is pushing for onshore wind energy payment rate cuts despite renewable industry pleas.

Wind farm companies say it does not make sense to kill the deployment of the cheapest renewable energy technology if politicians are genuinely are worried about the cost of green energy.

Onshore wind energy is currently the cheapest and most effective form of renewable energy in the UK but new wind farms are unlikely to be brought on stream in England if prices are slashed by 25%.

Brighton Launches Solar Power Co-operative Despite slashed FITs

Brighton Energy Co-operative has launched a pioneering project to generate community renewable energy in Brighton & Hove.

Seventy people met last Wednesday to hear about the £200,000 share offer and by the end of the evening, the co-operative had raised £27,000 towards their target. The same day the co-op was also offered a £50,000 loan facility from a community investment fund – all contributing towards their solar panel project at Shoreham Port.

Two UK Energy Giants Drop Nuclear Plans

German energy giants EON and RWE have pulled out plans to build new nuclear power statons in the UK.

The move risks undermining the Government’s energy policy and puts into doubt thousands of jobs in Wales and Gloucestershire. The decision comes after Germany’s rejection of existing and new nuclear plant in the wake of Fukushima.

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.