UK Feed-In Tariff Enjoys Early Success

A recent report has revealed that, since its introduction in April 2010, the United Kingdom's renewable energy feed-in tariff has enjoyed record levels of success.

The latest official figures published by UK energy regulator Ofgem (PDF) show that an impressive 15,468 installations have registered to take part during the first six months.

The scheme, designed to promote the uptake of small-scale renewable electricity generation, has already paid out more than £2.5 million (around US $4 million) to applicants – with the subsidies proving particularly popular in the solar PV sector, which has accounted for the lion’s share (around 60%) of participants to date.
“What makes it especially attractive now is that, with the guaranteed rate of return [offered] by the FiT, you can sit down with a calculator and figure out roughly when the investment will pay for itself,”
However, amid a climate of global financial austerity, similar FiT schemes are being gradually reduced across Europe. In this light, it is perhaps likely that the UK will follow other countries, notably Germany and Spain, in scaling-back subsidies.
“The key in phasing out FiTs – along with subsidies for conventional energy, which the International Energy Agency estimates far exceed renewables subsidies worldwide – is a gradual reduction in subsidies, to avoid any sudden shocks that would send investors fleeing, and to avoid retroactive cuts,”
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Now Is The Best Time To Compare Domestic Energy Prices

Energy firm EDF became the last of the big six to unveil inflation busting price rises yesterday.Millions of customers with EDF Energy have been warned of rises in gas and electricity tariffs that are expected to add £72 to average annual bills,electricity prices jump by 7.5% and gas by 6.5%.Unlike most of its rivals, EDF has waited to push up tariffs until the worst of the winter is over. Tariffs will rise from March 2.

Now this round of price increases has been completed consumers should be able to enjoy a period of stability.
"This means that it is an excellent time to shop around for a better deal, potentially saving up to £458, which would wipe the effect of price increases out and put money in the pocket ready for next winter.

worlds first Energy House

Scientists at the University of Salford plan to use the mock home to test the effectiveness of a wide range of energy saving technologies.

The house is being built inside a three-storey laboratory, which will allow a team of researchers to control heat, light and humidity levels.
"We need to find ways to make these old-build properties more energy efficient as they will continue to house people for generations to come," observed Professor Stephen Donnelly, dean of the university's Faculty of Science, Engineering and Environment.

"But to cost-effectively retro-fit old properties and make them as carbon-efficient as possible requires detailed and robust research."

The Energy House project is expected to last for about three years before the team will demolish the house and replace it with a replicated public building, such as a hospital ward or school classroom.

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Hydrogen Based Artificial petrol For 90p A Gallon

The new hydrogen-based fuel costs only 90 pence per gallon and could even run in existing cars.

The environment-friendly fuel has been developed in secret at a laboratory in Oxford and could be available in as little as three years.

Motorists could even be able to drive for 300 to 400 miles before needing to fill up.

Energy from hydrogen can be harnessed by burning the gas or combining it with oxygen in a fuel cell to produce electricity.

But current methods of storing hydrogen are expensive and not very safe.

To get round this, scientists from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, near Oxford, University College London and Oxford University have found a way of densely packing hydrogen into tiny beads that can be poured or pumped like a liquid.
They have developed a way of making tiny micro-fibres 30 times smaller than a human hair. These form a tissue-like material
that is safe to handle in air. The new material contains as much hydrogen for a given weight as
the high pressure tanks currently used to store hydrogen.



'Early indications are that the micro-beads can be used in existing vehicles without engine modification. The materials are hydrogen-based, and so when used produce no carbon emissions at the point of use, in a similar way to electric vehicles.’

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