Video: Alliance for Climate Protection's Repower America Ad

The Alliance for Climate Protection's Repower America ad was refused by US television network ABC. Show your support for the ACP, and tell ABC what you think.

Green Electricity Suppliers

They’re all doing it, draping themselves in images of windmills and claiming green credentials – but how green are the UK’s electricity companies really?

How much of what you see is spin and how much is real? That’s a question we’ve asked ourselves often enough. And lately, with the ‘Big Six’ spending £millions on slick TV ads - this seems a more pressing question than ever. Is there a way to judge who's really green and who’s only saying they are? Actually it’s quite simple.

Just look at how much each electricity company spends building new sources of green electricity each year – New energy. The only green electricity that does anything to reduce CO2 emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels is the new green energy, the stuff that gets built today and tomorrow. If you’re not building you’re not actually achieving anything green at all. It’s just marketing and spin.

Ecotricity produced a measure for spending on New Energy called it ‘pounds per customer’ – it shows how much each electricity company actually spends, for each of it’s customers on the new green stuff. It’s a number that cuts through the fog of marketing and to the heart of the issue, irrespective of company size.

Some energy companies are bigger than others of course, so the total they spend on building new green electricity sources is useful to know, but is not the whole story. For example in 2004, npower spent £40m on new green energy, Ecotricity just £5m. But Ecotricity had just 5000 customers compared to npowers 5m customers.

To get meaningful comparisons you need to simply see how much is spent per customer. This shows you how much of your electricity bill actually gets spent each year, building new sources of green. And how much of a difference you make by being with your supplier. It's that simple - and called pounds per customer. It's the acid test of green commitment. It's simple enough maths too - Just take the total number of customers each supplier has and divide that by their total spend on new green electricity sources in any given year.

These are the figures for 2007. Prepare to be surprised.

Supplier	2007 spend per customer
Ecotricity	£555.36
Powergen	£17.28
Centrica	£7.12
npower	£3.89
EDF Energy	£3.55
Scottish Power	£2.63
Green Energy UK	£0.00
Good Energy	£0.00
Scottish & Southern Energy	£0.00

Ecotricity now offers two types of tariff, these are considered to be the greenest tariffs in the UK;

• New Energy
  
  All the Green energy in this tariff comes from Ecotricities own wind turbines, this year it’s just over 30% ­ and rising currently at almost 10% per year. The balance is ’Brown’ electricity bought in the market ­ and that reduces each year as the green increases. But the key part is this - for every £ customers spend through their electricity bills Ecotricity spend another £ building new sources of Green energy. And they price match each regional supplier so New Energy has no premium attached to it ­ - customers get ’Green for the price of Brown’.
  
  No wonder this is considered by people like the Soil Association, WWF and Oxfam to be the best green tariff in the UK, bar none.
  
  
• New Energy Plus
  
  For those that understand the need to build new sources to actually impact climate change ­ but who want a 100% tariff in the mean time. It’s New Energy (30% Green from Ecotricity turbines this year and rising fast), topped up with green electricity from existing renewable sources (instead of Brown) ­ making this a 100% Green tariff. You get the same total commitment to build, spend one £ on renewables for every one £ customers spend, ­ but it’s 100% green now. It’s a mixture of Old and New green energy in fact (New Energy Plus Old). It isn’t any better than New Energy, but some people just want 100%, so they offer it.
  
  The existing (Old) green energy they top up with is a scarce resource though, so there’s a small premium of 0.5p per unit, which works out at about £20 a year for a typical household - over and above the price of Brown electricity from each regional supplier.

For more information on Energy Suppliers by CO2 emissions and their "energy make up" visit our CO2/kWh table. The Ecologist magazine published an article on this same topic in June 2005 (pdf).


Related Articles
In Search of Clean Power
UK Searching For Energy Efficiency
What's the Best Way to Green With Your Green?
Google & GE - A Powerful Voice
New Energy Efficient Ad On TV Now

Should the Government Spend on Renewables to Beat the Recession?

Rescuing ailing banks is only one half of the solution to the current global economic turmoil. The other is to keep spending buoyant to prevent a slide into recession.

But how to do that? With worries about ballooning personal debt, falling house prices and rising unemployment, many people are cutting back on spending. Christmas will probably not be enough to revive fortunes on the high street.

One answer lies with the ideas of John Maynard Keynes, the most influential economist of the 20th Century. It was his proposals that helped the world recover from the Great Depression of the 1930s. With unemployment in the UK, the US and many other countries reaching 20% or more in the early 30s, the task was massive. Whole economies were grinding to a halt.

Keynes' solution was simple. Governments needed to spend more. Spending on roads, hospitals and schools would have to offset the lack of private spending.

So should the government start spending on renewable energy?, introducing new grants could be one way to increase consumer spending into renewables, paired with the current high prices of energy, this could be a winner.

Spending further revenue on large scale projects, for schools, hospitals and government buildings to increase their energy efficiency, focusing on those with poor performances, from results of Display Energy Certificates.

Further investment of revenue into macro scale national projects could set the UK on track for energy security for the next few years, and a low carbon economy for the future.

This is pretty much what Chancellor Alistair Darling is arguing. If private spending is slowing, then the government needs to take up the slack by bringing forward billions of pounds of expenditure on construction projects. If government borrowing must rise, then so be it. However, annual borrowing in the UK is one of the highest in the world as a percentage of GDP. And it's rising fast.

One way to increase consumer spending is to use monetary policy. This involves altering interest rates. If recession is looming, central banks could as expected they will cut interest rates - as many did, by half a percentage point, on 8 October.

Even if customer rates are cut, borrowing and spending may hardly increase. With impending recession, people may try to cut back on their debts rather than spend, and businesses may be reluctant to invest.

The alternative to monetary policy is fiscal policy. This involves changes in taxes and/or government expenditure. If taxes fall and/or government expenditure rises, this should stimulate the economy. As long as we are not afraid to spend that is.

Keeping expenditure up is vital and increased government expenditure is probably the best way of achieving this. But another crucial factor is confidence.

If people believe the policy will work, it probably will. Firms will start investing more and consumers will start buying more. The vicious circle of recession could become the virtuous circle of recovery.

But creating confidence depends on politics as much as economics. If people see world leaders mean business and that they won't let recession take hold, then it won't.

If, however, politicians vacillate or there's no international harmonisation of policies, then any remaining confidence may evaporate and we could suffer from prolonged recession similar to that in Japan in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Related Articles
Energy Saving Week
Halfords Confident Thanks to Strong Bike Sales
Google & GE - A Powerful Voice
Charity Shops Reports Bumper Profits as Credit Cru...
What Does a Display Energy Certificate Look Like?

In Search of Clean Power

In this, the last of his Big Ideas programmes, James May (of Top Gear fame) tries to find smarter, brighter and bolder ways of powering the planet for future generations. So James sets off on a global search to find people who share his dream. It takes him from Guildford, where he takes a solar powered car to its limit at night, to the US where he joins some aerospace engineers who are trying to build an 'elevator' into space.

In Holland, he meets the first Dutchman in space who has put away his rockets and has swapped them for kites as he tries to harvest the power of the jet-stream. And finally, in the deserts of New Mexico, James seeks out some modern-day alchemists, who offer the promise of allowing him to drive his car on petrol conjured out of thin air.

There will be a few familiar sites in this episode with the Marine Current Turbine in Strangford Lough and the Solar Tower in Saville, which have previously been mentioned in this blog.

You can catch this program on the BBC iPlayer for a few days yet.

Related Articles
Want to Invest in Wind Power?
World’s First Commercial-Scale Tidal Power System Feeds ...
Marine Current Turbines Voted in Top Ten Clean Tech
What Happens When We All Switch on the Kettle at The Same Time?
Food Waste to Electricity in Devon

What's the Best Way to Green With Your Green?

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors have released a guide for consumers which offers impartial expert advice regarding the costs, potential energy savings, payback period and disruptiveness of green improvements to a property. The Greener Homes Price Guide was developed by RICS’ Building Cost Information Service to help consumers through the green jargon, and manufacture claims.

Homeowners rocked by the latest rises in energy bills are turning to green solutions to save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

By using the guide, homeowners will be able to target the areas in their homes where green upgrades would have the most impact.

This will enable them to make informed choices on how best to improve their homes, whether this is with a view to solely reduce their carbon footprint or reduce their energy bills.

Often caught between wanting to be more environmentally friendly and needing value for money many consumers are left confused over which green upgrades offer the best energy savings for the best price.

In addition to offering cost advice The Greener Homes Price Guide also includes practical advice on:

• what grants are available and how to apply for them
• when you need to apply for planning permission
• how to obtain builders or specialist contractors

“We all have a role to play in helping to reduce our carbon footprint, be it through changes to our behaviour or by choosing greener alternatives. The reality is, however, that most people struggle with the cost, time, and effort it takes to make these changes. The Greener Homes Price Guide gives consumers a comprehensive heads-up about the costs and effectiveness of green upgrades, whilst protecting them from being duped into changes that won’t save them money or do little to reduce their carbon footprint. Consumers need innovation and enhanced technology to help in the fight against climate change, not just a guilt trip about living in the world we have created. We encourage governments and companies not just here in the UK, but all over the world to continue to invest more in the research and development of green technologies.”
Joe Martin, BCIS, Executive Director

Unfortunately the RICS are out for their green too, and the guide is not available for free, the Greener Homes Price Guide: Organising and Budgeting for Energy Efficiency and Reducing Your Carbon Footprint, is priced £17.99 and can be ordered online or by calling T +44 (0)870 333 1600 (select option 2 for BCIS sales and quote item code 17012). Also available in all good bookshops. Publication date: August 2008. ISBN: 978 1 904829 67 6


Related Articles

Is The Government Right to Scrap the One-Off Winter Fuel Payment?
Gordon Unveils Package
Burning Holes in Government Fuel Payment Plan
Winter Warmer Ideas
What Help is Available for those in Fuel Poverty?

Google & GE - A Powerful Voice

Yesterday Google and General Electric (GE), announced plans to join together to develop a "smart" electric power grid, promote clean energy and lobby Washington and persuade politicians to push for major policy changes in energy.

The pairing is the strongest business alliance in support of the renewable energy sector, Google is involved in geothermal, solar and wind-generated electricity, and GE is now one of the biggest players in the wind power industry, developing hybrid locomotives, water reuse solutions and photovoltaic cells.

"There is no such thing as a perfect free market. It is a market that needs a little catalyst from the government and then I think the entrepreneurial dollars will flow to that."
Jeff Immelt, CEO, GE

The benefits of renewable electricity can not be fully realised without updating US power transmission lines into a "smart grid" that lets people track and control what types of power they use and when, both Google and GE believe that they can contribute to implementing this grid.


Related Articles
Google's Solar Panel Project
Cheaper Than Coal
What Could be Better than the iPhone?

Five Spaces Left for the Climate Ride 2008

Brita Climate Ride 2008 is the first multi-day bicycle ride where your pedal strokes help raise money and awareness for meaningful climate change and renewable energy legislation! This transformative event is ideal for anyone who believes that change is possible and that America can take the lead in a green economy.

Beginning on September 20th, one hundred and twenty Climate Riders will pedal 300 miles from New York City to the nation’s Capitol in Washington D.C. in five days, departing from the heart of Manhattan and then meandering along country roads through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. On the fifth day, riders will cycle past the iconic Washington Monument to arrive near the marble steps of the Capitol building. Here we will celebrate the riders’ amazing accomplishment and valuable contribution to the advancement of climate change education and renewable energy policies.

Along the way, expert speakers will educate and inspire Climate Riders about the science, the policies and the solutions to the climate crisis. Our riders and the communities we pass through will learn that our government, businesses, and each individual American will benefit from a cleaner, healthier climate. This is a unique event—a fundraiser and climate conference on wheels.

The Aims of the Event are to;

• Increase awareness of climate change, renewable energy, and green jobs amongst participants, donors, and the general public.
• Advance the movement toward a green energy economy and encourage citizens to call on politicians to legislate meaningful climate change and energy policies.
• Inspire individuals to take their share of responsibility for reducing fossil fuel energy consumption.
• Showcase the bicycle as a viable, carbon-free, healthy, and fun method of transportation.

For more information on how you can get involved in this amazing event, visit Climate Ride 2008.


Related Articles
Choosing A Bike
I Bought a New Bike
Picture: Nicole Cooke Winning Gold in Road Race

Public Inquiry for Rose Energy Incinerator

Lisburn City Council have called on the Environment Minister to hold a public inquiry into the construction of the proposed agricultural biomass incinerator by Rose Energy, in Glenavy.

Representives from Rose Energy and Communities Against Lough Neagh Incinerator were at at the Lisburn City Council Planning Commitee meeting on Wednesday evening, held at the council offices headquarters at Lagan Valley Island.

The decision has now been deferred to the Department of the Environment, who should ensure the proposal is rigorously assessed.

Northern Ireland often exports its chicken litter to mainland Britain as a way to efficiently reduce waste and reuse the energy stored in the bedding as no facility exisits in the country. The 1.8m chickens produced each week, create 250 000t of chicken litter annually. Hence the decision by major chicken producers O'Kane Poultry, Glenfarm Holdings and Moy Park, who have been supplying poultry bedding for use as a biofuel to power stations in England and Scotland for a number of years, to join together as a consortium, known as Rose Energy, to propose the first energy plant which will convert agricultural biomass into electricity in Northern Ireland.

The proposed site in Glenavy, near Lisburn, is in an ideal location between the two major poultry processing areas in NI. It is also located next to Ulster Farm By-Products, which will be a major supplier to the plant of one of the fuel sources – meat and bone meal. Furthermore, the plant will serve to reinforce the electricity infrastructure in an area which is currently deficient.

The £100m power plant will have a capacity of 30MW, and could effectively power 25 000 homes, assisting up to a third of the Northern Ireland obligation to source 6.3% of its energy from renewable sources by 2012. The government intends to exceed this figure and achieve 12% and is providing a funding package for suitable green energy initiatives to help develop viable projects.

This development is a viable solution to address the disposal of agricultural biomass, which is now included under an EU directive, whilst also providing an additional source of renewable energy. It will also assist in reducing emissions produced from exporting chicken litter, via road and sea,to mainland Britain.

Northern Ireland Assembly Debate on Issue - 3rd June 2008
Options For Chicken Waste


Related Articles
Which Came First, the Chicken or the Power Plant?
Cow $h*t Could Provide 3% of North America's Energy Needs
Are Kangaroos the Solution to Cow Farts?

Picture: Kilbraur Wind Farm

Photos By Ray Cranfield and Ronnie Mackay (More Pics Available Here)Kilbraur wind farm of 19 turbines, with maximum output of 47.5MW. Kilbraur Wind Energy Co-operative, have just released shares up to the value of £1.8 million for purchase to locals in the largest wind farm co-op in the United Kingdom. I'm tempted to buy a few shares, more on how to invest in wind power?

Related Articles
World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm
Hospital Wind Turbine Turns Profit
World' Largest Wind Turbine

Want to Invest in Wind Power?

From today you can invest in a UK based wind farm of 19 turbines, with maximum output of 47.5MW. Shares in the Kilbraur Wind Energy Co-operative, up to the value of £1.8 million will be available for purchase to locals in the largest wind farm co-op in the UK.

Shares will cost £1 each and residents will have to buy a minimum of £250 up to £20,000 before October 24. Although anybody in the UK can buy shares, priority will be given to residents of Sutherland, then Caithness, Ross-shire and City of Inverness. Members of the 15 other co-operatives run by Energy4All will also get priority on buying shares.

Energy4All was formed in 2002 to expand the number of renewable energy co-operatives in the UK as an integral part of our transition to a low carbon economy.

Community-owned green energy is the corner stone of European renewable expertise and has worked successfully in the UK since 1996 through the award-winning Baywind Co-op.

Energy4All is uniquely owned by the co-operatives it assists; Baywind Energy Co-operative Ltd, Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative Ltd, Boyndie Wind Farm Co-operative Ltd, Fenland Green Power Co-operative Ltd, Isle of Skye Renewables Co-operative Ltd and Great Glen Energy Co-operative Ltd. As additional co-ops are established they too will take a share in this growing organisation.

Energy4All offers a highly successful combination of industry experience, community involvement, and business acumen providing a package of sector, admin, and financial services to Co-ops in return for an annual fee.

Energy4All was created due to daily enquiries received by Baywind Co-operative from people looking to replicate the success of Baywind, the UK's first community-owned wind farm. Baywind co-op has generated enough green electricity to power 1,300 homes a year whilst paying an attractive return to its 1,350 members (averaging 7% per annum), and supporting local initiatives, such as the Baywind Energy Conservation Trust. Owning a wind farm increases awareness of and involvement in renewable energy developments, maximises financial returns from local resources, and mobilises environmental concern.

"We're ethical, green and democratic - we have local people on the boards for each co-op. With Kilbraur we'd like our existing members to take an interest, and we'd particularly like people from the local town of Inverness to invest. If we can match our other projects and reach £1 million of investment, then we'll be very happy."
Paul Phare, Scotland development manager for Energy4All



Related Articles
World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm
Hospital Wind Turbine Turns Profit
World' Largest Wind Turbine

Food Waste to Electricity in Devon

12,000 homes in the Axe valley area of Devon, are recycling their kitchen waste, through weekly collections, the collected material is then used to produce a gas, by mixing them with animal slurry, which is then used to generate electricity for the National Grid. The scheme is part of East Devon Council's aim to recycle 50% of all waste by 2010. Towns taking place in the scheme are Axminster, Beer, Colyton, Musbury, Seaton and Uplyme. Other areas in councils remit will be included in 2009.

The waste is collected on a weekly basis, residents simply place any food waste, with the exception of liquids into special containers provided by the council. It is then taken to a biogas plant at Holsworthy. There through a process of anaerobic digestion, a gas is produced, which is then burned to create electricity.

"The waste food will be mixed with animal slurry. The bacteria in the mixture will then heat itself to 70C and it will go through a digestion process, producing gas."
Paul Deakin, Waste Manager, East Devon District Council

Whilst there is no certainty in the amount of waste that will be collected, the resulting reduction of biodegradable waste going to landfill will not only help the environment, but also reduce the ever increasing landfill fees, however these will most likely be offset through the collection. In the long-term it is likely other council areas will implement similar schemes across the country, as the fees on each tonne of waste landfilled is rising by approximately £8 per year. But one other exciting bit of news released this week is that over one-third of homes in England are composting waste.

Related Articles
Love Food ... Hate Waste
Belfast City Council Waste Fair
Guide to Home Composting

Wavegen Making Waves in Renewable Energy

View a Video of the 100kW turbine

Jim Mather, MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism today officially started the new Wavegen 100kW turbine which will be deployed in future wave energy projects worldwide. The 100kW turbine was developed with support from the Scottish Government’s WATES (Wave and Tidal Energy Support) scheme.

Mr Mather was visiting Wavegen’s LIMPET facility, where the 100kW turbine is installed, near Portnahaven on the island of Islay in his Argyll and Bute constituency. LIMPET is the world’s first commercial-scale, grid-connected wave energy plant, and has been in operation since 2000. Mr Mather was joined by senior executives from RWE Innogy and Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation (Wavegen’s parent company).

The startup of the 100kW turbine is a major step forward for the Siadar Wave Energy Project (SWEP), under development by npower renewables (RWE Innogy’s UK operating company) on the isle of Lewis. npower renewables submitted planning applications for the SWEP in April 2008. The SWEP would harness power from the Atlantic waves in Siadar Bay to generate up to 4 megawatts of electricity, using forty Wavegen 100kW turbines. The energy produced each year could supply the average annual electricity needs of around 1500 homes on Lewis and Harris. If plans are given the go ahead by the Scottish Government, building work could start as early as 2009. The project could generate up to 50 construction jobs for local people and would take 18 months to complete.

“The Scottish Government is determined to help make Scotland a world leader in the development and deployment of wave and tidal technologies. I am delighted to be in Islay today to see the investment from WATES come to fruition for myself, and this advanced renewables project is more evidence that wave energy will bring real results and benefits for businesses in Scotland as we move towards cleaner energy sources.”
Jim Mather, Scottish Government Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism

“With this new turbine Wavegen has extended the range of application for wave energy plants to include more energetic and hence more economically attractive environments.
I am confident the reliability demonstrated in other proven turbines will be continued in this 100kW turbine, and I look forward to seeing turbines deployed in Siadar and many other projects. Voith Siemens Hydro sees ocean energy as a growth sector, and this is reinforced by worldwide interest in our products.”
Dr Roland Muench, CEO of Voith Siemens Hydro

Cow $h*t Could Provide 3% of North America's Energy Needs

Turning animal faeces into a fuel source could generate enough electricity to meet up to three per cent of North America's entire energy needs, scientists claim.

A study in the Institute of Physics' journal Environmental Research Letters says that fuel from livestock manure could also help to bring about a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

The research is the first attempt to quantify how much electricity can be generated by livestock manure. Left to decompose naturally, livestock manure emits two particularly potent GHGs – nitrous oxide and methane. Through anaerobic digestion, similar to the process by which compost is created, manure can be turned into energy-rich biogas, which standard microturbines can use to produce electricity. The hundreds of millions of livestock inhabiting the US could produce approximately 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to power millions of homes and offices.

"In light of the criticism that has been levelled against biofuels, biogas production from manure has the less controversial benefit of re-using an existing waste source and has the potential to improve the environment."
Dr Michael Webber and Amanda Cuellar, University of Texas, Austin

When's a Green Tariff Not a Green Tariff? ...

... When Ofgem sets the guidelines for a Green Tariff.Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust has hit out at Ofgem at the weekend;

"If Ofgem's guidelines progress as proposed then green tariffs cannot make a meaningful contribution towards increased renewable energy supply in the UK. What the public needs is clear and simple information so that they can make informed choices about the energy they use. They'll end up being misled and buy something which will not have a direct impact on their carbon emissions. Welcome to Greenwash. The world needs to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80 per cent by 2050 in order to avoid dangerous climate change. Personal carbon emissions - the emissions from homes and travel - account for around 43 per cent of the UK total, or around 235 million tonnes of C02 a year. A low carbon lifestyle means using energy responsibly and efficiently - it also means choosing energy we do need from renewable, low-carbon sources. A million people each year contact our advice line for practical help in reducing their carbon footprint. We would not be able to advise those people to buy the Ofgem version of green tariffs as these will make no meaningful difference to whether the energy they buy in renewable or not."

The Energy Saving Trust & we at Energy Saving are not supporting Ofgem's expected proposals on Green Tariffs because:

1. They are misleading. Consumers presume that green means that the energy produced comes from a renewable source. A study commissioned by Ofgem shows that for most, 'green' in energy terms means the same thing as renewable energy. The study goes on to say that most expect all of the electricity included in the tariff to be from renewable sources. The Energy Saving Trust's own research shows that over one third of all households were interested in signing up to a green tariff, once the concept had been explained to them. In Ofgem's proposals, green can mean offsetting or giving cash to environmental charities which would not have any impact on energy sources.
   
   
2. No increase in energy from a renewable source. If the consumer buys a Green Tariff it does not result in more renewable energy being produced. The energy companies have an obligation to produce 9.1 per cent renewable energy anyway. Consumer demand would have to exceed this obligation for there to be an overall increase. But Ofgem are taking the decision to deny customers the chance to use their buying power to drive more demand for renewable energy in the long term. More customer demand would lead to more investment in renewable energy.
   
   
3. No transparency. Ofgem is proposing that the suppliers will not need to provide information about how much renewable energy is included within the individual tariffs they are selling. The suppliers are only required to make public their overall fuel mix eg renewable, nuclear, gas or coal. How can consumers know what they are buying? It is like if a supermarket was selling a range of sandwiches and on the labels for each sandwich was the overall mix of ingredients in all its sandwiches.
   
   
4. They are not independently certified. Ofgem has appointed the Energy Retail Association to appoint an independent certifier. The accreditation process should be fully independent from suppliers and overseen by the regulator.
   
   

Views from The Carbon Challenge blog;

OFGEM yesterday published a press release along with a consultation piece which was headed up "OFGEM Clears Up Green Tariff Confusion". Unfortunately I wish it were so, as I believe there is every possibility that if the guidelines to customers OFGEM are proposing are adopted, this could lead to even greater confusion in the market itself. There have been numerous studies commissioned, amongst them one by OFGEM, which consistently show that for most people "Green" in terms of "Green Tariff" is synonymous with renewable energy. Therefore, most customers expect that all electricity included in a Green Tariff should come from renewable sources and we know that is simply not the case at the moment.

Under OFGEM’s proposals suppliers will be able to launch a series of options which will illustrate additional environmental benefits - such as proposals around demand management, renewable heat, or offsetting. All of these I have no problem with, but they are environmental benefits and not what people expect of a Green Tariff. The whole purpose, from a customer’s point of view, is that buying a Green Tariff should result in more renewable energy being brought to market. However, and to be fair to OFGEM they do make this clear, just re-packaging what is already an obligation under Government plans is not likely to bring forward any additional renewable energy capacity to the Grid. If these tariffs were offered as Environmental Tariffs that’s one thing, but to call them Green Tariffs means customers will not be able to exercise their buying power to drive even greater demand for renewable energy in the medium term.

One of the key reasons for the consultation and for OFGEM taking action was that customers consistently tell us they need to be able to understand the attributes of each tariff on offer. However, under OFGEM’s proposals suppliers will not need to provide information about how much renewable energy is included within individual tariffs only that they declare their overall fuel mix, which includes renewables, gas, coal even nuclear.

So how do customers know what they are buying? It’s as if Marks and Spencer were to label all of their sandwiches with the mix of ingredients contained in all the varieties of sandwich sold within its range, rather than the ingredients specific to that sandwich. What the customer wants is clear and simple information so that they can make informed choices about the sort of energy they buy. I cannot see how this scheme will deliver on that aspiration. We will not doubt see this one run and run. I am all in favour of giving the public an increasing choice around environmental benefits, but that is not the same as clearing up the confusion around Green Tariffs, far from it.

World’s First Commercial-Scale Tidal Power System Feeds Electricity to the National Grid

The world’s first commercial-scale tidal turbine, located in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough and developed by British tidal energy company, Marine Current Turbines (MCT), has delivered electricity onto the grid for the first time.

The tidal current turbine, known as SeaGen, has briefly generated 150kW of power onto the grid as part of its commissioning work, ahead of it achieving full capacity in a few weeks time. SeaGen’s power is being intentionally constrained to 300kW during the commissioning phase, but once fully operational, it will generate 1.2MW of power, supplying clean and green electricity to the equivalent of 1000 homes.

“This is an important milestone for the company and indeed the development of the marine renewable energy sector as a whole. SeaGen, Marine Current Turbines, tidal power and the UK Government’s push for marine renewables all now have real momentum. The marine environment poses a number of unique technical challenges, not least installing SeaGen in an extremely aggressive tide race, so we are delighted that Marine Current Turbines has delivered yet another world-first in this sector. It’s a major technical break-through. Our engineering team have done a fantastic job.”
Martin Wright, Managing Director, Marine Current Turbines

"This kind of world first technology and innovation is key to helping the UK reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and secure its future energy supplies. Marine power has the potential to play an important role in helping us meet our challenging targets for a massive increase in the amount of energy generated from renewables. My department has supported SeaGen from the start, granting £5.2 million in funds to take it from the drawing board and into the waters of Strangford Lough. This, and our plans to double the financial support for marine technologies, is further evidence of our commitment to making the UK one of the most attractive places to invest in green energy."
John Hutton, Secretary of State for Energy

SeaGen was installed in Strangford Lough in May of this year and commissioning work has been taking place since then, including the vital grid connection undertaken in partnership with Northern Ireland Electricity.

SeaGen is the world’s first commercial-scale tidal stream generating system by a large margin. It is more than four times as powerful as any other tidal current system, including the 300kW SeaFlow, the world’s first offshore tidal device in 2003 installed off Lynmouth on the north Devon coast in 2003.

Marine Current Turbines expects that the present testing and commissioning phase will be completed by the end of the summer and an official “switch on” will take place. Irish energy company, ESB Independent Energy, is purchasing the power generated by SeaGen for its customers in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

“We are on course to be the first company in Ireland and Britain to provide customers with electricity powered by tidal energy. This is a very significant breakthrough which underlines ESB Independent Energy’s ongoing commitment to providing our customers with a range of renewable energy options.”
Liam Molloy, ESB Independent Energy

Marine Current Turbines’ next project, announced in February 2008, is a joint initiative with npower renewables to take forward a 10.5MW project using several SeaGen devices off the coast of Anglesey, north Wales. It is hoped the tidal farm will be commissioned around 2011/2012.

The company is also investigating the potential for tidal energy schemes in other parts of the UK, and in North America.

Yes ... In My Back Garden

A new report (YIMBY Generation - yes in my back yard!) examining consumer attitudes towards microgeneration heat technologies released today by the Energy Saving Trust and Open University and funded by the University of East Anglia's Carbon Connections Fund reveals the financial, regulatory and logistical solutions that will encourage a greater uptake of microgeneration heat technologies in homes across the UK.

With 75 per cent of all household CO2 emissions coming from water and space heating, the Energy Saving Trust believes that microgeneration heat technologies could make a significant contribution in helping to meet the UK's carbon reductions. The UK Government is expected to set ambitious targets of up to 80 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050.

"Currently the microgeneration market is niche, yet our own research has identified the barriers and proposes solutions that would make far greater numbers of householders install microgeneration. Also, and based on the Growth Potential for Microgeneration report (also supported by us and released today), we would urge Government to set targets for microgeneration and put in place the right combination of policies to achieve these targets. We are now ready to work with Government and industry to put in place a raft of measures to help achieve these targets and make the purchase of microgeneration a viable and desirable option for every household in the UK."
Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust

The YIMBY Generation report summarises the responses to a survey of over 900 households who were considering or buying microgeneration heat technologies. The Energy Saving Trust and Open University found that people, in the past, have been put off from purchasing microgeneration for a range of reasons: the price and pay pack period, practicalities e.g. lack of space, and perceptual e.g. lack of confidence in the technology.

The report identifies the following five key solutions, which the Energy Saving Trust and Open University believe would help to encourage and stimulate a greater uptake of microgeneration heat technologies across the UK.

1. Independent advice and support. Respondents cited difficulties finding installers and with the installation process, something that the Energy Saving Trust will address through their new advice centres being rolled out across the UK. These provide people with a 'one stop shop' (Act on C02) advice service for information on energy efficiency, low carbon, transport, water conservation and waste. However, more funding is needed to give the detailed advice many people will need on microgeneration.
   
   
2. Dealing with up front costs. 53 per cent of those surveyed identified an annual reduction in council tax after installation as a financial measure which would encourage them to purchase microgeneration heat technologies. In addition, long lasting incentive schemes, like feed-in tariffs which enable people to sell excess electricity back to the grid at a premium price or the extension of the Government's Renewables Obligation to explicitly include microgeneration and renewable heat, would help encourage people to take up microgeneration. For example, if payments for energy generated by the microgeneration system were paid up front to the consumer this would allow them to use this money towards the capital cost of their microgeneration technology and thereby making it far more affordable. In policy terms, up-front payments are also more cost-effective: they can lead to up to five times more renewable microgeneration installed.
   
   
3. Improving usability of the systems. 37 per cent of respondents who own a microgeneration system said that they were uncertain how best to operate the system and its controls to make most efficient use of the fuel or energy. The Energy Saving Trust is helping by carrying out trials of how new technologies work when they are installed in a domestic setting.
   
   
4. Developing regulations. 80 per cent of respondents supported an obligation on gas and electricity suppliers to offer subsidised low carbon energy systems, in a similar way to the current insulation schemes. In addition, 'compulsion' could be a very effective way of bringing microgeneration uptake. For example, by mandating that boilers are replaced with microgeneration heating technology at time of boiler replacement and that solar thermal, wind or PV are to be made mandatory at time of roof repair, up to 9 million microgeneration technologies could be installed in the UK by 2020, at low cost to Government.
   
   
5. Need for independent monitoring / demonstration of microgeneration technologies to boost consumer confidence.
   
   

Full Report

Pictures: World's Largest Offshore Windfarm

Pictures from BBC Pictures

The world’s largest offshore wind farm, the Lynn & Inner Dowsing, is set to provide 194 MW of power to the National Grid after completion this year. The Government wants energy companies to build 33 gigawatts of offshore wind farms by 2020.

The MV Resolution is the world's first purpose-built vessel for installing offshore wind farms. It uses its six massive legs, each half the length of a football pitch, to hoist itself out of the water at a rate of a metre per minute to create a stable platform. The turbines are secured approximately 25m below the North Sea. Some 70 crew live onboard the 130m by 38m vessel, which can carry up to 10 wind turbines measuring 100m high, almost 100m in diameter from the blade tips and weighing 260 tonnes each.

Each turbine can power 2,500 homes, with the whole wind farm eventually able to supply 140,000 homes.

Picture: Segen Install World's First Commercial Tidal Turbine

Pictures: taylorkeogh.com

Pioneering renewable energy developer, Marine Current Turbines, has successfully completed the first installation phase of the 1.2MW SeaGen Tidal System into the fast-flowing waters of Strangford Narrows.

The crane barge, “Rambiz”, is set to sail for Belgium after safely positioning the 1000 tonne structure onto the seabed in the early hours of Wednesday 2nd April morning and releasing its four moorings on Thursday. SeaGen’s location is roughly 1km south of the ferry route between Strangford and Portaferry, approximately 400m from the shoreline.

When fully operational later in the summer, its 16m diameter, twin rotors will operate for up to 18-20 hours per day to produce enough clean, green electricity, equivalent to that used by a 1000 homes. This is four times greater than any other tidal stream project so far built.

"It is great news that Marine Current Turbines and British innovation are leading the world in the development of marine energy technologies. It’s this sort of project which will help the UK meet our ambitious targets to significantly increase the amount of energy from renewable sources.
"I am proud that my department has played a part in the development of SeaGen, granting £5.2 million of funds to help take it from the drawing board. Marine power has the potential to make a significant contribution to our energy generation needs, and I hope the success of this project will inspire others to follow its lead.”
John Hutton, Secretary of State for Energy

SeaGen had its final assembly at the Harland & Wolff dockyard in Belfast. Here it was winched onto the crane barge, “Rambiz”, owned and operated by the Belgium company Scaldis, and then transported to Strangford Narrows.

The deployment by the Rambiz and the subsequent installation work is being overseen by MCT’s in-house engineering team and managed by marine engineering specialists SeaRoc Ltd.

The quadropod section that sits on the seabed will now be pin piled. Each of the four pins that secure SeaGen will be drilled to a depth of around nine metres. This work is being carried out by Fugro Seacore Ltd.

SeaGen will enter commercial operation after a commissioning phase of around 12 weeks and supply electricity to the local grid. ESB Independent Energy, the retail subsidiary of ESB, Ireland’s national electricity company, has signed a Power Purchase Agreement with MCT to supply to its customers in the island of Ireland with the power produced by SeaGen.

As a renewable energy company, MCT takes its responsibilities to the environment seriously. It has established a £2million programme to closely monitor the environmental impact of SeaGen, involving scientists from the Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and from the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St Andrew’s University (SMRU). The programme includes the presence of a Marine Mammal Observer on SeaGen at all times during the commissioning phase, when SeaGen will only operate during daylight hours, to observe how the Lough’s marine life interacts with the structure. There is also a sonar system monitoring seal movements, operated by SMRU, which has been partly paid for by the Npower juice fund

An official switch-on ceremony will take place in the summer after the commissioning phase is completed.

Hospital Wind Turbine Makes Profit

The 40 metre high 660 kW Vestas V47 wind turbine, the largest at any hospital in the UK, has been fully operational since February 7th 2005. Providing all the power required at night and two -thirds of daytime use the turbine generates 1.2m kWh annually, providing a large majority of the £90 000 annual electricity bill.

Since it's launch just over three years ago the turbine has made a £56 000 profit, and reduced CO2 emissions by 1 085t.

The turbine cost £497,000, of which 80% was a grant from the Government Central Energy Efficiency Fund. Without a grant it would take five years for the initial cost to be repaid. The wind turbine has been a success and other hospitals across the UK are taking an interest in replicating what has been achieved at Antrim.

"The money freed up by not having to pay electricity bills and the profit gained from selling electricity back to the national grid can now be spent on patients and service. This turbine is not only good for the environment but it is good for the local people too."
Thomas Burns, South Antrim, MLA

With the use of favourable grants, and a short payback period, Antrim Area Hospital has used their location to make a sound business and environmental decision which has decreased their substantial energy bill, enabling them to use the profit to reinvest in primary care. The turbine will continue to generate electricity for many years to come, reducing their overall impact on the environment by 350t of CO2 per annum. Strategic planning similar to this, where it is feasible to implement will be vital to enacting a low carbon economy for the future.

SeaGen To Install Marine Current Turbine

Sea Generation is to install the first marine current turbine capable of generating commercial amounts of energy at Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.

The 1.2MW turbine is capable of powering 1000 homes. The plans were shelved last year when SeaGen were unable to obtain suitable vessel to plant the system in the bed of the lough. SeaGen will be installed by the crane barge Rambiz, in an operation which will take up to 14 days. The turbine will first be picked up from Harland and Wolff in Belfast after final assembly. The SeaGen system will be connected to an existing grid connection adjacent to the sewerage substation south of Strangford. A 450m long HDD bore hole 300mm diameter will be drilled 20m below the seabed so that during installation the 11kV power cable can be pulled through the duct.

"We have carried out extensive engineering and environmental studies to ensure the very best means of installation and operation. As long as the weather is good and there are no last minute operational issues to contend with, we should have SeaGen deployed by the end of March.
Martin Wright, Managing Director, MCT

Strangford Lough has one of the world's fastest tidal flows making it an ideal choice for testing the SeaGen turbine. Whilst no one can be sure of the impact on marine life, the likely impact will be minimal with slow rotar speeds unlikely to cause death or injury to marine mammals. Producing clean energy from such an untapped source will if the results are forthcoming see a boom in the commercial use and viablity of marine current turbines.