News

CBI wants clarity on Green Deal

Fri, 11-March-2011

The government’s flagship Green Deal could fail unless it is made attractive to the private sector companies that will make it work, says a CBI report.

The system is due to enter force in autumn 2012. It will enable loans for improving the energy efficiency of buildings to be paid back through savings on energy bills.

Government launches Carbon Plan

Fri, 11-March-2011

The government's Carbon Plan, launched on Tuesday 8th March lays out a vision of a low carbon economny and actions required to achieve it.

Local government is singled out within the public sector as having a vital role to play in harnessing the enthusiasm that exists as the local level for tackling climate change.

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Announcement

Fri, 11-March-2011

Chris Huhne, the coalition Government’s Energy Secretary, has announced the details of the world’s first scheme to pay users of heat from newly installed renewable heat technologies including biomass boilers, ground source heat pumps, biogas plants and solar hot water panels.
 

Hydro planning rules overhauled by Environment Agency

Fri, 25-February-2011

The Environment Agency is simplifying the application process for developers and communities seeking to install hydropower schemes.

The move follows a review of permitting procedures, which was published in December. Standards of environmental protection will not drop as a result of the changes, it says.

Anaerobic Digestion study in the Derbyshire Dales completed

Fri, 25-February-2011

A pioneering £50k feasibility study sets out benefits and viability of both single-farm and shared anaerobic digestion facilities in the Youlgrave area, Derbyshire Dales.

The Sustainable Youlgreave community group commissioned the study which has also produced a generic toolkit for other groups and farming communities to consider viability of AD in their area.

First FiTs Review

Fri, 25-February-2011

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne launched a comprehensive review of the Feed in Tariffs (FITs) scheme on 7th Feb, following growing evidence that large scale solar farms could soak up money intended to help homes, communities and small business generate their own electricity.

This has added significance given the Spending Review reduced the FITs budget in 2014-15 by 10%.

Energy Bill Briefing

Fri, 28-January-2011

The Energy Bill begins its passage through the Lords this month and forms part of the coalition government's programme to decarbonise the UK economy.

The Bill includes the Green Deal which is important for local authorities because they can be clients or providers and will be expected to take a leadership role.

The briefing from the LGiU (see attachment) provids a very useful summary of the bill, explaining plans for the Green Deal in some detail, including issues of eligbility, financing, assessment and regulation.

emda projects on the low carbon economy

Fri, 28-January-2011

A list of projects comissioned by emda which focus on the low carbon economy has been released and in many cases reports on these projects are available (see attachment).

Reports include:

What does the future hold for CRC?

Fri, 28-January-2011

This special report from ENDS takes an in-depth look at changes to the CRC in the Comprehensive Spending Review and the decisions the coalition may make on further revising the policy.

It considers the financial consequences of the removal of the revenue recycling element and the inevitable loss of profile and boardroom interest associated with replacing up front purchasing of allowances with a retrospective tax on emissions.

Kirklees Solar Panels

Fri, 7-January-2011

Council tenants across Kirklees could benefit from lower energy bills under plans to install solar panels on 1,000 house roofs.  Kirklees Council is proposing to spend £6m on photo-voltaic (solar cell) technology but says money can be earned back by selling the energy produced to the National Grid.  It has been estimated that the £6m scheme will earn more than £500,000 per year for the council for the next 25 years through the Government's "feed-in tariff" scheme.  When future maintenance costs are taken into account, the income generated is almost