Green Energy Republic

Chris Huhne talks to Good Energy

 

 
The Delabole launch was a great opportunity to ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for his views on renewables and other issues close to our hearts.

Is this your first visit to Delabole and the wind farm? What are your impressions?

It is an honour to visit the site of the UK’s first wind farm, and I am delighted to be able to attend the opening of the new wind farm with its new increased generating capacity. 

What role do you see onshore wind playing in the UK’s future renewable energy fuel mix?

It’s one of the more cost-effective and established renewable technologies. Onshore wind farms are flexible in size: they can be deployed effectively on a small scale by local communities or individuals, or on a much larger scale as part of a commercial generator’s portfolio.

We have to make sure electricity consumers don’t pay more than is necessary to decarbonise UK electricity supplies. Supporting onshore wind as part of the overall mix is a great way to do so.

At the moment there’s about 4GW of installed generating capacity in the UK. To ensure onshore wind is viable for developers, we provide them with financial support through the Renewables Obligation, which pays out only for the electricity generated by each turbine – so there’s no upfront payment to cover capital costs, for instance.

As a result, generators have an incentive to look for the windiest spots in the UK to locate turbines, because that’s the most cost-effective – their profits are directly related to wind speed.

We regularly review the banding levels under the Renewables Obligation. One of these reviews is under way at the moment, and we will go out to consultation this summer on our proposed bands.

How do you think communities should benefit from supporting renewable technology projects and how do you think developers should engage with communities near to those projects?

Communities hosting renewable energy projects should be rewarded for the contribution they are making to wider society. That’s why, in the Coalition Agreement, we announced that local authorities in England will be able to retain the business rates generated by renewable energy developments on behalf of individual communities.

I’m very pleased that the wind farm industry recently agreed minimum standards for the contributions that developers will make to community development in England.

Financial contributions might include investment in energy efficiency measures to reduce electricity bills, or cheaper electricity prices. That’s on top of any direct benefits to those living in the area, such as rent paid to landowners.

Why do you think there is often such vocal opposition to wind farm developments in the UK, particularly in certain press,  whereas other countries like Germany are proud of their wind farms?

Many people in the UK are actually in favour of onshore wind farms and recognise the benefits they can bring – for the environment, security of supply and the local economy.

But I know this isn’t true for everyone. England is particularly densely populated, so there are usually lots of people living near any new wind farm.

It’s important that wind farms are sited appropriately, and that developers are required to carry out a rigorous analysis of the impacts that their projects are likely to have on the local environment. When the Environmental Impact Assessments don’t add up, wind farms can be turned down.

But I think one of the main reasons for the level of opposition to wind farms has been that in the past people have sometimes felt that they have been imposed on their communities – rather than being developed through a process of close engagement. 

That’s why the Coalition Government is committed to changing the relationship between wind farm developments and the communities that host them. We’re reforming the planning system to give communities more power to determine the shape of places in which they live. 

How can individuals and communities benefit from small-scale renewable generation projects, such as solar panels?

Generators who qualify for feed-in tariffs (FITs) get paid for the electricity they generate -  and for any electricity they export. If they use any electricity onsite, they also save money on bills. We’re keen for local authorities to work with other partners and community scale renewable electricity schemes that can be supported by FITs.

Solar electricity will make a real contribution to meeting our challenging 2020 renewables target - to generate 15% of our energy from renewables. The South West has more solar energy than other regions in the UK.

A typical home photovoltaic (PV) system could save around 1 tonne of CO₂ per year – or 25 tonnes over its lifetime. For a well sited installation of under 4kW capacity the generator could receive about £900 a year. And even though the upfront costs are high, electricity bills will be reduced. A typical domestic PV system can produce around 40% of the electricity a household uses in a year.

There has been a lot of interest  in large-scale solar farm developments in Cornwall – how do you see the future for large-scale solar in the UK developing?

Large scale solar installations weren’t anticipated under the FITs scheme we inherited.  They could soak up money intended to help homes, communities and small businesses generate their own electricity.  There is a risk that an increasing number of large scale solar farms could push FITs costs off track.

Last Monday (7^th February) I announced a comprehensive review of FITs, along with fast-track consideration of large scale solar projects. We’ll make any changes to tariffs as soon as possible.

What are your  top three green tips for Good Energy customers?

• Insulate your home: Over half of the heat in an uninsulated home is lost through the walls and roof. Most UK homes don't have the recommended amount of insulation, so think about insulating both your loft and your cavity walls. 
• Turn Appliances Off Standby: The average household wastes around £40 a year simply by leaving appliances on standby. Remember:
  - you can't switch most electronic goods off just with the remote control
  - to turn off an appliance completely, use the power switch on the appliance itself or turn it off at the plug
  - if a charger or power pack is warm or has a light on, it's probably using power
• Buy Energy Efficient Appliances: Energy efficient appliances are easy to find and aren’t necessarily more expensive. Look out for appliances that carry the ‘Energy Saving Trust Recommended label’ which are among the top 20 per cent most efficient available; or the European Union energy label.  EU energy labels on fridges, freezers and washing machines show how energy efficient an appliance is on a scale of A to G. A is most efficient and G is least efficient.

 

SHOW THE ENVIRONMENT SOME LOVE THIS VALENTINES DAY

 

 
 
Get in the mood for Valentines Day Good Energy style. Here are some top tips on how to make this year’s Valentine’s Day your greenest yet.

Get the body of Adonis/Aphrodite - Rip those muscles, firm those thighs and wow your partner with a fantastic physique by... cycling to work. Walking or cycling instead of driving will tone your body, improve your fitness, and boost your stamina, not to mention cut your carbon emissions. Did you know 25% of all carbon emissions in the UK come from transport!

The perfect ice breaker - For that special someone at work who you really fancy, car-sharing journeys each morning and night could be the ideal way to get up close and personal. It’s also a great way of cutting your commuting emissions in two.

Wine and dine - If the car-sharing tactic does the trick, why not invite your companion around for dinner? After all, the route to their heart could well be through their stomach. Cooking for two commonly generates less emissions than individually prepared meals.

Salad of love - The lettuce species Lactuca serriola has an aphrodisiac quality, a fact discovered by the ancient Egyptians. You won't find it stocked in supermarkets so why not grow it at home and add it to salads to boost your romantic desires. Home grown produce reduces emissions caused by transportation or the machinery used in industrial scale food production.

Get lathered up - Sharing a bath with your partner can be a most intimate and loving act so, turn on the taps and start bonding. 40% of your energy bill is generated from heating and hot water. Sharing a bath will save you money and cut your carbon emissions.

007 HEAVEN- It would seem that James Bond is a keen advocate of energy efficiency. He has often wooed Russian agents by insisting that, ‘We must use bodily warmth to make it through to morning'. So why don't you turn the heating down and snuggle up. By turning your thermostat down by one degree you could make a 10% saving on heating bills.

And finally…

No lights please, we're British - It may be a little unadventurous to turn the lights off on intimacy but by preserving a little modesty you may encourage the relationship to ‘blossom’. Lighting your home makes up 15% of your electricity bill so switching them off will save you cash and reduces CO2.

More renewables can put an end to rising energy bills

 

 

Most of us will have, at some point or another, experienced that sinking feeling as we realised that we’ve managed to clock up a bill far higher than we would have expected.

But the uSwitch research published last week that 14 million households have, at some time, gone without their heating this winter to keep their energy costs down is a worrying development. Even more concerning, two in ten people have regularly gone without heating. Reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency is important to make a difference to climate change, but clearly this needs to be done in a balanced way that doesn’t put people’s wellbeing at risk.

Whilst rising energy prices have long been a source of irritation to most and of serious concern to some, the research shows that now even more people are being affected by the higher levels that prices are rising to. Our continued reliance on imported fossil fuels means that news like this is likely to become increasingly common. Increasing energy insecurity will mean that price increases are likely to climb to new heights. This is particularly worrying as the latest evidence suggests that climate change and melting Arctic ice means we are likely to experience the freezing winters we’ve seen in recent years far more frequently.

All is not lost, however – far from it, in fact. Whilst the Big Six suppliers, with their reliance on energy from the international energy markets, have been forced to increase their prices in recent months, Good Energy has been able to pass on a winter price freeze to our customers, just at the time when they need it most.

How have we been able to do this? It’s pretty simple -- energy from homegrown, renewable sources is not susceptible to the same kind of price pressures that traditional energy sources are. Because renewable energy is just that, if we can use more of it and less fossil-fuel energy then we are less likely to see the shortages of supply that lead to the price increases that force people to sit freezing in unheated homes in the middle of winter.

What is the Potential of Wind Power?

Guest post by Steve Latham - Skeptical Science


Could wind make a significant contribution to our energy requirements?

Global wind power has doubled over the last 3 years, which now accounts for 2% of the world’s electricity production, and as much as 20% in some countries. It is estimated that 13% of the worlds land area has wind speeds greater than 6.9 m/s at commercial wind turbine heights, this could theoretically produce 40 times the world's current electricity production.  Although the total quantity of wind energy potentially available is considerable, there remain obstacles to the substantial expansion of this industry.

Critics claim that wind power cannot replace conventional power sources since these still need to be available for when the wind isn’t blowing, and these are expensive to keep in reserve and waiting on part load, reducing overall energy efficiency. For low contributions, wind power can be considered largely additional, since reserves are always needed to cater for unexpected unavailability of the largest single power source and having a large number of smaller generating units can sometimes be beneficial.

In addition to providing replacement power, wind plants reduce emissions by forcing the most polluting and inflexible power plants offline with more efficient and flexible types of generation.  However, with increasing use of wind energy in the system the proportion of conventional plant wind replaces reduces, and consistent wind power generation requires high voltage connections to wind farms over a wide area.

Further expansion of the industry may also require energy storage technologies to balance fluctuations of supply and demand; these include hydroelectricity, compressed air storage and electro-chemical batteries. The latter option is particularly interesting in view of the potential use of battery-electric vehicles in the future since their batteries could be charged overnight when power demand is low and used to supply power during peak demand periods. Peak electricity demand could also be reduced through pricing structures and switching off non-essential appliances. 

In addition to to replacing carbon intensive electricity production, wind power can drive heat pumps for space heating or charge vehicle batteries for transport, reducing natural gas and petroleum use. These are more efficient methods of producing heat and work than the traditional methods they replace, so direct comparisons of energy cannot usually be made . For example, one popular book grossly underestimated the potential contribution of wind power, partly because it compared the electricity generated from wind turbines with the primary chemical energy in fossil fuel directly.

This same book also concluded that heat pumps are a more efficient method of supplying energy than combined heat and power systems.  However, I suggest that both systems could be used together to provide even greater benefits, and provide a means of matching wind supply with demand, thereby increasing the proportion of wind power used.

Figure 1 below illustrates a potential combined heat and power scheme where the energy input to a heat pump could be switched between electricity, partly powered from wind if necessary; and a directly coupled natural gas or biogas powered internal combustion engine. The engine can also drive the generator directly, providing backup power if necessary.  I believe that by using energy in a strategic manner like this, wind power and other intermittent renewables can be more fully utilised within the grid system

 

Figure 1: Strategic local CHP and mains Operated heat pump system  to expand the use of centralised renewable electricity

Is wind power more expensive than conventional energy sources?

The relative price of wind relative to fossil fuel based power is dependent upon a large number of variables making comparisons difficult and sometimes controversial. However, one of the most important is the price of fossil fuels, particularly oil and gas which could substantially increase in the future as cheap supplies become depleted.

Onshore wind appears relatively competitive with current (late 2010) oil prices at 88 $/barrel (see figure 2 below). To compete at lower oil prices or much higher wind penetration rates, the external costs of fossil fuels need to be included such as the effects of future global climate change, local pollution, and sometimes hidden subsidies and military expenditure to secure supplies.  When the cost of fossil fuel electricity using carbon capture, and nuclear power are compared with wind on these terms, even offshore wind schemes appear competitive. However, there are large uncertainties in the cost of deep-sea wind turbines, modern nuclear and in particular carbon capture technology, which has still to be proven on a large scale.

 

Figure 2: Oil price at which various generating technologies become competitive

(Lower bar subsidised, upper bar unsubsidised)

Other Issues with Wind Power

There is sometimes substantial local opposition to the installation of large wind turbines, despite assurances that they are unlikely to adversely affect wildlife or human health. One method of mitigating these problems is by providing communities with a commercial stake in the wind farm, creating local jobs and collecting revenues by exporting electricity to the grid.

In practice, governments often prefer a variety of energy sources to improve security of supply and avoid reliance on any one region.  Therefore, it can be politically and economically beneficial to include indigenous wind sources as part of the overall national energy strategy.

Conclusion

Wind power could economically provide a significant proportion of electric power for many countries and contribute usefully to their transportation and space heating requirements. One example is shown here for the UK. However, different countries will need to use different combinations of renewable and zero/low carbon technologies depending upon the local climate and resources.  To fully exploit this, a strategically managed, widely spaced grid network needs to be developed, which should ideally be linked to offshore wind and other low carbon technologies.

Stop the daylight robbery

 
As a general rule, most of us like to be awake when it’s light and asleep when it’s dark right? Right. Then it’s interesting to ponder why every year the country sets its clocks so that we spend more time sleeping in the light and less time living in it.

Headed up by our friends at 10.10, the Lighter Later campaign is calling for a three-year trial of a new timekeeping model where Britain’s clocks are moved forward by one hour throughout the year. But setting Britain’s clocks to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +1 hour in winter and GMT +2 hours in summer is about far more than reducing the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

More natural light during the day would reduce the need for polluting electric lights, which according to Lighter Later would cut at least 447,000 tonnes of CO2 pollution – the equivalent to more than 50,000 cars driving all the way around the world – each year. It would also lower electricity bills and reduce peak power demand.

But there are also a host of social benefits. Lighter Later claims that the move would save 100 lives each year and prevent hundreds of serious injuries by making the roads safer. This in turn would save the NHS around £138 million a year through reducing road casualties. It would also reduce crime and the fear of crime, help make people healthier and tackle obesity by giving people more time to exercise and play sport outside in the evening, improve quality of life for older people, and create 60-80,000 new jobs in leisure and tourism, bringing an extra £2.5 - £3.5 billion into the economy each year.

With all the potential benefits it could bring Good Energy thinks it sounds like a no-brainer, and 10.10 say it’s the best proof yet that cutting carbon and making life better can and should go hand in hand.

The Daylight Saving Bill, is being presented as a Private Members Bill later today and it will be the first chance for the Government to decide whether they will back the proposal or not. It would seem that lots of MPs are planning to vote in favour, but the decision is really in the hands of the ministers, so the support of Vince Cable and Ed Davey in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is vital.

You can register your support for Lighter Later here, but we’ll keep you posted on how it goes in Parliament today.

Stay warm with renewables - our gas and electricity prices are frozen for the winter

 
It's not just the weather outside that's freezing - we're freezing our prices for winter too.

Good Energy is delighted to announce we'll be holding both gas and electricity prices steady during winter.

This comes amid the recent controversy over energy pricing sparked by an investigation by energy regulator Ofgem and announcements of price rises by many other energy suppliers.

The move to hold prices down demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring that green energy is more accessible. We hope that reducing the price differential between renewable and many fossil-fuel-based suppliers will encourage more consumers to switch to a green energy tariff, bringing the country closer to a 100% renewable future.

But also integral to the Good Energy mission is reducing energy consumption - we want people to become more aware of their energy use and consequently do more to become energy efficient. This will not only bring down bills but will have a positive impact on the environment, particularly important during the current cold snap that has hit the country as people are likely to be using significantly more energy to heat their homes.

Our Customer Care team have been trained to a new Energy Saving Trust endorsed advice standard, so customers wanting tips about how to stay warm and save energy too should give them a call on 0845 601 1410.

Our CEO Juliet Davenport had this to say about the good news.

"This decision, made possible by the hard work of the Good Energy team to improve the efficiency of our energy trading, is great news for existing and potential customers as it reduces the gap between the cost of renewable and fossil fuel energy, meaning more people than ever will be able to switch to Good Energy.

"Price increases of recent years are in part due to the pressures on supply of traditionally sourced energy. Good Energy believes it is possible to have a 100% renewable energy mix in the UK by 2050. We've developed a pathway that sets out how we can achieve this, involving changes to UK energy at every stage of the process, from grid management to investment, and from R&D to transport."

Energy Saving Week 25th-31st October

Friday 29th: Transport

Cut your carbon emissions and petrol costs

 

Good Energy isn’t just about encouraging people to move to a certified 100% renewable electricity supplier – we also want to help people cut their carbon emissions in other aspects of their life. Transport is a huge part of this. Whether it's using public transport more or simply improving the way you drive, there are lots of ways to cut your CO2 emissions, reducing your fuel costs too.

Everyone who works at Good Energy is committed to helping others reduce their carbon emissions as well as cutting their own. We offer various initiatives to help staff reduce their carbon emissions, such as supporting the Government’s Cycle to Work scheme which gives financial help for employees to swap their normal mode of transport for cycling to work.

For tips on smarter driving, buying a more efficient car and how to use your car less, check out the travel section on the Energy Saving Trust website.

We hope you’ve had a fantastic energy saving week! But remember, energy saving doesn’t and shouldn’t stop at the end of this week – in order to put the UK on the path to becoming 100% renewable, energy saving must be part of everyday life.

Energy Saving Week 25th-31st October

Thursday 28th: Energy Saving Trust Recommended Logo


Save energy with the EST Recommended Logo

The less energy your electrical items use, the less they cost to run: saving energy means saving money. The most energy efficient ones will carry the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo.

Under the Energy Saving Trust Recommended scheme, only products that meet strict criteria on energy efficiency can carry the logo.  For example, the most energy efficient fridges are endorsed with an A+, and the best washing machines are AAA : A for energy, A for wash quality, and A for spin.

The criteria are set by an independent panel and reviewed annually, but they also test a percentage of the products themselves, so you can rest assured that where there's an Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo, there's a smarter choice.

The Good Shopping Guide is another useful guide to better purchasing decisions. In fact it is the world's leading ethical shopping reference book, and is supported by ethical consumers and NGOs like Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth and the World Development Movement. And if you spend over £30 at the Good Energy Shop during Energy saving Week, we’ll give you one free!

 

Energy Saving Week 25th-31st October

Wednesday 27th: Generate your own energy



Join our homegrown movement

At Good Energy, we believe in a new type of energy system; one that is decentralised and democratic. The UK needs to move away from reliance on big, fossil-fuelled power stations, to a network of small, independent generators – owned by individuals and communities – supplying local customers. We source our electricity from around 1 500 independent wind, hydro, wave, solar, and sustainable biomass generators across the country, and microgeneration is an integral part to Good Energy’s vision of reaching a 100% renewable future for the UK. So we want to help anyone interested make those first important steps to generating their own energy. Please visit out Generate Your Own website to find out more. Not only does it provide lots of information on the different types of renewable technologies available and how to work out which technology is suitable for you, but if you complete one of our desktop surveys we can evaluate your site and put you in touch with one of our recommended installers who can offer you expert advice on the best solution.

The Energy Saving Trust’s website is also a fantastic source of home generation information. For example, their ‘Cashback Calculator’ is a nifty tool which will help you work out how much you could earn from the Feed-In Tariff. 
 
Keep checking our blog for the latest news on microgeneration and to read case studies of some of our inspiring energy entrepreneurs.

Energy Saving Week 25th-31st October

Tuesday 26th October: Insulation

Wrap up your home for the coming winter months

 

No one likes to throw money down the drain, especially during a recession. So why waste energy? Around half of heat loss in a typical home is through the walls and loft. Bearing in mind last winter’s snow covered, frost-bitten days, now is certainly a good time to check your insulation is up-to-scratch before this winter moves in for the next few months.

Insulation doesn’t just mean the stuff that goes in your loft or between your walls. There are lots of different ways to ensure your home is fully insulated, and slowing the rate of heat loss is one of the best ways to save energy and costs. The Energy Saving Trust website has a detailed list of the ways to save energy in your home. Here are a few of the best:
 
- Loft and cavity wall insulation should be at the top of your list. If you don’t currently insulate your loft, by doing so you could save you around £145 per year on your energy bills. Furthermore, approximately a third of all the heat lost in an un-insulated home is through the walls. So with cavity wall insulation, you can significantly reduce the amount of energy needed to heat your home, consequently saving around £110 a year on your fuel bills.

- Double glazing helps stop heat being lost through windows by around half which means you will reduce the about of energy used in your home and therefore cut your heating bills.

- Very few people would head out into the minus temperatures of winter without a jacket, hat, scarf and gloves. This is because a huge amount of heat is lost from our bodies when we’re not covered up. It’s a similar situation with tanks and pipes. By covering and insulating your tanks and pipes, you reduce the amount of heat escaping and keep your water hotter for longer. According to the EST, if everyone in the UK fitted a hot water cylinder jacket that was at least 75mm thick, enough carbon dioxide would be saved per year to fill 7 million double-decker buses.

The Energy Saving Trust can help you find all of the grants and offers available in your area to help with the cost.

But don’t forget that Good Energy can also help you to save more heat this winter. At our Good Energy Shop we're offering 15% off all our Heatkeeper Radiator Panels and Chimney Balloons until 31st December 2010. Check out the website for more great energy-saving products.