This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
The


The government has finally released details of the £860 million Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. Andrew Brister wonders whether the initiative will deliver on its promises


The RHI will encourage solar panel installations


is on C


The UK government’s commitment to increasing renewable energy offers huge opportunities for the electrical contracting industry


arbon emissions actually rose in 2010. Despite all the latest green initiatives, the UK is underperforming when it comes to its carbon reduction commitments, and the latest figures will no doubt disappoint the government. Analysis shows that if you take the six greenhouse gases


included in the Kyoto Protocol, the level of emissions for 2010 showed a year-on-year rise of 2.8 per cent. Further analysis of individual gases showed that carbon dioxide recorded a rise of 3.8 per cent in output last year. The figures reverse the general downward trend seen since 1990. Perversely, this may prove to be good news for the green


movement. The government has set a legally-binding target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 34 per cent by 2020 and an eye-watering 80 per cent by 2050 (from base 1990 levels). So the coalition government will have to speed up change and announce more green initiatives, as well as toughening legislation.


Green energy One area where it is doing just that is, of course, in the take-up of renewable energy. Most electrical contractors will be aware of the Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITs) that has rewarded generation of electricity through renewable means. There have been more than 20,000 registrations for solar PV schemes alone since the introduction of FITs in April 2010. Now the coalition is looking to do the same for renewable


heat. Just before the Budget, energy secretary Chris Huhne released further details of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme that was unveiled in the Comprehensive Spending Review late last year. The £860 million scheme is expected to increase green capital investment by £4.5 billion. ‘Renewable heat is a largely untapped resource and an important new green industry of the future,’ said Chris


22 ECA Today May 2011


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72