News
Plant closures delayed – but
CBI warns it’s not enough
n
The business group, CBI, has welcomed plans to
delay green requirements for power plants – but warned that the proposals do not go far enough. Following a vote on the Industrial Emissions Directive in the European Parliament in May, it is proposed that energy generators be given until June 2019 to upgrade power plants to comply with air pollution targets – or face closure. The CBI argues that energy generators need until 2021 to comply with the directive, to give them enough time to build other low carbon energy sources to replace lost capacity. The group also rejects the
proposal to replace the current flexible risk-based approach to monitoring industrial emissions with a one-size-fits-all ‘European Safety Net’. It argues this will undermine the flexibility of member
states to decide how best to meet air pollution targets. Sean McGuire, director of CBI Brussels, said: ‘The committee’s proposal to extend the timescale for power plants to comply with the Industrial Emissions Directive from 2016 to 2019 is helpful, but it still does not go far enough. ‘There is a risk that the UK will not
be able to build other low carbon energy sources in time to replace
lost capacity. A phased introduction for this directive would allow the UK to make a smoother transition to a more balanced energy mix. This also has the backing of the majority of EU member states.’ Negotiations will take place
between the Council and European Parliament, before the directive is due to be voted on in a plenary session in Strasbourg in July. In the UK, the new government
has pledged to increase the target for energy from renewable sources, subject to the advice of the Climate Change Committee. The Lib Dem manifesto promised to cut UK carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2020, while the Tories are committed to a 34 per cent reduction.
l See page 18 for coverage of the CIBSE national conference, including discussions on energy.
Lighters have a duty to reduce energy
The new president of the Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) told members during his inauguration that it is their duty to minimise the environmental and energy impact of lighting. Alan Tulla made his speech,
‘Lighting is (still) exciting’, at the Royal College of Physicians in London in May. During his presidential address, Tulla reflected on what the SLL has already achieved in its first 100 years, and where the society is now. He said: ‘Whether or not one
believes that mankind causes global warming, there is no disputing that there is only one Earth and, hence, an ever-dwindling amount of carbon-based fuel. It is our duty, therefore, to minimise the environmental and energy impact of lighting.’ He also paid particular attention
to the success of the Young Lighter of the Year and the Lighting Design Awards. ‘Yet again, Young Lighter of the Year had more entries than ever before, three quarters of whom were from overseas.’
Call for more help on solar
thermal
A micro-generation group has told the UK government that solar thermal heating should be incentivised as much, or even more so, than other technologies in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). YouGen, a company that describes itself as a social enterprise, made the assertion in its response to the recent RHI consultation. It said: ‘Solar thermal, the only truly zero carbon technology, appears to be treated as the poor relation, and is in danger of being overlooked in favour of alternatives that offer a better financial return but lower carbon savings as a result.’ The social enterprise also said
that energy efficiency measures should be made mandatory for installations of technologies intended to deliver heating, and that technologies delivering greater carbon reductions should be favoured over those that don’t. Meanwhile, trade body RenewableUK has published a report stating that the UK small wind-power market could grow by more than 180 per cent in 2010. It also revealed that in 2009,
annual small wind installations surpassed previous records by almost 20 per cent, up from 7.24MW in 2008 to 8.64MW in 2009. The total installed UK capacity reached 28.7MW at the end of last year.
The report, Small Wind Systems –
Alan Tulla addresses SLL members.
UK Market Report, is the third of its kind and can be accessed at
www.bwea.com
www.cibsejournal.com
June 2010 CIBSE Journal
9
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