NEWS
A biofuel plant. Larger biomass projects face a tariff cut
SMEs ‘missing out on energy savings’
Small businesses in Britain are losing £7.7bn a year by not installing simple effi ciency measures, according to energy supplier E.ON. Only a fi fth of the 1,167 SMEs
the company surveyed had energy effi cient equipment installed, so each fi rm is missing out on possible savings of up to £2,000 per year. While15% had smart meters
installed, almost 90% did not have lighting timers or motion sensors. Some 80% did not have an energy monitor installed, and 13% admitted to leaving windows open when the air conditioning or heating was running.
Report identifi es £8bn public service savings
The public sector can raise the productivity of its workforce by £8bn a year by using buildings more effi ciently. That is the recommendation
of a new report launched by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles after an eight- month parliamentary enquiry carried out by the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum. The report suggests that, if
the public sector rationalises its property portfolio, works in partnerships and improves workplace conditions by championing practices such as fl exible working, it can improve environmental effi ciency while improving productivity by between 5% and 15%. A 5% cent increase alone would equate to £8bn worth of staff time. The report also suggests that
a well-run property energy effi ciency programme can deliver energy savings of 15%, in return for an investment typically paid back in two years, as well as cutting emissions.
www.policyconnect.org.uk
Dismay over cut in RHI tariff for big biomass
● Members ‘hugely frustrated’ by decision, says Renewable Energy Association
The renewable energy industry has reacted with dismay to the government’s announcement of a 60% cut in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) tariff for larger biomass projects. There was some relief that the scheme was going
ahead at all – after the last-minute delay announced in September – when the European Commission expressed concern that the tariff level for large biomass projects had been set too high. The Department for Energy and
a reasonable notice period so people can get projects completed. ‘This is so drastic and so sudden that many of our members have been left hugely frustrated as they were already committed to projects based on the original tariff agreed by Parliament.’ There was considerable criticism of the Department
Climate Change last month confi rmed that RHI scheme would now be going ahead. But it also confi rmed the cut in payments for biomass installations above 1MW, prompting industry bodies to warn that this would lead to many projects being cancelled. ‘Most of the projects at that scale (above 1MW) will
‘ Most of the projects above 1MW will now not go ahead’
of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) for its failure to gauge what level of subsidy the European Commission would accept. Investor confi dence is being eroded with every change of direction on renewables funding, Thompson said. Separately the Energy Secretary, Chris
Huhne, has claimed that the UK will become the largest market in Europe for offshore wind. He pointed to actions totalling nearly £1.7bn of investment over the last year. ‘We are not going to save our economy
not now go ahead,’ said Paul Thompson, head of policy at the Renewable Energy Association (REA). ‘We understand that policy does sometimes have to change, but all we ask is that the industry is given
by turning our back on renewable energy. I can assure you this government has resolved that we will be the largest market in Europe for offshore wind,’ he told the annual UK renewables conference in Manchester.
For more information visit:
www.decc.gov.uk
Help for fi rms to be more energy effi cient
The Carbon Trust has launched a free advisory service to help companies reduce their energy costs. It claims the scheme offers objective evaluations of fi rms’ energy needs and the most effective way to meet them. A survey by the trust has found
that 76% of companies are more concerned than they were six months ago about rising energy costs and the impact of this on their businesses. More than half of those surveyed are expecting the cost of energy to
8 CIBSE Journal December 2011
rise at least 11% over the next three years. The survey also found that companies want to improve their energy effi ciency, but are held back by three barriers: insuffi cient time or resources; inability to quantify the expected returns; and energy effi ciency being a lower priority than other business considerations. The new service, Carbon Trust Implementation, will also help customers to run competitive tenders for their projects, says the trust.
Its chief executive, Tom Delay,
said: ‘The new business will help unlock £9bn of investment into energy effi cient equipment. ‘We are confi dent that our
new business will catalyse organisations to take action, and in turn to benefi t from implementing cost effective energy effi ciency and renewable energy projects, as well as helping the UK capitalise on green growth.’
For more information visit:
www.carbontrust.co.uk
www.cibsejournal.com
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