Wind Energy and renewable energy blog

Huhne Keeps Solar Industry in Limbo

Chris Huhne, energy secretary, has taken another step to undermine the solar industry in seeking to appeal to the Supreme Court to defend his feed in tariff cuts. The saga of the cuts started back in October when Chris Huhne first proposed that the rate that home-owners received for their excess energy should be halved. Although the industry accepted that the price of panels had significantly reduced and therefore profits were higher than expected, the proposal to backdate the cuts before the end of the consultation period was the real bugbear. Solar companies, HomeSun and SolarCentury along with Friends of the Earth, decided to take the Government to court and quickly won their case. Since then the Government has been appealing the decision.

Trump blames offshore wind farm for shelving of luxury golf resort

Donald Trump is considering shelving his plans for his luxury golf resort near Aberdeen after claiming his ambitious project is being threatened by an offshore windfarm, reports the Guardian.

Trump, whose plans for this windswept, remote part of the Aberdeenshire coast include a high-rise tower and several 4 story units, has long complained that the offshore windfarm will be an eyesore.

Major potential for wave and tidal energy near Alaska & Hawaii

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released two reports detailing the country’s ocean wave and tidal resource energy potential. Mapping and Assessment of the United States Ocean Wave Energy Resource report is a follow-up to the Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) 2004 study, with the most recent evidence suggesting a 26 percent increase in wave energy resources.

The Assessment of Energy Production Potential from Tidal Streams in the United States, led by researchers at Georgia Tech Research Corporation in collaboration with DOE, is the first of its kind in the U.S. and includes a geographic information systems (GIS) tool available for public use. The report data concludes that U.S. water power resources, including ocean wave, tidal and conventional hydropower, have the potential to provide 15 percent of the U.S’s electricity by 2030.

Confusion Reigns over Solar Subsidies

The government’s decision to contest the ruling that their plans to slash solar subsidies are illegal has sent the solar PV industry back into turmoil. Solar PV businesses have warned that this latest appeal will cost jobs and potentially risk businesses failing as they simply cannot tell their customers what their return would be.

An executive from Spirit Solar, Erica Robb, challenged David Cameron at a small business event today over the “weeks of chaos” that have resulted from the government’s proposals to cut feed-in tariff incentives for solar installations.

It’s official – wind generates “substantially” more electricity

The latest Government figures on the amount of electricity generated by wind power have been welcomed by RenewableUK, the country’s largest renewable energy trade association, as proof of the increasingly significant contribution wind energy makes to UK households.

Statistics for the third quarter of 2011, released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, show that renewable sources generated 9 per cent of the UK’s electricity from July to September. That represents an increase of nearly 1 per cent on the same quarter last year.

The UK now has enough installed capacity to supply more than 3,300,000 homes from wind energy.

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”.

Renewable Energy Technologies will Deliver a 3rd Industrial Revolution

In last week’s speech to Renewable UK’s annual conference, Chris Huhne praised the renewable energy industry for its ongoing contribution to the British economy. In a response to the naysayers, he addressed the topics of investment, capacity, popularity and job creation.

Wind energy set to bring jobs to the North East

The value of wind power to the North East is set to be more than simply providing electricity. Three active projects on Teeside, Dogger Bank (North Yorkshire) and Hull are all promising ongoing jobs and regeneration in previously hard hit areas.

Nordex Launch their Latest Wind turbine in the Chinese and Asian Markets

Nordex has announced the official launch of its 2.5 MW Gamma Generation wind turbines on the Chinese and Asian market. Nordex say they are responding to the latest market requirements as well as drawing on their 25 years of wind energy experience in their release of the N90/2500kW and N100/2500kW Efficiency Class turbines.

RenewableUK cautious over Government’s mixed funding signals

RenewableUK, the UK’s largest renewable energy trade association, has welcomed the Government’s commitment to boost financial support for wave and tidal projects. However, RenewableUK is urging caution over the Government’s plans to downgrade the level of financial support it provides for onshore wind from 2013 onwards, and offshore wind from 2015.

RenewableUK’s key considerations in response to the latest Government plans are:

- RenewableUK welcome the boost in financial support for wave and tidal energy projects
- The Renewables industry is already working with government to ensure cost reductions
- Cuts in support for wind industry will have impact on deployment

Who is behind The Renewable Energy Foundation?

Despite their name and mission statement, the Renewable Energy Foundation have once again been active in attempting to discredit the wind energy sector. Their declaration that they promote “sustainable development for the benefit of the public by means of energy conservation and the use of renewable energy” has been called into question, with an Energy and Environmental Management article summarising that “the REF is a front for the interests of biofuels companies, energy-intensive industries and even oil and gas companies”.

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.

£12.3 Million Initiative Launched to Develop Algae as a Source of Sustainable Energy

Several leading European organisations – including the NNFCC have joined forces on a £12.3 million, four and a half year project called Energetic Algae (EnAlgae).

EnAlgae will establish a series of pilot scale seaweed farms and microalgae growth facilities in the region to provide the crucial information needed to assess the productivity of algae production in North West Europe.

Date Posted 06 Sep 2011
Story Source Dr Matthew Aylott, NNFCC

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.

Local Councils to keep Business Rates from Wind Farms

Local councils will soon be able to keep the business rates from wind farms if the idea is received well by the public.

A new consultation by the Department of Communities and Local government is looking for feedback on the proposals to change the way local government is funded by introducing the retention of business rates.

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: