www.all-energy.com News

Energy bills soar 140pc in eight years

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:25:48 GMT

The average household's annual energy bill of £1,252 now accounts for 11pc of a couple's basic state pension of £11,175 a year, the study by price comparison website uSwitch.com found. The cost of energy is now the top household worry for Britons (90pc), ahead of the rising cost of food (77pc) and mortgage payments (42pc).

First offshore outing for Siemens’ 6MW

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:24:56 GMT

Plans are fast taking shape to erect a pair of Siemens’ 6MW direct-drive wind turbines at the first of four sites marked out by the UK Crown Estate for demonstration testing of the next generation of offshore machines.

Green Deal: Which? calls for big changes

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:24:09 GMT

On the back of concerns that Government’s flagship policy will not live up to consumer expectations, Which? has today called for big changes to be made to the Green Deal. Due to be launched in October this year, the Green Deal has been designed as an incentive to give UK home and business owners the prompt they need to reduce their carbon emissions.

Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:23:10 GMT

Scottish Enterprise’s new £10 million Industry Engagement Building, based in Glasgow, is to become the headquarters for the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.

London Array O&M Base boosts jobs

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:22:14 GMT

London Array’s Operations & Maintenance (O&M) base at the Port of Ramsgate was officially opened by local MP Laura Sandys on Friday 9 March. The base will be home to around 70 wind farm technicians and up to 20 support staff, who’ll be responsible for operating and maintaining London Array for the next 20 years. Five maintenance vessels will also operate out of the base.

Orkney opens tidal energy tender

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:21:32 GMT

Orkney Islands Council has announced tender for tidal energy consultancy services worth approximately between £275,000 and £300,000.

Partnership’s11,000th PV installation

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:20:36 GMT

UK-based solar module manufacturer Romag and renewable energy installer House Choice have celebrated the 11,000th PV installation completed as part of their three-year partnership.

PM praises plans for Hull Siemens factory

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:19:39 GMT

Prime Minister David Cameron has praised the proposals for a new Siemens factory in Hull. During a visit to the energy giant's manufacturing base in Manchester, Mr Cameron discussed the plans for the £80 million factory as part of the Green Port Hull development.

CCS: too few incentives says IEA

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:18:48 GMT

The International Energy Agency (IEA) will next month renew its commitment to carbon capture and storage (CCS) but will warn that there are too few incentives and that deployment is needed now.

Demand for energy needs inquiry

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:17:03 GMT

The head of industry body Scottish Engineering has called for an independent inquiry into future energy needs. Peter Hughes said that although his body supported renewable options, he wanted to see a balanced, affordable, sustainable and secure energy policy.

Calls for heat pump regulatory reform

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:16:01 GMT

Mitsubishi Electric is joining the UK's leading heat pump manufacturers and installers to jointly set out a vision detailing how industry and Government can achieve a radical decarbonising of residential heating in the UK by 2030.

Green award for Scottish Leather Group

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:14:55 GMT

Bovine leather maker Scottish Leather Group has won the Carbon Trust’s Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Award 2012. The company’s prize, following the use of energy saving measures across its three sites in the west of Scotland, was presented at Scottish Engineering’s Annual Awards Dinner at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow.

South Boats:Iceni construction deal

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:13:56 GMT

South Boats Special Projects Ltd. and Iceni Marine Services Ltd., announced that the two companies have signed a contract for the construction of four further vessels to join the existing South Boats built ‘Iceni Spirit’, ‘Iceni Courage’, ‘Iceni Defiant’ and ‘Iceni Pride’.

Salmond to visit California

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:12:53 GMT

Alex Salmond is due to visit the United States next month. The first minister is to travel to California to help build economic links and encourage inward investment…… It is billed as including discussion of Scotland's constitutional future and its relationship with the US, as well as renewable energy and trade.

Apple commits to renewable power

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:11:38 GMT

Apple plans to power its main data centre entirely with renewable energy by the end of this year, taking steps to address longstanding environmental concerns about the rapid expansion of high-consuming computer server farms. The maker of the iPhone and iPad said on Thursday it was buying equipment from SunPower Corp and startup Bloom Energy to build two solar array installations in North Carolina, near its core data center,

Logan Energy powers up All-Energy

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:10:16 GMT

Logan Energy Limited, the Edinburgh-based fuel cell and hydrogen solutions provider, will be providing the electricity to power the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association stand (B41), for the first time, at this year's All-Energy Show with a 5kW PEM* fuel cell.

Abundance – small business, big idea

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:09:10 GMT

Founder Karl Harder's 'democratic finance' means anyone with £5 can invest in renewable energy projects.

Gt Yarmouth outer harbour boss confident

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:08:03 GMT

The new boss of Great Yarmouth's outer harbour said he was confident jobs at the port would increase, but warned it could take time. Jamie Frater was made head of EastPort UK this week, replacing Eddie Freeman.

Northants street lights switch-off

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:06:17 GMT

Nearly £2m was saved by switching off half of the street lights across Northamptonshire last year, it has been claimed. Northamptonshire County Council gave the figures in a Freedom of Information request submitted by the BBC.

Climate policy can curb energy price shocks

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:10:42 GMT

Britain's climate policies can help shield the economy from oil and gas price shocks triggered by external factors such as the Arab Spring, an analysis commissioned by the government showed on Friday. Energy price spikes can often dent economic growth, business investment and employment, as witnessed during the global financial crisis in mid-2008 when oil rose to nearly $150 (95 pounds) per barrel, research group Oxford Economics said in a report. Yet the negative impact on economic growth could be halved if the UK's climate policies manage to reduce the country's demand for coal, gas and oil, it said.

Solar panel subsidy cuts halted

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:10:13 GMT

Moves to cut subsidies for fitting solar panels on homes were halted by ministers today following warnings that the planned reductions threatened Britain’s hopes of hitting targets for renewable energy production. Ministers halved subsidies for feed-in tariffs last year and were due to implement another cut in July.

UK solar industry welcomes cut delay

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:09:28 GMT

The UK solar industry has welcomed this morning’s (17 May) confirmation that the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) will delay the next round of feed-in tariff cuts. Some of industry’s most influential spokespeople have come out in support of the move, which means cuts due to go ahead on July 1 will now be delayed.

Argyll Array photomontages published

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:09:03 GMT

Scottish Power Renewables has published its official collection of scale-accurate photomontages of the Argyll Array in situ. The company has presented two layouts, for both 300 turbines (of 6MW capacity) and 180 turbines (of 10MW capacity) shown from each location Beinn Hough, Sandaig, Balephuil and near Tilley, which are mapped.

First Wind Express vessels en route

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:08:18 GMT

Three recently completed 21 metre Austal wind farm support vessels are heading to Europe, where they will shortly commence operations for UK operator Turbine Transfers. The Wind Express 21 catamarans will be used to transport service crews and equipment to the many offshore wind farms that are located off the coastlines of several European countries. The vessels will arrive in the UK in mid-June 2012 and will commence operations shortly thereafter.

South Boats to construct 4 vessels for MPI

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:07:32 GMT

South Boats Special Projects Ltd. and MPI Workboats Ltd. announced that the two companies have signed a contract for the construction of four further vessels to join the existing eight South Boats built vessels in MPI Workboats’ fleet.

US: heavy tariffs against Chinese PV

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:06:39 GMT

The Obama administration imposed heavy tariffs on Chinese solar panels on Thursday, after finding that China is flooding the market with government subsidised products. The preliminary decision, that China had dumped solar products on the US for less than the cost of manufacture, will result in tariffs of between 31% and 250% on Chinese imports. It was seen on Thursday as a mixed blessing.

Denmark’s green energy policy

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:05:50 GMT

Over a beer or two, Danes like to tell a story that goes like this: One night the energy ministers of the countries around the North Sea got together to divide up its oil and gas wealth. The Danish minister got very drunk, but the Norwegian managed to stay sober. As a result, Norway carved out a jagged shape that included Ekofisk, which has proved to be a major field, and Denmark was left with the dregs. Regarded as a model of how to spend oil and gas wealth wisely, Norway has stashed away surplus revenues from exports while hydropower caters for the bulk of its domestic electricity needs. But Denmark has also found its own path to energy pragmatism, supplementing its relatively few oil rigs with wind turbines and a deep commitment to energy saving.

Land of milk, honey – and fresh green shoots

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:05:05 GMT

Which two countries score highest for developing clean technologies to combat climate change and bring low carbon prosperity? And here's a bit of help. They don't include the United States (despite the considerable concentration on renewable energy in Silicon Valley), Germany (despite its economic success and good green track record) or Britain (despite the unjustified boasting of some ministers).

Web chat: Desertec Foundation

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:04:12 GMT

Today (18 May) between 1-2pm BST The Guardian’s web chat is joined by Thiemo Gropp, the co-founder of the Desertec Foundation, to answer your questions on the ambitious project to link up Europe and North Africa's green energy resources.

Aberdeen’s Lord Provost elected

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:02:42 GMT

Councillor George Adam was elected unopposed at the Statutory Council Meeting in the Town House..... Lord Provost Adam, a Labour elected member, will now take over from his predecessor, former councillor Peter Stephen, as Aberdeen's "first citizen" in representing the city at home and abroad.

Down to Zero Procurement Compacts

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:01:35 GMT

The UK Government Department for Business Innovation & Skills and the Prince of Wales’s UK Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change … has launched a trio of public-private procurement compacts … The Down to Zero Procurement Compacts are an invitation to suppliers of all sizes, particularly SMEs, demonstrating that there is a coordinated and willing market demand for low-to-zero carbon solutions at a competitive cost.

Plans for Neptune array

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:00:42 GMT

A Hull-based tidal power company is forging ahead with plans to install a multi-million pound array in the Humber Estuary, which could include a local manufacturing deal to build the 15 shallow-water devices. Neptune Renewable Energy is set to generate power from a full-scale demonstrator within the next month, after recently commissioning the project. The Neptune Proteus machine will then supply energy to The Deep aquarium located on the bank of the River Humber.

Community energy projects: huge bottleneck

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:58:43 GMT

Scottish communities are missing out on the full benefits that renewable energy has to offer, a report out next week will show. The report by the Sustainable Community Energy Network (SCENE) with the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation shows that about 180MW of community-owned renewable energy remains within the planning system, enough electricity to power Aberdeen, while just 20MW are operational – not even enough to power Musselburgh.

Solar PV set to benefit Bristol residents

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:57:47 GMT

Residents in Bristol are set to benefit from solar PV technology after a local co-operative announced plans to install free panels on homes across the city. Bristol Power is planning to introduce the scheme on a trial basis in Lockleaze. Should it prove successful, the co-op intends to make free solar panels available throughout the city. This would provide residents with access to free renewable energy, whilst money generated by exporting surplus electricity to the National Grid would be retained by Bristol Power.

Row over nuclear waste dump proposal

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:56:22 GMT

A furious row has broken out among local politicians over a proposal to build a nuclear waste dump in Kent. Romney Marshes is being mooted as a site for Britain's first store for high-level radioactive materials by members of Shepway district council but the move has infuriated the leader of Kent county council and a local MP.

Huge solar farm for Hampshire

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:55:17 GMT

One of the UK's largest solar panel farms is taking shape behind the hedge rows of a New Forest estate famed for its Walkers crisps potatoes. Nearly 19,000 solar panels are will be installed on 30-acres of land on the Cadland Estate at Fawley over the next month.

EEEGR appoints new Chief Exec

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:53:54 GMT

Simon Gray has been named as the new chief executive of the East of England Energy Group, taking over the role from EEEGR founder John Best who stepped down earlier this year.

Training that transcends borders

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:53:03 GMT

Petrofac Training Services and Deutsche Windguard collaborate in a bid to harmonise UK-German offshore H&S training.

Kirklees’s wrongly sited turbines

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:52:04 GMT

A bumbling council which spent £100,000 installing two wind turbines on a civic building six years ago have admitted they don’t work because the site isn’t windy enough. Kirklees Council placed the turbines on the roof of the Civic Centre in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in July 2006 to generate energy and to raise awareness of renewable energy among the thousands of motorists who drive past them every day.

Rising greening UK economy challenge

info@all-energy.co.uk (www.all-energy.com) — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:51:41 GMT

Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State, Defra writes: …The shift to a green economy represents one of the biggest business opportunities in decades. Already, the global low-carbon market is worth more than £3 trillion, and is set to reach £4tn by 2015 as more economies invest in low-carbon technologies. In the UK, a sector still in relative infancy is worth over £116bn and employs almost a million people. I want to see that base grow.