Renewables - it does matter where they're sited

It does matter where large scale renewables are sited as projects in Scotland are finding to their cost.

EDIE reports that several tidal / marine renewable projects are at risk because of the costs involved in transporting the energy they generate into the national grid.

For example, a proposed 1600MW wave / tidal project for the Pentland Firth & Orkney Waters faces an annual grid charge of £56million.

Compare that with an £11million subsidy for a similar project off of the S.W coast of England.

The Scottish Renewables chief executive says such costs could result in Scotland loosing tidal projects to the South, despite "Scotland's fantastic wave and tidal resource".

photo credit: brian m forbes

Primary Schools receive renewable energy resources

Scotland is big, really big on renewables and the Scottish Government have obviously set their sites high on achieving high levels of renewable energy by 2020.

So much so that their 'culture' of investing and promoting renewables usage and development has extended to their primary schools.

All Media Scotland reported that 100 school teachers from across the Highlands and Islands will be participating in specially devised workshops during March.

The Scottish Government predicts the creation of at least 28,000 jobs will be created by the renewables boom in offshore wind alone. The workshops translate into special educational packs for primary schools containing hands on models to build, posters and fact sheets.

Teachers that have already taken part in the workshops and used the subsequent 'packs' with their classes are delighted with the response from the children and the ease with which they were able to integrate the material into their normal studies.

It's hoped the early exposure to the renewables resources will encourage children to take up a role in the renewables industry when they're considering career options later.

The resource kits cost £200 and over the past three years, 330 teachers have taken part in the workshops.

photo credit: rarye

Scottish Wind Turbine factory closes

The Telegraph reported last week how a Danish wind turbine manufacturers only UK factory, located in Campbeltown, Scotland had gone into administration.

The company blamed a struggling market for new orders.

Whilst many will point to and mutter about the £2.4m the company were given by the Scottish Government to safeguard jobs, what is sad is not only the job losses, but the fact that Scotland has been making so much of its renewables policy and targets.

If it can't prevent the closure of such an important plant, then perhaps the expected 'renewables boom' isn't the saviour of jobs and prosperity we've all heard about so much.

It would be interesting to compare wind turbine planning applications that have been refused and what difference they would have made to the factory's future (if any), had they been allowed.

Just saying...

photo credit: chris costes

Cash strapped wind turbine firm could deal Scotland a serious blow

A Danish company that produces wind turbines at a site in Scotland has filed for a suspension of payments in the Danish courts - a move similar to administration in the UK.

Despite cash injections from the Scottish Parliament and a further Regional Assistance grant totalling several millions two years ago to the then new owners, the plant which employs around 120 people could still close.

The news will deal a severe blow to the Scottish Governments renewable energy dreams and will add fuel to the fire which the renewable industry has already come under over lack of production capability to serve the expanding onshore and off-shore wind farm plans.

Read the full report in the Scotsman here.

The Scottish Council for Development and Industry has warned that the plant in Campbeltown is essential for Scotland's future if it wishes to be a leader in the renewable energy sector.

photo credit: muffet

Consumers will have to pay more to finance Scotland's renewable revolution

Last week, the Scotsman ran an article which quoted the chief executive of Scottish Power warning that consumers will have to pay more on their energy bills to finance the upgrades required to the Grid system to collect and deliver renewable energy.

The average fuel bill in Scotland includes £19 that goes towards renewables funding. That figure could rise to as much as £100.

Nick Horler's comments come as the FIrst Minister told an international conference that Scotland would be generating 100% of its energy needs from renewable sources within the next 15 years.

As the article points out though, that dream will come at a heavy cost and with the increase in fuel bills, there are warnings from fuel poverty action groups that little is being done for those struggling the most.

It's a great article and it does make you think - there are massive profits for someone within this renewable energy boom - surely some form of capping and re-investment figure should be set, that could perhaps help those already in fuel poverty cope with the increases?

Is renewable energy really such a good deal for the average consumer in the short run?

Read the Scotsman's article here.

photo credit: pink moose

Danes cut back on Wind farms - will Scotland follow?

A letter published in the Scotsman tells of the news that Denmark has pulled out of further onshore wind farm development amidst an apparent public back-lash against wind turbines.

Denmark has more than 4,000 onshore wind turbines - two-thirds more than Britain, in a country only a fifth the size of the UK.

The author argues that without the power generation subsidies, not a single turbine would have been built in Scotland and reckons the companies are only interested in generating income rather than generating green electricity.

Indeed, we've already reported on this blog how poor they performed during the Winter - a statistic the author shares:

"For several days, Britain's wind turbines, said to be capable of delivering 5 per cent of our electricity, in fact delivered only 0.2 per cent. If, as the government plans to do, we were relying on wind for 30 per cent of our power, the lights would have gone out.

The wind in Scotland blows enough for windmills only to produce electricity around 27 per cent of the time. So the paradox of building windmills is that you have to build a lot of ordinary power stations to back them up and, in the short to medium term, those are going to be high CO2 emitting fossil-fuel gas or coal-fired plants. The trouble is, such is the fixation with wind power that nobody in the Scottish Government is planning for new gas or coal-fired power stations. Having already ruled out any new nuclear plant in Scotland, we can be certain of one thing: the lights are going to go out."

It's emotive stuff, and as you would expect, it's led to some interesting exchanges in the following comments.

What's your opinion? Read the full letter and view the comments by clicking here.

photo credit: karen horton

Scotland's doing its bit for 2020 climate targets

I love visiting Scotland - the scenery, the warm welcome and yes, the whiskey too.

Now thanks to a surge in renewable power, most notably in wind generation, figures from the Scottish Government (as reported at New Energy Focus last week) reveal that Scotland is already halfway towards meeting its 2020 emissions reduction target of 42% with 21.2% of emissions already cut.

Other figures reveal that in 2008, renewable energy accounted for 18% of the total electricity generated in Scotland.

It's great news and one the people of Scotland should feel justifiably proud in. Read the full New Energy article here.

Please accept the congratulations of a wee Sassenach.

photo credit: eusebius

Scotland's community and renewable energy scheme closes

A victim of its own success? Like others, the Scottish Government has found out that over-subscription to renewable energy initiatives eventually means closing those schemes down.

Energy Minister Jim Mather said that the Scottish community and renewable energy scheme is facing financial pressures after groups are set to benefit from £13.5 million of funding.

The scheme which was started in May 2009 has already helped more than 300 community groups invest in solar, biomass and wind projects.

Note* The message seems to be if you're thinking of applying or making use of any Government funding or scheme, particularly where renewable energy is concerned, then get in quickly before the scheme / funding is over-subscribed.

photo credit: hirata yasuyuki

Wind turbines likened to chocolate teapots...

Mike Lowson, Press and Journal Columnist wrote a very engaging article about wind turbines in Scotland, claiming wind energy is "as practical as a chocolate teapot".

He recounts statistics (which we've already mentioned on this blog) regarding the poor under performance of Scotland's present wind turbines - a mere 17% of capacity for five months in 2010 with 5% or less for a third of that period.

Mr Lowson would much rather see investment in tidal energy and after reading his column you may also find yourself in agreement.

I've always believed that the key to renewable energy is making the tools we already use more efficient. Wind, solar or tidal, it doesn't really matter. What matters is getting the most from the resources rather than just blindly building more of them.

You may not agree with the column's conclusions but you'll hopefully enjoy reading it. Click here to do so now.

photo credit: sarah robinson

Scottish green energy projects receive a slap in the face

New business rates based on an assessment two years ago in Scotland could see some renewable energy projects abandoned.

That was the verdict of Lib Dem environment spokesman Liam McArthur in an article in The Scotsman, as experts warn that specialist firms are struggling to cope with the new rates.

Where some wind farm business rates have doubled, hydro schemes have seen their business rates increase five-fold.

The green energy sector in Scotland is one of the worst affected industry sectors by the 2010 re-evaluation.

If you'd like to read a more in-depth report, including a reply from the Scottish Government, click here to visit The Scotsman.

photo credit: erikpaterson

Potato peelings to provide power...

Spotted in The Times Online last week...

A former landfill company has started building an Anaerobic Digestion Plant, which when completed will generate enough electricity to power around 3,000 homes.

The plant being built in Scotland will take waste food from homes, hotels, restaurants and retailers in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

It basically takes the gases produced by the rotting food and uses that to fuel a power plant. The power is then sold back to the National Grid.

"In the UK about 20 million tonnes of leftover food is thrown away every year. Anaerobic Digestion turns this waste into a high-quality fertiliser, whilst generating megawatts of renewable electricity"

Similar plants already operate in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Click here to 'inwardly digest' the full story on The Times Online website

photo credit: sam howzit

Bike shed roof provides solar power for Scottish School

Green Building Press reports on a new Highlands Primary School which will be Scotland's first wholly sustainable school.

Features include a structure made from 'Brettstapel - a form of glue-free massive timber construction - one tonne of which when used instead of concrete saves as much CO2 as taking a car off the road for nearly 5 months.

The building is so well insulated and draught-proof that the heat from the pupils, staff and computers will be enough to heat the building.

A new £20,000 bike shed is also capable of generating power from the solar panels fitted to it.

The bike shed is just one of 32 solar schemes Highland Council is putting in place, mainly at schools, before next April at a total cost of £450,000.

Read the full article at Green Building Press by clicking here - which details all the amazing energy saving features being built into this fantastic school.

photo credit: sarcozona

Poll suggests half of Scottish people unaware of Scottish Government grants for heating this winter

New survey reveals Scots worries at affording heating bills this Winter...

"A new survey has found that four in ten (41 per cent) Scots are worried about being able to afford their home heating bills this winter.

And more than half (56 per cent) know someone else that will struggle to do so, such as a grandparent, elderly relative, neighbour or friend.

The results of the survey of 1,045 Scottish people - commissioned by the Energy Saving Trust - coincide with the launch of a Scotland-wide TV advertising campaign for the Energy Assistance Package - a new initiative that will provide real financial and environmental benefits to Scots struggling to heat their homes this winter.

The poll findings reveal that around half of Scottish people (52 per cent) do not know that the Scottish Government offers grants and assistance to help people heat their home."

To read the full story and find out more about Scottish Government grants, click here.

Don't forget to check in on elderly or vulnerable neighbours this winter. It only takes a few moments but can really make a difference. Whilst you're there, why not check their smoke alarms work? They probably can't reach them to test.

photo credit: dmclear

Installing renewable energy - there may be grants available

Thinking about getting solar energy in your home? There may be grants available....

"If you are considering installing solar energy or any other type of renewable energy in your home, you may be eligible for a government grant. Grants are not means tested and qualifying is straight forward.

Across the UK, the DTI's low carbon buildings programme provides grants for householders on microgeneration technologies including solar photovoltaics, solar thermal hot water, wind turbines, small scale hydro, heat pumps and bio-energy.

In Scotland, the Scottish Community Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI ) provides grants for householders funded by the Scottish Executive and managed by the Energy Saving Trust. Grants are available for solar, water and space heating, small-scale wind and hydro systems, ground source heat pumps and biomass. Funding for householders is set at 30% of the installed cost up to £4,000."

... taken from Energy saving advice

Part of that process is getting quotations to submit with your grant application, showing how much the installation is going to cost. You can get access to these installation companies across the UK by getting an instant online quote for your solar panel installation, whether that's hot water systems or photovoltaic (electricity generating) systems.