Energy efficiency in the UK

According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the UK energy efficiency improves year on year. Energy efficiency is measured as energy consumption per unit of economic output. The GDP grew about 2.6% in 2014 while the energy ratio (a measure of energy efficiency) fell by around 5.6% between 2013 and 2014. But […]

Green Deal – long-term or short-term benefits?

It has been announced during a recent press release by the DECC that “Due to overwhelming popular demand, the Green Home Improvement Fund is closed for applications with immediate effect”.  The Green Deal Home Improvement fund only opened to application on 9th June 2014.  The article stipulated that “All applications received prior to the fund […]

DECC release figures for first quarter on Green Deal for energy efficiency improvements

The DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) has released first quarter figures on the Green Deal for energy efficiency improvements.  The statistics reveal that around 40,000 Green Deal Assessments have been undertaken since the scheme started.  47% of households who had received a Green Deal Advice Report following an assessment said that they were […]

DECC releases energy consumption and generation stats for the UK

The DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) has recently released statistics regarding energy consumption and generation in the UK.  Key points were; – Electricity generated from renewable sources in the UK in 2012 increased by 19% on a year earlier and accounted for 11.3% of total UK electricity generation, up from 9.4% in 2011.  […]

UK 2013 Energy Statistics Released

Primary energy production fell by 10.7% compared to the previous year. Energy Imports rose by 6.9% with Norway imports of 46% and 55% for crude oil and gas respectively. From these stats it is easy to see that the UK remains a net importer of energy and our dependence level increased by 43%. Below is […]

DECC holds consultation on increasing tariffs for renewable heat

The DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) has held a consultation to increase the level of some of the tariffs in its Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (RHI) to increase the use of heating technologies in the non-domestic sector.  If the new proposals are to go ahead ground source heat pumps, large biomass and solar […]

DECC announces domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Levels

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have recently announced the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) tariff levels which have been set at; –          Solar thermal: 19.2 p/kWh (minimum) –          Ground source heat pumps: 18.8 p/kWh –          Biomass boilers: 12.2 p/kWh –          Air source heat pumps: 7.3 p/kWh The DECC said that the solar […]

RHI tariff set to double for ground source heat pumps

The DECC (Department of Energy & Climate Change) is proposing to more than double the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) tariff for large-scale ground heat-pump installations.  This could see the tariff rise from 8.9 to 10.2p/kWh of renewable heat produced. It will be applied to 1350 h of peak capacity and fall to 2.3p/kWh thereafter.  Hence, the […]

Promising start for Green Deal as energy efficiency work begins in London, Kent and Wales

Following the launch of the Green Deal in January, energy efficiency schemes have begun around the country, in London, Enfield Council has joined forces with British Gas to deliver a £10 million energy efficiency improvement programme to the borough.  The scheme will reduce the energy bills of 1,000 of Enfield’s lowest income households by an […]

Green Deal assessments build up momentum

Since the Green Deal Scheme was introduced, the Department of Energy & Climate Change have reported a vast increase in assessments (a total of 9268). The Green Deal Scheme allows household owners to pay for energy-saving improvements to their home through installments in their electricity bill. It will provide low-cost and long-term funding across all […]

Increasing the certainty for investments in renewable electricity

The UK government recently published an update regarding its “Final Investment Decision Enabling programme”, which has been designed to help developers of low carbon electricity projects to make final investment decisions before the electricity market changes in the second half of 2014. Through this programme, developers of renewable electricity projects will be in the position […]

Almost 1,800 Green Deal assessments have been lodged till date

Since the UK’s government flagship energy efficiency scheme “Green Deal” was launched officially at the end of this January, Green Deal providers have completed more than 1,800 assessments on homes. Last week, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) released its figures which revealed that within a month, between the end of January until […]

Green Deal delays ‘will damage the insulation industry’

The insulation Industry Forum that gathers 70% of the UK’s industry claims that the Green Deal which starts operating in January 2013 will cut-off 16,000 jobs. Indeed, due to the gap found between the end of the subsidy schemes related to cavity wall solid wall and loft insulation, and the full operation of the Green […]

Government faces £140m claims over feed-in tariff cut

In October 2011, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced a cut of 50% of the solar feed-in tariff resulting in the reduction of 97% of solar power installation. Indeed, the relatively high feed-in tariff was attractive to install the renewable source . It is a push to help people. Nevertheless with the […]

Green Deal finance and energy saving installations

The Green Deal provides a great deal opportunity for housing associations to retrofit their properties making them more energy efficient.  Once Green Deal finance is in place which the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is certain will be on 28th January, energy efficient improvements to properties can be made of up to £10,000 […]

Heat networks must increase in order to meet UK’s carbon-reduction targets

To help meet the Uk’s carbon reduction targets, the number of homes connected to heat networks must increase 30-fold by 2050 according to a report on domestic heating for the Electricity Networks Association highlighted in MBS magazine.  There are currently only 1% of homes on the network and connecting more will reduce carbon emissions while […]

Green-Deal uptake could be cut by 2.2 million homes due to the PM’s intervention

The DECC’s Green Deal, intended to reduce carbon emissions by allowing homeowners to pay for energy efficiency improvements through savings on bills, may be under threat. According to official leaked documents, David Cameron has intervened to block proposed changes to Part L of the Building Regulations. This could prevent 2.2 million homes from partaking in […]

Changes to RHI payments met with scepticism

The Heat Pump Association (HPA) has expressed uncertainty about funding changes for the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive. In mid- June the DECC announced an upper limit of £70 million for 2012/2013 and a reduction in the notice period for the scheme to be suspended shortened from a month at 80% threshold to a week at […]

Government downgrades forecast for solar industry

Following changes to the cost control mechanisms for the solar power feed-in tariff (FIT), the government has cut its forecast for the capacity of solar electricity panels by almost half. Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) publicised that it would cut solar subsidies by almost 25% from August followed by further cuts every three […]

Statistics from DECC show increase in electricity generated from wind power

Statistics released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that 9% of the UK’s electricity was generated from renewable sources from July to September last year.  This is a 1% increase for the same time frame in 2010.  The statistics show a 64% increase in the amount of electricity generated by offshore […]

Green Deal potentially hazardous for old homes and calls for specialist assessors

The Green Deal is aiming to help over 60,000 homes become more energy efficient and allowing for these improvements to be made through a charge on electricity bills as an incentive.  However the government is considering a training scheme for specialist Green Deal assessors to deal with older homes due to fear that green energy […]

Government predicts 93% fall in loft insulation under Green Deal

Loft insulation, one of the most energy efficient home insulation measures has been predicted to significantly decline when the Green deal goes live later in the year the government has predicted.  Data from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) states that the rate of installation of loft insulation is expected to fall by […]