Guardian — January 2012
2012 is set to be a monumental year for Britain. Of
course we are looking forward to the diamond jubilee and the Olympics,
but it is also the year in which we will launch the pioneering Green
Deal, unleashing real competitive forces in the energy efficiency
market.
Attracting more investment than ever before, the Green
Deal will be the biggest home energy improvement programs of modern
times, to tackle our draughty and expensive-to-heat housing stock.
In a world of increasing prices, market volatility and
reliance on imports, we simply cannot afford to be wasteful with energy.
Our homes are among the most inefficient in Europe and up to 4.1m
households live in fuel poverty in England alone.
The time has come for a radical new approach to hone
energy improvement , moving away from pepper potting individual measures
to whole house or property solutions.
We will look carefully at the different views coming forward on loft and
cavity wall insulation, but with a wider span of measures we are
confident the green deal will generate new demand for all types of
insulation and actually increase jobs in an expanded insulation market
to 65,000 by 2015.
Latest EPC and energy news from Green Assess. Learn more about what’s happening in the energy and EPC related industries. Snippets of the latest energy news from the media and leading industry experts.
Tuesday 31 January 2012
Monday 30 January 2012
South West makes splash as first marine energy park
DECC — January 2012
The South West has today been named as the UK's first Marine Energy Park, firmly placing the region on the international map for leadership in marine renewable energy.
Climate Change Minister Greg Barker made the announcement on a visit to Bristol where he met with key members of the new initiative.
The South West Marine Energy Park will stretch from Bristol through to Cornwall and as far as the Isles of Scilly. It will create a collaborative partnership in the region between national and local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, the famous Universities of Plymouth and Exeter and industry including Cornwalls famous wave hub. The aim of the partnership will be to speed up the progress of marine power development.
Energy from the waves or tides has the potential to generate up to 27GW of power in the UK alone by 2050, equivalent to the power generated from 8 coal-fired power stations, as well as helping to reduce emissions to fight climate change.
The South West has today been named as the UK's first Marine Energy Park, firmly placing the region on the international map for leadership in marine renewable energy.
Climate Change Minister Greg Barker made the announcement on a visit to Bristol where he met with key members of the new initiative.
The South West Marine Energy Park will stretch from Bristol through to Cornwall and as far as the Isles of Scilly. It will create a collaborative partnership in the region between national and local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, the famous Universities of Plymouth and Exeter and industry including Cornwalls famous wave hub. The aim of the partnership will be to speed up the progress of marine power development.
Energy from the waves or tides has the potential to generate up to 27GW of power in the UK alone by 2050, equivalent to the power generated from 8 coal-fired power stations, as well as helping to reduce emissions to fight climate change.
Renewables Bring £2.5bn Boost to Economy
Department of Energy and Climate Change — January 2012
Chris Huhne today revealed more evidence of the economic benefits of renewable energy as he reaffirmed the coalitions commitment to meeting EU renewable energy targets. This came as the UK published an update on progress to source 15% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Latest research from DECC shows that so far this financial year, companies have announced plans for almost £2.5billion worth of investment in renewable energy projects in the UK, with the potential to create almost 12,000 jobs across the country.
A separate report to the European Commission on renewable energy progress that showed that the UK:
“Renewable energy is not just helping us increase our energy security and reduce our emissions. It is supporting jobs and growth across the country, and giving traditional industrial heartlands the opportunity to thrive again.
“Our renewable target is less demanding than other EU member states, but the effect is bringing real jobs and investment.
“I do not want the UK to be left behind by turning our back on the green economy. The agreement to negotiate a global deal secured at Durban has reinforced major nations’ commitment to cutting carbon. We cannot afford to stand alone while the world wises up.”
Chris Huhne today revealed more evidence of the economic benefits of renewable energy as he reaffirmed the coalitions commitment to meeting EU renewable energy targets. This came as the UK published an update on progress to source 15% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Latest research from DECC shows that so far this financial year, companies have announced plans for almost £2.5billion worth of investment in renewable energy projects in the UK, with the potential to create almost 12,000 jobs across the country.
A separate report to the European Commission on renewable energy progress that showed that the UK:
- Achieved a 27% increase in renewable energy consumption from 42.6TWh in 2008 to 54TWh in 2010 - representing 3.3% of total energy consumed.
- Increased wind generation by 46% from 7TWh in 2008 to 10.2TWh in 2010, and in 2010 achieved 5GW of offshore and onshore wind capacity; and
- Saw a threefold increase in the use of biofuels in transport from 1% of total road transport fuel supply in 2007/8 to 3.33% in 2010.
“Renewable energy is not just helping us increase our energy security and reduce our emissions. It is supporting jobs and growth across the country, and giving traditional industrial heartlands the opportunity to thrive again.
“Our renewable target is less demanding than other EU member states, but the effect is bringing real jobs and investment.
“I do not want the UK to be left behind by turning our back on the green economy. The agreement to negotiate a global deal secured at Durban has reinforced major nations’ commitment to cutting carbon. We cannot afford to stand alone while the world wises up.”
Friday 27 January 2012
Minister Looks Forward to “Prosperous 2012”
Department of Energy and Climate Change — January 2012
Energy Minister Charles Hendry set out his hopes for a “prosperous 2012” in the oil and gas sector, as he awarded 46 new licences to explore for hydrocarbons in the North Sea.
These awards were made as part of the 26th offshore oil and gas licensing round, which was originally announced in October 2010. This licensing round awarded 144 licences but held back a number of blocks from award due to the need for further assessment on Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
Charles Hendry, Minister for Energy, said:
“Oil and gas remains crucial to the UK economy — contributing around 2% to the country’s GDP. Our innovative licensing system continues to make the UK one of the most attractive places to do business.
“These further licences have been subject to rigorous examination, and we are now satisfied that initial exploration can go ahead.
“These continued high levels of interest, and the award today of these licences, gives me yet more reason to be optimistic for a prosperous 2012 for the UK oil and gas sector.”
Energy Minister Charles Hendry set out his hopes for a “prosperous 2012” in the oil and gas sector, as he awarded 46 new licences to explore for hydrocarbons in the North Sea.
These awards were made as part of the 26th offshore oil and gas licensing round, which was originally announced in October 2010. This licensing round awarded 144 licences but held back a number of blocks from award due to the need for further assessment on Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
Charles Hendry, Minister for Energy, said:
“Oil and gas remains crucial to the UK economy — contributing around 2% to the country’s GDP. Our innovative licensing system continues to make the UK one of the most attractive places to do business.
“These further licences have been subject to rigorous examination, and we are now satisfied that initial exploration can go ahead.
“These continued high levels of interest, and the award today of these licences, gives me yet more reason to be optimistic for a prosperous 2012 for the UK oil and gas sector.”
Friday 20 January 2012
The Green Deal Countdown!
January 2012
“The biggest home improvement plan since the second world war” — Chris Huhne, Climate Change Secretary
With the Christmas and New Year rush behind us for another 12 months we are already counting down to the next big event... The Green Deal.
Set to be the largest home improvement programme since the second world war, the Green Deal promises to drive billions of pounds of investment into energy efficiency over the next decade with the potential to create 250,000 jobs involving around £100bn of investment by 2020.
As bills rise and green subsidies are cut, politicians are looking for ways to reduce our bills - and emissions - at no or little cost.
By providing energy advice to an estimated 14 million homes and businesses within the UK and offering grants to all, the new innovative financial mechanism eliminates the need to pay upfront for these energy efficiency measures and instead provides reassurances that the cost of the measures will be covered and paid back through the savings on the electricity bill. The government have called this revolutionary proposal “The Green Deal”
The government have committed to invest £200 million this year alone to stimulate the “Green Deal” on its launch in the Autumn, with a further Â14 billion of private investment being predicted.
The goal of the Green Deal scheme is to have 14m UK households upgraded for energy efficiency, making the UK the European leader in reducing greenhouse emissions and supporting up to 250,000 new jobs within the green industry
“The biggest home improvement plan since the second world war” — Chris Huhne, Climate Change Secretary
With the Christmas and New Year rush behind us for another 12 months we are already counting down to the next big event... The Green Deal.
Set to be the largest home improvement programme since the second world war, the Green Deal promises to drive billions of pounds of investment into energy efficiency over the next decade with the potential to create 250,000 jobs involving around £100bn of investment by 2020.
As bills rise and green subsidies are cut, politicians are looking for ways to reduce our bills - and emissions - at no or little cost.
By providing energy advice to an estimated 14 million homes and businesses within the UK and offering grants to all, the new innovative financial mechanism eliminates the need to pay upfront for these energy efficiency measures and instead provides reassurances that the cost of the measures will be covered and paid back through the savings on the electricity bill. The government have called this revolutionary proposal “The Green Deal”
The government have committed to invest £200 million this year alone to stimulate the “Green Deal” on its launch in the Autumn, with a further Â14 billion of private investment being predicted.
The goal of the Green Deal scheme is to have 14m UK households upgraded for energy efficiency, making the UK the European leader in reducing greenhouse emissions and supporting up to 250,000 new jobs within the green industry
Monday 2 January 2012
Treasury to approve £200m Green Deal Funding
GDG - Janary 2012
The chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announced the approval of £200m to be used as an incentive for the public to pick up the Green Deal scheme when it is available for homeowners in October 2012.
Both the business community and NGOs welcomed this announcement as another step towards the successful roll out of the Green Deal scheme.
While the primary goal of the Green Deal scheme is to increase energy efficiency of UK homes and business buildings to reduce the carbon emissions associated with climate change and to reduce energy costs, there are other benefits of the Green deal scheme.
The government estimates that in the long term the scheme, if successful, will create thousands of new jobs and lead to £14b in new investment from the private sector. Additionally, energy companies are mandated to assist with energy improvements for low income households.
The goal of the Green Deal scheme is to have 14m UK households upgraded for energy efficiency, making the UK the European leader in reducing greenhouse emissions.
Experts state that the success of the Green Deal program is dependent on the experience of those homeowners who take up the scheme early, thus there must be great attention to the details of the program so that all goes smoothly.
While the details of how the £200m will be disbursed to early adopters of the scheme, experts agree that using this money for a reduction in the council tax or the stamp duty tax will be a powerful tool to motivate homeowners to take up the Green Deal within the first year. The government is considering this proposal as well as others for the distribution of the funds.
The chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announced the approval of £200m to be used as an incentive for the public to pick up the Green Deal scheme when it is available for homeowners in October 2012.
Both the business community and NGOs welcomed this announcement as another step towards the successful roll out of the Green Deal scheme.
While the primary goal of the Green Deal scheme is to increase energy efficiency of UK homes and business buildings to reduce the carbon emissions associated with climate change and to reduce energy costs, there are other benefits of the Green deal scheme.
The government estimates that in the long term the scheme, if successful, will create thousands of new jobs and lead to £14b in new investment from the private sector. Additionally, energy companies are mandated to assist with energy improvements for low income households.
The goal of the Green Deal scheme is to have 14m UK households upgraded for energy efficiency, making the UK the European leader in reducing greenhouse emissions.
Experts state that the success of the Green Deal program is dependent on the experience of those homeowners who take up the scheme early, thus there must be great attention to the details of the program so that all goes smoothly.
While the details of how the £200m will be disbursed to early adopters of the scheme, experts agree that using this money for a reduction in the council tax or the stamp duty tax will be a powerful tool to motivate homeowners to take up the Green Deal within the first year. The government is considering this proposal as well as others for the distribution of the funds.
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