CO2Sense Networks

PhD Project proposal form

Neil Lowrie — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:21:32 GMT

Proposal form for PhD projects in energy research with University of Sheffield

BHA Spotlight Newsletter

Victoria Maynard — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 08:28:39 GMT

A Review of Anaerobic Digestion Plants on UK Farms

Victoria Maynard — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:22:03 GMT

This report makes extensive use of case studies to explore best practice in a number of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants, each unique in their own way, as well as looking at barriers to AD and the benefits identified by the people who are actually running plants at a farm
scale.

The Energy Sector- powering the region's economic future

Victoria Maynard — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:50:46 GMT

Over the following pages you will find analysis of the
major issues affecting the energy agenda, including
assessing the region's future energy needs, the schemes
in Yorkshire helping to drive the economy, and a
discussion of the potential obstacles that lie in the path
of major changes in the energy sector.
The energy sector is often identified as a source of
major growth for the Yorkshire and Humber economy
- this supplement shows how that is already starting
to take shape.

REA Information on RHI Regulations

Victoria Maynard — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:03:54 GMT

The Feed-in Tariffs (Specified Maximum Capacity and Functions) (Amendment) Order 2011

Victoria Maynard — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:04:37 GMT

The attached very recent (30th May 2011) amendment was brought to my attention earlier today by a community hydro project with regards to FiT and Grant eligibility,

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/fits/Grants/Pages/Grants.aspx

We are having a closer look at it from a community renewable's perspective but the general feeling is that the Amendment Order limits the time period in which installations that have benefited from a public grant can also be eligible for FITs using the de minimis exemption (install must be commissioned before 1^st October 2011), ie NO Grants are now eligible for install and plant purchase if the project wishes to claim the FiT.

In real terms this will mean that the share offer and private finance will now have to cover all install and plant costs, with grants only being available for anything else ie development costs!

Kind regards

Vickie

REA's Budget Summary

Victoria Maynard — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:31:20 GMT

Please find attached the REAs summary of the Budget, as published yesterday

REA's Fast Track FiT Review Document

Victoria Maynard — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:29:15 GMT

REA's document on the consultation document released last week on the fast track FiT review.

Emley Anaerobic Digester Case Study

Andy Lowe — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:18:47 GMT

CO2Sense has helped Clayton Hall Farm negotiate the technical and financial aspects of the anaerobic digestion facility that has been built on the farm, and given the farm owners a £200,000 loan to help finance the plant. Download the full case study here.

GWE Biogas Anaerobic Digester Case Study

Andy Lowe — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:10:36 GMT

GWE Biogas in Driffield is now commissioned. The facility will divert 50,000tpa food waste from landfill and will generate around 15,000 MWh of electricity, enough to power around 3,000 homes. Download the full case study here.

CONSULTATION on a Microgeneration Strategy December

Victoria Maynard — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:17:44 GMT

This Strategy explores a range of non-financial barriers that could prevent the microgeneration sector from realising its full potential. The paper summarises the issues, presents the evidence, makes specific proposals for addressing these barriers, and seeks responses to a range of policy questions.

The Government first invited a cross-section of those with knowledge and expertise in the field to contribute to the development of this draft strategy. Four working groups were set up to look at key policy areas.

The four groups covered the following four themes:

Quality: To ensure consumers have confidence that equipment and installation is reliable and adheres to the highest standards;
Skills: To develop the microgeneration supply chain to ensure it is properly equipped with the right people to meet the expected rise in demand, as well as creating and sustaining jobs in the UK;
Technology: To look at market intelligence, a systems approach and performance improvement.
Information and Advice: To provide more accessible advice and information about microgeneration to consumers.

Please provide comment by the 11TH March 2011 to the consultations as either a comment under this article on the renewable energy network or via email to Victoria.maynard@co2sense.org.uk . If you would like your comments to be included anonymously please detail this within an email and I will endeavour to make sure this happens in CO2Sense's formal response to DECC.

A copy of the CO2Sense consultation response will be included on the Renewable Energy Network once submitted to DECC.

If you have an questions please do not hesitate to contact me directly

Electricity Market Reform Consultation Document

Victoria Maynard — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:10:44 GMT

Goldman Sachs - Business Growth Programme Yorkshire and Humber

Victoria Maynard — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:50:17 GMT

There are 25 free places available on a Goldman Sachs Business Growth Programme for Y&H entrepreneurs. This has been successfully run in previous years and businesses have the chance to apply before the deadline

Microgeneration Strategy- Consultation Document

Victoria Maynard — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:47:41 GMT

Following a collaborative consultation process the Government has published a Consultation Document on a Micrtogeneration Strategy.

This consultation document explores a range of non-financial barriers that have the potential to prevent the microgeneration sector from realising its full potential. It summarises the issues, presents the evidence, makes specific proposals and seeks responses to a range of questions.

CHPA Publication: Copy of the 28th edition of Cogeneration and Energy Services News

Victoria Maynard — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:37:37 GMT

Email Regaring Future of AD and TTW Networks

Victoria Maynard — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:40:51 GMT

Hi All,

This email has recently been sent to all members of the Anaerobic Digestion and Thermal Treatment of Waste CO2Sense on-line network members informing them of decisions which have been made relating to the future of these networks.

Kind regards

Vickie

CO2Sense final report - Widening the reach of commercial food waste collections (2010)

Andy Lowe — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:16:22 GMT

From May 2009 and March 2010, Bradford Environmental Action Trust, funded by CO2Sense Yorkshire, took on an initiative to engage with SME businesses in West Yorkshire to deliver a sustainable commercial and industrial food waste collection service. The attached final report provides a detailed account of the key findings and is a useful read for anyone looking into segregated food waste collections.

A case study and further work that CO2Sense is completing on food waste collections will be uploaded soon.

Download the report to see the key findings and recommendations for how future collections should be developed to best engage with businesses. Segregated food waste collections are one of the mechanisms to create the supply to drive the demand for AD, so it important that we learn from these findings.

Waste Flows in Yorkshire and Humber, EA, October 2010.

Andy Lowe — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:07:15 GMT

The Environment Agency has recently published the results from it's Waste Data Modelling Project: Yorkshire and Humber.

The reports looks at the waste flows of a number of materials. Some of the findings for food waste, based on 2007 data, include:

There is an estimated 145,000 tonnes of segregated food waste.
There is a considerable amount of additional food waste within the mixed waste stream that is landfilled. Estimates are variable but, making some assumptions, the amount of food in mixed waste is about 266,000 tonnes, nearly twice the tonnage of segregated food waste. There appears, therefore, to be scope for further recovery, although it is uncertain how much of it will be recoverable, and separation at source is likely to be the key.
Most food waste went either for transfer (60,000 tonnes) or treatment (68,000 tonnes) and only 17,000 tonnes went to landfill.

Download the file to see the full report.

Calculation of the organic fraction of commercial and industrial waste in Yorkshire & Humber

Andy Lowe — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:02:43 GMT

This report outlines the findings of research into the production of commercial and industrial (C&I) organic waste in Yorkshire and Humber (Y&H). It has been estimated that there is 10,115,000 tonnes of C&I in Y&H. The arisings are also given by sector.

The research methodology is based on a comprehensive survey of waste arisings in the Northwest involving around 1,000 C&I premises. The results of this survey have been extrapolated to calculate C&I organic waste arisings in Y&H at regional, sub-regional and local authority level. Environment Agency data has also been used to bolster the extrapolation process and to assist in illustrating the disposal destination for organic waste arising in the region, along with the origin of organic waste disposed of within the region. This includes waste arisings data submitted as part of Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) regulations. Research into exempt sites dealing with organic waste has also been consulted.

Download the report to have a look at the arisings.

Funding the Future: The case for a pre-development capital fund for revenue-generating community renewables

Victoria Maynard — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:28:33 GMT

This Research, fed into by CO2Sense renewable energy team covers Community Renewable Energy Projects and the challenges they face. If you would like a full copy of the research please either contact Richard Hoggett directly or send me an email and i can pass it on.

Tackling climate change and moving towards a low carbon future requires both the take up of low carbon technologies and changes in the way that people currently use energy, this will require action across all sectors of society. Community-based renewables are beginning to play an important role in enabling this transformation, particularly through the development of revenue-generating renewable energy assets, which provide a locally owned, low carbon supply and a sustainable income stream that enables communities to take wider action. However, such projects are currently poorly supported within current energy policy, making their development difficult, and a number of key barriers need to be overcome. Most crucially there is a need to provide communities, and the organisations that are supporting them, with access to pre-development capital funding to cover the at-risk stages of developing projects, as it is only post-planning, that these projects become bankable in the eyes of commercial investors.

Norton Wind Energy Development Newsletter - October 2010

Victoria Maynard — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:44:13 GMT

This is the first newsletter for the Norton Community Wind Energy Development which is being supported by CO2Sense's renewable energy team who have provided funding to progress the project to a full planning application in April 2011.

The project has just received planning permission to erect a met mast which will be erected as soon as possible.

if you would like any more information relating to this project, please do not hesitate to drop me an email victoria.maynard@co2sense.org.uk

Community Energy - planning, development and delivery,

Victoria Maynard — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:07:28 GMT

Please see attached a copy of a new guide, Community Energy- planning, development and deliver, from the CHPA & TCPA.

The guide, authored by CHPA Associate Michael King and a partner, Robert Shaw from LDA Design, is intended to serve as a 'how to manual' for community groups, councils and developers, interested in generating their own energy.

It outlines a straightforward step-by-step approach to the challenge of creating a successful and efficient community energy scheme.

The guide focuses on the stages of development - rather than specific technology options - to make sure, whichever opportunity is pursued, it is delivered for optimum benefit. It has also been authored to ensure it is of relevance for a wide ranging audience including sustainability and energy officers, through to planners and community groups, alongside others such as property developers and housing associations.

Renewable Energy – Exploding the Myths

Jeff Tomlinson — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:15:56 GMT

Tel - 01904 234 543 or email - infoyork@britisheco.com

A quick look at your latest electricity or gas bill will tell you what you already know; energy bills in the UK have risen sharply over the past decade or so. With the end of North Sea gas, BP oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and continuing global instability, energy prices will continue to rise.

But that’s enough doom and gloom. Over the next couple of months, this column aims to bring you some more positive news, particularly around the area of a renewable energy. Renewable technology has been around since the 1970’s but is still to take off in the UK as it has on mainland Europe. There’s a few reasons for that, not least the myths that exist around renewable technology.

Here we give you the truth about five of the main myths and over the coming weeks will explore ways in which you can not only become more self-sufficient in energy and help the environment but also how renewable energy offers one of the best investment opportunities available.

Myth 1: “Our weather is too poor for renewable energy” – even with global warming, our weather isn’t the best but new renewable technology works well in our country, including East Yorkshire. There are also a range of technologies that capture free energy from the wind, air and ground in sufficient quantities to make the upfront investment worthwhile. In fact, when it comes to wind, we have the best conditions in Europe to harvest wind energy.

Myth 2: “I can’t afford the equipment” – there is an upfront investment in whichever technology you install but, like the car scrappage scheme, the Government is offering fantastic incentives for investing in renewable energy to help the UK reduce its carbon emissions. We’ll talk more about that next week, but to whet your appetite, you can earn up to 41.3p per unit of electricity you generate using renewable energy, that’s around four times what most people pay for their electricity and with no tax to pay on income, just 5% VAT on the equipment and a guaranteed, index-linked rate per unit for the next 25 years on solar PV systems, that’s a great investment.

Myth 3: “It’s unreliable” – renewable energy technology has been around for years and the technology has improved. Equipment is so reliable that manufacturers are happy to offer warranties covering performance of up to 25 years.

Myth 4: “You need planning permission” – to make it easy for people to switch to renewable energy, the Government has removed most of the restrictions on planning. Restrictions still exist on listed buildings and in conservation areas for solar PV panels but even in these cases, you can get planning permission to use renewable energy technology.

Myth 5: “It’s not for everyone” – virtually any house can use some form of renewable technology to generate hot water for heating and bathing, electricity or both, including those in towns and cities. It’s worth talking to a specialist energy company, who should be happy to come out, survey your home and talk you through the options.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll tell you more about renewable energy’s investment potential, how to protect yourself from future energy shortages and how renewable energy adds value to your property, while at the same time helping you feel good about making a positive impact on your environment.

British Eco was established in 2002 and is National Renewable Energy installer. Our Yorkshire office is based near Pocklington, East Yorkshire.

CBI Report The Heat is on: Delivering an Integrated Heat Policy

Victoria Maynard — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:44:22 GMT

The report from the CBI - The Heat is on: Delivering an integrated heat policy - makes recommendations for the Government's proposed Renewable Heat Incentive and addresses the broader issue of decarbonisation of heat.

August 2010 edition of IPA’s briefing paper on GB electricity market developments

Victoria Maynard — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:10:03 GMT

Please find attached the August 2010 edition of IPA’s briefing paper on GB electricity market developments, including details of publications from DECC, Ofgem, National Grid and ELEXON. I hope that you find it interesting and useful. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or feedback on it.