Bunny boilers...

... the Swedes have come up with a solution to having too many rabbits and not enough renewable energy... those with a delicate disposition may want to skip this one!

We might get FIT at last!

According to the Guardian, UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has suggested that Feed In Tariffs (FITs) might be introduced in this country. A Feed-In Tariff gives a premium price for small scale renewable electricity generators who want to export energy to 'the Grid'. This has led to an explosion in solar PV panels in countries such as Germany.

At long blimmin' last! The UK's Low Carbon Buildings Programme of grants for microrenewables has been an unmitigated disaster and our current export arrangements couldn't make it any more difficult for the little guys.

Green Leccy

I've finally switched electricity suppliers from Juice to Ecotricity as the latter is rated much higher in the Green Electricity Marketplace. No-one on the list seems to be retiring all their ROCs, but Eco-tricity do invest in new wind energy.

Want proof? Check out this great vid of a turbine installation from Green.tv.

The UK's Climate is Gloomy

I'm an angry man. I've just brought up the Guardian's Environment webpage, and it makes depressing reading. Three headlines:

- Labour's plan to abandon renewable energy targets
- Energy efficiency funds withdrawn
- Carbon output rising faster, study says

In other words, we're producing more carbon and the Government is more interested in ducking their targets than addressing the issue. The Germans have shown that renewables can be boosted using the right incentives, such as a feed-in tariff which guarantees a price for all for excess energy exported to the grid. So why are we stuck with a terrible grant scheme?

And it's Energy Awareness Week...

Renewables grants "now too difficult"

I reported some time ago that the UK's "Low Carbon Buildings Programme" grant programme for domestic renewables was to be relaunched with tighter restrictions to stop the flood of applications on the first of each month. Well, guess what, according to the Guardian, the flood of applications has dwindled to a trickle as home owners have found the conditions too onerous.

There are now mounting calls to introduce a so called 'feed in' tariff for local generation - this would give householders a big incentive to export electricity to the grid. This has been very popular in Germany, but of course it only applies to electricity - users of solar hot water generators and biomass heating would not benefit.

Whatever is done, the LCBP programme has not done itself any favours and may well have put genuinely concerned citizens off the whole idea of generating their own energy.

Bushwhacking, renewed renewables and the biofuels debate rumbles on...

Massive amount of eco-living related stuff in the press today:

First off, GWB's pronouncement that the US will lead a new global agreement on climate change because (I presume) he's been so good at international affairs recently and his Government's record on climate change is so much better than that of the UN. Welcomed by other Governments, slammed by the Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth etc.

My Verdict: Better than nothing I suppose, but Bush's reliance on the techno-fix is unlikely to deliver the goods - unlike the proposals the UN are putting forward. But George knows best, doesn't he?

Secondly, here in the UK, the Governments Low Carbon Building Programme (which subsidises micro-renewables) is about to be relaunched after its recent suspension, according to the ENDS report. You will have to have planning permission before you apply and you will have to install within 3 or 4 months depending on the technology. There is no monthly cap so the mad rush on the 1st will go, but each household is limited to £2500 which will impact on solar PV.

My Verdict: I thought planning controls on microrenewables were about to be relaxed... joined up thinking... anyway, apart from that this seems like a good way forward.

Lastly, again from ENDS, WWF are calling for biofuels to only be produced on existing fallow land to avoid rainforest destruction.

My Verdict: Good call WWF - I believe biofuels can be part of the solution if we get the growing standards right, unlike George Monbiot who thinks they are worse than fossil fuels.

DTI stops home renewables grants

Despite Gordon Broon's extra £6m for the Low Carbon Building Programme following unprecedented demand for its home renewables grants, the DTI has suddenly suspended the scheme for some months. Apparently someone (I'd guess his initials are GB) has spotted that £5m has been allocated, but not many systems have actually been installed, according to the Guardian.

Apparently the DTI mandarins are looking at how to improve the allocation system - I would suggest the problems lie in the planning laws instead. These are due to be revamped in Oct to make getting permission easier. Here's hoping...

Renewables Cash Dash Goes Crazy

If you want to install some renewables at home, then the UK Govt offers a subsidy via the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. The programme is quite restrictive as you have to meet strict efficiency requirements first, and then you can only get certain products installed by approved installers.

The money is doled out monthly on a first-come-first-served basis. This is causing a mad dash for the cash - in January the money had all gone by the 12th, in February it ran out by noon on the first day, and this month it took just 75 minutes for the allocation to go.

This scramble to get the grants shows just how popular microrenewables have become, but it is frustrating for the large numbers of people who were depending on the grant when they were costing their own scheme.

When I got my solar panel I was aware of the pressures and didn't bother applying, preferring to take the hit rather than go through the paperwork when there wasn't much chance of success. The decision is yours...