Scotland’s Centre of Energy Excellence
Gas and Electricity supplier Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) are teaming up with the University of Strathclyde to establish a Centre of Engineering Excellence for Renewable Energy that will be created in Glasgow with £2.8 million support from the Scottish Government.
Scottish first minister Alex Salmond stated that renewable energy is at the heart of Scotland’s new economy and society, along with carbon capture and greater energy efficiency. He continued by saying that to achieving ambitions requires a strong partnership between Government, industry and the wider public sector.
Mr. Salmond also confirmed that this shows a significant commitment and investment by SSE in Glasgow and in Scotland by creating 250 high quality jobs while safeguarding a further 70 positions. Furthermore the initiative will position Glasgow at the epicentre of a key strand of 21st century engineering, in the same way the city dominated the engineering ages of the past.
Ian Marchant, SSE’s Chief Executive stated:
“Our Centre of Excellence which will be known as CEERE will play a crucial part in helping Scottish and Southern Energy to realise its renewable energy goals in the UK, Ireland and elsewhere in Europe, helping to secure energy supplies and contributing to the development of a lower carbon economy”
Source;
Utilityweek.co.uk/ News/ Electricity
http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/uk/electricity/scottish-and-southern-energy-t-1.php
Related Posts:
£8 million renewable energy deal
UK waste management group Shanks announced an £8 million deal with Scotland’s Energen Biogas to build a renewable energy power plant, in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. The energy plant is expected to process 60,000 tons of organic waste each year, and generate up to 3MWh of renewable power in addition to fertiliser that can be used on agricultural land.
The facility, scheduled to become operational in mid-2010, will utilise Shanks’ Orgaworld Anaerobic Digestion (AD) technology – the conversion of animal and plant waste material using micro-organisms contained within sealed tanks – to process various organic materials which includes food processing waste, household and commercial kitchen waste and supermarket waste.
Orgaworld technology, currently in operation in Canada and the Netherlands, deploys micro-organisms in an oxygen-free environment, converting organic waste into biogas, which is then used to produce green power – this process also generates compost, which is then used by the agricultural sector.
Tom Drury, Shanks chief executive advised that the facility will provide organic waste producers an economical and sustainable alternative to landfill – forming part of a Scottish Government initiative aimed at reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.
The project also aims to encourage local authorities to increase their recycling rates.
Source;
e-Daily update @ powertechnology.com, link
http://www.power-technology.com/news/news66225.html?WT.mc_id=DN_News&mxmroi=14002247/2202113/false
Related Posts:
Cyprus on form for first wind farm
Cyprus’ first wind farm has gotten another step closer following a ground breaking ceremony in the Orites area of Kouklia and once operational the project has the potential to produce 82 MW from 41 wind turbines, producing almost 10% of the island’s total energy generation capacity.
The energy project will also contribute to the government’s target of producing 13% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 – With the wind farm having a capacity of 82 MW in its first phase, and an approved capacity for 140MW when complete.
The wind farm will be the first private sector power project in Cyprus benefiting from the new 20 year fixed rate tariff that has recently been approved by the government of the Republic of Cyprus and the European Commission.
Akis Ellinas, Chairman of DK Wind Supply made comment that at a time when climate change is reaching the top of political agendas, wind energy continues to be the only advanced technology which is ready and able to deliver renewable power on a large scale. He continued by saying that Cyprus is not one of the windiest places in the world, but is still committed to moving toward renewable energy, which consequently makes them work harder than others.
This project becomes the county’s biggest investment in renewable energy and will be the first wind energy investment in Cyprus, representing an investment amounting to €170 million, it is said.
Source;
Utilityweek.co.uk/ News/ Europe (Cyprus breaks ground for first wind farm-02.10.09)
Related Posts:
Feed-in-Tariffs for renewable energy
Promoting solar power in the UK – We Support Solar – suggests that by providing a higher tariff for homeowners who produce their own renewable energy to supplement or replace that which is provided by energy suppliers could energise the clean energy sector in the UK, as reported by energyhelpline.com – Gas and Electricity news.
An environmental organisation, We Support Solar encompasses bodies such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace and believes that a rapidly increasing solar sector could be formed in the UK if the feed-in tariff was increased from 30 pence to 40 pence, claims the Ecologist.
We Support Solar said this could result in Britain’s take-up rising by a factor of six compared to existing levels, along with the Federation of Master Builders who believe that could lead to 400,000 new solar photovoltaic panels being installed over the next five years.
Seb Berry, of solar installation company Solar Century, advises that the construction industry has acknowledged the huge potential of solar power and therefore, the feed-in-tariff is a great chance to drive investment into the sector.
Wind turbines tend to get the most publicity in the UK with the government recently announcing plans to escalate the number of offshore wind farms to be built around the UK’s coastline.
Source article;
http://www.energyhelpline.com/news/article.aspx?aaid=19386675&y=2009&m=9&w=4&pid=1
Related Posts:
Stroud’s 5050 Energy Campaign
Ecotricity is an electricity company with a difference – dedicated to changing the way electricity is made by investing in clean forms of power generation like wind energy – combined with being the only green electricity company actually building new renewable energy sources.
Featured in a press release, Ecotricity have launched an energy debate in the District of Stroud by campaigning for 50% of Stroud’s energy needs to be sourced from clean, green energy from wind turbines, where they have already proven the viability of wind energy with one local turbine.
Ecotricity argue that just 16 windmills in the area would create enough energy to power 50% of Stroud’s homes, which ultimately would benefit the UK’s energy security.
Stoud5050 is a local campaign for local people, where Ecotricity is aiming for half of the district’s electricity to be completely renewable, actively contributing to the area and supported by local resident.
To find out more or to vote to make 50% of Stroud’s local energy green, visit www.stroud5050.org.
Related Posts:
Biomass facility gets renewable power
A new biomass facility has significantly progressed following a multi-million pound deal – RWE Npower renewable has signed a contract with papermaker Tullis Russell to supply its paper mill at Markinch, in Fife with heat and electricity from the new biomass-fuelled co-generation plant, reports utilityweek.co.uk. The new plant will have an installed capacity of 50 megawatts, replacing the existing coal-fired power plant at Tullis Russell.
Managing director of RWE Npower renewable, Paul Cowling advised that parent company RWE Innogy is investing roughly £200 million in the biomass facility as well as securing an additional £8.1 million in support from the Scottish Government for the project.
The plant should reduce annual carbon emissions by 250,000 tonnes while generating 6% of Scotland’s renewable generation targets. Mr. Cowling continued by saying that the investment confirms a major commitment by RWE which falls in line with RWE’s strategy and the Government policy to reduce CO2 emissions in the UK electricity sector and that this type of investment just wouldn’t have been possible without the support from the Government’s Renewables Obligation support mechanism.
Npower Cogen’s development team is managing the biomass project at Tullis Russell and has been working very closely with colleagues from across the whole RWE Group.
Approximately 400,000 tonnes of virgin and used wood from a wide range of sources will be used to power the plant and contracts are now being agreed with local and national companies for the supply of biomass.
Source article;
http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/uk/electricity/rwe-npower-renewables-signs-bi.php
Related Posts:
Scottish Power opens windfarm learning centre
A £2 million state-of-the-art visitor and learning centre at Whitelee Windfarm – Europes largest onshore windfarm near Glasgow has officially been opened by Jim Murphy MP, Secretary of State for Scotland. This new facility has been designed to encourage visitors to learn more about renewable energy and will soon be available to cyclists, horse riders and ramblers wishing to take advantage of the windfarm’s huge recreational possibilities.
Mr Murphy was taken on a tour of the facility before the official opening by Xabier Viteri, CEO, Iberdrola Renovables and Keith Anderson, Managing Director of ScottishPower Renewables.
Whitelee has 140 turbines and most of these are overlooked by the new learning centre which is a sustainable wooden structure which is powered by electricity generated on-site and also takes it water supply from specially created boreholes.
The centre feature a unique interactive hands-on learning area catering for all ages, a viewing gallery, a café and gift shop where specially trained educational staff will also be on-hand, as well as bicycle stores and external shower facilities.
Keith Anderson, Managing Director of ScottishPower Renewables said that the growth of renewable energy is crucial in the fight against climate change confirming that major projects like Whitelee have become essential in achieving carbon reduction targets.
He continued that this is the first visitor centre of its kind in Scotland and that they are keen to include practical educational features that will inspire younger generations. They will encourage schools and community groups to visit, where specially trained educational staff will be there to provide a hands-on learning experience.
Source;
Media relations @ Scottish power .com
Related Posts:
Marine Energy Bids Encouraged
The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has today issued a press release inviting Wave and Tidal developers to bid for £22 million in new government funding – which has been set-up to accelerate the commercial development of marine energy in the UK.
The Marine Renewables Proving Fund was announced in July, forming part of the Government’s Renewable Energy Strategy, and will be designed and delivered by the Carbon Trust, providing finance for the demonstration of wave and tidal technologies.
The funding comes following industry demand and analysis carried out by the Carbon Trust which revealed that extra support is required to take marine devices successfully from initial prototype development through to early–stage commercial generation, when they will become eligible for funding from the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.
Lord Hunt, Energy and Climate Change Minister, stated that clean green renewable energy is central to our response to climate change along with ensuring our future energy supplies. Wave and tidal energy provides massive potential from around the UK’s shores and the government is working closely with developers across the UK to bring on the necessary technologies.
Mr. Hunt continues by saying that the fund will help marine projects get ‘off the drawing board and into the water’ thus taking a vital step closer to becoming full scale commercially viable.
The Carbon Trust has been supporting the marine sector since 2003 where it has assessed or worked with over 60 different marine energy devices and committed over £12 million of funding to date – They will be responsible for managing and assessing the project bids.
Source;
www.decc.gov.uk-22.09.2009 Press Release
Related Posts:
Bid for EcoSecurities Secured?
A JPMorgan Chase & Co subsidiary has agreed a 100 pence-a-share cash offer for Irish carbon offset company EcoSecurities Group Plc outbidding a 90 pence-a-share bid from the company’s co-founder.
Carbon Acquisition Company which is a subsidiary of J.P.Morgan Ventures Energy Corp., has confirmed that its bid values EcoSecurities at about £122.9 million – a 120% premium on the group’s share price before the start of the offer period on June 4, confirming that it had received acceptances representing nearly 20% of EcoSecurities’ shares.
EcoSecurities structures and guides greenhouse gas emission reduction projects from beginning to end, and works with both project developers and buyers of emission reduction credits. EcoSecurities works with companies in developing and industrialising countries to create emission reduction credits from projects that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and has gained valuable experience with projects in a wide range of sectors, including renewable energy, agriculture and urban waste management, industrial efficiency, and forestry.
They rejected a revised 90 pence a share offer from Guanabara Holdings, a company set up by EcoSecurities co-founder and former president Pedro Moura Costa, then Swedish clean energy developer Tricorona, who had previously shown an interest in EcoSecurities, decided against a bid.
Sources;
e-bulletin newenergyfinance.com
in.reuters.com/ Money/ Funds (Update 1-JPMorgan unit agrees 100p/share EcoSecurities bid)
Related Posts:
Google searches for cheaper energy
Committed to going green, internet search engine Google is investing in the development of new mirrors for their use in solar technology – with the potential to improve access to cheaper energy. Google’s green energy correspondent Bill Weihl confirmed that the company has been researching ‘very unusual materials’ for mirrors – for the actual reflective surface and the substrate which the mirror is mounted on.
Mr. Weihl also stated that they are hoping to reduce the cost of heliostats, a device that tracks the movement of the sun, by at least a factor of two, and possibly a factor of three or four.
Google invests in companies that do research in producing renewable energy as part of its continued efforts to find new sustainable and cheap energy solutions, and is currently working on a project to develop gas turbines that run on solar power rather than natural gas, however Google has also expressed their concern that not enough is being done to increase cheap renewable energy development.
Source;
Energyhelpline.com/ Gas and Electricity News (Google continues search for cheap energy)