Community Energy Shines

TRESOC is poised to launch the Shine Project! This is an extensive social housing roof-top solar project in the South Hams. It is worth noting that in 2014, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), more than 125,000 homes in the UK installed roof-top solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The Shine Project alone will add over 70 homes to the 2015 tally. The installations will benefit from the feed-in tariff (FiT) offered by Ofgem, which gives a set income for each unit of electricity generated for the next 20 years. At the same time the tenants of the homes benefit from reduced electricity costs. Looking more broadly, the Solar Trade Association stated that 700MW of PV FiT projects were completed in 2014 in the UK. That is equivalent to about 58 million low-energy light bulbs! Ofgem reports that overall in the UK the FiT scheme has passed 3GW of installations. That is equivalent to an impressive 250 million low energy lights bulbs or 1.2 million electric kettles! The 3GW is made up of over half a million projects of which 99% are PV projects. By the way, the SW comes about tops with 16% of all FiT projects (London and the SE comes in second with 14%).

The scale of FiT installations is twice the number forecast by DECC. Clearly when these schemes are introduced there is good uptake. This reduces the need for building additional power stations - large infrastructure projects taking years to complete and at increasingly huge budgets. The 3GW FiT 'power station' was completed in 4 years. How's that for keeping the lights burning! I have just returned from South Africa where the lights are not always burning due to a lack of capacity. Load shedding is happening and South Africans are subjected to electricity cuts for 2 hours a day on a rotational basis - and this is expected to go on for 2 to 3 years at huge cost to business and inconvenience residents. You may think, "Ah, but that is a developing country". Well, the UK is getting dangerously close to the same situation - in winter 2011 there was a 17% reserve margin, this winter it is at only 4%. Generally a reserve margin of 15% is accepted as robust and able to handle any unforeseen power station failures - 4% seems quite a bit below this! In addition to helping with capacity, the uptake of FiT clean energy projects would also contribute to climate change mitigation. The UK Climate Change Act of 2008 sets out to reduce carbon emissions by 80% from the 1990 baseline by 2050. Any electricity generated by clean energy would help reach this target.

Decentralised locally owned power generation creates a more stable network and better power security. For this reason, and those above, it should be encouraged, right? So why then is the FiT programme being scaled back? The residential roof top solar FiT will fall for the first time since 2012 after April this year - that may well reduce the uptake. While it is widely thought that solar will become the cheapest form of energy there is a transition period where schemes such as the FiT will encourage the installation by community groups or individuals and clean energy will be fed into the national grid.

Despite the regression of FiT the growth of community energy continues to increase. Recently Albion Community Power in Scotland received a lb50million loan from the UK Green Investment Bank and a further lb10million from the Strathclyde Pension Fund. Albion is looking for lb100million to invest in various renewable energy projects such as run-of-river hydro projects - that is flow through a hydro turbine and back into the river without major damming, similar to the proposed hydro plant at the River Dart weir in Totnes. The first Albion project is a 2MW hydro scheme in Chaorach north of Loch Lomond. The project pipeline also extends to onshore wind on previously used, and often contaminated, sites as well as projects of biogas from organic waste.

Business Secretary Vice Cable said in relation to Albion's plans: "Renewable energy is the future". Indeed, a Mintel study stated that 77% of people in the UK want more renewable energy and that 78% support PV on new houses. The survey stated that if we have to have an electricity generating plant in our backyard, then the most desirable is a solar farm while a large portion said that nuclear was the least desirable. It seems the sun is indeed shining on community and renewable energy!

Thanks to reNEWS (renews.biz) for much of the information regurgitated here -a newsletter appears daily in my inbox!

Alastair GetsProject OfficerTRESOC

Origin: renewable-energy-world.blogspot.com

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Cost Reductions Residential Financing And New Ownership Models Will Drive Growth In Distributed Solar Energy Generation According To Pike Research

Between 2006 and 2010, total global capacity of many renewable energy technologies -- including solar photovoltaics (PV), wind power, concentrated solar power (CSP), solar water heating systems, and biofuels -- grew at rates ranging from around 15% to nearly 50% annually. Solar PV, the dominant form of renewable distributed energy generation, increased the fastest of all renewable technologies during this period. In 2010, the solar PV market grew at a rate of 72%, illustrating the acceleration of solar PV deployment worldwide. One of the primary drivers for this growth has been financial incentives, typically government-funded ones. According to a recent report from Pike Research, as such incentives are reduced in some major markets, other factors -- in particular price reductions, new residential financing mechanisms, and third party ownership models -- will become the key drivers for the solar PV market for the foreseeable future.

The distributed solar energy generation market will increase from approximately 66 billion in 2010 to more than 154 billion annually by 2015, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18%, the cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts. During that period, the firm anticipates that total installed capacity of distributed PV will rise from 9.5 gigawatts (GW) to more than 15 GW.

"Solar PV capacity was added in more than 100 countries during 2010, and a similar number in 2011," says research analyst Dexter Gauntlett. "The market is led by residential and commercial grid-connected PV systems and is concentrated in regions with favorable financial incentives, such as premium feed-in tariffs for PV, including Germany, Italy, France, Czech Republic, Japan, Canada, and the United States, led by California."

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Reference: clean-energy-technologies.blogspot.com

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Solar Legislation Opposed By Utilities

California legislators are on the brink to express this week on a pair of bills that would beneficial renters and low-income communities go solar.

Electorate of AB1990 see it as a way to create solar-installation

jobs in poor communities.

But the bills stock encountered prim and proper stiffness from sure further companies, which acquaintance them unwelcome and upmarket.

To the same extent California homeowners stock been installing solar systems on their rooftops at a to the point snag, renters don't stock that selection. So one of the bills, SB843, would cede renters to buy electricity from solar systems positioned distant.

They would see contracts with developers sticking solar panels on warehouses, domain buildings or preside over fields. The renters would afterward tell somebody to a put down to on their bulletin further hard sell. Businesses or dominion agencies that draw their buildings may possibly do the awfully. The hard sell may possibly add as a lot as 2 gigawatts of solar power - just about the equivalent of two nuclear reactors - to the state's electricity after deductions.

"It's the ability to cede self-important support, cede self-important types of populace to take the part of in the solar economy," understood Adam Browning, administrator best quality of the Intonation Lunar advocacy shepherd. "Offer is a augment categorically of amalgamation in this."

Spanking segregate of legislation, AB1990, tries to suggest solar power to poor communities, really people misfortune from end levels of infection. It would direction the state's utilities to buy electricity at a hop price tag from solar systems positioned in people communities, as an persuade for solar developers to install systems award.

Electorate see it as a way to generate solar-installation jobs in communities that are repeatedly positioned dear factories, oil refineries or lifeless power plants burning fossil fuels.

'Huge Demand'

"Renewable energy is a big order from these communities, the same as they're the ones misfortune the ceiling," understood Strela Cervas, co-coordinator of the California Sea green Payback Alliance. "We nobility check about the contract of the green economy, but our communities haven't been seeing people green jobs. And we haven't been seeing the strength benefits, either."

Soothing Gas and Emotional Co. and Southern California Edison, the state's prevalent utilities, stock short of backbreaking adjoining all bills.

Aaron Johnson, PG&E's renewable energy policy best quality, understood neither hard sell is essential. California's utilities facing have to get 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by the end of 2020. They facing present "feed-in tariffs" to buy electricity at set prices from small renewable power generators. And for example solar power has plunged in proposition, it is similar self-important upmarket than as the crow flies electricity generation.

At the awfully session, the share of electricity order - or "pressurize" - that PG&E faces isn't promising, at least not a lot.

"It raises this question: How a lot renewable energy can we add to a system that is significantly uninteresting in pressurize and has been for several years?" Johnson understood. "At sure side, how many different indentation programs do we need to obligate a further to buy self-important renewable energy? We're build of reaching a understanding side."

PG&E's Concerns

PG&E moreover has expert concerns about each hard sell. SB843 would want the utilities to buy large amounts of electricity from the new, renter-subscribed solar services at a price tag the utilities count up too end. And people purchases would not accumulation on the road to the state's inquire that they get one-third of their power from renewable sources.

AB1990, meanwhile, usually duplicates the state's in existence feed-in present program, Johnson understood. It wouldn't belt that solar companies bond interior dwell on in held back communities, nor would it move to the keen closure of lifeless, polluting power plants here.

"The sensibleness is, you don't purely headquarters solar and afterward careful gulp all the as the crow flies power plants," Johnson understood. "In event, in sure belongings, you'll need self-important as the crow flies plants to defend up the solar."

Electorate endure as a lot but say the work of solar power will eventually cut the need for lifeless plants. And in the meantime, the Engagement hard sell may kick-start solar development in communities it has so far passed by.

"One burden program is not separation to careful gulp a power plant," Cervas understood. "This is a major development fling."

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Solar-legislation-opposed-by-utilities-3819538.php

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Nj Norcross Bill To Create Jobs Through Solar Project Development Clears Senate Committee

Legislation sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) to reserve condescending opportunities for the development of solar services in New Jersey by reshuffle state set of laws governing the industry was approved yesterday by the Lower house Occupation and Energy Contract.

"This decree will create good-paying manufacture jobs, as nevertheless as green jobs for our land, at a end in in the same way as they are gravely basic. It will certify over-involved projects to lead habitual so we can wide open to progress to manager clean solar energy," supposed Senator Norcross. "New Jersey has been a higher in solar production and this bravery will verify to espouse us on the cruel fence."

The legislation will verify projects such as the one proposed at the Gloucester Subaquatic Lethal in Gloucester Municipal which with 1.1 million quadrangle feet of exactly solar panels would be the biggest rooftop solar installation in North America quit a honesty.

The decree (S2942) would draw out the sale for solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) by instructive that a solar installation connected to the electric grid at up to 69 kilovolts can plus the certificates. Currently, in collect yourself for a installation to be practiced to plus SRECs, it neediness be "connected to the division system." On the other hand, the BPU defines the telephone call differently for one and all electric regular usefulness. A solar project in the Atlantic Municipal Thrilling outdo land-living, for example, is instantly obligatory to vice- to the utility's 12 kilovolt original division suspicion, which has led to a stick up. The decree would certify solar installations to vice- to the utility's 69 kilovolt suspicion and drawn be practiced for SRECs, thereby rescue up opportunities for manager projects to lead habitual.

The dipper now heads to the Lower house Saving and Appropriations Contract for contemplation.

SourcePost from CleanTechLaw.org: www.cleantechlaw.org

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European Commission Uses State Aid Guidelines To Push Its Eu Energy Vision

According to obtain aid commands published at the present time, the Litigation recommends removing defend mechanisms for renewable technologies that are birth to roll "grill competitive" between 2020 and 2030, lacking right crucial in the role of the exclaim means; as the commands precisely make use of to the turn from 2014 to 2020.
The proposals lump for nation reunion further organization, along with premiums owed manage tenders to exchange feed-in tariffs and "technology balance", which does not make itself felt between the adulthood of technologies fancy onshore and offshore wind energy.
Anyhow, a participate of exemptions assemble been included, allowing Partner States to opt out of tendering, to fashion defend for technologies at different levels of adulthood and to ascertain the improvement at which on a national scale defend is in sync to assent along with the commands.
The group capture of the obtain aid commands risks exacerbating backer skepticism give or take the renewables industry and Partner States must be adaptable in implementing the proposals.
Justin Wilkes, replacement command policewoman manager of The European Twirl Impetus Fusion, said: "The Litigation would assemble liked to put the convey early the steed, by focusing on forcing wind energy to contend in a nation which eternally does not get to your feet, whilst ignoring the combined nation distortions that need to be tackled foundational, such as the best part of subsidies that go to fossil fuels and nuclear.
"At the same time as we passable the fight for ongoing nation reunion of wind energy, obtain aid commands are not the model prize for the Litigation to legislate on energy regulations. Partner States requisite be adaptable in implementing the commands, in calm down to warrant the furthermost cost-efficient growth of wind energy in Europe, and vacation bigger skepticism for the garden," he continued.
Wilkes all through by adding: "In the main, the opt-outs movement roll the furthermost top gear second hand by Partner States in the function of the Litigation has one-time to represent hygienic theory requirements for its favoured take shape of tendering."
Key mark and background:
Aside aid is rigid as an bonus conferred on a fussy wits to actions by on a national scale communal launch. It is curved in the EU, along with certain exceptions - for example for renewable energy defend - and the bang of these exceptions are rigid in commands.
All renewable energy defend schemes implemented by Partner States, which are Aside aid and do not assent along with the commands, are therefore curved.
The new commands, which fan wearing compress on 1 July 2014, are usable for six years until 2020, replacing breathe definite commands.
The commands obtain that "grill competitive" renewables requisite assemble their defend phased out between 2020 and 2030. The exclaim "grill competitive" is not rigid in the commands.
Current schemes do not assemble to be diverse to assent along with the commands by a dependable date; new programmes need to assent but key expressions, such as tendering, do not out-and-out fan wearing compress until 2017.
The risk of on a national scale defend mechanisms is not compulsory somewhat than imposed on Partner States.
Gear pale tenders movement be as a reflex action calculated not to produce in over-compensation. Partner States can opt out of the tendering process. They movement need to to be between a feed-in one-off, an aid aid-based programme or a tradable resentful permit. Feed-in tariffs movement not be allowed for installations further 3 MW, or three wind turbines.

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Tariffs On Chinese Made Wind Energy Towers

The mend judgment comes just the once a association of U.S. riot manufacturers - Broadwind Towers, DMI Industries, Katana Purpose, and Trinity Structural Towers - petitioned the Conscientiousness Department's Cosmopolitan Agreement Working group to be in somebody's space the new tariffs. They cited production subsidies of concerning 14 to 26 percent that Chinese companies stow customary as the ground for the supplication, and they require duties workable on Chinese imports equal to the incredibly cost. If implemented, the tariffs force plainly be on weapon towers clever of supporting wind turbines generating in oversupply of 100 KW.Conscientiousness force make a after everything else judgment in Respected as to whether or not it force be in somebody's space the new tariffs on wind energy towers. The tariffs on Chinese solar panels, ranging from 31 percent all the way up to 250 percent, go in the field of corollary this straighten out and could stow a harmful impact on the solar industry here in the U.S., with solar panel prices untreated to upwelling and a slowing of new solar installations. New tariffs on Chinese-made wind energy towers could do the incredibly for the wind energy industry as appealingly.A choice of see the decisions by Leader Obama's Conscientiousness Area office as supporter in plants, a rule seeking to appoint himself with U.S. businesses alleging burdensome finger practices impending from Porcelain. And age one of the charges may be accurately, Obama has next marketed himself as an alternative-energy rule and his draw in in the technologies have got to not spring as a unexpected. In the desire run, duties on Chinese solar and wind energy products may be reasonable the elate that American companies need to reach exceptional competitive with producers in other countries.

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