Green Energy Republic

U-n-f-o-l-d

You might remember in October we wrote about Good Energy partner Cape Farewell, an ambitious and pioneering programme set up in 2001 that sits at the vanguard of a movement to encourage a cultural response to climate change. While most of us are unlikely to have a chance to join one of their expeditions to the frontline of climate change, an exhibition touring currently provides an opportunity to experience what these inspirational journeys have produced.

U-n-f-o-l-d is showcasing the work of 25 artists including Lemn Sissay, Ian McEwan, Clare Twomey and KT Tunstall, who have all participated in one or more of the Cape Farewell expeditions to the High Arctic in 2007 and 2008 or the Andes in 2009. It is now on display in Cornwall at the Newlyn Gallery in Newlyn/Penzance until January 11th and admission is free.

Says Cape Farewell creator, David Buckland, of the movement’s raison d’être: “We intend to communicate through art works our understanding of the changing climate on a human scale, so that our individual lives can have meaning in what is a global problem.” The body of work on display, which has already been to Vienna, London and Newcastle and will head across the Atlantic to Chicago in March, is described as “addressing a new process of thinking where artists play an informed and significant role through creating a cultural shift, a challenge to evolve and inspire a symbiotic contract with our spiritual and physical world.”

Vibrant and thought-provoking, stretching across a multitude of mediums, the U-n-f-o-l-d exhibition presents viewers with a unique opportunity to experience what artists rather than the academics are saying about climate change.

Weekly News Digest

To help you keep up to date with this week’s events we’ve gathered together some of the top energy related news stories. You can follow us on Twitter too.

Climate change promises aren’t enough

A report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has concluded that climate pledges to limit carbon emissions will still see a rise in temperature of up to 4°C this century. This has highlighted a discrepancy between science and political policy which could have a catastrophic effect.

This report comes as 2010 is predicted to be the hottest year since 1850.

Sadly this temperature rise, attributed to global warming, is not a one off with a recorded increase of 0.8°C from preindustrial levels. As the Cancun Climate Change talks loom next week, issues such as these only become more pertinent. 

WWF award UK an ‘E’ grade for contribution to climate change targets

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has rated EU countries from A-G (best to worst) for their efforts to meet climate change targets. This data indicates that the UK is currently only committing to a third of what is necessary in order to meet the proposed 80% cut in carbon emissions by 2050. Despite praise being delivered for the planning of further wind farm developments, the data highlights the UK as falling behind the likes of Ireland, Denmark and Germany.

Community energy online launch

Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has launched a new website from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) designed to help communities wanting to generate their own energy. ‘Community energy online’, will offer varied advice on all things community renewable, from how to select an appropriate technology to how to access finance. Good Energy thinks this is a great facility that will encourage community development and ensure Britain as a whole and its localities can be as self sufficient as possible.

Read the story of Good Energy customer Goodrich Village Hall in Hereford,which is already generating 100% renewable electricity here. 

Energy firms face gas and electricity price review

Electricity and gas industry regulator Ofgem is to investigate recent energy price rises as it says they have significantly widened suppliers' profit margins. The regulator said it was asking if "companies are playing it straight with consumers”.

Taking into account recent price rises announced by three of the “big six” suppliers, the watchdog said that the net profit margin of £65 per typical customer in September was now £90, a 38% rise.

Research shows that many consumers don’t trust UK energy companies so Good Energy welcomes anything that helps improve this situation. We try and make as many of our activities as transparent as possible through the publication of our annual values report.

Celebrities call for Cancun to make history

There have been appeals about climate change politics from governments, politicians, business leaders and now celebrities. In a letter to the Guardian, famous faces such as Ian McEwan, writer of sardonic climate change novel Solar, and actors Scarlett Johansson, Bill Nighy and Kristin Davis all express a wish for ministers to ‘do better’ at the Cancun Climate Change Summit and to ‘do it fast’.

The ten day ministerial talks will start on the 29 November 2010.

This report comes as 2010 is predicted to be the hottest year since 1850.

And finally...

Good Energy hit a significant milestone this week. We signed up our 1000th Feed-in Tariff customer. It was the Perry's who installed a 2.5kWp solar PV array on the roof of their home in Bristol. We thought we'd get in touch with them to see what they had to say about it.

"What an unusual and pleasant surprise! Over the last few years we have been doing what we can to have a more sustainable lifestyle including installing a smoke free zone approved wood burning stove and replacing a 30 year old gas boiler with a fuel efficient one. Installing PV panels was part of this, and it seemed wholly appropriate to also transfer to Good Energy. We hope you get many more sign-ups!"

The Perry's panels "are estimated to generate between 1800 and 2000kW in a year, which coincidentally, is about what we actually used last year," says Steve. "Apart from the obvious environmental benefits of microgeneration, we thought it made economic sense as well with an estimated capital payback time of 10-12 years, and an annual "cash back" equation, which will be significantly more than we pay for both our electricity and gas."

For information on how you can start generating your own electricity click here.

Hot stuff – what to expect from the Renewable Heat Incentive

For many years Good Energy has been lobbying the government to introduce a renewable heat incentive (RHI). Around half the UK’s carbon emissions come from heating, but only 0.6% of our heating needs are generated by renewable sources and an RHI will help redress the balance. We got a bit fed up of waiting, so we launched our own version of an RHI in 2008, called HotROCs – this pays domestic solar thermal generators for their heat energy and is funded by revenues from Gas+, our gas product. We know it works – and we’re now supporting 467 renewable heat generators through the scheme.

In February the Labour government published a consultation on an RHI. The main points of this consultation were:

•    Heat should be supported at all scales; from householders to businesses to industrial-scale generators.
•    Tariff levels should be calculated to bridge the economic gap between conventional heating systems and renewables (for example, to make the cost of an air-source heat-pump comparable with that of a conventional condensing boiler);
•    There should be an additional incentive to ensure a return on investment; 12% for most technologies, 6% for solar thermal (as this technology already has significantly greater penetration within the UK market – and requires a lower initial investment for the average household).

In the run-up to the Comprehensive Spending Review in October, there was widespread concern that the RHI might be a victim of Government cuts. Fortunately it wasn’t, but the government said the RHI would be reduced in scope from the original consultation by 20% (or £105m a year), and would be paid for by the Treasury rather than through a levy on energy bills as suggested in the consultation.

There is still a lot we don’t know about the RHI, so we put our questions to Good Energy’s resident expert on RHI, Will Vooght:

When will the details of the RHI be announced?

We don’t know exactly but the government has promised it will be outlined by the end of this year.

When is the scheme likely to start?

It’s set to be operational from June 2011.

What technologies are likely to be included?

We can’t see any reason why anything would be cut from the original consultation, so there’ll be an incentive available for Solar Thermal, Biomass, Heat Pumps – air & ground – and even to encourage the injection of biomethane into the gas grid.

Do we have an indication as to what the reward levels will be and how long they will be paid for?

DECC set-out indicative tariffs in their consultation early this year, but as we’ve learned through the Feed-in Tariff consultation process, they have the potential to shift the goal posts considerably.

How will the heat be measured?

We expect that, for smaller generators such as Solar Thermal or heat pumps, it makes the most financial sense to deem the amount of energy produced – exactly how Good Energy’s HotROCs works. For larger generators, even a small change to the expected efficiency of a generator – above or below that of their expected, deemed, output could result in significant over or underpayment. In such case, despite the comparatively high cost of an accurate heat-metering arrangement (compared with electricity generators) – it’s not difficult to see the logic in installing one. So, small – deem, big – meter. What the definition of small/big is, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Will the tariff be guaranteed for 25 years like the feed in tariff?

It’s difficult to say. Within the proposals document, unlike the Feed-in Tariff’s rather uniform approach, there’s a whole range of eligibilities ranging  from 15 to 23 years for different renewable heat technologies. If anything, based on the 20% ‘efficiency’ cuts that have been enforced, I’d expect the eligibilities for different technologies to be shortened……or the actual payments reduced – it’s difficult to see exactly where else these so-called efficiencies can be achieved.

Move over Friesian. Is Solar PV the new cash cow on the farm?

By Kate Monson

There is no doubt that the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) has made an impact on renewable energy generation in this country. Here at Good Energy we hit a significant milestone last week when we signed up our 1000th FIT customer. In the same week Ofgem revealed that more than 11 000 generators registered for the FIT during its first six months. That amounts to about 44MW of renewable capacity, enough to power four towns the size of Glastonbury.

And speaking of Glastonbury, Michael Eavis of festival fame recently installed 1116 solar panels on the roof of his cowshed – the one so wittily nicknamed the Mootel. The array is the largest on the roof of any farm building in the UK, and will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 40 homes annually, saving around 100 tonnes of carbon a year. “We had to make a major statement because [with the festival] we use so much power” Eavis told the Guardian. “This has brought us a one big step closer to our goal of operating the farm as ecologically as possible.” Watch a short film from the solar launch at Worthy Farm here.

But while Eavis is well-known for his eco-credentials, there are plenty of other farmers and landowners who are seeing harvesting sunshine as a great financial investment too. And with embattled British farmers seeking new ways to diversify, this should come as no surprise. According to a recent survey by Farming Futures, twice as many farmers (15%) are generating renewable energy compared with last year. And with over 100 planning applications for schemes in Cornwall alone – including a £40m network of solar farms, which if built would triple the UK’s current solar generating capacity – this number is likely to rise.

Our CEO Juliet Davenport spoke at a Farming Futures workshop held at the Eavis farm last week, aimed at helping farmers understand how to upgrade their building with solar. Interest from the farming community was huge. “We had to turn over 100 farmers away from this event, which shows there is a real appetite for investing in on-farm solar technology,” says Farming Futures’ Ben Tuxworth.

However, the question begging to be answered is, are we really ready to lose swathes of our green and pleasant land to hundreds of solar panels?

Firstly, as Michael Eavis and Farming Futures have illustrated, there is significant potential for arrays to be installed on existing farm buildings rather than green fields, and it is vital these potential sites are thoroughly explored. It’s also worth noting that the visual impact of a solar farm is extremely low, with panels lying close to the ground, often obscured by hedgerows, with matt rather than reflective surfaces. And as Juliet commented when discussing a proposed solar farm in Caddington, Central Bedfordife on the BBC’s Three Counties Breakfast Show last week, “The panels are silent, don’t move around, and sheep can still graze the grass around them.”

And arguably most importantly, the UK has a binding target to produce 15% of its energy from renewable resources by 2020. In order to reach this, huge changes are required across the energy sector. Increased energy generation from solar will help us towards this. But not only will it add to the country’s renewable capacity, solar generation can provide the country’s farmers with a vital additional income, in turn helping to maintain the rural and farming communities that are so quintessentially British.

Good Energy knows that the UK can reach a 100% renewable future by 2050. And we have carried out the research to prove it. Take a look at a pathway to 100% here.

Click here to read about West Mill Community Wind Farm in Oxfordshire and discover other ways that rural communities can benefit from renewable generation.

Working towards paperless billing

We know that many customers like to keep their paper communications to an absolute minimum, and are keen to know when Good Energy will be able to implement paperless billing – i.e. a system which will enable you to view your account and pay your bills online. We’ve been working on this for some time, and have made progress in some areas already – for example you can now submit Meter Reads online and we accept credit card payments over the phone. However, a full paperless billing system will take a little longer to bring in. Our CEO, Juliet Davenport, explains why:

“Work on our systems gets prioritised in order of ‘high risk’ e.g. something is broken and needs to be fixed; ‘medium risk’ e.g. some regulatory issue has come up; and ‘new stuff’, which includes things like paperless billing.  During the last year we managed to keep our ‘high risk’ stuff down – but the ‘medium risk’ stuff has kept the team flat out, developing new systems for Feed-in Tariffs and making sure that we implement all the new licence changes which affect our bills, such as info about historical usage.  There is no slack in our systems team - the largest team in the company in 2010.

“Our vision is to offer a choice to Good Energy’s customers in how they receive information and manage their accounts.  We want to introduce an online account facility that will allow you to manage your own preferences; including receiving bills by email, rather than post.  Our plans include the possibility of being able to view past bills online including your payments, any credits, as well as your meter readings, graphs showing historical usage and so much more that will help you understand your usage and bills. We are working on engaging ways to help customers reduce their energy consumption through this.

“One of the issues for the company now is meeting our requirements under the Smart Metering provisions. This may eventually lead to customers being able to receive statements directly to their meters, and any system that we develop for paperless billing needs to be compatible with the Smart Metering protocols developed by government. Developing a system that doesn’t could mean we’d need to throw it away and start again.

“In addition to this we want to consider how we deliver paperless billing in the lowest carbon way, as paperless doesn’t necessarily mean carbon-free.  The growth in energy use of online servers currently outstrips that of aviation, so making sure that our system doesn’t clog up the servers of the world is important to us.

“We are currently pushing government very hard to determine how the DataCommsCo (the central communications facility for Smart Metering) will work, and to finalise the technical specifications for Smart Meters so that we can begin to push forward with our own solution. (Further information on smart metering can be found here.)

Until we can introduce paperless billing, we will continue to try and keep our paper communications to a minimum – and to use chlorine-free, 100% recycled paper, vegetable-based inks, and a print supplier who meets the highest environmental standards, as we always have done.

Weekly News Digest

To help you keep up to date with this week’s events we’ve gathered together some of the top energy related news stories. You can follow us on Twitter too.

Huhne details energy market reforms

At this week’s CBI conference on climate change, Chris Huhne has promised substantial reform to energy market regulation, set to begin this year. Feed in Tariffs (FIT) have been marked for consultation with the possibility of rolling them out to nuclear power stations and coal fired plants with carbon capture and storage facilities. This comes after the government stated that nuclear power would not be subsidised, although the reconsidered FIT is said to range across all low carbon industries. Huhne has also pledged a simplified version of the CRC (previously the carbon reduction commitment) which has been welcomed by the CBI.

Read Chris Huhne's full speech.

Feed in Tariff leads to surge in installations

 

Ofgem has confirmed that in the first six months of the Feed in Tariff scheme more than 11,000 generators have registered for FIT. This amounts to nearly 44MW of added renewable capacity since April.

Good Energy believes that distributed energy generation has a key role to play in Britain’s energy security as well as in cutting carbon emissions, so it’s great that the FIT has been so successful at stimulating investment in new microgeneration.

For more information on Feed in Tariffs visit the Good Energy website

2020 renewable goal will be supported by the National Grid

Recent policy reforms have allowed for an agreement to be established to connect up to 32GW of renewable electricity to the National Grid by 2020. This positive news has come with a stark warning from Executive Director of the National Grid, Nick Winser, urging the renewable industry and government to follow through on proposed renewable projects to make sure the 2020 targets become a reality.
 
Rolling out renewable energy across Europe

The European Commission has outlined plans for new and improved transmission infrastructure which will allow renewable energy generated in Europe’s peripheral regions to enter the main power grid. These developments are hoped to lead to the go ahead of a number of projects deemed of ‘European Interest’ by 2012.

Good Energy believes that we can meet all Britain’s renewable energy needs with home grown energy but welcomes measures that facilitate the delivery of renewable energy across Europe.
 
UK’s first Climate Week confirmed for next year

The UK’s first Climate Week is to be launched from 21-27 March 2011 to further publicise the need to combat climate change. The week long awareness campaign will play host to all manner of cultural, social and professional events demonstrating ways of mitigating the effects climate change. It has already had public backing from the likes of David Cameron, Kofi Annan, Sir Paul McCartney and Michael Palin to name but a few.

We can’t wait to get involved.

Green Skiing isn’t just for beginners

By Claire Simon

 
On a list of things that can be done to make a difference to climate change, skiing probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Snow sports have long been regarded as a guilty pleasure - tough on the pocket and the planet. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Unfortunately I can’t say that I’ve found a way of making skiing cheap (unless you forgo those glasses of vin chaud, comfy chalets and fondues - but it is a holiday after all). I can however say that skiing can be much, much greener than often thought. And that’s not just by sticking to the nursery slopes.

As someone who started sliding down mountains on wooden planks when I barely came up to my dad’s knees, I’ve observed first-hand a dramatic and devastating change in the mountain environment over the years. It used to be almost guaranteed that mid-winter skiing would mean frozen extremities and fresh powder. This is no longer the case. Fluctuating temperatures, lack of snow, resorts reporting new snow cannons instead of new ski runs, and even rain, are making increasingly common and unwelcome appearances during the winter season. It is in ski resorts that climate change rears its ugly head so apparently.

Witnessing the effects of climate change directly, snow sports enthusiasts have recognised that if they want to protect the sport, they need to protect the planet. In 2007 Jeremy Jones, an American pro boarder, launched POW – Protect Our Winters – an organisation which runs campaigns and programmes to raise awareness about climate change and its effect on winter sports. According to Jones, “POW’s mission is to unite and actively engage the global snow sports community to lead the fight against climate change.” Resorts and tour operators – themselves dependent on the tourism winter sports bring to the mountains – are also taking action to try and up their green credentials and protect the mountain.

Here are a few ways to show your support for these campaigns and make your ski holiday a greener one:

Research before you book

Some resorts are much greener than others, fact. One of the best ways to make sure you are going to a resort which is doing as much as it can to tackle climate change is to check out the Ski Club of Great Britain’s campaign Respect the Mountain, and in particular the Green Resort Guide. Here you can enter the name of the resort you’d like to visit and find out how green they actually are.

Things to look out for include ski lifts, snow cannons and buildings running on renewable electricity; new lift systems being installed in environmentally-friendly ways in order to protect wildlife and natural habitats; and old lifts being sent elsewhere to be re-used. Resorts that come out top include Mayrhofen, Werfenweng and Obergurgl in Austria, the Trois Vallées, Avoriaz and Les Gets in France, and Davos and Saas Fee in Switzerland, among many others. So if you are toying with the idea of skiing this winter, do your research before you book. That way you can support the resorts making the biggest efforts to tackle climate change.

Ski closer to home

Despite a bad reputation for its green credentials, skiing is more a victim than a cause of climate change. And what’s imperative to remember is that it’s travelling to the resort rather than the skiing itself which is the main source of CO2 emissions. But reaching winter wonderlands doesn’t have to mean flying thousands of miles on a fossil fuel-guzzling plane. Although Canada and America will always attract thousands of British snow sports lovers, some of the best skiing in the world is on Europe’s doorstep.

Many European ski resorts can be reached by train. And not only can it be more convenient than flying – fewer weight restrictions and drop-off points often close to resorts - but it makes a big dent in the carbon footprint of your holiday. For families or groups of friends, driving to the resort can also be a good option - if the car is full - although it’s best to check with the resort you’re planning on going to as many impose vehicle restrictions to cut down on pollution and traffic. You can work out the carbon emissions from different forms of transport and make your decision on which is the best for your holiday by using figures on the Department for Food and Rural Affairs website.

Go that extra mile by choosing eco-friendly ski gear too, like wax made from plant and vegetable extracts or skis made from sustainable materials, and second-hand clothing.

Climate change is putting the future of winter sports in jeopardy. So if you are a skier or snowboarder, greening up your ski holiday and showing your support for POW or other campaigns will really make a difference. Skiing doesn’t have to be a guilty pleasure.

Weekly News Digest

To help you keep up to date with this week’s events we’ve gathered together some of the top energy related news stories. You can follow us on Twitter too.

Cuts recommended to fossil fuel subsidies

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has suggested that fossil fuel subsidies be removed to cut global energy demand. These subsidies, predominantly employed by governments in developing countries, have totalled $312bn in the last year alone. IEA claim that by artificially lowering energy prices, subsidies actively encourage a wasteful attitude to energy consumption, as well as making renewables less competitive.

 The Economics of Happiness – Film Release

A new film, ‘The Economics of Happiness’ promotes the need for society to think differently about our economy, to focus on happiness rather than growth and prosperity. Produced by the International Society for Ecology and Culture and featuring interviews with the likes of  Zac Goldsmith and Michael Shuman, it reiterates the message that we need to localise our economies and become as self sufficient as we can. It’s in line with Good Energy’s philosophy about producing and using energy locally.

Have a look at the film trailer below:

The Economics of Happiness Trailer

Green Glastonbury

Michael Eavis of Glastonbury fame has completed the installation of 1,116 (200kW) solar PV panels on the roof of his cow shed, known affectionately as ‘Mootel’. This is the largest private solar PV system in the country with the generated electricity being used to power Worthy Farm and any excess being fed into the National Grid. There is a chance to admire the solar panels at a Farming Futures Workshop held at Worthy Farm on 16th November, where Good Energy’s CEO, Juliet Davenport, will be speaking about the potential of solar projects on farms.

Cancun talks seen falling short of deal

Following on from last year’s unsuccessful Copenhagen Summit, UN climate talks take place in Cancun, Mexico later this month. However, governments have lowered their sights for the talks, according to the UN’s climate chief Christina Figueres. Measures on the agenda will include a $100bn a year ‘Green Fund’ to be set up in 2020 to assist developing nations in coping with the affects of climate change.

Offshore wind turbine orders wane

                                           Freefoto.com

The Guardian reports that offshore wind turbine orders are forecast to fall 93% by 2013 due to a significant reduction in planned developments. This will result in a possible fall in wind power capacity from 1,368Mw to 90Mw. This is in marked contrast to the recent more poitive news that Siemens, General Electric and Gamesa are going ahead with plans to build new turbine manufacturing facilities in Britain.

Although Good Energy currently only invests in onshore wind, we believe that offshore wind has a substantial contribution to make to achieve a 100% renewable future for Britain by 2050. 

A new type of Va Va Voom

More than 60 eco-friendly cars competed in a road race with a difference last weekend. Taking place the day before the traditional annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and running the 60-mile route in reverse, the inaugural Future Car Challenge show-cased some of the coolest low-emission cars of the future. The aim was to complete the race using the lowest amount of energy possible.

Good Energy customer and Tesla electric roadster owner Kevin Sharpe took part in the event alongside vehicles such as the electric Mini E, Toyota Auris and Prius Hybrids and the hydrogen-powered Honda FCX Clarity.

Kevin travelled a total of 527 miles in his Tesla over the course of the weekend driving to and from his home in Bradford-on-Avon. Over 200 of these miles were powered by 100% renewable electricity thanks to Good Energy. “Next year I’ll try and ensure its all 100% renewable,” says Kevin.

Below are a few photos from the event.

 
 
 

Greeting the new turbines: What Good Energy’s wind farm means to a local Delabolian (Part 3)

This is what Good Energy's local Delabole blogger Sonia Hawkey has to say about the new turbines going up.
 
So we counted them down, and now we’re counting them right back up! After a few weeks of bare hillside which, even people outside the village noticed, was ‘missing something’, the new turbines started going up. Now, the weather’s been up to its old tricks, but when the rain and fog does lift, I can see that three turbines have now been fully erected, with work soon to begin on the fourth. They’ve certainly got the location right here and things are looking good for the blades to start turning on the four turbines in December.

And hasn’t it been a project and a half! Watching the construction process has been fascinating and seeing the massive blades lying flat on the bed of a lorry has really hit home the sheer magnitude of the repower project. At nearly double the height of their predecessors, the new quartet of turbines are set a little further in from the road and do look sleeker, in spite of their size. However, while they have changed the landscape, locals seem to have taken their towering forms in their stride – ‘They just look a little closer than the last ones did,’ one tells me!

Wind power’s had a bit of a bad time in the press recently and I’d thank ‘local’ campaign groups to not put words in our mouths. The wind farm at Delabole is as much a part of this village as is our slate quarry and, having seen the countryside without turbines for the first time in my life, it’s true that you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone. Having turbines back on Deli Farm gives us back the ‘Delabolian’ panorama, taking in Roughtor, Brown Willy and the Atlantic, and best appreciated from the edge of the quarry with the wind in your face before retreating indoors for a steaming cuppa.

I, for one, can’t wait to see the new turbines in action – our own waving giants – and I’m very grateful to Good Energy for giving this local resident the chance to air her views.