Inform Carbon Reduction


WIND SOARS AHEAD Wind power is leading the surge of renewable energy as it generates an increasing share of UK electricity. Energy statistics from DECC as part of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2010 show the amount of energy put into the grid by the country’s wind farms last year hit 2.5% of Britain’s total – a 31% increase on the previous year – against a more modest increase of 20% for renewable energy sources as a whole. Maria McCaffery chief exec- utive of trade association RenewableUK welcomed the figures while urging govern- ment to set tougher targets. “It is good news to see the role of renewables in meeting our energy needs is rising and in particular the significant contri- bution from the wind industry,” she said. “With one third of our power supply needing to be replaced by 2015 we cannot delay in greater deployment of clean energy technologies.”


Firms fear lack of data management


Businesses in CRC are worried about getting good data


With just a month left for compa- nies to register for the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC), an industry poll has revealed that the biggest perceived barrier facing organisations is data management. The survey by Landmark Environment, found that 43% of its clients feel that getting good data is the biggest barrier to preparing for the new regulations.


Around 23% said that the cost of adhering to the CRC was the biggest issue, while 47% said that understanding the legislation and guidance was a concern and a third cited the audit trail or evidence pack.


But the poll did suggest that organisations are alert to the opportunities presented by the CRC. Gaining a greater under- standing of energy efficiency, potential cost savings and improved data capture and man-


With a month to go, there are still many business yet to register for the CRC


agement were all named as key ben- efits, and underline the need for organisations to engage with the regulations.


“It is encouraging to see that many organisations see the poten- tial benefits as well as the barriers, and with almost a third of those surveyed naming potential cost sav- ings as a benefit it is clear that estab- lishing an effective and accurate CRC process could help to boost cost savings in the longer term,” said David Mole, Landmark


Environents’ managing director. Meanwhile, a poll of edie.net’s users has shown the vast majority feel the CRC is not working. 54% of readers said they did not think the scheme “was on course” and another 23% said they did not know either way.


Head of climate change and sus- tainable development at the Environment Agency, Tony Grayling, said: “Our CRC helpdesk is available to help you through the registration process.”


Councils free to sell green energy to the grid


Coalition Government overturns previous ban


The UK Government has lifted a ban on local authorities being able to sell surplus renewable electricity back to the grid. Currently, just 0.01% of electric- ity in England is generated by council-owned renewables, like wind turbines or solar panels placed on town halls, council hous- es and leisure centres.


By allowing local authorities to sell unused renewable energy that is generated locally back to the National Grid – something they have not been allowed to do in 34 years – the Government hopes to kick start a revolution in the micro- generation of renewable energy,


raising more than £100M for cash- strapped councils in England and Wales.


Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne said: “For too long, Whitehall’s dogmatic reliance on ‘big’ energy has stood in the way of the vast potential role of local authorities in the UK’s green energy revolution.


INSIGHT


A number of local authorities have developed renewable energy systems but the 1976 Local Government Act pro- hibits them from selling elec- tricity not produced alongside heat – a rule brought in to protect emerging private elec- tricity companies.


“This is a vital step to making community renewable projects commercially viable, to bring in long-term income to benefit local areas, and to secure local acceptance for low-carbon energy projects.” The move was welcomed by the Local Government Association (LGA) as a “victory for councils who want to transform the way we provide cheap and green power for


millions of people”. “This has the potential to revolutionise the way we produce electricity by turning town halls into green power sta- tions,” said Gary Porter, chairman of the LGA’s environment board. “This could save huge amounts of money to help maintain services in these difficult financial times and keep council tax down.”


The ban will be overturned this month, allowing councils to supply the grid, either at feed-in tariff rates or at higher commercial rates. Councils that want to do so will need to gain a licence through Ofgem, the regulator.


The Government is currently preparing an Energy Bill which it says will centre on making it easier for businesses to save energy.


BRIEFS NEW UN CLIMATE CHIEF CHRISTIANA FIGUERES DESCRIBES TALKS IN RUN-UP TO COP16 AS ‘TRYING TO COOK A MEAL WITHOUT A POT’ 6 | Sustainable Business | August/September 2010


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