Finalists named for 2010 Comms Awards
Judges of the Comms National Awards, have announced this years’ finalists - Due to take place at the London Hilton, on park lane on October 14th, the 2010 Comms National Awards programme enables all types and sizes of UK channel players to participate in what has become the most prestigious awards event in the information and communication technologies (ICT) calendar. Recording another bumper year for entries, Paul Cunningham, chairman of judges, remarked: "The judges were extremely impressed by the quality of the ... More
Greenpeace Stops Cairn Energy Arctic Drilling
Utility Exchange reported last week that Cairn Energy was drilling for oil in the Arctic, see: http://www.utility-exchange.co.uk/2010/08/cairn-energy-finds-gas-but-no-oil/. Now The Daily Telegraph reports that Greenpeace claims they have shut down the drilling operation which they describe as dangerous. Greenpeace say that four people in inflatable speedboats have climbed up the side of the oil rig off the coast of Greenland. The four campaigners are now hanging off the rig 15m above the sea. They are in tents suspended from ropes. ... More
Intel In one Fine Smartphone move
Renowned silicon chip-maker Intel is to make its second major acquisition in just two weeks as the firm strives to gain a foothold in the smartphone market, reports The Independent. Intel is preparing to buy the wireless semiconductor business of German firm Infineon for an amount said to be worth $1.4 billion. This latest move follows Intel’s recent $7.7 billion offer for security software firm McAfee - whose products it wants to adapt to sell with chip technology for mobile ... More
Shell’s Nigerian Pipeline Nears Completion
The oil giant Shell’s Nigerian unit is close to completing a $1.1bn (£711m) pipeline, reports The Daily Telegraph. The pipeline will enable 600,000 barrels of oil a day to be transported to its terminal on the Atlantic coast of Nigeria. The Nembe Creek pipeline is 60 miles long and collects crude oil from 14 pumping stations. The pipeline is part of Shell’s programme to replace old pipes in the Niger River delta. The company wants to ensure its facilities are well ... More
Cost of Renewable Energy Transportation to remote Businesses
As reported by Energy Advice Line – as we continue to make the transition towards renewable energy sources, in particular by utilising tidal and wind powered electricity generation, a number of business electricity customers whose premises are not located in the close vicinity of the sea or wind farm sites could be left pondering how and at what cost such energy will be transported to them... In an attempt to address the situation, the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is inviting proposals ... More
Electricity output exceeds demand for first time
Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) – a division of leading energy firm Scottish and Southern Energy Plc, has confirmed that electricity output on Sunday (August 29, 2010) from wind farms across the north of Scotland exceeded the demand for electricity from homes and businesses in the area for the first time. Between 8am and 9am electricity output from wind farms totalling just over 700MW (megawatts) exceeded the demand from customers which was just under 700MW in the areas served ... More
Will Renewable Heat Incentive Be Scrapped?
A fund to pay for green boilers could be scrapped after claims that the devices are expensive and unreliable at keeping homes warm, reports The Daily Telegraph. Heavy industry is being taxed heavily via the Renewable Heat Incentive to pay for the fund to provide green boilers. The Renewable Heat Incentive could increase energy bills for domestic users by £104 and £321 for business energy users in the next ten years. The scheme is due to be introduced next spring and ... More
Was It You? BT Signs Up 15 Millionth Broadband Customer
BT has signed up its 15 millionth broadband user, ten years after broadband was first introduced to the UK, reports The Guardian. Of those 15 million however, two-thirds are using a rival internet service provider e.g. Talk Talk or Sky which use BT’s infrastructure. Around three quarters of the homes and small businesses in the UK now have broadband according to the paper. And Britain has a bigger take-up rate of broadband than countries such as Germany and America. Olivia Garfield, a ... More
Ireland boasts Biogas potential
A new report published by Irish gas utility Bord Gáis claims that up to 7.5% of natural gas demand in Ireland could be met by renewable gas. The report suggests that by using grass and organic wastes to produce biomethane it could significantly help to meet Ireland's renewable energy objectives as well as reduce dependence on energy imports. Such technology is already being utilised in Denmark and Germany and could easily be replicated in Ireland. In addition, Ireland could pursue Stockholm's ... More
Shetl Shows Public Subsea Converter Plans
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited (Shetl) which is part of Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE), is to put plans for a large subsea electricity connection from offshore sources of renewable electricity on show to the public, reports The Press & Journal. Scottish Hydro Electric is holding a series of exhibitions so that the public can look at its proposals for a 600MW converter station and substation next to Achanarras in Caithness. Even though power lines are being re-strung and upgraded the company ... More