Here’s the promo video for the Sol-evo PV carport we’ve developed over the last 3 years or so. One of several reasons why this blog has suffered! I try and console myself that at least there’s a good reason.
Archive for the ‘renewable energy’ Category
Sol-evo PV carport
Posted in feed in tariff, PV, renewable energy, sustainability, zero carbon, tagged Intersolar, PV carport, Sol-evo, Solar EPC on June 20, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
quango cull – blow to HCA and others
Posted in climate change, renewable energy, tagged quango on October 14, 2010 | 1 Comment »
The quango cull was announced today. Quick headlines: HCA – “Retain and substantially reform – smaller enabling and investment body working for local communities. Intend to devolve London functions to Mayor of London. Taking on regulation of social housing.” Renewables Advisory Board – abolished Sustainable Development Commission- under consideration Committee on Climate Change – retained [...]
grid carbon will stay high for some time yet
Posted in climate change, heat pumps, renewable energy, sustainability, zero carbon on August 17, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Infuriatingly, it looks like the government may mothball the Environmental Performance Standard, which would have limited emissions from new large power stations. This is despite the fact that both the Conservatives and Libdems championed the policy while in opposition. As a result it’s likely that emissions from grid electricity will stay high for quite some [...]
what rate of return can I get from the PV feed in tariff?
Posted in climate change, consumerism, feed in tariff, PV, renewable energy, uncategorized, tagged DECC on April 25, 2010 | 10 Comments »
It’s taken longer than I’d hoped, but here we go:
fundamental perversity of the RHI
Posted in biomass, heat pumps, renewable energy, renewable heat incentive, sustainability, utilities on April 4, 2010 | 1 Comment »
In the UK we generate enough heat each year to meet the needs of every home in the country… and then we throw the heat away. So why should we promote the use of precious resources and expensive technologies to generate that heat a second time?
tax ‘em all and let the market sort it out
Posted in climate change, feed in tariff, PAYS, renewable energy, renewable heat incentive, utilities, zero carbon, tagged carbon tax on March 9, 2010 | 7 Comments »
The proper way to slash carbon emissions is to tax carbon at the point of fuel extraction and let the market sort the problem out. But because there’s no political appetite for carbon tax, we end up tinkering at the margins trying to address the emissions problem in tortuous and esoteric ways. Here’s a list [...]
biodiesel backlash began yesterday in Bristol
Posted in biofuel, chp, climate change, energy, engineering, renewable energy, sustainability, zero carbon, tagged biodiesel on February 25, 2010 | 6 Comments »
Sure, biodiesel is considered “renewable” in the upcoming building regs. But that won’t stop the backlash against developers who use it. Yesterday a biodiesel generation plant proposed for Avonmouth near Bristol was rejected 6-2 in planning committee on the grounds of its impact on rainforests on the other side of the globe. Of the 1,121 [...]
two roads to solving the refurb crisis – part 2
Posted in climate change, energy, engineering, ESCO, PAYS, renewable energy, sustainability, utilities, zero carbon, tagged CLG, DECC, Supplier Obligation, UKGBC on February 22, 2010 | 6 Comments »
In Whitehall, advocates of PAYS and an expanded suppliers obligation are clashing over which mechanism should be used to refurb existing housing. This is the second post of two. If you missed it, read the first part here. Here’s a quick summary of the two mechanisms:
two roads to solving the refurb crisis – part 1
Posted in climate change, Code for Sustainable Homes, energy, engineering, ESCO, passivhaus, PAYS, renewable energy, sustainability, utilities, zero carbon, tagged CLG, DECC, HEMS, HESS, Supplier Obligation on February 14, 2010 | 5 Comments »
Hitting the 80% carbon reduction by 2050 has huge implications (and costs) for the residential sector. Two strategies are emerging for dealing with these costs, each with its own potentially severe side effects.
FiT as pants as expected – but holy smokes look at that RHI!
Posted in biofuel, biomass, chp, climate change, energy, engineering, feed in tariff, renewable energy, renewable heat incentive on February 1, 2010 | 6 Comments »
DECC have announced the final FiT levels in advance of the incentive coming in in April. Having had a number of disheartening conversations with policy makers over the last few months, the FiT levels are no surprise. No one in government seemed to mind that the FiT would be a subsidy for middle class greenies [...]