Raine or Shine
Alternative Energy Solutions Ltd.
Solar energy providers since 2005
Latest Renewable Energy News
FITs appeal success, 43.3p for under 4kWp installed before 3rd March 2012.
It has just been announced that the High Court has ruled against the government's previous decision to slash the Feed In Tariff for systems installed after 12th December 2011.
This means that any retro-fit system under 4kWp installed before 3rd March 2012 will now be eligible for the previous rate of 43.3p per kWh generated.
Further information can be found here.
Max, Raine or Shine
Wednesday 25th January 2012
Bedfordshire council turns Motorway lights off.
Sections of the M1's lighting system will be turned off permanently in a bid to reduce the carbon emissions of the road. This is part of a bigger carbon reduction push from government associated with roads and motorways and is not the first time it's happened with various sections of other motorways also in darkness – It is estimated that this action will save around 810 tonnes of CO2
The decision to turn the lights off was not taken lightly and the Highways agency has carefully considered which sections of road will be least affected by the move, it also weighed up the various safety aspects to the decision. A spokesperson said "This is not about wishing to remove all lights from the motorway network. It's about carefully identifying the locations where, under the revised guidelines, we would no longer install lighting," explained Derek Turner, director for the Highways Agency.
"The money saved could then be used for other measures on the strategic road network where it would have a more significant safety benefit and potentially save more lives.".
Amy, Raine or Shine
Friday 19th August 2011
Raine or Shine will be attending the Community Renewable Energy Event which will be held at Gresford Trust Hall on 27th Aug 2011. Refreshments will be provided so why not pop down and have a chat with us?
We will be answering questions and providing information about all things renewable.
For further details about IMAGE read this leaflet.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Tuesday 9th August 2011
Renewable Heat Premium payment is a good "filler" before the Renewable Heat Incentive.
The renewable heat premium payment is designed to bridge the gap before the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and the Green Deal come into action next year claims Gordon Miller, co-founder and sustainability and communications director of Sustain Worldwide.
He has welcomed the incentives as it will provide £15m of funding to support 25,000 installations of renewable heating solutions such as solar thermal and heat pumps. Each household can receive up to £1250 to help with the cost of installation.
However, Mr Miller noted that the Premium payment scheme will have a "limited impact on a national scale" as it is aimed at houses who are not heated by mains gas.
From next year the RHI will come into place working in a similar fashion to the Feed In Tariff, only this time you get paid for the heat you produce and not the electricity. But for the time being, if you fit the criteria it's a step in an encouraging direction for renewables.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Wednesday 6th July 2011
Ofgem fines British Gas £1m.
British Gas has been landed with a £1 million fine for misreporting how much renewable electricity it supplied to non-domestic customers under the Renewable Obligation. The error was made over seven years by British Gas Business, which supplies the company's business customers.
Government's Renewable Obligation (RO) requires utilities to provide evidence of the amount of electricity supplied from renewable sources. Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC), designed to promote the use of renewable energy, depend on the accuracy of such information.
Ofgem confirmed British Gas Business had underestimated the total amount of electricity it sold to its business customers through the RO by 0.6% over the seven-year period from 2001-02 to 2008-09.
The regulator said British Gas' error was caused by "incorrect interpretation of the reporting requirements, and insufficient procedures by the company".
British Gas said it had brought the error to Ofgem's attention.
Kanat Emiroglu, Managing Director of British Gas Business said, "We take any failure to meet Ofgem reporting obligations very seriously, and we are sorry this error has occurred.
"As soon as we discovered our misinterpretation of the reporting rules, we acted to bring this to Ofgem's attention, and have worked closely with the regulator to address the problem and to ensure we fully comply with the reporting requirements in the future."
David Pimm, Ofgem Group Finance Director said, "Energy suppliers who are presently submitting information to Ofgem for the 2010-11 Renewables Obligation period should also understand that the level of the penalty reflects both the importance of compliance and the significant co-operation of British Gas, including action to address the harm caused. Without this, the penalty would have been much higher" he said.
Solar Power Portal
Wednesday 6th July 2011
Raine or Shine's 1.44kWp Solar PV system.
Raine or Shine's very own 1.44kWp solar photovoltaic system has over-performed in it's first year of running! Using the SAP Calculation it was estimated to produce 1236kWh but it's actually produced 1451kWh!
Amy, Raine or Shine
Tuesday 05th July 2011
Scotland to join England in RHI.
In 2010, Scotland had 3 times more demand for renewable heating than the rest of the UK. In a bid to maintain these figures and to reach its target of 11% of heat to be produced from a renewable energy by 2020 they have decided to opt into the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme. The RHI provides an incentive for people to install more renewable heating such as solar thermal and biomass boilers, and it provides a great platform for governments trying to reach their targets.
Scottish Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing announced the decision by saying "Scotland is warming to renewable heating but we need to accelerate the use of green technologies. Small businesses to the largest industrial users of heat will be eligible for the RHI, while individuals will get help to install new equipment that can cut bills and reduce fuel poverty.
"The schemes, due to start in the autumn, will create new jobs in manufacturing, supply and installation, cut emissions and boost the move away from traditional fossil fuels for heat," said Ewing.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Monday 20th June 2011
Let the show begin!
After a fantastic event in 2010 Raine or Shine will be holding a trade stall at the Cheshire Show on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 21 and 22.
The show is set to be an action-packed couple of days, if you want to experience and celebrate all that is great and good about the countryside then the Cheshire County Show is the only place to be as it brings together the many interesting and fascinating aspects of farming and rural life in Cheshire.
The attractions on offer are:
- Live demonstrations of milking cows and feeding calves to butchery demonstrations and ice-cream making.
- Sheep, Goats, Pigs and Rare Breed livestock are always well represented at the show in the many competition classes. With the piglets proving particularly popular with visitors young and old alike.
- From Shires to Shetlands, Show jumpers to Show ponies, equines are a strong feature of the show in all their spectacular splendour.
- The Cheshire County Show Poultry section which takes place on the Tuesday only now enjoys championship status and is a must see for poultry enthusiasts.
- Pigeons, Rabbits and Cavies aplenty can be found on the Wednesday only as they compete in the many classes held at the show.
- The prestigious Cheshire Show Dog section attracts over 2000 entries from across a vast array of breeds. Tuesday sees classes for Sporting Breeds only, whilst Wednesday is for Non-Sporting Breeds only.
- Food halls offering local, regional and national producers and purveyors of fine food and drink to suit everyone's tastes.
- A Women's Institutes marquee showing, cake making, floral art, and produce making through to art and photography and much more.
- The Cheshire Landscape Trust marquee showing conservation efforts surrounding Cheshire's wildlife, unique landscape and habitat.
- The Vintage Machinery section re-counts a bygone era with an extensive display of tractors, agricultural machinery, stationary engines, cars and commercial vehicles of yesteryear.
- At the Cheshire West and Chester Countryside Experience Area there will be falconry demonstrations, Clay Shoot and Archery, fly-fishing demonstrations and parades of hounds, it's a real haven for country lovers.
For more information and tickets please visit www.cheshirecountyshow.org.uk
Amy, Raine or Shine
Tuesday 14th June 2011
The DECC releases details of Feed In Tariff Cuts.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has released the details of the new feed in tariff levels for large scale solar installations, crushing many people's hopes that the UK's solar industry would have a large-scale future.
The government has been going through this fast track review since the FITs rates were proposed on March 18th. Their aim was to reduce tariffs for large scale solar projects, which would stop large companies installing solar panels to turn a massive profit and in turn would leave more money in the pot for small scale, domestic installations.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said, "I want to drive an ambitious roll out of new green energy technologies in homes, communities and small businesses and the FIT scheme has a vital part to play in building a more decentralised energy economy." He went onto say "We have carefully considered the evidence that has been presented as part of the consultation and this has reinforced my conviction of the need to make changes as a matter of urgency. Without action the scheme would be overwhelmed. The new tariffs will ensure a sustained growth path for the solar industry while protecting the money for householders, small businesses and communities and will also further encourage the uptake of green electricity from anaerobic digestion."
The new tariffs (below) will go ahead from August 1, 2011 and will apply to all new market entrants.
- >50 kW – ≤ 150 kW Total Installed Capacity (TIC) - 19.0p/kWh
- >150 kW – ≤ 250 kW TIC - 15.0p/kWh
- 250 kW – 5 MW TIC and stand-alone installations - 8.5p/kWh
The DECC is claiming it received over 500 responses, which were carefully analysed before a decision was made regarding the change in tariffs. The fast-track review reportedly revealed that the number of planned larger PV projects was much higher than originally expected.
"Without urgent action, the scheme would have been overwhelmed within a very short period of time. Every 5MW large scale solar scheme would incur a cost of approximately £1.3 million per year, which means that 20 such schemes would incur an annual cost of around £26 million, money that could support PV installations for over 25,000 households," outlined the DECC's press release.
The changes will now have to go through Parliamentary and State aid clearance. Solar schemes under 50kW are not affected by this review.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Friday 9th June 2011
Calls to make your holidays more carbon efficient.
With summer peeking around the corner I thought it would be useful to give you some advise about making your holidays more carbon efficient. Millions of people are planning on jetting off somewhere over the next couple of months and the Energy Saving Trust has created some suggestions on how to cutback on your carbon emissions:
Carbon emissions from air travel are sky-rocketing. Flying is already a major contributor to global CO2 and The Department for Transport estimates that this could rise to a third of all emissions by 2050.
But its not just an increase in the amount people fly, the behaviour of our flights have changed with more of us taking long-haul flights to reach more exotic destinations. A return long-haul flight to Thailand releases over two tonnes of CO2 per passenger, which is more than most non-flyers' carbon footprint for a whole year.
The suggested advise from The Energy Saving Trust is as follows: the best thing anyone can do to cut emissions from flying is to make sure you only take a plane when absolutely necessary. If you can get to where you're going by train, bus or ferry, then why not? For example, the train from London to Paris uses only 15% of the CO2 emissions from flying. Furthermore, if people who fly three or more times a year were to take one less return flight across Europe it would save as much energy as taking nearly half a million cars off the road for a year.
However, we're realistic enough to understand that sometimes flying is necessary - whether for work or because it is the most practical, and frequently cheaper, way to get to your destination. So if you do have to fly here are some ways you can reduce your carbon footprint.
- Choose a holiday that's nearer - a flight from London to Thailand releases eight times as much CO2 as a flight to Rome. If you have a choice, it's greener to stay closer to home.
- Avoid stop-overs, take-off and landing are the most polluting parts of a flight, so it's better to fly direct. If possible why not choose a boat, train or bus for shorter legs of your journey? Part of the fun can be getting there!
- Consider off-setting - many travel companies provide carbon off-setting schemes, where a supplement that you pay is invested in a low-carbon initiative. Always read the small print carefully before using such a scheme. You could always take the initiative and offset your own carbon, here at Raine or Shine we have loads of carbon reducing technologies which we can install, such as Solar Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal and Heat Pumps.
For more information on your carbon footprint and travelling visit energysavingtrust.org.uk/Travel
Amy, Raine or Shine
Monday 6th June 2011
Alistair McGowan joins "We support Solar".
Alistair McGowan, Impressionist has joined forces with We Support Solar, a campaign calling on the UK government to commit to solar power.
Alistair visited the children at Hinchley Woods School in Surrey, to congratulate them on the work they have done on improving the schools green credentials. One of the ways in which they have done this is by installing a large solar PV system, and becoming a "Green Flag School". The star also has Solar PV installed on his own home, and understands the benefits the country could gain from taking similar steps.
Both McGowan and We Support Solar are calling on the Government to encourage schools and communities to keep installing renewable energy technology such as Solar Thermal and Solar PV.
In an heartfelt and engaging speech at Hinchley Woods assembly McGowan said:
"If we all embraced exciting solar PV technology, as you have done, we could create a world in which old, wasteful, dirty sources of energy creation are almost totally redundant. But this country isn't yet embracing solar power because of changes in the system which means that so-called "large-scale" projects, such as yours, are not being encouraged. Schools and hospitals are great places for solar: they can reduce bills, freeing up funds for local authorities to use elsewhere, and even raise an income for themselves - while benefitting the health and future of the world. To make a real difference in the fight against climate change, the 29,000 school buildings across the country, should be given another job to do like yours."
Join the campaign on www.wesupportsolar.net
Amy, Raine or Shine
Friday 3rd June 2011
Coalition acting shady over ICCC's fourth carbon budget.
In the past year a rise of 3.8% in carbon dioxide emissions has been recorded, this is the largest yearly increase since 1990.
Using additional heating through the cold winter has obviously contributed to the figure, but it has not been the only factor, an unplanned shut down of Sizewell B, Britain's newest nuclear power station and the recession also proved to be key factors forcing the set back in the Britain's carbon cuts. Nevertheless there is now rumour that the government could flout the recommendations suggested by the Independent Committee on Climate Change and water down it's emission reduction targets for post 2020.
Due to the recession The Treasury and Department for Business are opposing the fourth carbon budget which should run from 2022 to 2027 as they suggest that they are impossible to achieve in the current economic climate. The fourth carbon budget suggests that greenhouse gas emissions are cut by 50% below 1990 levels by 2025, which would ensure emissions could by 60% by 2030. As it stands the government must make a decision on the budget by June which has promoted fears that the reason the coalition has not yet confirmed its position is because it disagrees with the ICCC recommendations.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Tuesday 31st May 2011
National Farmers Union notices increased enquires about Solar PV (electricity).
Renewable energy has always had a natural fit with farming, according to Dr Jonathan Scurlock, National Farmers Union (NFU) chief advisor on renewable energy.
Speaking to BBC Farming Today, Dr Scurlock said that there has been increased interest from farmers wanting to utilise their land for renewable energy, particularly with solar photovoltaics (PV). This is because the feed in tariff provides an excellent source of income for farmers, one which is guaranteed for 25 years.
"In the rows between the solar modules there will certainly be a need to keep the grass down, so sheep grazing is an obvious opportunity," he explained. "We have had members expressing a considerable interest in perhaps combining solar farms with free range poultry.”
"One further opportunity is the possibility of solar farms actually being used for bio-diversity benefit, especially for the under-planting of pollen and nectar mixtures or bird forage mixtures."
However as the government has revealed it is scaling back the feed in tariff for larger PV installations (over 50kWp) farmers could find that they will not see such high returns from the feed-in tariff. Despite this, here at Raine or Shine we have still noticed an increased interest from farmers who are planning a variety of different sized systems.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Wednesday 18th May 2011
Energy Bill forces landlords to consider energy efficiency.
Detailed within the Energy Bill, plans have been made to force landlords to become more energy efficient. From April 2016, landlords must take action when a tenant requests reasonable work to be carried out to a property and from April 2018 it will be illegal for landlords to rent properties which have less than an 'E' energy efficiency rating, these laws should affect about 682,000 properties across the UK.
Liz Laine, energy expert at Consumer Focus, commented on the Bill: "The government still needs to answer essential questions on the Green Deal, ensure the right protections are in place and give clear incentives to consumers for taking up the scheme if it is to be a success."
She added that the poorest households must also be helped as they will not be able to afford the scheme and yet "have most to gain from energy efficiency measures".
However, the Energy Bill has set the standards for landlords allowing them to plan ahead and start making investments in green technology and home improvements sooner rather than later. The Bill is about pushing people into taking an active role in energy efficiency, but doing it slowly rather than rushing landlords.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Tuesday 17th May 2011
Raine or Shine are attending Reaseheath Family Festival.
Sunday 15 May 2011
10.00am – 5.00pm
See one of the country’s leading specialist colleges at work and play.
Activities for all the family including:
- The Knights of Middle England - one of the leading jousting and stunt teams in the UK
- Titan the Robot - one of the most successful and talked about street shows in recent years
- Batala Bermo Samba Band
- Brazilian rhythms from Bahia - the music’s infectious, they get people moving!
- Reaseheath Zoo
- Farmers Market
- Fun Dog Show (including fancy dress competition)
- Benefit Dog Demonstration Team
- Riding Displays
- Smallholders Display
- Archery
- Dairy and Horticulture demonstrations
- Plant Sales
- CAD Taster Sessions – Design Your Garden
- Local Schools Exhibits
- Archive display of Reaseheath photos
Tickets:
- Adult Ticket: £5
- Children & Concessions: £4
- Family Ticket: £15 (2 adults and up to 3 children)
- Children under 3 free
Tickets can be purchased on the entrance gate or in advance by calling Customer Services on 01270 613242
Amy, Raine or Shine
Thursday 12th May 2011
Farmers cash in on dry weather.
For most farmers the sunny weather is causing a lot of stress in terms of crop production but some farmers are profiting from the sunshine with newly installed solar systems, reducing their electricity bills by £100’s.
Some farmers have followed in the footsteps of 1000’s of home owners, installing Solar PV systems, which allow them to reduce their electricity bills and claim the 25 year guaranteed Feed In Tariff. Because of this and the excellent return on investment we have seen an increase in people approaching their banks for funding with success!
Farming can be an energy intensive business and Solar PV seems to be the perfect answer to many farmers questions as it is a sustainable long term solution to reducing costs and which additionally produces a steady income. One farmer has stated, “The ever increasing cost of feed, due to global soft commodity prices, and fuel puts extra pressure on the bottom line. Solar PV is the steadiest and most secure of the renewable energy technologies.”
At Raine or Shine we can provide a variety of renewable energy solutions for all different establishments, why not call us on 01978 664 114 to discuss your options? Or fill in a PV quick quote?
Amy, Raine or Shine
Tuesday 10th May 2011
Feed in tariff leads to 28,000 solar PV installations.
The energy saving trust has reported on new government figures that say the feed-in-tariff scheme has led to 28,505 solar photovoltaic (PV) installations since it came to fruition in April 2010.
So far the scheme has been a great success and domestic installations accounted for a massive 29,229 of ALL renewable energy installations! This year also saw the first solar scheme above 100kW.
Out of the 111MW of renewables installed in the last year, 77.8MW came from solar PV! There were also 205 hydro installations, 1329 wind power installations 98 micro combined heat and power systems and 3 anaerobic digestion plants.
As we’re sure you are aware the government has bought forward its review of the FITs payments for installations over 50KW. Climate change minister Greg Barker said at the time: "I want to make sure that we capture the benefits of fast falling costs in solar technology to allow even more homes to benefit from feed in tariffs, rather than see that money go in bumper profits to a small number of big investors."
Amy, Raine or Shine
Friday 6th May 2011
UK solar industry workforce grows by 32%.
Capital Green has reported that in the first 4 months of 2011 employment within the solar industry grew by 32%.
While the majority of the 951 new jobs came in the sales sector, it is still a step in the right direction as other job roles within engineering, installation and project management increased in accordance.
Capital Green says on its blog , "Although sales positions still make up the largest majority of available positions it would appear that the UK is finally seeing ‘pipelines' converting and the roll out is beginning. While we don’t need to wait too long for the government to put an end to all the uncertainty surrounding FiTs and whether we are looking at market beyond 50kW the UK solar industry from a 'hiring' prospective looks relatively healthy."
Amy, Raine or Shine
Friday 6th May 2011
Energy Saving Trust pushes for energy bills to be displayed in home sales.
The Energy Saving Trust has recommended that a property's energy bills should be provided alongside the price of a home whilst it’s up for sale. This is something Raine or Shine strongly believe in.
The aim of this is to encourage home owners to become more energy efficient. By doing simple things like improving insulation, double glazing or installing a renewable energy system such as solar PV (electricity), Solar Thermal (hot water) or a heat pump the seller could improve the households energy bills. This would then be reflected in the bills which in turn makes the property more attractive to potential buyers. It will also provide potential buyers with long term information about the property and make energy efficiency part of the negotiation process.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Thursday 28th April 2011
Raine or Shine exhibit at Cheshire Greener Futures Event held at Reaseheath College.
Raine or Shine will be demonstrating their solar pv & solar thermal systems along with other renewable energy solutions at the Cheshire Greener Futures Event being held at Reaseheath College, Nantwich. This event aims to bring specialist information on resource management and reduction as well as renewable energy technologies to public, domestic and community sectors.
For full event details visit http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/hub/greenerfutures
Rich, Raine or Shine
Thursday 14th April 2011
Heat pumps can make huge savings
Air source heat pumps are known to be less efficient than ground source heat pumps however they can make a significant difference to your heat bills. Air source heat pumps have the benefit of a lower installation costs than a ground source heat pumps, simply due to the lack of ground work required. Again, if you have a small home with less land around it an air source heat pump is the obvious choice as there is no digging etc.
The National Energy Action (NEA), a charity campaigning to eliminate fuel poverty has been on a mission to test the practicality and potential of air source heat pumps to help families in fuel poverty.
The NEA installed the heat pump in a park home in Peterborough. It had Previously been heated by solid fuel, costing the owner around £40 a week which was reduced to £10.60 a week after the installation. Another recipient who has benefited from a similar system was suffering heating bills of £80 a month. These have now been reduced to £18.70 making a saving of 75%.
If you would like to find out more about our heat pumps and their benefits click here.
For full article please look at http://www.heatpumps.org.uk/PdfFiles/Heat_Pump_News_No._7.pdf
Amy, Raine or Shine
Tuesday 12th April 2011
Government scraps their own solar PV projects
New developments with the feed-in tariff fiasco have been exposed to show the Government’s silent scrapping of its own solar PV projects, thanks to the recent policy u-turn on the payments to >50kWp arrays.
A project to assess the potential for fitting solar panels across the Government estate was reportedly cancelled in March; just after the fast track review of feed-in tariffs was launched rendering some of the Government's own projects commercially unviable.
Due to the impending changes to FITs Katie Moore, Co-Founder of the Solar Club, a community group who were planning to invest in a solar project said “it has been decided not to proceed with the Solar PV Project” adding “it wouldn't be prudent to continue.”
Last autumn Government began work on planning PV installations on hospitals, council buildings and other land, hiring procurement body Buying Solutions, which began work on a more detailed solar project proposal. The project has been scrapped but the body declined to give a reason as to why.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change also declined to comment on the cancelling of projects.
Giles, Raine or Shine
Friday 8th April 2011
Feed In Tariff raised inline with RPI today
From today the Feed In Tariff will be raised inline with RPI. OFGEM announced that the most common rate, the rate for <4kW retrofit PV systems will increase from 41.3p to 43.3p.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Friday 1st April 2011
Being efficient could save £23 billion
If businesses in the UK adopt energy efficiency techniques they could save a wopping £23 billion according to Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It has discovered that by companies making simple changes such as controlling water consumption, saving energy and reducing waste, businesses can improve not only their finances but their carbon footprint too.
Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman explained "moving to a green economy offers businesses opportunities to grow into the future. Becoming more resource efficient contributes to a business' bottom line, increases profitability and their capacity to grow. In addition to improving competitiveness, businesses could reduce carbon emissions by 29 million tonnes a year; so it's a win-win for business and the environment".
Amy, Raine or Shine
Tuesday 29th March 2011
FITs cut by nearly 75% for Solar PV systems >50kWP
The government has unveiled plans to cut incentives by nearly 75% for larger (>50kWP) solar PV systems. Climate change minister Greg Barker explains; "This is because The FiTs scheme was never designed to be a profit generator for big business and financiers. Britain's solar industry is a vital part of our renewables future and our growing green economy. The new tariff rates we're putting forward today for consultation will provide a level of support for all solar PV and ensure a sustained growth path for industry"
We anticipate this development will have a deathly blow on large scale projects, but Raine or Shine would like to reassure that smaller installations, such as domestic installs, will not be affected. Schemes that are affected include Toyota's 5MW PV system. The feed in tariff here will fall from 30.7p per kilowatt kWh to 8.5p. Greg Barker went on to explain how this reduction would stop big companies soaking up funds which are meant for everyone.
There have been mixed reviews about the review with The Renewable Energy Association saying the cutbacks are "appalling".
Howard Johns, chairman of the Solar Trade Association, said: "The solar industry is one of the genuine good news stories in the UK today, providing both jobs, a new green industry and importantly some hope. Crushing it at this time is a serious strategic mistake but inevitable when it appears to be Treasury, not the Department of Energy and Climate Change, dictating energy policy."
Jakob Von Uexkull from the World Future Council also commented on the matter; "It is absurd for ministers to complain about the success of a law they introduced and to restrict its use. The same government that claims to want the market to invest in green energy now complains about City "hot money" entering the solar market. You could not make it up! Despite all the green talk, the government is again showing itself stuck in the pocket of the fossil-fuel lobby."
Once again Raine or Shine would like to reassure people that installations under 50kWp will not be affected by this latest news.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Monday 21st March 2011
DECC has released a draft 'Carbon Plan' for 2011 - 2012
This draft 'Carbon Plan' gives the government targets to meet their carbon and environmental commitments.
It focuses on the economic benefits and jobs a low carbon economy can bring, but it also discusses policies that are intended to cushion the blow of ever rising energy bills.
At the moment the Carbon Plan is just in draft, the final document is due to be released sometime in Autumn and will be added to, amended and changed as each year passes.
At the moment the Plan highlights 3 key areas that need to be changed:
- Electricity generation: shifting away from fossil fuels and towards low carbon alternatives. Including Solar PV power generation, Nuclear, and fossil fuel power stations fitted with carbon capture and storage.
- Heating: Shifting away from traditional heating techniques such as gas boilers towards low carbon alternatives. For example; heat pumps and solar thermal systems.
- Travel. Investment in not only public transport but also in technology such as electric cars etc.
The Carbon Plan also lists key actions for Government departments to take to help reach these targets. For example:
- HM Treasury to create new laws for a floor in the carbon price.
- DECC to award the contract for the first UK Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration.
- Department for Business to get the Green Investment Bank up and running.
- DF Transport to develop a strategy to promote installation of an infrastructure suitable for electric vehicles.
- DECC to help government reduce its emissions by 10%
- Defra to launch a project to develop and trial methods for delivering environmental advice for farmers.
For full details of the Carbon Plan please visit www.decc.gov.uk
Amy, Raine or Shine
Thursday 17th March 2011
FITs to increase as Retail Prices Index adjusted.
Ofgem have just revealed the RPI adjustments for 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2010 which means both generation & export tariffs will rise by 4.8% starting 01/04/2011
This will benefit all those who took advantage of the scheme in year 1 as their tariffs will increase as well as those installing systems in year 2 getting the new tariff levels. Good news indeed!
Check the Ofgem website for details.
Amy, Raine or Shine
Thursday 3rd March 2011
Cambridge Council installs Solar Bins
Aiming to reduce fuel costs and carbon emissons using intelligent solar bins.
The aptly named 'Big Belly Bins' can hold up to eight times more rubbish than normal bins. This reduces the amount of rubbish collections needed in the area, saving the council time, money and carbon emissions.
However there is a downside to the bins; they cost around £2000 more than a regular bin and to fund the scheme the council has been sourcing external funding from developers building in the area.
The solar panels on the bins power a crushing devise; operations manager for streets and open spaces, Bob Carter, said "the bin is capable of holding 800 litres of rubbish and needs little daylight to operate."
At the moment the council are just trialing the bins to see if they are a worth while investment for the community. Cllr Clare Blair, member of Cambridge City Council for East Chesterton explained: "We’re trialling the solar bins which are new to the UK but are very well used abroad, particularly in America. These bins mean the city council can cut fuel costs and carbon emissions bringing benefits to taxpayers and the environment. The bins are also compatible with a SIM card which can send a text or email to a number when they are full."
Amy, Raine or Shine
Wednesday 23rd February 2011
Plans revealed for UK’s first solar powered theme park
A renewable energy company has revealed plans to be the first to power theme park rides using solar power.
The renewable energy company plans to install 1MW of PV at the 100-acre Crealy Great Adventure Park in Devon, UK.
The installation will provide enough energy to meet around 90% of the park's needs during the peak summer months, powering everything from catering facilities to the park's roller coaster. Any unused power will be fed back into the National Grid.
The plan involves the installation of approximately 18,580m2 of solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of the park's main buildings and installing PV-covered carports in the main car park.
It is anticipated that the solar installation will save an estimated 515 tonnes of CO2 a year and generate enough electricity to meet the equivalent needs of 200 UK average households for a year.
Full article here.
Emma Hughes, solarpowerportal.co.uk
Friday 4th February 2011
Village hall panels power rural retailer
Two Vale communities have put people power into practice.
Villages from two Vale communities have put people power into practice to supply electricity to a national rural retailer.
Energy generated by photovoltaic solar panels installed at Elmley Castle and Hill and Moor village halls has helped Countrywide at Four Pools Retail Park become the first in the chain to be powered entirely by renewable sources.
The success of the 48-panel project at Elmley Castle inspired committee members at Hill and Moor to take on six panels of their own.
Both are producing more electricity then they consume, allowing them to sell the remaining energy to suppliers Green Energy UK and generate extra income.
George Mackison, treasurer of Elmley Castle Village Hall, said: "The project has been a real success. Through grants we obtained from the Lottery, the local authority and landfill tax initiatives, we have been able to deal with the issue of rising energy costs and make very real decisions that have helped us reduce energy waste and provide the village hall and even our local post office with free heat and power, as well as creating an income for the hall."
Chris Roberts, treasurer for Hill and Moor Village Hall, added: "George shared his experience and knowledge with other village halls and it made sense for us to do something similar with our hall.
"We are able to use the income we’re making from selling the electricity to improve the hall and its facilities."
Julie Jones-Ford, renewables manager at Countrywide, said the cost of using green electricity was comparable with conventional sources.
"The Evesham Countrywide store is a good example of how a rural retailer such as Countrywide can work with an innovative organisation such as Green Energy UK and the local community with great success.
"I applaud Green Energy UK and the local community for setting a good example for others to follow."
Countrywide is holding a special launch weekend on February 12-13 following a major refit of the store.
www.eveshamjournal.co.uk
Sunday 30th January 2011
FiT to work
Over 17,000 solar jobs could be created in 2011.
Recent research conducted by the Solar Power Portal, on behalf of the REA Solar Power Group, shows that the introduction of the feed-in tariff has significantly increased the amount of ‘green’ jobs in the UK.
The survey, which reached out to 1,418 Renewable Energy Assurance Limited (REAL) accredited solar installers, asked how many full-time equivalents were employed in 2009 (pre tariff), in 2010 (post tariff) and were planned to be employed in 2011 (assuming tariffs were untouched). Out of the 1,418 contacted, 543 companies provided valuable information. Some of the results are yet to be recorded.
According to the preliminary figures, the job figure for full time equivalents (FTI) in the solar installer sector in 2009 was 1,053. In 2010, post feed-in tariff, this figure jumped to 3,481, recording a 230% increase year-on-year. Assuming the tariff is not cut, the numbers for 2011 are expected to reach somewhere in the region on 6,600, which would be an 89% increase year-on-year.
If we use the 38% response rate to infer what the remaining 62% would have answered, we could be looking at approximately 2,770 jobs in 2009, 9,160 in 2010 and almost 17,500 in 2011.
Out of the 543 respondents, 342 admitted to having no solar employees pre feed-in tariff, suggesting that this number of companies were actually created as a direct result of the FiT.
The results of the survey demonstrate how successful the FiT has been in promoting new jobs in the UK, as well as providing thousands of future positions providing the tariff levels remain untouched.
The research did not include figures for large-scale installers, which means that the recruitment figures could be even higher, again on the condition that the utility FiT is left uncut. The same applies for other ‘green’ jobs sectors, which are also not included in these numbers, such as manufacturing, retail, financial, legal, academic and certificatory. Just a handful of examples in 2010 include the 50 UK jobs created by the opening of the North Wales university solar development department, the numerous design, engineering and construction positions created by German developers moving in the UK market and the increase of Sharp’s Wrexham-based plant’s capacity by 100%, which is pushing for the "local production for local consumption" approach.
Further, more in-depth analysis of the recorded data is expected in the coming weeks; yet thus far, the preliminary figures outline a healthy beginning to the UK solar jobs market.
Emma Hughes, solarpowerportal.co.uk
Wednesday 26th January 2011
Solar farm plans unveiled
Hafod-y-Dafal farm in Aberbeeg is the proposed site of a Solar Photovoltaic (PV) farm.
The rainy valleys of Blaenau Gwent could see a bit more sunshine thanks to a potential £12m development.
The Hafod-y-Dafal farm in Aberbeeg is the proposed site of a Solar Photovoltaic (PV) farm, which would generate green energy for the equivalent of 1,000 homes.
It would be privately funded and also offers the advantage of allowing the land to still be used for grazing sheep.
Farm owner Howell Jukes said: "In past days, in these valleys, our forefathers provided a significant proportion of the energy of the industrialising world via the coal that they won from the dark caverns of the earth.
"Sir Winston Churchill, in the dark days of the war, envisaged a future when the world would move forward to ‘broad sunlit uplands’.
"It is gratifying to realise that, in the energy field at least, the great man’s words have become literally true, and that we are now able to use the broad sunlit uplands of Blaenau Gwent to generate clean, renewable energy via the use of the very daylight that our forefathers rarely saw during their working lives."
As a result, a public exhibition is being held at The Met inAbertillery on Wednesday, January 12, between 3pm and 7pm.
It will be attended by the project team who will be able to answer any questions about the proposal.
The consultation period will run to January 21, 2011. All comments received will be read by the Project Team and views incorporated into the scheme where possible.
A Statement of Community Involvement will be submitted with the planning application which will detail all comments received and the project team’s response.
A planning application will be submitted in late January.
Ian Caleb, WalesOnline.co.uk
Thursday 13th January 2011
Renewable energy company praised
WREXHAM MP Ian Lucas has praised a local renewable energy company after visiting its open day.
Mr Lucas visited Raine or Shine’s open day at the weekend and said the company was "exactly the kind of small business Wrexham council should be encouraging."
During his visit, Mr Lucas saw the company’s eco show-room, which runs on renewable energy and demonstrates how the products it offers – such as solar cells – help provide renewable energy for homes.
Mr Lucas said: "Raine or Shine is a very promising venture – a small business dedicated to both helping the environment and saving people money. We need to encourage the use of renewable energy and the work Raine or Shine do in helping people set up solar power for their homes mean it is exactly the kind of small business Wrexham Council should be encouraging. I hope the council will do all it can to support the company and other similar companies in the Wrexham area."
"We have already seen the benefits of solar power on a larger scale with the development of production facilities for solar cells bringing jobs to the town. There is also a greater focus in the construction industry on renewable energy and I believe there is a great potential for small businesses focussed on renewable energy, such as Raine or Shine, to make a real difference to Wrexham’s economy in the coming years."
Graham Raine, Managing Director of Raine or Shine, added: "It was good to see the local MP taking such a keen interest in our showroom and showing support for smaller businesses. It was also great to find out that Ian was one of the MP’s who championed the idea of FIT’s from the very beginning and to show him how they have helped us create more jobs and take renewable energy to a wider audience."
MP Ian Lucas, www.ianlucas.co.uk
Monday 22nd November 2010
Cornwall's farmers to reap subsidies for 'green' electricity
The UK's first purpose-built solar farm has been given planning permission and the county's farmers are celebrating.
Cornwall's farmers have more than the harvest festival to celebrate this autumn: the granting of planning permission for the UK's first purpose-built solar farm and a £14m loan for an even larger solar farm next to Newquay airport. The landmark decisions by Cornwall council, which gave the loan, are predicted to trigger a surge of similar applications from farmers and landowners across the county over the next 18 months, with the council estimating a potential total investment of £1bn for the county.
The bonanza was sparked by the introduction last April of the feed-in tariff, which pays anyone producing their own "green" electricity up to 41.3p/kWh – as long as the infrastructure is up and running by April 2012. Since giving the go ahead to the £4m solar farm at the former Wheal Jane tin mine near Truro last month, the council has become so convinced that it will be inundated with similar applications that it has allocated six planning officers to deal with the paperwork. Locals, who enjoy the highest levels of solar irradiation in the country, are calling it Cornwall's "solar rush".
The five-acre facility at Wheal Jane will generate 1.3MW of electricity from 6,000, two metre-high photovoltaic panels that can be angled at the sun as it moves across the sky. Unusually for such a large project, it faced no major objections. Councillors in neighbouring Gwennap parish supported the project with the proviso that any reflection of light from the panels be addressed.
Full article here.
Leo Hickman
The Guardian, Wednesday 20 October 2010
Renewable Heat Incentive decision a "breakthrough"
The government's decision to progress with a Renewable Heat Incentive in yesterday's Spending Review has met with widespread support from the anaerobic digestion and renewable energy industry.
The incentive scheme will see companies who produce renewable heat from waste using technologies such as AD and biomass rewarded financially, strengthening the business case for developing them.
Particular praise came from the Renewable Energy Association, which has been lobbying hard to secure the subsidy scheme from the Treasury's spending cuts.
Chancellor George Osborne yesterday announced the government would provide £860 million of funding for an RHI (see letsrecycle.com story).
Commenting on the investment in renewable heat, chief executive of the REA, Gaynor Hartnell, said: "This is a huge relief and a very big breakthrough. Finally renewable heat moves to the heart of UK energy policy, exactly where it belongs.
"Companies throughout the UK are poised to deliver on renewable heat, creating tens of thousands of green jobs over the coming decade. The industry is particularly grateful to Chris Huhne and Greg Barker who have clearly fought successfully to ensure the UK acts to decarbonise heat, which is responsible for 47% of UK CO2 emissions. We are lucky to have such visionary and determined ministers."
While Ms Hartnell noted that details on the RHI are still needed, she added that the REA was pleased that the government has put its "money where its mouth is" and looks serious about supporting massive growth and employment in the renewable energy sector.
Further praise came from the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA), which represents the anaerobic digestion sector.
Lord Redesdale, ADBA chairman, said: "The Chancellor's confirmation that the RHI will be available from April 2011 is welcome. Making a commitment of £860 million for the RHI is a major step forward."
He added that the "most effective" use of the government incentive was to promote the production of biomethane through anaerobic digestion.
Lord Redesdale commented: "Unlike many other renewable technologies, anaerobic digestion can help meet a wide variety of targets, including renewable energy, climate change and resource preservation. It can also scale up quickly at relatively little cost.
"ADBA will work with the Government to ensure RHI levels are set for AD which will deliver the Government's aims. This will be essential if the UK is to meet its renewable energy and climate change targets for 2020 and 2050."
ADBA has called for a 25% premium on top of a minimum base tariff of 9p/kWh for plants below 1MW in size, and 6p/kWh for input above 1MW, to encourage plants to come online early. It says this is vital if the coalition's commitments to being the greenest Government ever and ensuring a "huge increase of energy from waste through anaerobic digestion" are to be achieved (see letsrecycle.com story).
Speaking to letsrecycle.com today, the Department for Energy and Climate Change revealed that the RHI, which was originally scheduled to come in force in April 2011, was now not expected to start until next June.
Details on scope of the RHI and incentive levels are due to be announced by the end of the year.
http://www.letsrecycle.com
Thursday 21 October 2010
How does the spending review affect feed-in tariffs?
The feed-in tariffs that pay owners of solar panels have survived the coalition's spending review, but key changes have been made. How will they affect you?
In April, the previous government launched feed-in tariffs (FITs) - also known as the clean energy cashback scheme - to pay people who generate green electricity using small-scale solar panels, wind turbines, hydropower and combined heat and power.
What did the government say in the spending review about the tariffs?
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) said:
Feed-in tariffs will be refocused on the most cost-effective technologies saving £40m in 2014-15. The changes will be implemented at the first scheduled review of tariffs [in 2012, to kick in 2013] unless higher than expected deployment requires an early review
In other words, the feed-in tariff scheme and current rate paid to owners of solar panels remains the same. But there are two new elements here.
Firstly, in the 2012 review, changes will be made to the tariff that cut it by £40m, or 10%, in 2014 and 2015. Those changes won't be announced until 2012, but could take the form of both a 'trigger point' where rates paid fall automatically if a certain number of solar panels and other forms of 'microgeneration' are installed, and a potential cut in rates paid to one or more of the four technologies covered by the scheme.
Second, the government is now saying it reserves the right to bring forward that 2012 review if there's a rush of people and companies installing microgeneration between now and then.
What would this trigger point look like?
Decc isn't saying, and won't tell us until 2012. The cap could be on the total installed capacity (ie in megawatts) or the number of applications, or another criteria. When the government does tell us more, it will then need to consult on the proposals, because the legislation underpinning the feed-in tariffs doesn't include any mention of a cap on volume.
When should I install?
As soon as possible. The rate of 41.3p per unit of electricity for solar panel owners was always only going to be guaranteed until 31 March 2012 and then reviewed in 2013 before decreasing in the following years.
However, what was new in today's announcement was an admission that "higher than expected deployment" - ie a rush of people fitting solar and wind - would lead to that 2013 review taking place earlier. So if thousands of people suddenly decided to install solar panels over the next year, the rate could be cut much earlier than 31 March 2012. Just how much "higher than expected" the rush would need to be to bring forward the review has not been revealed.
How does this affect people who have already installed since April?
It doesn't. Any householder who installed solar panels after 15 July 2009 will still be paid 41.3p per unit of electricity for 25 years, and those before that date will get just 9p per unit.
What do green groups think?
They're pleased the FITs have survived largely intact. Today's announcement was welcomed by the Renewable Energy Association, Good Energy, Friends of the Earth, and other groups. Dave Sowden, Chief Executive of the Micropower Council said: "Today marks the start of a Citizen's Energy Revolution. The Government has sent a clear signal to homes, businesses and investors that the UK Microgeneration sector is well and truly open for business."
Adam Vaughan
The Guardian, Wednesday 20 October 2010
Cuts to feed-in tariff could result in legal action
Friends of the Earth says micro-generation businesses would have strong case for legal action if incentives are cut at short notice
The government could face a legal challenge from renewable energy firms if, as feared, it today announces cuts to the feed-in tariff incentive scheme.
According to reports in the Guardian yesterday, energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne has managed to protect investment in green capital projects, but failed to convince the Treasury to leave feed-in tariff incentives for generators of onsite renewable energy at their current level.
The paper reported the Treasury will today announce a cut of 10 per cent in the incentives as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, although it remains unclear when the changes will be imposed.
Friends of the Earth yesterday warned any move to cut the incentives ahead of a scheduled review, expected to result in the tariffs being changed in April 2013, could spark legal challenges from investors.
Speaking to BusinessGreen.com, Gita Parihar, head of legal at Friends of the Earth, said that changing the tariffs at short notice after stating that they would remain at their current level for the first three years of the scheme could constitute a breach of "legitimate expectations", making the decision unlawful.
"It depends on the specifics of what is announced, but if the Treasury says 'we are cutting by 10 per cent even though we said the tariffs would be in place for three years', then I'd be amazed if there are not legal challenges," she said.
Any legal challenges would be strengthened by evidence that renewable energy firms have scaled up their operations in good faith, as a result of the announcement that feed-in tariffs would remain at their present level for at least three years.
Renewable energy firms are reluctant at this stage to confirm whether they are considering legal action, but believe they would have a good chance of proving the government abused its power if it imposes cuts at short notice.
Dave Sowden, chief executive of the Micropower Council, said the government could minimise the risk of legal action, but only if any cuts are accompanied by a comprehensive consultation process.
"If the government changes the feed-in tariffs without a three-month consultation exercise similar to that which preceded their introduction, then they would be wide open to a legal challenge," he said, adding that a second consultation to change the condition of electricity supply licences would also probably be required.
The net result, according to Sowden, is that any changes to the tariffs ahead of April 2013 would lead to months of uncertainty for the industry.
"The government can say it is minded to change the tariffs, but it can't say it with any certainty, because that would pre-empt the consultation and again leave it open to legal challenges accusing them of running a sham consultation, " he said.
Sowden also warned that early changes to the scheme would have a chilling impact on the wider low-carbon investment sector.
"You can imagine a scenario where a green business goes to an investor and asks for investment because it wants to expand on the back of a low-carbon policy," he said. "If that investor was anywhere near feed-in tariffs that had changed early, they would be bound to ask 'how can you be sure that policy won't change?'"
James Murray for BusinessGreen
The Guardian, Wednesday 20 October 2010
Chris Huhne urges local councils to lead 'green energy revolution'
A new package of support to help Welsh Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) profit from the renewable energy sector has been launched by Environment Minister Jane Davidson.
The Environment Minister unveiled a programme aimed at helping Welsh businesses to achieve the necessary accreditation to install microgeneration technology such as solar panels and heat pumps.
Speaking at a community hall in Llanarthne that is itself is bursting with renewable energy technology, the Minister said:
"Renewable energy really is the future; it causes minimal damage to the environment, will not run out and is not dictated by factors, such as oil supply, which are outside our control.
I believe that Wales should be at the forefront of the transition to a low carbon economy and want to make it as easy as possible for Welsh businesses to make the most of the opportunities associated with renewable energy.
In order to do this renewable energy installers must be accredited to the Mircorgeneration Certification Scheme, however many tell me that the cost and complexity of this process is presenting a real barrier.
The programme I am launching today will address both these issues and will ensure that businesses in Wales have every opportunity to reap the economic benefits associated with our move to renewable and low carbon energy solutions.
Through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), small and medium sized renewable energy installation companies will be able to access interest free loans to cover the cost of gaining MCS accreditation.
Eligible companies will also be able to access the services of a development officer who will provide free and impartial advice to steer them through the accreditation process.
The programme will allow Welsh companies to benefit from the growth in the renewable industry stimulated by Feed-in Tariffs which were introduced by the UK Government in April. The Feed-in Tariff will enable businesses, communities or individuals to be paid for the renewable electricity they generate and export to the grid.
The launch of the MCS accreditation support programme was held at the community hall in Llanarthne which benefits from a passive solar design, a solar hot water system and ground source heating. Plans are also underway to secure funding for a new photovoltaic system.
http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom
Thursday 19 August 2010