Green Energy Republic

At last - a 2050 plan

By Juliet Davenport, CEO and founder, Good Energy

For the last few years, calls to decarbonise the UK Energy market have felt like cries in the wilderness.  All talk with no action.  Yesterday the landscape changed when Chris Huhne, the Energy secretary, announced the UK’s first coordinated Energy Plan for 2050.

Accompanying this announcement is a couple of thousand pages, and a raft of proposals and consultations.  However, the key document for me is the structural reform plan.  In this, the Government lays out its workload for the next 12 months with deliverables, milestones and joined-up thinking.

It’s also put out for trial a carbon calculator on how we can reach our 2050 target, encouraging people to test its assumptions -- we will be doing so soon.  This is open government and it means business.  Rather than a vague plan which tinkers around the edges, Chris Huhne has delivered a firm commitment to reform how the energy market works and how it is regulated. 

The UK must decarbonise our electricity market, and this means that the market must be designed to favour renewables, rather than throwing up obstacles in their way.  This requires reforming both transmission and distribution networks; establishing a long-term carbon price; and ensuring energy trading arrangements can accommodate significant penetration by renewable energy. On the consumer side, reform is needed to incentivise customers to switch to Green tariffs - rather than rating all electricity as having the same carbon content, ‘Grid Average,’ regardless of how it was generated.

After years of dithering, the government is at last pushing forward with plans for smart metering.  However, work still needs to be done on reforming the settlement system for gas and electricity so it delivers effective ‘time of use’ tariffs – so everyone benefits from higher rates at peak times.

Effective demand management will also play an important role in the energy landscape of the future, and the Government has shown it’s serious about energy efficiency.  As the UK decarbonises, then electricity use will grow at the expense of fossil fuels – for example the transition to electric cars will have a big impact.  Either we double our generation capacity, or we use our energy in a smarter and more efficient way.

Heating is another area which needs to be looked at. The UK uses more energy heating our homes than Sweden does. Yesterday’s announcement was short on ideas for that, although the plan tells us it will deliver some proposals soon.

Here at Good Energy, we are pleased with this approach, and will work hard with this Government to do what we have always done – move from an aspiration to make a difference to climate change to actually delivering a result.

Home Sweet Home: What Good Energy’s wind farm means to a local Delabolian

Sonia Hawkey and her family live in Delabole, and so to them the repowering of Good Energy’s wind farm has a huge impact. Over the next few months, Sonia will be writing a blog for Good Energy about the impact of the new wind farm and what the new turbines mean to her and her fellow Delabolians.

"As Cornish villages go, I’ll admit that Delabole doesn’t quite have the postcard charm of Boscastle or Port Isaac. Instead, we have a cornershop, a quarry and a damn good chippy. Oh, and the UK’s first commercial wind farm; 10 gleaming white turbines that take advantage of our characteristically blustery weather and convert it into good, clean energy.

Since its establishment in 1991, we Delabolians have taken the wind farm for granted, somewhat so that now, amidst plans for the repowering of the Delabole Wind Farm, I think it’s high time that someone defended our turbines and dispelled some of the myths associated with this form of energy.

 One main opposition often bandied about by the NIMBYists is the aesthetic issue.  I remember entering into a discussion with a tourist about this a few years ago and let me tell you, as one who does have wind turbines in their back yard, I personally don’t find them as offensive as often portrayed. In fact, on a clear day (and remember, this is Cornwall: it’s often too overcast to even see the propellers...), I think that the turbines’ clean white lines bring a certain tranquillity to the landscape, especially, while you’re being blown off your feet by the coastal breeze!  The thing is, it would take an awful lot to detract from Cornwall’s natural beauty and I think our wind farm carries the balance perfectly.  And, given that the alternative had been plans for a nuclear power station  , the question of what one would prefer needs hardly be asked.

Delabole is allegedly one of the only villages from which you used to be able to stand on a wall and see both the Atlantic and the top of Brown Willy, Cornwall’s highest peak.  While the landscape has changed dramatically over the years, the wind farm has certainly made the view more unique.  Indeed, having been away from Cornwall at university and following the long drives home from up country, I know I’m home when I see them.

Well, I’ll be greeted by a different scene on my next trip back and I’m eager to see the changes. Stay tuned over the coming months to find out more about the repower and what it means for the community!"

HomeGrown Delights: The Dancing Ladies of Gigha

By Claire Simon

These dancing ladies go by the names of Creideas, Dòchas, and Carthannas in Gaelic, perhaps more familiar to you and me as Faith, Hope and Charity. Despite conjuring up images of three dancing female figures, Faith, Hope and Charity are in fact the three windmills that grace the coast of Gigha, a small island off the West coast of Scotland.

The story of the Isle of Gigha is fascinating (the community actually bought the island for £4 million in March 2002!), but there is one aspect which is particularly interesting to us; the dancing ladies wind farm is a perfect example of HomeGrown energy. As you know, here at Good Energy we support more than 1,300 independent wind, hydro, wave, solar power and sustainable biomass generators around the country, making the most of the natural powers of our beautiful country. The three windmills of Gigha generate electricity and income for the island, and some of this electricity is sold to Good Energy through the ProGen scheme, which pays commercial scale generators for the power and the renewable certificates they produce. As Scotland’s first community owned and grid connected wind farm, we wanted to shine the spotlight on this great example of HomeGrown energy.

The windmills have been turning since December 2004, and are actually second-hand (another bonus point for recycling!!), having been previously used at a wind farm in Cumbria. As a particularly windy part of the country, the Isle of Gigha is a great place to have wind turbines, and has allowed the island to move towards more financial sustainability. The project really highlighted the community spirit of Gigha, with everyone mucking in, even with the cleaning of the turbines before they were erected. Willie McSporran, the chairman of the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, says: “Until recently the Isle of Gigha was in decline with a dwindling population and economy. When Gigha’s community bought the island, we realised we needed to develop in a sustainable way and that is what our three “Dancing Ladies” are helping us to do. Our three wind turbines generate electricity and an income for the community and they help to protect one of the island’s greatest assets – the environment. Gigha’s community is small but we are making a difference. If every community acts on climate change then we can solve it.”
Creideas, Dòchas, and Carthannas, and everyone involved in the project, you are helping to change the way energy is made and used in the UK, well done!

The Man in Blue who is Green

David Cameron has declared his intention that his Government will be the greenest ever.  It makes for a nice sound bite, but will it be true?  Perhaps the key player in enforcing David Cameron to deliver on that statement is Tim Yeo MP (pictured below), the newly elected Chair of the Energy & Climate Change Standing Committee - and with whom our CEO Juliet had an interesting meeting this week.

During their meeting they discussed the importance of making sure that energy customers understand not only how much power they are using but also its provenance – Tim was particularly keen to hear about the Green Energy Supply Certification Scheme which guarantees that electricity is genuinely green and with a defined environmental benefit.

Although a Conservative MP, the new process of electing, rather than appointing, Standing Committee chairs, means Tim has the luxury to speak his mind on energy & climate change issues, and he has publicly stated his intention to hold the government to account.  But where does he stand?

Helpfully, Tim has just published a Pamphlet entitled "Green Gold: The case for raising the game on climate change" .  In it Tim sets out his own journey to understanding climate change, and, echoing the Committee on Climate Change, he calls for a step change in our approach.

Some of Tim's proposals make interesting reading.  He supports personal carbon trading, arguing that those who claim it's too complex or intrusive into our lives should consider the complexities of store loyalty cards.  He was very interested in hearing from Juliet about how Good Energy is implementing our own personal carbon trading scheme for employees with PACT – something we’ll be blogging about soon.

He also suggests that we should privatise the motorway network and allow toll charges for their use depending on  time of day and location. In fact, he makes the case for the electrification of surface transport (road & rail), but argues, as does Good Energy, that this will only be effective if that electricity is generated from zero carbon sources.

On the international front, he highlights that China, far from being the bad boy of climate change, is actually investing aggressively in low-carbon technology.  If the UK does not move fast, it may find itself trailing in China's wake in the new green, global economy.

Key to Tim's message is that the government needs to create an environment that cajoles or empowers individuals and businesses to make the changes, rather than the Big Brother mandating approach of the previous administration.

Whatever your political persuasions, this pamphlet is a good all round document making the case for tackling climate change and sensible arguments on how we should do this. Both David Cameron and Chris Huhne certainly need to read it, if only to see how firmly they will be held to account.

Long Neigh Up Charity Cycle Ride - Lands End to John o’ Groats!

By Ed Coleman in Good Energy’s software team

Yes it’s true! on Friday last week my brother-in-law and I successfully completed a 9 day unsupported cycle ride from Lands End to John o’ Groats, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Spinal Research.

 

In total we travelled 927 miles, spent 64 hours and 2 minutes in the saddle, averaging almost 14.5 mph. The furthest we travelled in 1 day was from Westbury to Telford (130 miles taking 8hours and 39mins).

 
It was a great experience and one which I will remember for the rest of my life. We had a real mixed bag of weather with the most challenging conditions hitting us in Scotland. Weather aside it wasn’t all plain sailing; I experienced a couple of mechanical problems with my bike – fortunately no show stoppers, just minor hindrances!
 
A massive thank you to everyone who supported, sponsored and followed us on our journey. Fundraising has gone extremely well; early indications suggest we are well on our way to raising at least £5,000 which is fantastic. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support that the Good Energy staff have shown - Thank you all very much indeed.
 
Frequently asked questions since arriving home:
 

• Would you do it again?

 Definitely!

• Will you do it again?

Given the chance yes, but very unlikely for a number of years - I will most certainly be returning to the Scottish Highlands to soak up the magnificent scenery.
 

• Did you have a sore bottom?

Surprisingly not!
 

• Do your legs hurt?

Knees ached a little when cycling through Scotland in the cold, wet and windy conditions. This eased off once legs had a chance to warm up. I did experience aches in my shoulders on the last couple of days for the same reasons – not so easy to keep the shoulders warm though!
 

• Would you do it differently next time?

Difficult question - we achieved everything we set out to do in the time we had. Yes, it would be nice to have more time to stop in places of interest but it's surprising how much you can appreciate the scenery whilst on the bike. It would be nice to see how quick it could be done with a support team but I don't think this would be half as enjoyable.

• What was the best bit of the Trip?

The Kindness and support shown by those we met along the way (here are just 2 of a very long list). Being handed £10 by a complete stranger leaving the train at Exeter who said he had looked us up on the internet.

A packed lunch given to us by the landlady at our B&B in Loch Lomond who expressed concern about us travelling through the highland in such poor weather conditions.

Sharing the experience - the sense of camaraderie was incredible.

• Lessons Learnt

Never take a break at the bottom of a hill

Don't expect others to treat your bike with the same respect you do (bike was damaged in transit)

A special thanks to Barney Merrett in the Good Energy trading team who joined us at Taunton on day 2, and cycled back to Westbury. It was by far the hottest day of the whole trip with some nice hills thrown in too – Well done Barney! 

Making the most of the sunny weather

By Claire Simon

Homegrown energy case study: David Humphrey, London, July 2010

Solar PV panels and an Air Source Heat Pump
 

David Humphrey lives in London and has been producing homegrown energy since April, when he had a solar pv array - rated at 2.96kW - installed on the roof of his home.

The main catalyst for David to go solar came from his experiences with an inefficient and expensive gas boiler. An energy consultant advised him to invest in an Air Source Heat Pump, which he did through our Generate Your Own website. David then thought he’d look into making his own electricity too… which led to getting 16 solar PV panels installed on his roof. The PV installation cost £14,795.68, and David receives the standard feed-in tariff rate of 41.3p per kWh for all the energy he generates. Assuming that 50% of the electricity generated will be exported, David is paid an additional 3p per unit. David says that having generated 1.2MWh since April, he expects to receive a credit of around £513.60 from Good Energy for the energy he’s produced so far.   

For David, going solar and producing his own electricity is “the right thing to do” in today’s world, and solar PV is certainly a great way of generating electricity; his 16 panels have already notched up nearly 1.2 MWh of power since 7th April. The decision to go solar also made financial sense to David thanks to the new feed-in tariff scheme, but this was always second in his mind to the environmental benefits. He says, “On a sunny day we generate at a rate of about 2.5 to 2.7 kW ”, going on to explain that even in the rain they are generating at 160 to 180 watts, “Most people think the sun has to be shining – but as long as it is bright, there are enough photons buzzing around to get the panels excited!”
 David’s house is south-facing, and so the solar panels are visible to anyone walking past the front of his house, which has created a bit of a buzz, with many of David’s neighbours also expressing an interest in microgeneration. Fantastic news -- the more people who follow his example and produce their own  homegrown energy the faster the UK can get to 100% renewable.

Homegrown energy animation

Please take a moment to watch our homegrown energy animation by clicking on the video image below: 

You can show your support for homegrown energy by following this facebook link: SUPPORT HOMEGROWN ENERGY

Fairshare music: Ethical downloading

By Claire Simon

 
How many of you out there download music? A large proportion no doubt. How many of you manage to donate to charity at the same time as buying music online? A fair few less probably. Drum roll please, and a big welcome to Fairsharemusic, a music downloading website that lets you make a difference in the world.

“Welcome to the home of feelgood downloads” reads the slogan on the website. As with programmes like itunes, you can choose from over 8.5 million tracks and albums which can be downloaded in seconds. The difference is that every time you download and pay for a track, a small payment is diverted and donated to one of 11 charity partners you nominate, of which Friends of the Earth – a Good Energy partner – is one. The cost of downloading varies according to whether you download tracks or albums, but the people at Fairsharemusic say that each track you download gives around 3p to your chosen charity.
 

So next time you fancy buying a new song, why not try out Fairsharemusic and choose Friends of the Earth as your charity of choice. That way you can help them in their mission to protect the environment at the same time as hearing your favourite music.

Concrete Jungle: enabling young people to help protect endangered species

By Claire Simon

Now young people can actively get involved in the fight against climate change with ‘Concrete Jungle’, a national schools campaign launched by Cool it Schools, a Good Energy partner.

This exciting campaign encourages schools to create their own wildlife gardens in order to stop the increasing loss of biodiversity in our country. In a world where the consequences of human actions are heavily felt in our environment, the ‘Concrete Jungle’ campaign aims to help protect some of the country’s most threatened species by creating the UK’s largest wildlife garden with the help of schools across the UK.  

As 2010 marks the International Year of Biodiversity, the ‘Concrete Jungle’ campaign draws attention to the loss of biodiversity, which is increasing at an alarming pace due to human activity and climate change. Earlier this week the Guardian highlighted the scale of the problem reporting that over 25% of flowers could face extinction.

Schools are encouraged to join the Concrete Jungle programme at www.coolitschools.com, and enter the dimensions of their wildlife garden into a ‘Jungle-O-Meter’. With the help of many schools and school children, Cool it Schools hopes to reach their target of 300,000 square meters across the UK.

The website is full of useful information, including guides for teachers, competitions, and links to the Cool it Schools Showcase, where schools can post pictures of their work. If 26,000 schools join the campaign, ‘Concrete Jungle’ can reach its target of 300,000 square meters of garden for wildlife.

Every little counts, and here at Good Energy we think it’s a great way for children to learn about all the different ways to help the natural world in the fight against climate change. Visit the website to see how your children and their schools can get involved. It only takes a minute to join, but could help to protect some of our country’s most threatened species.

A day of thrills but thankfully no spills!

Michelle Howard reports on Good Energy’s participation in the Chippenham Dragon Boat Race

On Saturday I woke a rag tag crew of 20 at a rather obscene time for a weekend, and took them merrily into Monkton Park for the Chippenham Dragon Boat Race.  We were competing in the event to raise money for Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, a local charity that promotes and manages nature reserves, and a Good Energy partner.

It was a long day, full of thrills but thankfully no spills!
Here is our picture diary...

We got in a boat:

And we raced:

We’re the ones graciously coming second. Although we were having fun, we did not want to settle for last place:

So we had a strategy meeting:

And a little practice:

And did MUCH better in the last race:

We didn’t win the last race either, but we were less than a second behind.  We went from 1.47 minutes in the first race to a respectable 1.29 in the last. 

Even though we didn’t win, I can speak for the entire team when I say that we had a cracking day.  The weather was beautiful and the company fantastic. More importantly we have raised a staggering £846.91 for the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust which is an astounding amount for just a fortnight’s worth of fundraising!
I would like to thank the entire team for being jolly good sports throughout the day and a credit to Good Energy.  Dragon Boating truly is a team orientated pastime and every single person put in a huge amount of effort.  I would also like to thank those who came to support us on the day.