On-site & Micro News

Tuesday 09 February 2010

Good Energy chief executive, Juliet Davenport, has branded the FiT level for early investors "outrageous"

FiT plans for pioneers are "outrageous", claims Good Energy

Good Energy, the 100% renewable electricity supplier, has promised to continue to pay its existing accredited small generators 15p a unit for all their electricity, after the government announced "pioneers" of renewable energy will only receive rates of 9p/kWh under the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme.

Under FiTs, which were announced on Monday (February 1), the higher payment rates of up to 41.3p/kWh will only apply to new generators who installed their technology after July 15 2009. "Pioneering" generators who installed their technology before that date will only be eligible for 9p/kWh. In an attempt to prevent some home generators being worse off under the new scheme, Good Energy has said it will continue to pay 15p a unit for the next year for accredited generators and will be lobbying to get the legislation changed. Good Energy launched a similar scheme to the FiT, the HomeGen shceme, in 2004 and claims to lead the market with the highest paying financial reward to microgenerators.

Juliet Davenport, founder and chief executive of Good Energy, said: "It's outrageous that the new FiT only pays the highest reward to new generators - Good Energy believes that the early adopters of microgeneration technology should also be recognised for their pioneering attitude and taking a lead. That's why we've decided to continue paying our existing accredited HomeGen generators 15p a unit for all the electricity they generate and lobby to change the government's mind."

Views sought over planning for micro renewables in Scotland

The Scottish Government has launched the second stage of its consultation on permitted development rights for domestic micro-wind turbines and air source heat pumps.

Permitted development (PD) rights would allow householders to install micro-renewables without needing planning permission, making the system much quicker and easier. The Scottish Government published the first part of the consultation on extending PD rights last month (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story). The second part, launched last week, sets out circumstances where it would be suitable for people to install such technologies without having to make a planning application. Some of the restrictions would include: wind turbines on a building will be permitted if height does not exceed 3m, and air source heat pumps will be permitted if not visible from the road in a conservation area.

Scottish climate change minister, Stewart Stevenson, said: "These proposals are in addition to technologies we have already allowed under permitted development rights - but we can and want to go further. Cutting red tape in the planning system and making it easier for people to generate clean, green energy can boost Scotland's renewables sector and support jobs. Our proposals strike the right balance between powering ahead with renewables and safeguarding the quality of our environment."

Consent for Bradwell wind farm

RWE npower renewables has been granted planning permission by the Planning Inspectorate to build a 10 turbine wind farm near Bradwell-on-Sea in Essex.

A second public inquiry into Bradwell wind farm took place in November 2009 after the decision to grant planning permission after the first public inquiry was quashed in June 2008 because of drafting errors in two of the planning conditions. All of the evidence was then presented to a new Inspector who considered the scheme afresh. Bradwell Wind Farm will comprise 10 turbines, each with a height of up to 121 metres (including blades) and will have a total generating capacity of between 15 and 25MW.

Melissa Read, from RWE npower renewables, said: "We are very pleased to have received planning permission for Bradwell Wind Farm and, once operational, the wind farm will make a significant contribution towards UK renewable energy targets. We will continue to work with the local community to keep them informed throughout the next stages of development and as the wind farm is built. "

More "green" boilers are heating West Midlands

A new survey from the government department responsible for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests, Forestry Commission England, has shown that more green energy boilers are now being used to heat the West Midlands.

The survey identified 245 biomass boilers in the West Midlands, up from 222 in 2008, putting the region in the middle of the English league table. The Commission is supporting the use of biomass and is working to increase the amount of woodfuel reaching this market and the number of boilers being installed. Yorkshire and the Humber topped the survey as the region with the most installations in the country with 290 of the 1,960 biomass heat boilers identified (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story).

Simon West, who leads on woodfuel for the Forestry Commission in the West Midlands, said: "Woodfuel is a great source of green energy and is especially suited to larger buildings such as schools and businesses. A good example of a new woodfuel boiler can be found at St Luke's School in Wolverhampton. This is the first winter for the new school and woodfuel is helping to keep its pupils and staff warm, whatever the weather."

Aquamarine Power appoints chief finance officer

Wave energy developer Aquamarine Power has named Richard Round as its chief finance officer.

Mr Round, 51, has more than 30 years of financial and operational experience in a range of quoted and private companies in the renewable, oil and gas, coal and mining sectors. He joins Aquamarine from Novera Energy PLC, one of the UK's leading renewable energy generators, recently acquired by Infinis Energy and will take up his new post at Aquamarine in March 2010.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Round said: "Aquamarine has enjoyed great success over the past 18 months and is geared for even greater success over the coming years. I am delighted to be joining a company with such passion for innovation and excellence and am looking forward to being a part of such an important and exciting new industry."