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News

Solarcentury chief executive resigns

Derry Newman, chief executive of Solarcentury, has resigned. He made the announcement on Friday, as the industry waited for news on the progress of the Feed-in Tariff at the High Court. Newman was previously managing director of Sony UK. Newman plans to continue to work with Solarcentury by using his experience to aid its social entrepreneurship involvements.

Feature

Feed-in Tariff stalemate is costing UK renewable industry £25k a day

With the future shape of the UK solar industry on the line and at least £500,000 of taxpayer’s money in the balance, the government faces an anxious few days as it awaits the outcome of Friday’s legal bid to the Court of Appeal. Lawyers for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) argued for the opportunity of a full appeal hearing in an attempt to overturn last month’s High Court judgement that the proposed cuts to the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) was unlawful.

News

Radical changes in home heating needed to meet carbon targets, says Academy

 Even with the most modern gas boilers and state-of-the art insulation, we cannot continue to heat so many homes by natural gas and still achieve an 80% cut in emissions as laid down in the Climate Change Act 2008. The Academy’s report, Heat: degrees of comfort, looks at the challenges of matching our demand for domestic heating with the binding requirement to reduce our overall carbon emissions. The report looks at new technologies including heat pumps, considers options such as district heating and combined heat and power schemes and looks at incentives and drivers for the creation of new markets.

News

Dairy me: Hyacinth the cow holds key to sustainable future

Problems with a reducing milk yield from a herd of Jersey and Guernsey cows, which includes Hyacinth, has led to spectacular green energy solution at Langage Farm, at Lee Mill, on the outskirts of Plymouth, Devon and moved on to a powerful waste disposal campaign.

Product

Alphi-11 re-brand

Fernox has re-branded its Alphi-11 to Antifreeze Protector Alphi-11. The high performance product protects against internal corrosion and limescale formation and eliminates the risk of freezing – down to temperatures of -22°. Available in 5 and 10 litre packs, Antifreeze Protector Alphi -11 protects pipework from freezing temperatures. The product’s properties prevent corrosion of all metals found in domestic central heating systems, ie. ferrous metals, copper and copper alloys and aluminium.

News

Evoco investigates failures in turbines

Following reports at the weekend that blades from a Evoco wind turbine flew off three structures in the recent winds, and that despites an order to be braked, some of the turbines were still spinning in the gales, Evoco has released the following statement:

News

SummitSkills seeks views on government’s Green Deal

SummitSkills is looking for feedback to inform a skills strategy that will allow individuals to become ‘Green Deal competent’, but also ensure that regulation is kept to a minimum

News

Panicked changes could have “fatal impact” on Industry – MPs Report

The Government is undermining confidence in energy policy and hurting the UK solar industry by rushing through panicked changes to Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) without adequate notice to consumers and installers alike, according to a new report by MPs on two influential select committees.

News

Plumb Center welcomes incentives boost

Chancellor George Osborne’s recent Autumn Statement confirmed a £200 million introductory offer to help boost the Green Deal when it eventually comes in to force. The consultation period for the scheme is due to end on 18 January 2012, with a number of points still needing to be finalised.

News

Dulas gains worldwide environmental accreditation

A mid-Wales renewable energy firm has joined organisations from all over the world in a new scheme that recognises a dedication to excellence in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

News

UK top in Europe for eco-cities

A recent survey published by the University of Westminster, shows that Asia is leading the way when it comes to the development of eco-cities with one third of the total number of projects across the globe based in the continent.  The research also found that the UK and France top the list in Europe.

News

British Gas move for Econergy

Econergy, market leaders in the field of biomass heating solutions, has been acquired by British Gas. In 2009 Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, invested in the business buying a 19% stake, and today they concluded a deal to purchase the remaining 81% from the current shareholders for £6.5m in cash.

News

Plumb Center welcomes incentive boosts

Chancellor George Osborne’s recent Autumn Statement confirmed a £200 million introductory offer to help boost the Green Deal when it eventually comes in to force. The consultation period for the scheme is due to end on 18 January 2012, with a number of points still needing to be finalised.

News

Solar still hot investment

Sheffield-based company, The Energy Initiative, is encouraging consumers in South Yorkshire to continue to invest in solar power despite recent cuts to a government subsidy.

News

Renewables training boost in Bristol

Charlotte Leslie MP has officially opened the NAPIT Bristol Training Centre – as part of its joint venture with Plumb Center and Sevenoaks Energy Academy.

News

Essex company on the fast track

Witham-based carbon reduction group, Climate Energy, has been placed 55th in a nationwide league of fastest growing companies.