Wood Energy is one of the UK's leading wood-fuel heating businesses, providing over a third of the country's total wood heat capacity and saving almost 12,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year through its boiler installations. Based in Devon, the company helped to set up the UK's only accredited wood-fuel training course for the industry to help raise standards. It has also worked hard to ensure a reliable supply of fuel for the heating systems it installs, by supporting local wood-fuel supply businesses and pellet mills. Benefiting from the growing demand for wood-fuel -- which is now cheaper than fossil fuels -- the business is helping the UK meet its carbon reduction targets.
Showing posts with label sustainable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainable. Show all posts
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Good Energy, UK, Renewable electricity
Good Energy has set up the 'Home Generation' scheme, which gives payments to small-scale renewable energy generators for all the electricity which they generate, thus encouraging more renewable generation at a local level.
Large-scale renewable energy generators in the UK set up commercial contracts to sell their electricity, and can also claim Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs), which currently sell for about £39 per MWh (3.9 p per kWh). However, for small renewable generators, the time and effort to do this may not be justified by the financial return. In addition, ROCs can be claimed only on an annual generation of 500 kWh or more, which excludes very small generators.
Good Energy has therefore set up the Home Generation scheme, which provides a payment of 4.5p per kWh to small renewable generators for all the electricity which they generate. To join the scheme, generators must buy the rest of their electricity from Good Energy, and must install a simple meter to measure the total kWh generated. Home Generation customers greatly appreciate the simplicity of this scheme, and typically earn about £100 per year through it. There are currently 200 generators in the Home Generation scheme, representing a total installed capacity of 440 kW.
Good Energy set up the scheme as part of their commitment to increasing the use of renewable electricity in the UK. They have used their extensive knowledge of the practicalities of local generation to lobby the electricity regulator and other suppliers, to make the rules for exporting electricity clearer and to negociate a better deal for small generators.
Large-scale renewable energy generators in the UK set up commercial contracts to sell their electricity, and can also claim Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs), which currently sell for about £39 per MWh (3.9 p per kWh). However, for small renewable generators, the time and effort to do this may not be justified by the financial return. In addition, ROCs can be claimed only on an annual generation of 500 kWh or more, which excludes very small generators.
Good Energy has therefore set up the Home Generation scheme, which provides a payment of 4.5p per kWh to small renewable generators for all the electricity which they generate. To join the scheme, generators must buy the rest of their electricity from Good Energy, and must install a simple meter to measure the total kWh generated. Home Generation customers greatly appreciate the simplicity of this scheme, and typically earn about £100 per year through it. There are currently 200 generators in the Home Generation scheme, representing a total installed capacity of 440 kW.
Good Energy set up the scheme as part of their commitment to increasing the use of renewable electricity in the UK. They have used their extensive knowledge of the practicalities of local generation to lobby the electricity regulator and other suppliers, to make the rules for exporting electricity clearer and to negociate a better deal for small generators.
Seaton Primary School, UK, a sustainable school
Seaton Primary School in Devon lives out its school motto of 'Caring now for the Future', and is one of a few UK schools to install a range of renewable technologies. A 2.5 kW wind turbine and a 4.7 kW PV array on the roof of the school hall supply electricity directly to the school and have helped reduce CO2 emissions by about 2 tonnes a year. In addition, 48 m2 of solar water heating panels heat the school's outdoor swimming pool. Other green initiatives include class 'Energy Agents' to help reduce energy waste; the after-school 'Eco Club' to monitor energy use; a 2006 Energy Audit resulting in a host of energy efficiency measures; an orchard to provide fruit for pupils and save food miles; and a grey water collection system to supply the school wildlife pond and demonstrate small-scale water power.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Kingspan Lighthouse
A short video that delves into the technology and thought process that went into the development of the UKs first Code level six (net-zero-carbon) house and the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH).
BIRCHWAY ECO-COMMUNITY, HAYES
24 one and two bedroom apartments built on disused allotment site within the London Borough of Hillingdon. Built to meet Level 5, Code for Sustainable Homes.
BioRegional Development Group, UK, Wood-chip from waste
The BioRegional Development Group has established a 'TreeStation' -- a centre where waste wood is received from many sources, turned into wood-chip and delivered for use as a heating fuel. Until recently, their site capacity was about 2,500 tonnes per year, but a new chipper has increased this to 15,000 tonnes per year.
Legislation in the London Borough of Croydon and other boroughs requires all significant new building developments to generate 10% of their energy from on-site renewable sources. Biomass heating is one of the most cost-effective ways to do this, but requires a reliable supply of fuel. The London boroughs do have a considerable resource of fuelwood from the management of parks, gardens and woodland, but much of the waste produced is currently sent to landfill, at a cost of about £40 per tonne.
The BioRegional Development Group brokered an innovative deal between tree surgery business, City Suburban Tree Surgeons Ltd, and Croydon Council to manage and dispose of all the Council's wood waste. BioRegional established a TreeStation -- a centre where waste wood is received from many sources, turned into wood-chip and delivered for use as a fuel for heating and combined heat-and-power. Until recently, the TreeStation had produced about 2,500 tonnes of wood-chip per year for a single customer, Slough Heat and Power, who supply heat and electricity to Slough Estates and use an increasing amount of wood in their fuel supply. With recent equipment, the TreeStation now has the capacity to process 15,000 tonnes per year. BioRegional is also setting up drying facilities so that the wood-chip will have lower moisture content, and so be suitable for a wide range of boilers.
Legislation in the London Borough of Croydon and other boroughs requires all significant new building developments to generate 10% of their energy from on-site renewable sources. Biomass heating is one of the most cost-effective ways to do this, but requires a reliable supply of fuel. The London boroughs do have a considerable resource of fuelwood from the management of parks, gardens and woodland, but much of the waste produced is currently sent to landfill, at a cost of about £40 per tonne.
The BioRegional Development Group brokered an innovative deal between tree surgery business, City Suburban Tree Surgeons Ltd, and Croydon Council to manage and dispose of all the Council's wood waste. BioRegional established a TreeStation -- a centre where waste wood is received from many sources, turned into wood-chip and delivered for use as a fuel for heating and combined heat-and-power. Until recently, the TreeStation had produced about 2,500 tonnes of wood-chip per year for a single customer, Slough Heat and Power, who supply heat and electricity to Slough Estates and use an increasing amount of wood in their fuel supply. With recent equipment, the TreeStation now has the capacity to process 15,000 tonnes per year. BioRegional is also setting up drying facilities so that the wood-chip will have lower moisture content, and so be suitable for a wide range of boilers.
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