Only yesterday a fund raising appeal arrived via email from US site http://moveon.org/ asking for donations to help redress this balance.
The UK often mirrors the US - so it’s almost certain that what we are seeing in the US is being played out here in the UK as well. It is crucial that the UK puts measures in place to ensure that the emerging renewables industry is protected from the vested interests at least until it’s well established enough to fight its own corner. It is also crucial that the Government ensures people have access to independent sources of clear, unambiguous information that enable them to make informed decisions on the facts.

Post from: MicroGeneration Forums

It’s generally accepted that one of the key factors that has influenced the
growth of microgeneration in Germany has been the feed-in tariff.

In Germany, anyone generating electricity from solar PV, wind or hydro gets a guaranteed
payment of four times the market rate - currently about 35p pence a unit - for 20 years.

In France, The government attributes the rapid growth in microgeneration to changes made to the tariffs for solar PV in 2006 when, along with other measures, the government doubled the base feed-in tariff from €0.15 to €0.30 /kWh (27p) with the added incentive of a 50% tax credit for the cost of installation.

In Spain, a generous feed-in tariff of 0.42 Euros/Kwh resulted in Spain ranking 4 No. 4 in the world for its total solar capacity in 2006, according to a report by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association and Greenpeace (although this has now been reduced down to 0.32 - 0.34 Euros in an attempt to achieve a steadier rate of growth in their solar industry)

In Italy, at the time of their introduction in 2006, feed in tariffs ranged from 0.445 - 0.49 Euros/Kwh with funding for upto %80 of the capital costs.

In February, 2009 the Irish government announced a feed-in tariff of 19c (just under 17p), upto 5c (approx 4.4p) more than it costs to power homes, guaranteed for 3 years for the first 400 applicants.

Whilst all efforts to encourage microgeneration are to be applauded, the incentive introduced in Ireland does seem comparatively low, especially in light of the figures for other European countries. It’s not clear if any other incentives are to be offered in addition.

The UK Energy bill was passed into UK law on 26th November, and the secretary of state has one year from the passing of the bill to announce the level of these feed-in tariffs and who will be eligible to receive them.

I hope that the UK government uses this opportunity to demonstrate it’s commitment to microgeneration by setting a feed-in tariff at least as generous as those which are working so well in Europe rather than the low level offered in Ireland.

Post from: MicroGeneration Forums

It’s not entirely clear by how much supplies have been reduced, with conflicting reports from nthe varying parties involved, but reports are surfacing from Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania of significant cuts in the quantity of gas they receive from Russia.

Although the UK has lower dependency on Russian imports thanks to the early completion of a pipeline from Norway capable of carrying upto 1/5 of the UK’s energy needs, it’s estimated that by the end of the decade, half of the gas consumed in this country will have to be imported, much of it originating from Russia.

The ease with which Russia has switched off its supply to Europe for the second time in 2 years demonstrates the fragility of supplies from any third party.

Encouraging UK consumers to implement microgeneration can offset this dependence if done in a co-ordinated method that enables the energy generated to be stored ready for use at peak times.

Recent announcements of minimum buy back levels and encouragement for the use of smart meters will help but clear advice and help is still needed for many people who find the choice and technology of microgeneration bewildering.

Happy New Year - let’s make sure 2009 is the year that MicroGeneration takes off

Post from: MicroGeneration Forums

Whatever the eventual outcome, the important thing is that a clear action plan develops that results in the widescale uptake of microgeneration amongst householders.

As Mr Hyams says:

Renewable heat (probably solar, heat pumps and biomass) need to rapidly increase in market penetration if we are to stand a chance of meeting our 2020 CO2 targets

he also goes on to say:

I am now convinced of the need for a focussed citizen centred approach as the best way of accelerating energy saving and resource efficiency in the domestic sector.

Microgeneration Forums was launched with precisely this aim in mind. The way the web enables the pooled knowledge gained by individuals installing and trying microgeneration technologies makes it an ideal way to encourage the uptake of microgeneration by helping people make informed decisions.

The important thing is that MicroGeneration starts to happen on a big scale and at the end of the day, every decision to implement starts with an individual.

Post from: MicroGeneration Forums

Ministers at the Welsh Assembly yesterday announced a 15 year program to encourage the use of microgeneration in deprived areas of Wales. The project is hoping to install 40,000 microgeneration units, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by at least 139,200 tonnes a year.

With news last week that a service that provides face-to-face support for householders on all aspects of microgeneration and energy efficiency installation is to be extended.

In pilot projects, Flats and care homes have been given solar and photovoltaic panels.

As well as tackling poverty, Ministers said it would also create jobs in a regional green energy industry.

Scotland has also been busy encouraging the use of MicroGeneration technologies in National initiatives. Earlier this week, it was announced that demand for an energy advice service has been so great that the number of advisers is to be doubled. the  Energy Saving Scotland Home Help service that provides face-to-face support for householders on all aspects of microgeneration and energy efficiency installation is to be extended. It consists of five centres based throughout Scotland delivering advice to consumers and small businesses on a range of sustainable energy issues including energy efficiency.

With all the doom and gloom around the recession, the microgeneration industry does seem to be an excellent candidtae for special treatment, given the win win of environment plus jobs.

Let’s hope we see a co ordinated response in support of this for the rest of the UK now.

Post from: MicroGeneration Forums

Recommendations are necessarily general but it’s a good step in the right direction.

It also looks like Friends of the earth Scotland are planning to try and use the level of interest in the tool as a lever to lobby Government - if you’d like to add some support, follow the link to test drive their energy audit tool

Post from: MicroGeneration Forums

Timing wise, many people have been vocal in their disappointment about how much talking and not enough action has been going on when it comes to encouraging the growth of MicroGeneration. This Energy Bill represents an opportunity to really move things forward.
As things stand the amendment states that:

The Secretary of State shall make regulations within one year of the day on which this Act is passed for the purpose of introducing a renewable energy tariff for a specified fixed period to specified producers of renewable energy.”

I just hope that the bill can be passed quickly.

It is also vital that MicroGenerators are included within the specified producers and that the feed in tariff is set sufficiently high to incentivise people.

In Germany, anyone generating electricity from solar PV, wind or hydro gets a guaranteed payment of four times the market rate - currently about 35p pence a unit - for 20 years.

The new clauses that have been introduced into the bill makes provision for different tariffs depending on the renewable source and the different types of energy generated.

The proposals should also clarify if MicroGenerators will be credited for all energy produced or just that which is fed back into the grid.

Post from: MicroGeneration Forums

Consumers place a very low value on ongoing energy costs compared with up-front capital
costs. This presents a considerable barrier for microgeneration technologies which are
characterised by high up-front costs with low on-going costs.

A new pilot scheme being run by Kirklees council aims to overcome this barrier by providing interest free loans of upto £10,000 to householders in Kirklees to install renewable and low carbon technologies on their property. The loans are available for a specific set of technologies:

Solar Thermal Panels
Solar PV Panels
Air Source & Ground source heat pumps
microCHP
Biomass
Hydroelectric

The council is providing advice to applicants on the most suitable solutions for their situation.

The loans are secured against the property and must be repaid when the property is sold. Called the RE-charge scheme, Kirklees claim it is the first of its kind in the country. The grants are in addition to the Low Carbon Building Program (LCBP) which offers grants to householders to assist with the cost of installing renewable and low carbon technologies.

The scheme was launched on 18th August this year and is to be publicised more widely in the next few weeks. The accompanying letter states that ‘Limited Funds are available and there has been a high volume of interest. You are advised to apply asap to avoid disappointment’.

There doesn’t seem to be anything on the Kirkless website yet, but if you don’t want to wait, then I’ve uploaded a copy online of the Re-Charge Information for Applicants
kirklees-re-charge-grants-1

kirklees-re-charge-grants-2

kirklees-re-charge-grants-3

To apply, contact enquiries@energy-help.org.uk or call 0800 052 7496

Post from: MicroGeneration Forums

Spread of nuclear waste from Sellafield

The program showed a pipeline used to dump the waste from a process used at Sellafield where nitric acid is used to dissolve solid, spent fuel assemblies. Some technical guy from Sellafield explained that it just ‘wasn’t practical’ to deal with the waste arising from this process and that the chosen solution of discharging the waste into the sea was the only practical solution.

I found myself getting annoyed about this. Perhaps it may be true that it would be phenomenally expensive to deal with this contaminated nitric acid, but then that cost should be reflected in the cost of producing energy via this method. If these costs were reflected in the price of the nuclear energy generated by this method, then it would help make the economic case even stronger for alternatives such as microgeneration.

Post from: MicroGeneration Forums

The group was meeting under the banner of a ‘Transition Towns‘ initiative. I have to confess that prior to the meeting i didn’t know anything about Transition Towns, however as the link explains, it’s a large scale initiative.

The interests were diverse, ranging from permaculture through growing your own veg to microgeneration. What i found refreshing was the thought that meetings like this are most likely going on right accross the country as people try to find out for themselves how they can implement and make the most from these technologies and ideas.

It will be interesting to see how this progresses and I’d be very interested in comments from other ‘transition towns’ groups about their achievements and successes.

Post from: MicroGeneration Forums