Conservatives pledge Green Energy Deal
The Conservative party has proposed a new “green deal’ as they entice people with their election campaign. David Cameron has now delivered his keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester which will be the last conference before the next election.
One of the main features of the new green deal is the provision of up to £6,500 for every UK homeowner that would to pay for the installation of energy-efficient measures including cavity wall and loft insulation – Energy suppliers would be responsible for paying for the work to be carried out instead of the money being allocated directly to consumers, the cost would then be recouped by energy firms through domestic billing.
It is anticipated that domestic consumers could benefit from cash savings up to £360 each year simply by saving heat energy through the insulation plan.
In response to the announcement, environmental group Friends of the Earth advised the Guardian that the figure would need to be at least £20,000 per home to access a 50% reduction on domestic carbon emissions, while Ed Miliband, the UK’s energy and climate change secretary attacked the Conservatives’ renewable energy record, claiming that Tory councils actually block 60% of wind farm applications.
Source;
Energyhelpline.com/ Gas & Electricity News
http://www.energyhelpline.com/news/article.aspx?aaid=19396955&y=2009&m=10&w=1&pid=1
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Global Warming threatens wildlife
As reported by guardian.co.uk – Global warming will threaten London’s wildlife habitats as it increases the risk of flooding throughout the winter with droughts in the summer, according to a report published today.
It is stated that despite being one of the world’s largest and most densely populated cities, London boasts a wide diversity of habitats that are hugely important to the wildlife that depend on them, however, the report by the London Climate Change Partnership warns that a global increase in temperature could expose London’s scarce wetland areas to drought and fire in the summer months, whilst warmer, wetter winters could increase pressure on rivers, which could flood and wash out important nesting and breeding sites.
The climate change report suggests that the best way to combat the increase in temperature is by adopting “urban greening” schemes, including river restoration, incorporating grass roofs and walls into building designs and increasing the number of trees planted in the UK’s capital.
Alison Barnes, from the government’s countryside watchdog Natural England, commented that climate change will affect all of us – including Londoners and the city’s wildlife.
Source;
guardian.co.uk/ Environment/ Climate Change (Climate change ‘threatens UK capital’s wildlife with floods and drought’-05.10.09)
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Brown to up first climate aid offer of $100 billion
As reported by guardian.co.uk – Gordon Browns proposal of $100 billion from rich countries – to compensate developing countries and help them adapt to climate change – is just the first offering in the world climate negotiations according to international development secretary Douglas Alexander, who advised the notion in a meeting at the Labour party conference in Brighton today, stating that the final offer could be far greater.
Mr. Alexander did continue his speech by admitting that other rich countries had so far not actually backed Britain and that many needed convincing that a settlement on the funding was necessary in order to secure a global deal at UN talks in Copenhagen in December, but maintained that the government is working to get other world leaders to get close to that figure of $100 billion a year by 2020, as proposed by the Prime Minister.
As the UN talks continued in Bankok, Mr. Alexander said he is hopeful that the developing countries would embrace the figure – Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia’s president leading the African block in the global warming talks, is “very positive” he declared.
Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband, backing the international development secretary said the EU should move its position on greenhouse gas emission cuts which have been proposed along with the money it has offered, both having been described as “woefully inadequate” by developing countries and charities.
Source article;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/30/climate-change-finance
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Obama Administration steps up Greenhouse gas regs
As reported by nytimes.com – Science/Environment – The Obama administration has announced that it will move forward on new rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from hundreds of power plants and large industrial facilities – unwilling to wait for Congress to act.
US President, Barack Obama advised that he would prefer a more comprehensive legislative approach to regulating emissions and stemming global warming and not a piecemeal application of rules.
Obama also stated that he is committed to the passage of a climate bill this year, but has authorised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to move towards regulation, which could goad lawmakers into reaching an agreement.
The move could also provide evidence of the United States’ seriousness as negotiators prepare for United Nations talks in Copenhagen in December where it is intended that an international agreement to combat global warming will be produced.
Source article;
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/science/earth/01epa.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
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Tata motors on with £10 million loan
As reported by greenenergyuk.com Tata Motors European Technical Centre plc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors in the UK, has received a £10 million loan from the UK government’s Automotive Assistance Programme (AAP). The loan will be used to develop and manufacture the Tata Indica Vista Electric Vehicle in the UK, and will also support the £25 million investment from Tata Motors to develop and manufacture electric vehicles in the UK.
Tata Motors European Technical Centre (TMETC) was established by Tata Motors in September 2005 and is located in the UK West Midlands with nearly 180 employees – Steadily taking Tata vehicles towards achieving global standards, while engaged in advanced automotive technology and vehicle product development, the centre forms one of a consortium of companies in the West Midlands taking part in the UK Government’s Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator programme.
The UK’s Business Secretary Lord Mandelson stated that the government is determined to help the car industry exploit fully the opportunities being offered by green manufacturing.
Source article;
http://www.greenenergy.uk.com/Article.aspx?ARTICLE_ID=127
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India To Use Untested Nuclear Technology
India is to move towards nuclear power in a bid to cut carbon emissions, reports guardian.co.uk. The Indian prime minister indicated that they would move towards nuclear power over the next few decades although they will be using untested technology. The untested technology will be based on nuclear waste and thorium.
It was announced that Indian nuclear power stations could produce 470,000 MW by 2050. This is 100 times the output they get from their 17 reactors at the moment.
At the moment India has a major energy shortage with over 400m people unable to light their homes. In addition India imports 70% of its oil. The Indian government says that the new nuclear reactors will produce green energy and the programme will turn the problematic nuclear waste back into fuel. They plan to use thorium combined with plutonium to create a stock of uranium. However, the technology has not been developed successfully by any other country but India says it has over 2,000 scientists working on technical problems.
Many campaigners however, say that nuclear is not the answer to climate change and others have questioned the use of untested technology by India.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/29/nuclear-power-thorium-india
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Homes to reduce energy prices and emissions
As the summer ends and the colder winter months approach, homeowners are more inclined to compare energy prices – if you are you may be interested to learn that the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) is calling for new environmental measures.
The green organisation whose mission is to dramatically improve the sustainability of the built environment, by radically transforming the way it is planned, designed, constructed, claims that the impact of inefficient building techniques is failing to get the attention it deserves so they are campaigning for new measures to be included in this year’s environmental summit in Copenhagen.
It is regarded that inefficient housing currently produces around half of the UK’s greenhouse gases, but according to the UK-GBC it’s issues like deforestation and energy generation that tend to dominate the global environmental agenda.
Taking simple measures like installing cavity wall and loft insulation, as well as utilising more efficient white goods like washing machines and fridges, could help to dramatically reduce the impact of prices from energy suppliers and as a consequence lower emissions.
Source article;
http://www.energyhelpline.com/news/article.aspx?aaid=19376696&y=2009&m=9&w=4&pid=1
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Rensola’s deal with Dynamic Green Energy
Renesola, Chinese solar wafer maker – signs a share purchase agreement to acquire a 100% stake in Dynamic Green Energy, a parent company of Chinese PV product maker Jiawei Solarchina, reports newenergyfinance.com.
Recognised as the fourth fastest growing Chinese technology company, Renesola will acquire Dynamic Green in exchange for 26.8 million ordinary shares and $10 million in convertible promissory note.
Both the acquisition and the share purchase agreements have been approved by both companies’ boards of directors.
Dynamic Green has an annual PV module manufacturing capacity of approximately 155MW, along with an annual PV cell manufacturing capacity of 25MW and annual ingot and solar wafer manufacturing capacities of approximately 180 tonnes, or 37.5MW, which is approximately 360 tonnes, or 75MW by the end of June 2009.
Xianshou Li, Renesola’s CEO stated that the acquisition will significantly increase its OEM capabilities and accelerate the implementation of its strategy to become a fully integrated solar company.
Source;
Email news @ newenergyfinance.com (23 Sep 2009/Solar/MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS/China)
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Green Electricity Producer Gets More Cash
Planning permission has been granted for a green energy plant in North Yorkshire, reports yorkshirepost.co.uk. The scheme has also received a funding boost of £2.45m.
The Selby Renewable Energy Park will be the largest of its kind in the UK using anaerobic digestion technology to turn food waste into energy. The anaerobic digester will process 165,000 tonnes of food waste a year and turn it into clean energy. This will mean that food waste which would normally be sent to landfill sites will now go to producing electricity.
The boost in funding will come in the form of £1.7m from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) which will helps businesses reduce waste, and Future Energy Yorkshire, which has provided £750,000 for the development of the plan.
The green energy plant will create around 40 jobs while at the same time cutting carbon emissions.
Source: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/20m-green-energy-plant-gets.5664757.jp
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Getting Connected To Green Energy
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) recently announced that moves were being made to enable renewable energy suppliers to connect to the national grid. This move has been supported by the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) and Friends of the Earth, reports biggreensmile.com.
Friends of the Earth have said that less than 2% of energy in the UK comes from renewable energy supplies and that more needs to be done to ensure people have access to green power. BWEA said that access to the grid has always been a barrier in the development of renewable energy but proposals to improve access to the national grid by renewable energy suppliers was good news.
The Energy and Climate Secretary has said that there’s over 60GW of new generation capacity waiting to be connected to the grid and of that 17GW is from green supplies.