News archive - July 2008

Week Ending 25th July

Europe's Largest Windfarm Confirmed for Scotland

The Scottish Government has given permission for the building of Europe's largest onshore windfarm. Airtricity's 152-turbine Clyde windfarm near Abington in South Lanarkshire will be capable of powering up to 320,000 homes. It will be built in clusters of turbines on either side of the M74 motorway. It will have a total capacity of up to 548 Megawatts (MW). The development will bring £600 million of investment, construction is expected to create 200 jobs and approximately 30 staff will be employed when the windfarm is fully operational.

Speaking ahead of the World Renewable Energy Congress in Glasgow, the First Minister said, "Today's announcement makes it virtually certain that the 2011 target (for renewable energy) will be met early and exceeded by the end of this Parliamentary term and represents a significant milestone on the way to achieving the 2020 target. Approval of the Clyde windfarm means that the total installed renewables capacity either built or consented and under construction will be 4.55GW, only 450 MW short of the 5GW needed the interim target of generating 31 per cent of Scotland's electricity demand from renewable sources by 2011.

Recyclate Prices

Remade Scotland has published a report that looks at the factors affecting the prices obtained by Scottish local authorities for recyclable materials. It found that prices for recyclate received by Scottish councils appear to be lower than those obtained by English authorities for glass, plastic and paper. The study identifies a number of factors which appear are inhibiting councils from obtaining the best prices.

Free Solar Panels for School

Rothesay Primary School has been chosen to receive free solar panels worth more than £20,000. The panels, paid for by the Co-operative Group and the government's Low Carbon Building Programme, will generate renewable electricity to help reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
A monitor in the school will show how much energy the panels are generating, and how much carbon dioxide they have saved to date. The school will also be able to look at their energy data on the internet, along with educational materials which teachers can download for use in the classroom.

Tyre Recycling Technology

Recyclatech, the Scottish tyre recycling company, has developed a technique that can make rubber easily bondable with natural or synthetic rubbers is to receive support from WRAP's Recycling Commercialisation Centre. Recyclatech, was set up in 2006 after being spun out of Napier University. The Company has developed a microbiological rubber devulcanisation process that generates a recyclate that can be used in high value rubber products. The Centre will also offer help with business planning, identify sources of funding, develop the company towards investment readiness and identify markets and customers.

The Recyclatech process would be particularly useful for waste tyres as their disposal in landfill is outlawed by European directives. Worn out tyres are crumbed into small particles, which are then put through the microbiological technique. The resultant rubber can then be reused in car tyres and products such as basic underlay for carpets, soundproofing materials and Wellington boots.

Week Ending 18th July

Marine Bill Consultation Launched

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has set out Scotland?s Marine Bill for consultation. The Government believes that energy investment in Scotland's seas can be balanced with protecting marine wildlife and seabirds. The Bill includes a new marine planning system and a streamlined process to encourage renewable energy but environmental groups will be looking for strong measures to protect seas and the wildlife they contain.

Mr Lochhead said, "Striking the right balance between the long-term viability and growth of all these industries and the enhanced protection of our special marine environment is at the heart of our proposed bill. We need a new relationship with the seas to safeguard this unique and precious resource for future generations." The Scottish Government believes up to 46.5GW of renewable energy generation is possible around Scotland's coastline, and that 2.6GW of marine energy could be available by 2020.

Proposals in 'Sustainable Seas For All - A Consultation On Scotland's First Marine Bill' include:

Improved conservation to ensure a healthy future for Scotland's unique marine wildlife, including internationally important populations of seabirds
A new marine planning system and a streamlined licensing system to encourage economic investment in areas such as renewable energy
Measures to ensure a viable future for Scotland's traditional and new marine industries
The creation of Marine Scotland combining the efforts of existing bodies to act as a champion for Scotland's seas

'Dimmer switch' for Street Lights

Stirling Council plans to run a trial involving 300 new street lights, each fitted with remotely controlled dimmers. The new lights will replace conventional street lights at a cost of about £600,000. However it is hoped that because their lighting levels can be manipulated to reflect changing conditions they will reduce energy costs by nearly a third. The scheme is expected to be fully operational by autumn 2008. The council, which currently maintains about 14,000 street lights across the area, said the expansion of the pilot depended on future government funding.

The lights work by collecting information from traffic and weather sensors to provide appropriate dimming levels. The astronomical clock will switch the lamps on and off depending on the position of the sun.

Some residents are concerned that crime may increase but the Council said dimming lights by 30% made no perceivable difference to the naked eye. A spokeswoman for Central Scotland Police said the force was unconcerned by the pilot scheme. Adding that even when dimmed newer high pressure sodium (white) lights gave better definition and enabled people to see more clearly.

High Set-Up Costs for Microrenewables Deters Consumers

Research by the Energy Saving Trust concludes that it is the high initial cost that is stopping more people from installing wind turbines and solar panels. The survey was aimed at helping resident to find out about the grants that could help meet the cost of installing renewable sources and the extent to which they could reduce fuel bills.

Application For Britain's First Commerical Hydrogen Balancing Plant

A planning application has been submitted for the UK's first commercial hydrogen balancing plant. The proposed £20million plant, near Kilbirnie in North Ayrshire, is seen as a radical solution to the intrinsic problem of wind farms; their erratic energy production.

The plant will take excess electricity produced by a wind farm during times of low demand and use the power to separate the hydrogen out of water. The hydrogen is then stored in fuel cells. When wind speed drops, the hydrogen can be converted back into electricity and fed into the National Grid, thus allowing constant 24-hour energy supply. Alternatively, it can be used to fuel hydrogen vehicles. This is the first such venture in Britain, although the technology is being used successfully in the US.

The prototype wind-hydrogen plant, part of the Ladymoor Renewable Energy Project, is designed by WHL Energy Ltd, which holds the patent for its use. It promises 60 jobs during construction and up to ten full-time jobs.

Biomass Power Station Planned

A £100m biomass heat and electricity power station is to be built at the Tullis Russell Markinch paper-making factory in Fife and will replace the Company's existing coal-fired system. First Minister Alex Salmond, made the announcement during a recent visit. Two thirds of the energy produced by the 45 megawatt facility will be fed back into the national grid. It is intended that the system will be operational by 2011. The current coal-fired system contributes 250,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, replacing it could allow the Scottish Government to meet 6% of its renewable energy targets. The biomass process will burn locally produced waste wood, ranging from unprocessed trees to furniture and other wood taken to landfill sites

Pupils Body Heat Warms School

Building work has started on the new £5.8m Acharacle Primary School in Ardnamurchan, dubbed the "Weetabix school". The architects claim that the school will be so well insulated that the pupils? bodies will heat it. Highland Councilor Michael Foxley said it would be the most sustainable school in Scotland, but conceded it would not be cheap to build. The new primary school is due to open in 2009. The main features of the timber building are its high level of insulation and airtight design.

Schools to be Included in Carbon Reduction Commitment

Energy use in schools will count towards the total emissions of local authorities under the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), the mandatory trading scheme that from April 2010 will encourage local authorities and large businesses across Scotland, England and Wales to reduce emissions. The Minister for Climate Change Stewart Stevenson and Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years welcomed the announcement by Hilary Benn, UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

Mr Stevenson said, "The CRC will be a key part of our efforts to tackle climate change. "Schools are a very important part of local government property portfolios, and increasing the energy efficiency of schools in Scotland will bring important benefits. "The Scottish Government has been working closely with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on the implementation of the scheme, as well as other Scottish partners, and with DEFRA on what the CRC will entail.

Participants will buy emission allowances at a fixed price at the start of each year in the first phase (2010-2012). At the end of the year those that perform well will receive a payment that exceeds their allowance costs, and those that perform poorly will receive a payment less than their allowance costs. Organisations are free to buy and sell allowances if they have a surplus or a shortfall. Under the initiative, schools in Scotland will tell their local authority as the participating organisation how much energy they currently use, and supported by their local council will strive to bring their energy use down. The savings will help bring down the annual emissions total accumulated by the local authority.

Week Ending 11th July

Algae, a Biofuel for the Future

Researchers at the University of Dundee believe that algae could provide the solution to the mass production of biofuels. Geoffrey Codd, Professor of Microbiology at the University and President of the British Phycological Society, said algae were a viable potential source of biofuel which would not compete for land use with food production, which is a source of growing concern.

Professor Codd suggests that in the UK this could involve reviving traditional industries such as seaweed harvesting for new uses. The potential of algae as a sustainable biofuel was a major discussion topic at the recent International Society for Applied Phycology meeting in Galway.

Power Cable to go Underground

A cable forming part of the plan to deliver power from island wind farms to the mainland would be buried underground. Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has confirmed that electricity would not, as some had feared, be carried via pylons from Dundonnell on Little Loch Broom in Wester Ross to Beauly, near Inverness. In fact the Company said that putting this link underground had been the plan since 2006.
SSE will apply for permission later this year to lay a transmission cable from Lewis to Beauly, although a decision on the Beauly to Denny power line is unlikely this year. The company says it is obliged to pursue the inter-connector project even though the giant wind farm proposed for the north of Lewis was refused.
Further surveys are to be conducted by SSE subsidiary Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission into the section on Lewis itself but the company has resolved that it should leave Lewis near Grabhair, south of Stornoway. It would run subsea to Little Loch Broom and then underground to Beauly.

Joint Venture Offers Woodchip-fuelled Heating

Two renewable energy companies are working together to offer efficient woodchip-fuelled heating systems to commercial and public sector buildings in the UK. Caledon Green, which works with property developers and landowners to establish on-site energy systems, has formed a joint venture with biomass boiler and fuel specialists Buccleuch BioEnergy, to be called Caledon Buccleuch BioEnergy.
The Edinburgh-based companies will offer a range of woodchip boilers along with the engineering expertise and renewable fuel supplies required for customers in the commercial property, educational, healthcare and government sectors throughout the UK. The company points out that biomass is Europe's leading renewable energy source, accounting for around 59% of renewable energy outputs in the EU.

Much of the biomass available in the UK is a co-product from ongoing forest and farm management operations and sawmilling. The UK forestry sector is expected to be producing around 15 million tonnes per annum of timber and wood products by 2020, with a possible additional wood fuel resource of 7 million tonnes per annum available.
As demand rises in the future, it said supply from the forestry sector would be boosted by dedicated energy crops like short rotation coppice, without affecting agricultural output, for example, through the use of the 680,000 hectares of set-aside land.

£250m Recycling and Energy Centre for Airdrie

Plans have been revealed for a recycling and energy centre that could provide heat and power to homes and businesses in North Lanarkshire. The £250 million development would be built to the north of Airdrie.
The developers have moved to ease residents' concerns about the possible environment impact of the recycling plan, which they say will be able to process up to 300,000 tonnes of waste per year and recycle a further 50,000 tonnes. Once operational, the centre will have the capacity to provide, through a district heating system, sufficient energy to heat up to 30,000 homes, local businesses and public buildings, such as hospitals.
The application for planning permission followed a consultation process during which meetings and exhibitions were held with the relevant agencies, as well as with residents in Greengairs, Plains, Glenmavis, Holehills, Rochsoles and Wattston.

Irish and Scottish Ministers Discuss Offshore Grid

A new offshore grid could be developed between Scotland and Ireland to further the development of renewable energy projects. The Scottish Government, Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are to launch a £1.6 million feasibility study later this year looking at the potential for a new transmission system linking up the two mainlands. A grid could be developed from the west coast of Scotland to the Northern Irish shore, taking in the Irish sea and also Ireland's west coast.
Energy Minister Jim Mather said: "To realise the potential of the huge wind, wave and tidal resources at our disposal, we need to examine the longer term development of our grid infrastructure in partnership with government in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The feasibility study will allow us to explore the various challenges associated with the development of an offshore transmission network and help make the case for commercial investment,"
The three administrations have already commissioned a pre-scoping grid study, supported by funding from European Union. The full feasibility study, the ISLES project (Irish-Scottish Links on Energy Study), will be launched later this year. The study will explore technological, economic, construction and regulatory factors associated with the development of such an offshore transmission network.

Week Ending 4th July

Flintshire Scheme Supports Household Solar Systems

Flintshire County Council has introduced a grant system to help residents install solar-powered hot water systems making it one of the first local authorities in Britain to do so. Initially the Council will offer a £400 top-up grant to 20 private households in the county who claim a grant to be used on solar thermal technology under the Government's Low Carbon Building Programme This could double the subsidy a householders receives, towards the cost of installing a solar hot water system, which could be between £2,500 and £4,000. However these systems can offer 50%-70% savings on household energy bills.

The Impact of Wind Farms on Peat Lands

New research addresses concerns that the environmental impact of building wind farms on peat land is not being taken fully into account in government policy and the planning system. The study was funded by the Scottish Government and undertaken by Aberdeen University's Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences. It looks at carbon emissions across a whole wind farm project, including its installation, operation and dismantling.

A researcher explained, "Government policy is to deliver renewable energy without significant environmental harm and to deliver biodiversity objectives, including the conservation of designated wildlife sites and important habitats such as peat lands. The implications for carbon emissions of developing a wind farm are therefore just one set of considerations which the Electricity Act and planning system takes into account. This report provides a method to explore potential carbon emission losses and savings associated with a wind farm development on peat land."

Strathclyde University Receives Grant for Generator Research

The latest projects to receive funding under the Scottish Enterprise Proof of Concept Programme include renewable energy work at Strathclyde University. The research will seek to develop higher performance electricity generation technologies. The aim being to provide a small footprint, energy efficient, lower cost generator system initially suited to small and medium scale wind turbines.

Castle Heating From Estate Biofuel

Floors Castle in Kelso has installed a heating system run on woodchip from trees felled on its estate. The scheme has been officially opened by Secretary for Sustainable Growth John Swinney, who described it as "innovative renewable energy generation which tackles climate change and promotes sustainable forest management". The Duke of Roxburghe added, "We are committed to playing our part in energy efficiency and support a mix of renewable energy sources."

Funding for Energy Research Centre

A new research and development centre in Renfrewshire will explore clean energy technologies such as carbon capture from fossil fuels. The facility, which will be funded by £11m from Scottish Enterprise, is to be based at Doosan Babcock. The research will include both novel technologies and the use of advanced materials and fuels.
It is hoped the centre will initially support 100 jobs, eventually rising to more than 200.

Green Offices Granted Planning Permission in Glasgow

A £130 million block to be built in the centre of Glasgow will be one of the UK's most environmentally friendly office buildings. Castlemore Securities has been given permission for the 12-storey, 250,000sq ft development and suggest that it will set new standards for green buildings.

The office will have a special air conditioning system that emits 30% less carbon, uses 30% less energy and will be 30% cheaper to run while at the same time producing up to 50% more fresh air than traditional systems. It is anticipated the building will also harvest rain water for toilet flushing.

Wind Becomes Leading Renewable Technology in the UK

Draft government figures suggest that 5% of electricity in the UK was generated from renewable sources in 2007. This means that wind overtook hydropower as the dominant green energy technology. Overall there was a 4.5% increase in renewable energy levels over 2006. A total of 19,644 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable power was generated in 2007, 8.5% up on the previous year.

Strong growth in onshore and offshore wind meant that wind power accounted for 27% of all renewable energy in the UK in 2007, above the 26% from hydroelectricity. Biomass generation grew only marginally, but landfill gas generation increased by 6% and the incineration of municipal waste, with energy recovery, grew by 9%.

For primary energy as a whole, including heat and transport fuels, just 2% came from renewable sources in 2007, up from 1.9% the previous year and 1.8% in 2005. Looking at renewable transport fuels, the figures showed that 347 million litres of biodiesel and 153 million litres of bioethanol were used in 2007, up from 169 million litres and 95 million litres respectively.

Renewable Energy Joint Venture

Scottish and Southern Energy has announced a deal with the operator of six ports in Scotland and a major port in London to develop up to 150 MW of on-site renewable energy projects. SSE will work with Forth Ports to invest in generation, distribution and supply of renewable energy for the port sites themselves as well as for export to the electricity network.
The companies have already gained planning consent for four 2MW onshore wind turbines at the Port of Tilbury on the River Thames, a project valued at around £12 million. Along with other ports operated by Forth Ports , including Dundee, Leith and four other sites on the Firth of Forth, the venture is considering a range of projects from onshore and offshore wind installations to biomass-powered generation.
Under a new joint venture called Forth Energy, the companies claim their developments have the potential to be "Scotland's biggest developer of on-site dedicated renewable power generation facilities".

Scottish Waste Policy Moving Towards CHP

Two reports which will help form the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) ?s policy on the thermal treatment of waste have both advocated the use of combined heat and power. The studies come in the wake of the Scottish Government's opposition to larger Energy-from-Waste facilities (including anaerobic digestion) which it views as "inefficient" but reflecting this they both recommend "small-scale" plants.
The research from both reports is being used to revise SEPA's Thermal Treatment Guidelines, which are expected to be published in September 2008, and will form the basis of its policy on energy from waste.

The first report, 'The Evaluation of Energy from Biowaste Arisings and Forestry Residues in Scotland' published by consultancy AEA Environment assesses the energy value within the country's garden, kitchen and food waste, and related wastes. It concludes that, "Given the substantial technical potential, even if a modest proportion of this were to be economic, energy from waste has a material contribution to make to Scotland's energy supply." This conclusion is supported by the second report, entitled 'Development of a policy framework for the tertiary treatment of commercial and industrial waste' and prepared by the consultancy Jacobs.

There is however fear that the report will provoke anxiety in communities across the country worried about pollution in their areas.