Alternative Outlook

Managers of funds investing in UK renewable energy projects have welcomed some of the proposed changes to feed-in tariffs (FiT) announced last week, but say they are unlikely to invest in new solar projects.

The UK government launched consultations last week on a raft of proposed changes, notably on a system for gradually reducing support (or ‘tariff degression’) for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, which were subject to a controversial decision to slash subsidies last year.

However, this aspect was largely irrelevant to the cro…

World Biofuels Markets 2012 ( www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com ), Europe’s largest congress and exhibition focused on biofuels, announced the shortlist of award winners for the 2012 Sustainable Biofuels Awards ( www.sustainablebiofuelsawards.com ). The awards, designed to recognise innovation in the development of truly sustainable and renewable fuels, will be presented on day two (Wednesday 14th March) of the 7th annual World Biofuels Markets.

The awards span ten categories including biofuels leadership, technology, adoption, bioethanol, bi…

With over 100 turbines generating power for around 320,000 homes, the Walney project is regarded as the world’s biggest offshore wind farm. It will be officially launched on Thursday, by the British government.

The launch will reportedly mark the start of a £33 billion push to expand sea-based generation of electricity by more than 10-fold by the end of the decade.

The new energy secretary, Ed Davey, a Member of Parliament and a Liberal Democrat, will officially open the farm that is located approximately 15km from the c…

A new global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has revealed a massive 40% increase in renewable investment from 2010 to 2011. Investment in ‘new generation’ technologies – including solar, wind and biomass – leapt from US$38.2 billion in 2010 to a record US$53.5 billion in 2011, according to the report. The massive increase is due to a variety of factors, the most noteworthy of which are falling solar prices and the change in attitude towards nuclear power following the Fukushima crisis in …

It’s a common myth that the UK doesn’t have sufficient sunlight for solar energy. In fact England receives a higher solar radiance on average than Germany, while Germany represents half of Europe’s installed solar capacity, generating over 3% of the country’s total electricity.

An innovative Cambridge-based developer and manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) glass, Polysolar, has applied its transparent solar panels to develop greenhouses, orangeries, car ports, balustrades, canopies, lean-to shelters and garden offices.

Just…

The UK’s first officially designated ‘marine energy park’ for the development of wave and tide-powered renewable energy will be established in the South West of England, the Government has announced.

The South West Marine Energy Park, which will stretch from Bristol through Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly, will speed up the progress of marine power development by combining the resources of national and local government; Local Enterprise Partnerships; universities, and industry, the Government said.

The park was commissi…

Solar Panels UK has just launched the Solar Panels Suitability Checker on its highly successful solarpanelsuk.co.uk website. The Suitability Checker is an interactive tool designed to help homeowners evaluate potential solar panel sites on an individual basis.

The Feed in Tariff provides a strong incentive to purchase and install PV panel micro-generators. To minimize ROI periods, solar panels should be positioned to collect the maximum amount of available sunlight. The Solar Panels Suitability Checker helps homeowners identify the areas of …

Businesses in Scotland have called for the country to seize the opportunity to make 2012 the year of wind power it was announced today (January 3).

Top companies in the country have also backed a new label promoting products and services made using wind power.

Aberdeenshire-based ice-cream manufacturer, Mackie’s of Scotland, Midlothian-based leaflet and posters distributors, EAE Ltd and Renfrewshire-based Scotland-wide retailer M&Co joined environmental group WWF Scotland in urging more companies to follow their lead and switch to usi…

Wealthy investors should increase their exposure to renewable energy to get uncorrelated inflation-beatings returns, a survey of investment advisers has shown.

The industry poll from Future Capital Partners showed that 67 per cent of advisers believe high-net worth investors should allocate a greater part of their portfolios to renewable energy for the long-term, while 56 per cent said they should do so for the short-term.

Looking at the individual types of renewable energy investment, IFAs were most familiar solar and wind energy, and le…

Renewable energy is surpassing fossil fuels for the first time in new power-plant investments, shaking off setbacks from the financial crisis and an impasse at the United Nations global warming talks.

Electricity from the wind, sun, waves and biomass attracted $187 billion last year compared with $157 billion for natural gas, oil and coal, according to calculations by Bloomberg New Energy Finance using the most recent data. Accelerating installations of solar and wind power led to lower equipment prices, making clean energy more competitive …