Centrica, the owner of British Gas, has acquired a 50 per cent interest in a Scottish onshore wind farm, increasing its level of renewable generation capacity. The Braes of Doune project in Stirlingshire took the UK’s total wind capacity past 2,000MW for the first time when it was fully commissioned today.
Centrica paid £42 million in cash for its share of the wind farm and will also take the entire output of the 72MW development, which will produce enough electricity to power the homes of 46,000 British Gas customers.
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Thursday 2 August 2007
Ten ways to cut your carbon footprint at work
In addition to buying green electricity, another initiative to consider is generating your own energy on-site from renewable sources. Micro-generation equipment, such as solar panels and wind turbines, has become more mainstream and is even available from some DIY stores.
First Direct in Stourton, Leeds, has recently installed 100m2 of roof-mounted solar panels at its offices. These can generate in excess of 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year. The panels make a significant contribution to reducing the energy requirements of the site's crèche and will reduce the building's carbon footprint by more than four tonnes.
The cost of solar panels and wind turbines starts at a few thousand pounds, and grants are available from the government. Private businesses, community organisations, schools, the public and not-for-profit sector, and householders can all apply. Log on to www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk to find out more about the scheme.
full article
First Direct in Stourton, Leeds, has recently installed 100m2 of roof-mounted solar panels at its offices. These can generate in excess of 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year. The panels make a significant contribution to reducing the energy requirements of the site's crèche and will reduce the building's carbon footprint by more than four tonnes.
The cost of solar panels and wind turbines starts at a few thousand pounds, and grants are available from the government. Private businesses, community organisations, schools, the public and not-for-profit sector, and householders can all apply. Log on to www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk to find out more about the scheme.
full article
Wednesday 1 August 2007
China makes huge breakthrough in wind power technology
Chinese developers unveiled the world’s first full-permanent magnetic levitation (Maglev) wind power generator at the Wind Power Asia Exhibition 2006 held June 28 in Beijing.
Regarded as a key breakthrough in the evolution of global wind power technology—and a notable advance in independent intellectual property rights in China—the generator was jointly developed by Guangzhou Energy Research Institute under China’s Academy of Sciences and by Guangzhou Zhongke Hengyuan Energy Science & Technology Co., Ltd. The Maglev generator is expected to boost wind energy generating capacity by as much as 20 percent over traditional wind turbines. This would effectively cut the operational expenses of wind farms by up to half, keeping the overall cost of wind power under 0.4 yuan ($US 5 cents), according to Guokun Li, the chief scientific developer of the new technology. Further, the Maglev is able to utilize winds with starting speeds as low as 1.5 meters per second (m/s), and cut-in speeds of 3 m/s, the chief of Zhongke Energy was quoted as saying at the exhibition. When compared with the operational hours of existing wind turbines, the new technology will add an additional 1,000 hours of operation annually to wind power plants in areas with an average wind speed of 3 m/s.
Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com
full article
Regarded as a key breakthrough in the evolution of global wind power technology—and a notable advance in independent intellectual property rights in China—the generator was jointly developed by Guangzhou Energy Research Institute under China’s Academy of Sciences and by Guangzhou Zhongke Hengyuan Energy Science & Technology Co., Ltd. The Maglev generator is expected to boost wind energy generating capacity by as much as 20 percent over traditional wind turbines. This would effectively cut the operational expenses of wind farms by up to half, keeping the overall cost of wind power under 0.4 yuan ($US 5 cents), according to Guokun Li, the chief scientific developer of the new technology. Further, the Maglev is able to utilize winds with starting speeds as low as 1.5 meters per second (m/s), and cut-in speeds of 3 m/s, the chief of Zhongke Energy was quoted as saying at the exhibition. When compared with the operational hours of existing wind turbines, the new technology will add an additional 1,000 hours of operation annually to wind power plants in areas with an average wind speed of 3 m/s.
Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com
full article
Energy Saving Trust - top 10 tips
THE energy saving measures below could help you shave up to £300 off your annual energy bill and enable you to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by two tonnes. Here’s how you do it.
ONE: Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by fitting a cheap, easy brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors. Letterboxes and keyholes should be covered too.
TWO: Draughts also get in through gaps in floorboards and skirting boards, which let heat escape in winter. Filling them with newspaper, beading or sealant will help you stop throwing heat (and your money) away.
THREE: Trade your ordinary lightbulbs for energy saving ones. Costing from just £3.50, energy saving light bulbs last 12 times longer and for each bulb you fit, you could save up to £9 on your annual electricity bill or £100 over the bulb’s lifetime.
FOUR: An insulating jacket for a hot water tank costs only a few pounds and pays for itself within months. Fit one that’s at least 75mm (3in) thick and you could save £20 a year.FIVE: Insulating your loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy and you can even install it yourself. In a year you could save £180 to £220.
SIX: About 33% of the heat lost in your home is through the walls, so insulating them could save £130 to £160 on your annual heating bills. Cavity wall insulation will also keep you cool in the summer and warm in winter.
SEVEN: If your boiler is more than 15 years old, it’s probably time to replace it. By law, new boilers must now be of the high-efficiency condensing type. They can help you save up to a third on your heating bills and even more if you upgrade to modern controls.
EIGHT: When replacing appliances, look for ones displaying the energy-saving recommended logo. They could save you up to £45 a year.
NINE: Double-glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by £80 to £100.
TEN: Still not sure which are your home’s weak spots? Why not complete an online home energy check at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/check
full article
ONE: Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by fitting a cheap, easy brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors. Letterboxes and keyholes should be covered too.
TWO: Draughts also get in through gaps in floorboards and skirting boards, which let heat escape in winter. Filling them with newspaper, beading or sealant will help you stop throwing heat (and your money) away.
THREE: Trade your ordinary lightbulbs for energy saving ones. Costing from just £3.50, energy saving light bulbs last 12 times longer and for each bulb you fit, you could save up to £9 on your annual electricity bill or £100 over the bulb’s lifetime.
FOUR: An insulating jacket for a hot water tank costs only a few pounds and pays for itself within months. Fit one that’s at least 75mm (3in) thick and you could save £20 a year.FIVE: Insulating your loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy and you can even install it yourself. In a year you could save £180 to £220.
SIX: About 33% of the heat lost in your home is through the walls, so insulating them could save £130 to £160 on your annual heating bills. Cavity wall insulation will also keep you cool in the summer and warm in winter.
SEVEN: If your boiler is more than 15 years old, it’s probably time to replace it. By law, new boilers must now be of the high-efficiency condensing type. They can help you save up to a third on your heating bills and even more if you upgrade to modern controls.
EIGHT: When replacing appliances, look for ones displaying the energy-saving recommended logo. They could save you up to £45 a year.
NINE: Double-glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by £80 to £100.
TEN: Still not sure which are your home’s weak spots? Why not complete an online home energy check at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/check
full article
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