Liberal Democrats seek to ban 'unabated' coal power

Electricity generated from coal in old power plants without carbon capture would be banned in a proposal that will form the centrepiece of the Liberal Democrats' commitment on the environment in its general election manifesto.

UK opposition to new EU green energy targets could risk 'half a million jobs'

Over half a million new jobs over the next two decades could be at risk from the UK's opposition to new EU targets for green energy, according to a leaked official report from the European commission.

David Cameron to argue in favour of green jobs in new year

David Cameron has reached out to modernising Tories by saying in private that he will argue in favour of the economic benefits of renewable energy in the New Year after George Osborne has "cauterised" public angst over green levies in his autumn statement.

German energy surplus quadruples despite renewable push

Germany exported more electricity to neighbouring countries than it imported last year despite a government decision to scrap nuclear power in favour of an ambitious drive towards renewable energy.

Exclusive: Foreign investors set to sue Spain over energy reform

MADRID (Reuters) - Foreign investors in renewable energy projects in Spain have hired lawyers to prepare potential international legal action against the Spanish government over new rules they say break their contracts.

Vestas to cut 1,400 more jobs as it reports quarterly pre-tax loss

Vestas is to shed another 1,400 jobs, bringing total redundancies for the year to more than 3,700, after the world's biggest wind turbine maker slumped to a quarterly pre-tax loss.

Tweaking U.S. tax code could spur green energy: senator

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A freshman Democratic senator thinks he may have found a way to encourage investment in wind, solar and biofuel projects without sapping too many taxpayer dollars or injecting new venom into a bitter partisan battle over energy incentives.

'Golden age of gas' threatens renewable energy, IEA warns

A "golden age of gas" spurred by a tripling of shale gas from fracking and other sources of unconventional gas by 2035 will stop renewable energy in its tracks if governments don't take action, the International Energy Agency has warned.

Feds charge 3 in wind farm scam

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The pitch on behalf of Mountain State Power sounded enticing: For $25,000 and with minimal risk, you could cash in on the green energy boom in Wyoming and South Dakota, taking advantage of a wind farm project partly funded by the federal government.

Green Investment Bank: Welsh ministers disappointed as Scotland wins bid

Ministers in Wales and Westminster have expressed disappointment after Scotland won a bid to become the base for a new UK Green Investment Bank.

Green energy race 'fierce'

ARVADA, Colo., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. energy secretary said during a tour of a solar manufacturing plant in Colorado that global competition in the green energy sector was "fierce."

Studies Weigh Green Energy Investments Payback

Are investments in green energy programs worth it?

Two studies each released within the last year take contrarian points of view on the subject.

Officials at The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University in Boston, a free-market-leaning public policy organization, found in a study published last year that programs that charge ratepayers additional money to encourage renewable energy systems simply don’t have a high return on investment.

House rejects Dem efforts to restore green energy research program

The House on Tuesday afternoon rejected a several Democratic amendments aimed at restoring funds to the Department of Energy's energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development program. Democrats argued Monday that the GOP's 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Act, H.R. 2354, cuts funding for these programs unfairly, while leaving or even increasing funds for oil, gas and coal research and development.

Despite these arguments, the House soundly rejected several of the amendments, including language from Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) to move $100 million into the green energy research program from nuclear and fossil-related programs. This amendment failed in a 154-266 vote.

Done With the Wind

To power the future, many commentators today exhort us to buy lots of “green energy”—chiefly solar panels and wind turbines. They claim this is a way to avoid running out of fossil fuel, to create “green jobs” and greater energy security, and to respond to global warming. However, these arguments mostly fail on closer inspection.

We have long been fearful of our energy supply running out. In 1865, popular opinion—led by some of the world’s most esteemed scientists—held that Britain’s coal reserves would soon become exhausted.

Home security packaged with energy and solar

Vivint is a home security company looking for growth in home energy and solar installations.

The company, formerly called APX Alarms, today is scheduled to announce its new name and strategy to expand into home automation. It now has about 16,000 homes using a combined home alarm and energy management system, which it expects to grow to about 100,000 customers this year, according to CEO Todd Pederson.

Many utility-run smart-grid programs give consumers the ability to monitor their electricity usage and program appliances to run at off-peak times to save money. But similar energy management functions are being offered as part of home entertainment or security systems.

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, a number of companies showed off home automation systems featuring home energy management as one application. Broadband providers, including Verizon, are also packaging energy management with other services.

Vivint's system works with a touch-screen panel that does both security and home control. Right now, it lets people remotely control a thermostat from the panel, a smartphone, or Web page.

The latest version expands the home automation with wireless light switches and wireless plugs for small appliances. Those devices use the Z-Wave protocol to communicate with the main control panel, which uses the cell phone network to connect to Vivint.

In the coming months, the company plans to offer solar panel installation services as well, said Pederson. "We think solar is just a natural fit from a service perspective," he said.

Vivint says that consumers can expect about $25 savings a month on electricity bills by turning off equipment from a central point. For example, there are pre-set programs so that a person can hit an "away" button on the control panel and the thermostat adjusts and other connected appliances turn off.

The cost for the service is either $44.99 or $49.99 per month after a $99 fee. Energy management is $6.99 per month and a security camera is another $9.99 per month.

The company is also looking to work with utilities' smart meters so consumers can participate in demand response programs where they get a rebate for moving power-hungry jobs to off-peak times.

Home security company ADT is also offering a home energy management service that lets people program and control thermostats and other connected devices remotely.

Source: http://news.cnet.com

Scots-Chinese deal as Vice Premier Li Keqiang visits UK

Scotland and China have sealed a major green energy deal, as Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang began a four-day visit to the UK.

The agreement, worth $10m (£6.4m), will see technology pioneered in Scotland used at a new renewable energy conversion plant in China.

Confirmation of the deal came as Mr Li and his delegation arrived in Edinburgh for the first day of his visit.

The vice premier is also meeting Prime Minister David Cameron in London.

The visit has a focus on promoting trade and political links with the UK and other European nations.

Mr Li - widely tipped to become the next Chinese premier - will also meet key UK government figures in London, including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Chancellor George Osborne and Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said the licensing deal was reached between Sino-Scots firm Shanghai Huanuan Boiler and Vessel Co/Cochran and Scotland-based engineers W2E Engineering, which specialises in generating electricity from domestic refuse.

Mr Salmond, who has led several trade missions to China over the past two years, said the visit was vital for building economic growth, especially in renewable energy.

"China already has the largest deployment of on-shore renewable technology, and Scotland is a world-leader in pioneering the technology and application of clean, green energy," he said.

"This announcement is another positive step forward in strengthening Sino-Scottish links and confirming Scotland's reputation as a global leader in the development of renewable energy."

Shanghai Huanuan chairman Dong Ping added: "This agreement will see the creation of new green power stations built in Scotland and in China and this will generate sustainable renewable energy at a reduced cost for our global customers."

On the first day of the trip, Mr Li held talks with Scottish Secretary Michael Moore and is also visiting the renewable energy firm Pelamis Wave Power.

Mr Moore described the meeting as "very constructive", adding: "China and the UK are key partners in growth for the future.

"There are a huge number of economic opportunities which exist between China and Scotland and I am keen to see us take advantage of our excellent trading links and create new routes to market in the near future."

Mr Li is also due to deliver a speech at a China-Britain British Council banquet, ahead of his return to Beijing on Wednesday.

The vice premier's stay in the UK comes after a three-day visit to Spain, where he signed $7.5bn (£4.8bn, 5.7bn euros) in trade deals.

Mr Li also reaffirmed his country would buy Spanish government bonds, despite the recent crisis of market confidence over eurozone debt.

China has already made several Scottish trade agreements, including a deal requiring all "Scotch Whisky" sold in China to have been made in Scotland.

Anne MacColl, of the economic agency Scottish Development International, said Scotland was in a strong position to contribute to many of China's key aims, which also included life sciences, financial services and academic connections.

Source: BBC
www.bbc.co.uk

Why America Needs a 21st Century Power Grid

When the west wind blows hard across the prairies, its power can be seen in swirling leaves and bending trees.

Here in Illinois, we're harnessing more of that power every day, with 25 wind farms -- from one-turbine to utility-scale projects -- capturing the energy of the wind and converting it into electricity.

But we are facing a major obstacle in our push to build more and better wind farms and create clean energy jobs in Illinois and across the country. Because while we have the technology to generate a large proportion of America's electricity from wind power and solar energy, we don't yet have the infrastructure to store it or transmit it. That's an enormous problem - and one that can undermine our country's progress toward energy security, carbon reduction and job creation.

Here in America, we already have vast resources for "grow-your-own" renewable energy. The potential of land-based wind power is estimated at more than 8,000 gigawatts, and solar cells could generate far more. (To put those numbers in perspective, ConEd's all-time record demand for northern Illinois was just over 23 gigawatts, set on Aug. 3, 2006.)

But all that potential energy generation does us little good if we can't save that electricity for use at the times when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, and if we can't send it from the rural areas where it's created to the cities where it's needed the most. And that will require major investment in the electric grid -- the outdated, barely adequate system that moves electric power from generating stations to consumers nationwide.

As the director of the Argonne National Laboratory, I understand the great fiscal challenges facing our government. But I also know that a substantial American investment in clean energy generation, storage and transmission today could yield enormous returns for generations to come.

Recently, the American Physical Society -- the nation's leading physics association - tackled this critical issue in a new report from its Panel on Public Affairs, Integrating Renewable Electricity on the Grid. The report from the panel, which is co-chaired by George Crabtree, a Senior Scientist and Distinguished Fellow at Argonne, makes some fundamental recommendations:

The United States must develop an overall strategy for energy storage at every level -- from car batteries to the national grid.

We must create new, more powerful technology for long-distance transmission of renewable electricity, to balance rural supply and urban demand, and to integrate wind- and solar-generated electricity into the grid.

The APS also recommends a thorough review of the technological potential for a range of battery chemistries and a significant increase in R&D in basic electrochemistry. Achieving these goals would be great news, for our nation and for Illinois.

At Argonne, we have been working for decades to build new electrical energy storage systems and improve our nation's energy security. As a Department of Energy laboratory, we are committed to keeping the United States in the forefront of energy storage technology. Our lithium-ion battery technology powers electric cars, and our advanced materials research promises to create new electrochemical storage systems to light, heat and cool large buildings, industrial sites and even small cities.

With adequate resources, Argonne and other laboratories like ours could speed the pace of innovation and help to bring America's electric grid into the 21st century. Working in collaboration with universities and private industry, we can assemble "dream teams" that can keep our country in the forefront of energy technology.

Right now, America's aging power grid resembles the patchwork of narrow, winding, badly maintained highways of the 1920s and 1930s. Without the vision -- and substantial public investment -- that led to the nationwide Interstate Highway System, it would have been impossible for trucks to move large quantities of goods swiftly, safely and affordably to American cities and towns from coast to coast.

Today, we need to make the same kind of long-term, strategic investment in our power grid, making it possible to capture and store wind- and solar-generated energy and transmit it quickly and efficiently to businesses, manufacturers, and consumers nationwide.

The stakes are huge, for our nation and for Illinois. According to a new study by the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago, there are more than 100 Illinois companies -- with a total of 15,000 employees -- working in the wind power supply chain. The study estimates that every megawatt of power developed creates 17 new manufacturing jobs.

President Eisenhower's investment in the Interstate Highway System, which created a 20th century infrastructure for 20th century transportation, has yielded extraordinary dividends for our country and our economy. It's time to build a 21st century electricity grid to transmit and store the clean, renewable power America needs to remain competitive in this century.

Source: The Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Can you fit a wind turbine in a housing estate?

Money Talk
By Ian Blake
Associate director, Sutton Griffin Architects

How many people are actually going to be able to install renewable energy-generating technology in their homes?

That is the burning question which goes unanswered in the government's strategy document called "Warm Homes, Greener Homes", which outlines how it plans to cut carbon emissions from homes by 29% by 2020.

The plan includes helping as many households as possible install loft and cavity wall insulation within the next five years, and fitting seven million homes with solid wall insulation or renewable energy-generating technology such as solar panels or wind turbines by 2020.

This is a major commitment by the government, but while the document goes into detail about how it intends to deliver on this commitment, it does not really answer the question about how it will work.

For example, will a wind turbine work in the middle of a housing estate?

And, in a country that is hardly known for year-round sun, is it feasible that millions of homeowners can rely on solar electricity systems to power their homes?

Much has been written on the theory of renewable energy-generating technology in the home, but what about the practice?

Bring me sunshine

It is a misconception that solar electricity systems, which convert sunlight into electricity by capturing the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells, need direct sunlight.


Permission is still needed from the local authority to install a domestic wind turbine

The PV cells can actually generate electricity on a cloudy day. However, the cells do need to be installed on a roof or wall that has an aspect that is within 90 degrees of south and is not overshadowed by buildings or trees.

Any shadow on the cells during the day will decrease the output of the system.

Then there is the issue of attaching the PV cells. The cells need to be attached to either a roof or wall strong enough to take their weight. They are not light and it is definitely worth checking with a qualified installer before proceeding.

If you live in an apartment and do not have roof access, then you will need your landlord's permission before mounting PV panels on the roof and connecting a cable from the panels to your flat. This is likely to be an issue with older, high-rise buildings.

Trusting gusts

Wind turbines generate electricity by harnessing the power of the wind. There are two types of domestic small wind-turbines: mast-mounted, which are free standing, and roof-mounted, which can be installed on the roof of a home.

Small wind turbines work best in exposed locations where there are no large obstacles like other houses, trees or hills, so this immediately rules out a large number of properties in urban and suburban areas.

Also, to work effectively, wind turbines need an average wind speed of no less than five metres per second, which counts out many areas of the UK. The ideal location is a smooth-top hill, with a flat, clear exposure, free from excessive turbulence and large obstructions.

In April 2008, the government relaxed the planning requirements for the installation of domestic microgeneration equipment, although permission is still needed from the local authority to install a domestic wind turbine.

This is not the case for solar electricity devices as long as they are below a certain size, although it is worth checking with the local planning office if your property is listed or in a conservation area or World Heritage site.

If the property is a listed building it is likely to require an application for listed building consent, even where planning permission is not required.

It is worth noting that these permitted development rights only apply to houses. Flat owners will need to make a planning application for any outside installations.

Prices

The cost of installing a solar electricity system can be anything from £8,000 to £14,000 depending on type and size. Also, PV panels that are built into a roof will cost more than those that sit on existing roof tiles.

Again, domestic wind turbines are not cheap, although a roof mounted system can be purchased from as little as £1,500. Larger mast-mounted systems are a lot pricier, costing between £10,000 and £19,000.

To install PV panels you will need a MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) electrician. The existing electrical meter will also have to be replaced with an input/output meter, and cable connections will be required from the roof to the meter.

This will cause some minor disturbance to the fabric of the house, such as lifting of floorboards and drilling holes through walls.

The homeowner will also be required to satisfy Part P of the Building Regulations (electrical safety), which, like the planning application, will involve a fee.

Maintenance

Fortunately, PV panels need very little maintenance, other than being kept relatively clean and free from any shade from trees growing nearby.

The wiring and components of the system need to be checked regularly by an MCS-qualified electrician, who will require access to the panels. Depending on location and property, this could involve temporary scaffolding.

As for wind turbines, maintenance checks are advisable every few years, and a well-maintained turbine should last more than 20 years. You should also consider insuring your equipment, whether solar or wind. Your existing home insurance company may offer cover but if not try a specialist insurer.

For many homeowners, location, property type and the wrong weather conditions will make solar panels and wind turbines completely impractical as a green solution for their properties, irrespective of cost.

And for those who can benefit from this energy generation technology, many will consider the savings made are not impressive enough to justify the effort and expense, even with the help of the government's "green loan" scheme that is intended to circumvent the punitive up-front costs.

Although eco-makeovers will be right and convenient for some, for the majority of us the practice of installing energy generation technology is lagging behind the theory.

We are moving in the right direction, that much is sure, but it could be a few more years before people can make a seamless transition to domestic renewable energy generation.

The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not held by the BBC unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Links to external sites are for information only and do not constitute endorsement. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.

Source: BBC
www.bbc.co.uk