The average consumption of energy usage within the UK has decreased by 11.3% since 2007, showing that as a nation we are becoming more aware of energy consumption and making an effort to be more energy efficient.

However, despite us using a significant amount less, the amount of money we have spent on energy has actually increased by a massive 23.5% in five years.

The above figures relate to both gas and electricity, however if we focus on electricity alone we see that electricity consumption between 2007 and 2011 decreased by 8.2%, yet our spend went from £2.9bn to £3.6bn – an increase of 27.4%.

So the big question is, what can we do to protect ourselves against more price increases over the next five, ten and twenty years?

Although the ‘big six’ energy companies have reported that prices will be stabilised, the chances are that we will see an increase over the coming years and if previous statistics are anything to go by, these could be quite high. Whilst we can complain about prices, even write to our MP’s, we have little if any chance of actually controlling this.

Which leaves electricity consumption as the only thing left which we can control. Of course, the above figures show that we are trying to be more energy efficient. Most of us can make small changes within our homes, however when it comes to running a business it can be difficult to cut-back. To help reduce costs and safeguard our future, we need to reduce the amount of electricity we need to buy from the energy suppliers. In other words, generate our own.

Solar PV is one of the most popular methods of renewable energy and is a hassle-free, maintenance free, way of generating our own electricity. Whilst the need to purchase electricity from the grid is not always eliminated, it is of course drastically reduced. Businesses are ideal for Solar PV as the majority of electricty used is generally during daylight hours, meaning that the dependance on the grid is much lower.

What’s even better is that your Solar Panels are guaranteed for up to 30 years, but are likely to last 50 or 60 years, which adds up to a lot of savings over time.

To find out how much you could save on your electricity bills contact Energi online today or call us on 01772 643900 for an informal chat. If you are looking for Solar PV for your home, then please contact Planet Solar.

This change to the regulations should make it possible for more commercial and agricultural buildings to proceed with Solar PV installations, as well as reduce delays in the entire process. Of course, nothing in life is simple and there are some specific criteria which must still be met.

Roof mounted solar

A roof-mounted solar system must not protrude more than 200mm from the roof/wall surface it is mounted on. There is an exception to this is if the system is on a flat roof, where the solar PV must be less than 1m in height above the highest part of the flat roof excluding any chimneys.

The roof-mounted solar installation must also be more than 1m away from the external edge of the roof or the joint of the wall that it is on and if the system is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, or land with similar restrictions (article 1(5) then the solar cannot be on a roof slope or wall fronting the highway.

Furthermore, planning permission is required if the solar is on a listed building, on a building within the curtilage of a listed building or upon a site designated as a scheduled ancient monument.

Further conditions

• The solar equipment must, so far as practicable, be sited so as to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building;
• The solar equipment must, so far as practicable, be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area; and
• Solar equipment no longer needed for micro generation must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable

Ground Mounted

In terms of ground-mounted solar, the new planning conditions also mean that installations of up to 9m2 will not require permissions. However, the solar must not be taller than 4m, only one to ground mounted system can be present of any one building, solar must not exceed 4m in height and the solar must not be installed so that it is nearer to any highway than any part of the building which is nearest to the same highway.

Further, the solar must not be installed within 5m of the boundary of the curtilage and planning permission will still be required if the solar is within the curtilage of a listed building or on a site designated as a scheduled ancient monument.

Further conditions

• The ground mounted solar must, so far as practicable, be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area; and
• Ground mounted solar which is no longer needed for micro generation must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable.

Overall, this news should offer more opportunities for building and landowners who have previously considered installing Solar PV but have been apprehensive due to strict planning rules. It should also help installers plan their projects more efficiently without unexpected delays or set-backs due to planning.

The complete legislation can be read here.

For further details on the benefits of Solar PV on both commercial agricultural buildings, contact Energi today or call us on 01772 643900.

Source: Solar Power Portal

These mega solar power plants will cover various areas in Tokushima Prefecture and will be the first Solar PV installations on a commercial scale for SB Energy. The estimated total capacity is expected to be around 4.2 megawatt hours which would meet electricity demands of approximately one thousand households over a year.

The installations are expected to begin as early as July 2012, at the same time as Japan launches its feed-in-tariff scheme. SB Energy will work with partners Kyocera Solar Corp and Kyocera Communications Systems Co, to build the initial 2,400 kilowatt solar plant on a site in the village of Shinto. Building of the actual plant will being earlier in the year and could be start as soon as April.

The next 2,800 kilowatt system is expected to follow in Matsushige and Komatsushima later in the year.

For further details on large-scale Solar PV installations, contact us online today or call us on 01772 643900.

Greg Barker, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, announced that new calculations regarding the total cost of the Solar PV feed-in-tariff based on the extended 43.3p rate would fall at around £750 million. This is a vast difference to the original prediction of £1.5 billion and leaves the Solar PV industry, as well as its customers, wondering how a forecast could have been so incorrect.

Barker explains that the reason for the big reduction is due to DECC appealing to the Supreme Court against the original High Court ruling, and that figures have been amended in-line with this. For the rest of the industry however, it raises suspicion as to whether government figures are released to back up existing decisions by the government and are not actually fully accurate.

David Hunt from Eco Environments stated, “Now we see forecasts of the cost of FIT extension out by 50%, that is a massive margin of error which just goes to show DECC as a ‘Keystone Kops’ department, they lurch from one farce to another, whilst industry and consumers suffer.”

The Solar PV industry is working hard to retain confidence to consumers and await further details from DECC on the changes to the tariffs going forward.

For full details of the proposed changes to the feed-in-tariff click here. Ot to see how Solar PV can benefit your business or buildings, contact us online today or call us on 01772 643900.

The Langtree Group are a successful commercial property development and investment business specialising in office space, industrial property and sustainable regeneration across a broad range of sectors. Langtree are also renowned for achieving BREAM Excellence across their portfolio, therefore the installation of Solar PV systems helps towards maintaining this high standard.

With a focus on sustainable development and a catalogue of high quality redevelopment schemes, Langtree began working with Energi in 2011 on their first Solar PV project for their Centrix Business Centre. Energi identified the building as being suitable for a 50kWp system and by using premium modules with a low-module pitch and unique mounting system, were able to deliver a highly efficient Solar PV system which achieved optimum yield and performance within the roof area available.

The newly appointed projects will see Energi working on four different buildings, the Daresbury Science and Innovation Centre, Vanguard House in Daresbury, Connect Business Village in Liverpool and the I2 Centre in Mansfield. All buildings have been assessed by Energi as being appropriate for 50kWp systems, which will provide Langtree Group with a strong facility to produce their own electricity across five of their properties.

As with the previous project, Energi will be using REW SOLAR® Premium Plus 240w UM96 modules to ensure the most efficient Solar PV systems are installed. These modules come with a positive only power tolerance of +9% average, as well as a performance guarantee of 90% after 30 years.

“We are committed to providing our tenants with future-proof, high specification accommodation.

“Renewable energy sources are now a staple of any responsible business model and we see the installation of solar panels as a natural extension of our broader environmental commitment.

“Every tenant across these four key sites will now be able to reduce their own carbon footprint while taking advantage of affordable, clean energy as they bid to grow their business.”

Malcolm Jackson, finance director at Langtree.

The Energi team are planning to have all four projects installed by the end of March 2012 and look forward to working with Langtree on future projects throughout 2012.

For further information on the Langtree Group visit www.langtreegroupplc.co.uk.

For details on Energi PLC and to see how a Solar PV system can benefit your business, contact us online or call us on 01772 643900.

From 1^st April 2012, those looking to install Solar Photovoltaic systems on their property may be eligible for a lower feed-in-tariff payment if the property has an EPC rating of below level D. This move from the government has come after months of uncertainty within the industry, however with earlier rumours that the EPC rating level was to be set to C, this is good news for many property owners throughout the UK.

The official statement from DECC explains that the government “wants to ensure that solar PV is considered as part of a holistic approach to carbon reductions in buildings that prioritises energy efficiency.” The EPC rating level will apply to both domestic and commercial buildings for all new Solar PV installations on or after the 1^st April 2012. Properties which do not meet an EPC of level D or above will be eligible for a lower tariff rate, currently proposed at 9p. For full details of the proposed new feed-in-tariff scheme click here.

Whilst this may be of concern to some, according to government statistics there is an estimated 51% of UK domestic properties and 65% of non-domestic buildings which already have an EPC rating of D or above, meaning that even before any energy efficiency measures are taken, a large proportion of properties will already be eligible for the standard tariffs. An exemption to energy efficiency requirements may be available if it can be demonstrated that it is not possible for an EPC certificate to be obtained for that building or property.

It has not yet been made clear whether a new Solar PV installation can contribute to increasing the EPC level of a property, and also what other renewable energy methods can be used to raise the EPC level. One change will be that when customers fill out their feed-in-tariff applications, they will need to provide a valid EPC certificate.

A scheme for offering financial support may be available in the form of the Carbon Emissions Reductions Target (CERT). This will help with the cost of making properties more energy efficient and therefore raising the EPC rating. We are also waiting full details of the Green Deal scheme later in 2012, which will again help towards financing energy efficiency measures.

For further details and to arrange a consultation, contact us online or call us on Freephone 0800 533 5130.

Feed-in-tariffs were introduced in April 2010 as a way of offering financial incentives to individuals and businesses generating their own electricity using Solar PV systems. The scheme proved very effective, with the number of both domestic and commercial installations increasingly dramatically throughout 2010 and 2011. On 31^st October 2011 the government announced plans to reduce the feed-in-tariff from 1^st April 2012 by approximately 50%. In addition to this, an earlier cut-off date of 12^th December 2011 was also proposed.

After months of legal battles and industry professionals unsure of what messages to send out to customers, DECC have released a full written statement of their plans for the feed-in-tariff going forward. Whilst the details of the proposal have not been met with approval by many, there is at least some clarity as to what the industry faces throughout the next few years.

The main element of the proposal is to run a degression scheme, where tariffs are reduced in reference to the installed capacity reached within the UK. The proposal drops on average 10% every 6 months, which on the surface does appear fairer than a 50% drop. What is a crucial point however, is that this degression scheme will occur on top of the 50% cuts already imposed, which could mean a drop of around 70% within the space of 12 months, a decrease which is much larger than the manufacturer cost reductions which the government based part of their initial proposal on.

Solar PV systems installed between 1^st April 2012 and 1^st July 2012 will attract the current tariff (see below). There are then three options to the degression scheme which are based on the installed capacity reached throughout March and April. The three options are as below:

Option A will apply if installed capacity exceeds 200MW
Option B will apply if installed capacity is between 150MW and 200MW
Option C will apply if installed capacity does not reach 150MW

Full details of the proposed new tariff rates are as below:

There were also some new proposed additions to the tariff scheme in the form of energy performance requirements and multi-installation tariff rates. Multi-installation tariff rates will enable up to 25 PV installations before a lower tariff is introduced, this will be particularly beneficial to small businesses, councils and community groups.

Dwellings which do not meet certain energy efficiency requirements is also something which the solar industry was concerned about. Originally it was rumoured that buildings which did not meet an EPC rating of C would receive a lower tariff, however the new proposal has now brought this down to EPC rating D. This is good news as it now means that around 50% of existing buildings will automatically be eligible for the standard tariff. Buildings which do not meet this requirement may be imposed the stand alone tariff (***).  Greg Barker, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change announced in the House of Commons that the introduction of the Green Deal later in 2012 would help individuals and businesses to reach the required energy efficiency rating through various other methods – something which we will look at in more detail at a later date.

In addition to the above proposals, there is also the on-going appeal for the old tariff rates to be reinstated for installs up to 3^rd March 2012. Energi are working on the existing tariff rates and advising customers to base their decisions on a payment of 21p for systems up to 4kWp and 15.2p for systems between 10kWp and 50kWp, and so on. If the appeal is lost, then there is a chance that the higher rates (43.3p for up to 4kWp, 32.9p for 10-50kWp) could be reinstated, however the decision could take up to 12 months and there are no guarantees.

If you have a question regarding the feed-in-tariff then please visit our news pages for regular updates, or contact us on Freephone 0800 533 5130.

Picture from the 2011 Energy Now event

The event offers landowners and and farmers the opportunity to attend a conference and learn about renewable energy, as well as visit the many exhibition stands.

Energy Now targets the agricultural sector in particular in a bid to help reduce electricity bills and carbon emissions. With energy costs likely to increase, renewable energy sources such as Solar PV are becoming more popular as a way to safeguard yourself against rising electricity prices, particularly within this sector.

To find out more about how Energi and ADAS can help you, come and visit us at stand 71 on 15th and 16th Feb or contact us online.

The great thing about Solar PV as a method of renewable energy is that it is simple to install and can be tailored to specific building needs. It is also maintenance free which enables companies and property owners to benefit from free electricity and reduced energy bills without any hassle.

At Energi we have over 6 years experience of working on large-scale and complex Solar PV systems. Our dedicated design team can work on refurbishment and renovation projects, as well as working with architects at the initial design stage, meaning that whatever your circumstances are, we can find a Solar PV solution that is right for you and your business.

Many organisations have a responsibility to generate their own energy and that is where a Solar PV system can help meet these requirements. At Energi the demand for PV installations is constantly increasing, as businesses also look to combat rising electricity costs and safeguard themselves against future price increases or a possible ‘energy crunch’.

In addition to the key reasons for installing a Solar PV system, there is also a feed-in-tariff scheme which provides a payment for every kilowatt hour of electricity your system generates. At present, for systems between 10kWp and 50kWp the payment is 15.2p for every kilowatt hour generated.

For further details of commerical solar PV systems and to see how Energi can help your business, contact us online or call us on freephone 0800 533 5130 and ask to speak to the commercial sales team.

The alleged crime claims that in March 2003 Hulne was making a car journey from Stansted airport and was caught speeding. Having already had points on his driving licence, it is suspected that Hulne asked his wife to take the points for him. This is currently under investigation as Essex police search through emails and other materials, as well as a tape recording of Pryce allegedly discussing the speeding charge with Hulne.

Hulne has announced he felt it appropriate to resign as the process of trying to clear his name would cause distraction in the office. It has now been confirmed that Ed Davey, former Liberal Democrats Business Minister will replace Hulne as Energy and Climate Minister.

With a lot of recent media coverage regarding the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in regards to the reduction of Solar PV feed-in-tariff rates, this news has many professionals in the renewable energy sector wondering how Davey will approach the current issues regarding energy within the UK.

Speaking of Mr Davey, Mr Clegg said: “I think he is the right man for the job to take up from where Chris has left off to provide sustainable solutions to the long-term energy needs of this country.

“I will be meeting Ed shortly so that he can make an early start in that very important work.”

Despite DECC recently losing a court appeal regarding their unlawful approach to Solar PV feed-in-tariffs, comments regarding Hulne have so far been quite positive. That being said, a new face in the Department of Energy and Climate Change may come as good news to many, and with the right person, it could help secure the future of our UK in terms of renewable energy and energy security.

For further details of the current feed-in-tariff issues please click here or contact us for further information