It’s not all about solar panels and wind turbines…

July 16, 2010 · Filed under General

‘Renewable’ and ‘sustainable’ energy are becoming pretty common buzz words but what image does this normally induce? Solar panels and wind turbines?

Yes, these are important and viable technologies but there are so many innovative technologies out there that can save, if not generate, energy saving money in addition to reducing your carbon footprint.

Let’s start with energy generation. The major renewable technologies utilise the weather and the environment to generate electricity. The sun powers PV arrays, winds drive wind turbines and water reservoirs drive hydro turbines. Why stop there? Over two thirds of the earth is ocean and this contains a tremendous amount of energy which is always on the move. Tidal currents can be utilised to power ‘underwater wind turbines’ whilst the power in mid-ocean waves can be collected and distributed to houses in-land.

Whilst heat isn’t strictly electricity, it still requires fossil fuels as an energy supply in order to heat a building and the hot water supply. Heat pumps are great technologies; these utilise a temperature gradient (a difference in temperature between two sources) to transfer heat into a system that can be processed and distributed as heating. The exact source of the temperature gradient can vary. A ground source heat pump would utilise a pipeline buried a few meters underground, whilst an air source heat pump uses outside air. Similar ideas can also be extended for water supplies, albeit ground water or sea water. Another innovative idea I found is called a heat recovery ventilation system. This system extracts warm, damp air from areas such as bathrooms and kitchens and extracts the heat that would otherwise be lost to the environment. This heat can be transferred to incoming fresh air or used for domestic hot water.

Ok, so by this point you’re probably thinking all these ideas are great but surely they’re going to cost money? Of course there would be some initial investment but the government has introduced feed-in-tariffs for renewable projects and funding from Carbon Trust may even be possible. But for those of you still unsure there are still many alternatives. Increasing wall insulation, rain water harvesting, and reducing energy consumption by doing the smallest of things such as turning off that light switch to name a few.

And on the talk of lighting there are so many innovative products out there that can save electricity, money and reduce your carbon footprint. Pretty much any light that is produced will have an energy efficient solution ranging from residential to commercial and industrial applications.

In order for a truly sustainable future, all of the above technologies need to work in unison with the best technology being chosen for the correct application. So next time you think about renewable energy don’t just think solar panels and wind turbines – think ‘what really is the best renewable technology for me?’

Martin White

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Climate Change – ‘Yay or Nay’

July 8, 2010 · Filed under General

Climate Change. Definitely a pressing issue in today’s society but should it be? Yes; something needs to be done to change our attitudes to the environment but are these constant petty arguments between scientists really the way? I mean, day after day you log onto the internet, or pick up a paper to see someone claiming something about climate change. But should a drive for renewable energy and sustainability be driven by a constant arguing about ‘yay or nay’ or should we face up to facts that cannot be argued.

The current disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is proving the dilemma that faces the up and coming generations. The current fuel we use is not limitless and prices are going to increase as it gets harder to extract these fossil fuels from our planet. Not only will prices rise, but competition between both countries and companies is going to increase and that human trait of selfishness will raise its ugly head.

In the long run, self sufficiency makes sense. Why import something from another country when it can actually be found in our back garden? The UK being an island has wide availability to all manners of renewable resources; from the winds that race up our hills to the waves and tidal patterns that lap our shores. In the long haul, the UK could have massive potential for renewable energy and we should take hold and lead the way once more. A drive into research, development and manufacturing of renewable technologies could address climate change but bring a surge of jobs and money into our economy.

On a slightly less grand scale, a self sufficient home makes sense. Why pay for someone to give you energy when there are consistently free energy sources all around. After some initial investment and a period of payback, you can be home and dry with a powered and heated home costing you nothing – even better, possibly earning you some revenue! What’s not to love about that for any home or land owner?

In the long run, all these arguments over climate change are getting us nowhere. Renewable technologies don’t just offer a solution to climate change; but a solution to how we lead our lives and the lives of the generations to come.

Martin White.

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Pollution, Climate Change & Money

July 6, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized

There is a divide amongst the public, those that believe in man-made climate change and those that don’t.  However I’m not sure, in the grand scheme of things, how important that divide actually is!  I mean for the average man in the street most of the time climate change won’t come in to any decision that he makes.  Sorry green freaks but that’s the case.

One of the biggest factors that does come in to his decisions is money, and the government have recognised that at least at the business level by setting up the Carbon Trust (although how much longer it lasts is another matter).  The important thing is that if businesses, and indeed individuals, can save themselves money quickly they are likely to spend the money to do it, especially if they can get the capital required interest free.  The fact that there is a benefit to the environment is a handy extra as far as most business are concerned – they can use it in their marketing as it shows how much they are doing to go green!

As long as it makes financial sense to go green people will, that’s the key message here, because when it doesn’t they won’t!

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Seismic Shift Required!

June 21, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized

The ongoing crisis in the United States surrounding BP has to be a wakeup call for our addiction to the black stuff. We are all going to suffer the fall out one way or other, whether it’s a hit on our pensions, or ultimately the price we pay for fuel at the pump. No doubt the other oil companies will be thinking ‘there by the grace of god’. It appears that none of the big providers have put enough effort into risk assessments and we will find out in years to come that this was the usual disaster waiting to happen. Of course what we should be thinking about is how we can reduce our dependence on an energy resource that will become increasingly difficult and consequently more dangerous to extract. Surely now is the time for investors, fund managers and banks to realise the opportunities that renewable energy presents. I am not naive enough to think that everyone will switch to greener consumption because it is good for the environment. People on the whole are selfish and will only make the move away from oil if priced out of the market or if financially the switch makes economic sense. However, with the current mood in the US, especially from a President who makes the comparison of the oil spill with 911 now must be the time to push the alternative energy agenda. We all know that if the US start to change their own habits, chances are that we will follow.

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Feed in Tariffs for Renewables – Good News, Bad News

April 21, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , ,

So we are now coming towards the end of April and this has seen the introduction of feed in tariffs for renewable generation in the UK. As always we seem to be somewhat behind our European counterparts as countries such as France and Germany have already introduced such schemes to great affect. Spain and Germany are leading the way with 9% and 5%, respectively,  of their countries power being generated by renewable energies. The Danish have managed to go even further with 20% of their nations power being produced, in no small part through the mass of wind farms they have spread through out their borders.  It may also surprise you to know that America, that far sighted nation (take this as you will), have had a FIT scheme in operation since 1978. It was introduced by the much maligned and underrated president Jimmy Carter, as a response to the energy crisis of the time. Although it is still in existence, the scheme has been fought vigorously by large utility companies who have always perceived it as a threat to their monopoly of energy provision.

The German FIT Scheme is hailed as the blueprint for others to follow. They have put considerable thought in their policy. The tariffs offered for generation are based on the different cost associated with the various technologies. This leads to different prices for wind power, solar power, biomass and biogas sources, and geothermal energy, as well as different prices for projects of different sizes, to account for economies of scale. Prices are also guaranteed for 20 years to reassure consumers and utility companies have been excluded from these rates. So far the German model has been the most successful and the take up of renewable energies is greater there than anywhere else in the world.

So what will a FIT scheme mean to you the consumer and your renewable energy project.  Well, if you have already had the good sense to install such a system on your property then unfortunately the FIT scheme will not apply to you. The government took the decision to not retrospectively apply this policy, something that seems to be a feature of current government ‘Green Policy’. It is not completely desolate though, you will be eligible for 9p per kWh, but this is somewhat galling when considering new systems will recieve 36p per kWh generated. Everyday we speak to people who have been championing these types of technologies for years. Often derided by others in society who have been happy to label such people as ‘Hippies’, it is the values of these folk that forms the backbone of the vast majority of government environmental policy. It is incredibly disheartening as a renewable energy company to inform people that they won’t be supported for having the foresight to take the initiative upon themselves to start making a difference. It seems to be a depressing inevitability of human existence that those who are able to see beyond their time and to take a proactive course of action, never receive the acknowledgment and praise that they deserve.

However, for those considering a renewable system for their property, the news is of a better nature.  The new tariffs mean, as mentioned before, you will receive 36.1p per kWh generated. This refers to Solar Photo Voltaic panels. The prices for other technologies varies, with hydro receiving 19.9p/kWh, going down to 4.5p/kWh for large scale installations. Wind generated energy will receive up to 34.5p/kWh for smaller turbines, going down to 4.5p/kWh for the large installations that are so despised by Fight the Ban touting, Landrover driving, middle class numpties.

In real terms these FITs will have a definitive, positive effect on the renewables market. The payback of things such as Solar PV and wind turbines are now drastically reduced. The scheme will hopefully make generating your own electricity not only a more accessible option, but a viable commercial opportunity. This may sound awful, as obviously whether something is commercially viable or not should not be a prerequisite for taking the decision to reduce your consumption and effect on the environment. But unfortunately that is the reality for the vast majority of people. They need incentives to come on board and hopefully this is exactly what the FITs scheme will provide.

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Green Energy Investment Bank

April 7, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

So it has been announced in the recent budget that Britain is going to follow our European brethren, France and Germany in establishing a Government backed green investment bank. The proposal outlines how a central investment bank will be established using a combination of private and public funds.

The government is going to raise £1bn by selling off various valuable assets, such as the Channel Tunnel rail link, the Tote, the Dartford Crossing, the High Speed One rail link, Urenco and the Student Loans book. The Treasury then intends to persuade private sector investors to match this with a further £1bn. Although the Treasury has yet to decide who would run the bank, and how it would be structured, the plan is to make it a separate body, with a remit set by the Treasury to help finance projects that private sector investors would otherwise be reluctant to back. Already there have been detractors bemoaning the interference of the state in a realm that could easily, so it’s claimed, be supported by market forces.  This however, has been swiftly brushed aside as a report from the BVCA’s Energy, Environment and Technology Board (EETB) argues that a well designed green bank could help accelerate private sector investment in low carbon projects.

All this will hopefully be good news to businesses such as ReGen. The Green Industry is only going to grow as we come to accept as a nation, our role in  conserving what we use and consume. However, so much will hinge on how the money is used and where it is directed. Climate groups are already claiming that the sums discussed are “peanuts” compared to what will actually be required to secure our future. Some reports suggest £400bn is closer to the kind of figures that will be required over the ten years, so what happens now will be key in determining how successful this proposal will be to British business. Hopefully the injection of funding by government will be a big enough stimulus for private investment to become involved in more and more “Green” projects. There is still a degree of skepticism surrounding many of the new technologies and it is our hope that that these proposals will go a long way to validating what many of us are trying to achieve.

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When Local Means Just That

March 31, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , ,

Every Saturday I have the Telegraph delivered to our door and by Sunday evening am wondering why I bother. Apart from providing paper to light the wood burner and line the dog basket it provides little else. However, last weeks did provide an article of interest. Budgens Lightwater, one of  183 stores in the group was visited by the Telegraphs Mary Portas. The Lightwater branch had  recently switched to low energy lighting installed by the ReGen Power team and Mary’s shopping experience must only have been enhanced by the new crisp light. She sings the praises of the local sourcing policy that has to be the way forward. Much of the meat sold in the store is prepared by George Arthur a butcher so local he has a shop directly opposite the Budgens store. ReGen has installed energy-efficient lighting in two of the Budgens stores, is about to commence a third, leaving 180 to go.

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Willingness to Green-Up

March 24, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

It surprises me, at times, the eagerness of some companies to ‘Go Green’; however I don’t think it should.  Considering the current state of finances in the UK now is a golden opportunity to make a real change in the way things work.  As a rule the products that we, and others, promote to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions also have the benefit of saving people and companies money.  With the help of the government backed Carbon Trust companies can take advantage of an interest free loan to buy products that reduce carbon emissions and with the loan repayments set lower then the projected saving there is a positive return from the off.  Once the loan is paid back the full saving comes in to effect.

What does this mean for you?  Well if you run an SME it could mean that you effectively get free stuff.  Think about it.  An interest free loan with the repayments capped below your savings – that’s money you would have spend anyway.  So you get to reduce your monthly electricity bill, reduce your carbon footprint and best of all it doesn’t actually cost you anything to do!

At ReGen Power we specialise in helping businesses and individuals save money and save the planet.  Why don’t you come and see what we can do for you?

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Electric Cars & Green Power

March 19, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , ,

News this week that Nissan will be making their new electric car in Sunderland, not only will the car be made in the UK saving and creating important new jobs and securing a manufacturing base in what could be considered the industrial heartland of the country, but also it will pave the way for future green transport projects  as thousands of charging points will be installed to keep the cars moving.  I understand that London will also see installation of the charging points.

Also worth mentioning is that Ford are planning serious investment in cleaner engines.  For the short term future, certainly, diesel engines provide a  practical solution to environmental issues with the dramatic increases in the mpg these engines have given in recent years they provide a useful stepping stone to the future.

At this point I think it’s important to mention the debate on the ‘greenness’ of electric cars in general.  While energy is produced by fossil fuel burning power stations the cars are still generating pollution – albeit less than an internal combustion engined car – and so it’s important to see that as much energy as possible that is used to power these vehicles is generated using green technology.  An electric car charged by wind turbines and solar panels would definitely live up to it’s claim to be emissions free.  You can even factor in that batteries are the most recycled item in the UK to help allay fears that the toxic pollutants found inside them could lead to a massive problem later on.

You may have noticed that I didn’t consider nuclear power in the paragraph above, and to be honest that’s because while the carbon emissions may be non-existent there is still the huge problem of what to do with the radioactive nuclear waste that these plants generate.  I’m not saying that there isn’t a place for them in the future, just that we as individuals, businesses, a country and the planet must learn how to both use less energy – through low energy products – and also make sure that we generate it in the cleanest way possible.

And finally, for all you cars lovers – which I am – if transport in general cleans up, and power generation cleans up too; there will still be a place for a V8 powered muscle car in the world that won’t cause anyone any problems!

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Jobsworth

March 19, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , ,

It was with some amusement that I watched our local refuse collectors arrive at my place of work and ponder over the large pile of cardboard neatly stacked before them. Let me set the scene. We are a renewables Company striving to reduce carbon emission, energy consumption and where possible recycle. Basically think about others and the environment around us. All good stuff. Back to the story after much deliberation, head scratching and gesticulation the two refuse collectors decided to jump back into their truck and drive off. Rather odd I felt, however having worked as a temp many years ago for Oxford City Council I was aware that different departments would have to be consulted. It was with incredulity that the following day when the rubbish waste collectors arrived they informed me that the volume of cardboard left in our designated recycling bay had made it to the local radio station, and no this is not radio Norwich country. A supervisor was to be despatched to assess whether a crime had been committed. A couple of hours later his head appeared around the door shortly followed by his body. It was explained that the cardboard collectors were an idle bunch and would be given an ear full on his return to base.

Happy days cardboard has now been collected and will soon become a milk carton near you.

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