News

The Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP), Phase-1 and Phase-2 has closed to all new applications for grants for electrical microgeneration as of 5pm, Wednesday 3rd February, which follows the publication of the Government’s consultation on the Feed-In Tariffs (FIT’s)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change today published plans for a scheme to incentivise renewable heat generation at all scales. The Renewable heat incentive scheme (RHI) will be a world first.

The RHI will come into effect in April 2011 and guarantee payments for those who install technologies such as ground source heat pumps, solar thermal hot water systems, biomass boilers and air source heat pumps.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband today announced the feed-in tariff (FITs) levels and also published a blueprint for a similar scheme to be introduced in April 2011 to incentivise low carbon heating technologies. The renewable heat incentive (RHI) will be a world first.

The schemes are designed to bring about a significant increase in the amount of locally produced green energy, as a contribution to the wider shift of the energy mix to low carbon.

The South West RDA and Regen SW have welcomed today's announcement by Gordon Brown and the Crown Estate, of the winning companies selected as development partners for the Round 3 Offshore Wind farms.
This development marks a step-change in the deployment of renewable energy in the UK and represents a great opportunity for the south west.
Two offshore wind farm zones have been awarded in the south west out of a total of nine nationally.

Manchester United defender Gary Neville has applied for planning permission to build a flower-shaped eco-home in Bolton.
Neville, wants to build a four-bedroom, single-story house with a wind turbine, solar panels and ground-source heating.
It will be 8,000 square feet, mostly submerged in the Pennines and covered in a grass roof, making it partially invisible.

A new report has claimed that no-frills airlines cost less for the environment with their low carbon footprint.

Budget airlines create a smaller carbon footprint, according to a new report.

The travel search engine Liligo claims that no-frills airlines cost less for the environment because they pack in more passengers and promote mainly short-haul destinations.

Planes belonging to carriers Ryanair or Eastjet were on average only three years old and already designed for energy-efficiency.

EADS Astrium says the satellite system would collect the Sun's energy and transmit it to Earth via an infrared laser, to provide electricity.
Space solar power has been talked about for more than 30 years. However, there have always been question marks over its cost, efficiency and safety.
But Astrium believes the technology is close to proving its maturity.

Unfortunately due to extremely high demand the current allocation of funds available for RE4D grants has been used up. We are currently waiting to hear what their next offer will be.

The delegation attending the World Future Energy Summit from Switzerland will be unveiling the first ever solar powered aircraft. Bertrand Piccard, President and Pilot, Solar Impulse, will be exhibiting a model of the solar powered aircraft at the event later this month in Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre.
A Swiss pavilion will accommodate many of Switzerland’s leading renewable energy companies who will be there to showcase the latest products and solutions of the renewable energy sector.

A consumer panel has told the electricity and gas markets regulator Ofgem that it must make companies reduce their carbon emissions.

The regulator created the Consumer First Panel in 2008 as an extension of its Consumer First Programme which it uses to understand the concerns and expectation of ordinary energy customers.

For the 2009 panel, 100 individuals were selected from Bristol, Aberdeen, London, Aberystwyth and Bradford.