Clean Energy Investing, Sustainable Architecture, Music Art Culture



Popular Posts

Search Alternative Energy Info; Green Power Investments Mutual Funds

Find ecologically sustainable green energy, clean power funds, alternative energy technology stocks, green investing news, manufacturers of photovoltaic solar electricity panels, renewable energy products, solar power investments, thin-film solar, green technology ETFs, wind turbine companies, geothermal stocks and much more!!!

Custom Search

Solar-Intelligence Blog; Conscious Living, Smart Investing

Best Green Stocks Investing Blog

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

UK announces 30 million funding for renewable electricity

New Government Funds to promote renewable energy

By Richard Black

Environment Correspondent, BBC News website

Story from BBC NEWS


The UK government has unveiled a £30m funding package aimed at promoting renewable electricity sources and reducing carbon emissions.
The fund, called Low Carbon Buildings, is intended to increase uptake of technologies such as solar cells, biomass, and small-scale wind turbines.

Industry has given a mixed reaction, with disappointment that the sums are less than in previous years.

Britain lags behind many European nations in the use of renewable power.

Announcing the new fund, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said that micro-generation projects were an excellent way for individuals, communities and businesses to make a contribution to tackling climate change.

"As these become more widespread, they can help to teach children and future generations about the benefits of renewable energy and the need to use our resources more responsibly," he said.

Funding fall

The Low Carbon Buildings fund replaces two previous government schemes, the Clear Skies and Major PV Demonstration programmes, which have disbursed about £43m over the last four years.

Philip Wolfe, chief executive of the trade group the Renewable Power Association, said he was concerned that the new scheme appeared to represent a fall in funding.


"We are pleased to see the government giving some priority to micro-renewables," he told the BBC News website, "but in terms of the size of funding, it looks like a backwards step.

"It won't accelerate the growth in this sector, and our objective and theirs is that the sector should be growing."

Chris Tomlinson, head of Onshore at the British Wind Energy Association, agreed.

"The total amount of money available for these technologies is still very small in comparison to their potential," he said.

"The best way for the public and industry to respond is to demonstrate its appetite for renewable power by ensuring this scheme is a sell-out and to build a powerful case for even more government action on small-scale renewables."

The industry was, however, pleased that the government has decided to bridge what would have been a gap of at least seven months in funding between the end of the previous two schemes and the start of the new one, by bringing forwards the first grant disbursement under Low Carbon Buildings to February.

No silver bullet

The 2003 Energy White Paper set a goal of stimulating Britain's nascent micro-renewables industry, which has seen a rapid rise in the installation of photovoltaic solar cells, solar thermal hot-water systems, and heat pumps.

The drive has since acquired more urgency, with high oil and gas prices and the growing reliance on imported gas. Last week, Mr Wicks said some heavy energy users, such as chemical companies, might have to cut back if the winter is colder than average, putting supplies under pressure.

The government is now keen to involve more industrial sectors in micro-renewables, persuading companies in electricity generation, construction and buildings management to invest in the technologies.

Shell, EDF Energy, SSE and Scottish Power are among the companies which have been called upon to support micro-generation.

Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of EDF Energy, said: "There is no silver bullet for dealing with the challenge posed by climate change. Energy efficiency will be vital.

"I am convinced there is a great deal more to be done to encourage changes in behaviour which can really make a difference to energy consumption."

But for the house-holder, it is difficult to divorce behaviour change from economics; and the open question is whether the Low Carbon Buildings fund is large enough that the demand for micro-renewables will continue to grow.


Story from BBC NEWS

No comments:

Yuya Joe Blog

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper

The Daily Beast -Politics Blog

21stArch.com - 21st Century Architecture

Original Joe College Blog

WikiLeaks Foreign Policy Analysis

AGreenRealtor.com Real Estate Blog - Ecology Energy Efficiency

Best Green Stocks Investing Blog

JOIN Betfair through link below, you "Choose Your Bonus!"

PV Intell Photovoltaic Solar Stocks Investing

SEARCH Leading Alternative Energy and Ethical Investing websites

Custom Search

Daily Kos

Rare Earth Stocks Research

Patrick MacManus's Blog Peace and Collaborative Development

BeesTreesFrogsElephants.com - Nature and Ecology Blog

Research Green Energy stocks, Clean Energy investing information

Find wind power investing info online, clean energy mutual funds, geothermal stocks, solar energy investments.

Custom Search


Green Energy Investing Network:

Green Stocks Investing Clean Power Blog

SolarIntell.com Renewable Power Investing Website

Wind Intell.com Wind Energy Stocks Company Links

Geothermal Power Investing Public Companies

PV Intell.com Leading Photovoltaic Solar Energy Stocks