Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a new energy partnership with Norway. This agreement will not only grant us with access to gas and oil reserves but also provide 1,300 jobs at their engineering hub in Chiswick, this is in addition to the 1,000 jobs Aker Solutions has already created in the UK. Norwegian companies Statoil and Statkraft are also looking to invest £31 billion in offshore windfarms which could eventually produce 10% of the UK’s electricty needs. This agreement comes swift on the heels of the recent announcement that a deal has been made with Iceland for their geothermal energy. For more information visit the DECC website.

  One of the greatest issues affecting the energy industry and consumers is energy wastage due to the inefficency of homes in the UK. The issues can either be attributed to houses being  poorly insulated, not having an efficient condensing boiler or not being fitted with full double-glazing. The Department of Energy and Climate Change states that these factors actually account for 43% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions. This week the Energy Secretary and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey has announced the Governments next steps for the Green Deal energy operation. The plans will provide poorer homes and rural areas with additional support in tackling these problems by providing aid worth around £1.3bn a year to help tackle fuel povery and climate change. This financial aid will lead to an increase of 100,000 homes to 230,000 that will ultimately benefit from this scheme. Not only will the plans provide much needed support to the areas of society highlighted above but they will also support up to 60,000 jobs in the insulation alone, this will be an increase of 34,000 from the 26,000 currently employed. In addition to potentially creating new jobs the government has also proposed a £3.5million training scheme in co-operation with Asset Skills and Construction Skills. If these plans are executed properly they will provide much needed financial relief for the households that need it most as well as helping to create employment in an ever expanding sector. For more information please visit the DECC website.

  Hi we have put some useful  information together to help our prospective customers on the Renewable Heat Incentive also known has (RHI). Who is it for? This RHI is ideally suited for any business which is a considerable user of oil or mains gas. What are the benefits? First of all you will save money by eliminating or reducing your need for gas or oil, both of which are becoming increasingly expensive year-on-year Secondly, you will be paid up to 8.5p/kWth for the hot water and heat you generate and use yourself. It depends on exactly what systems you use and how large they are as to what D-ENERGi can offer biomass solutions for the following eligble sizes. Tariff name Eligible technology Eligible sizes Tariff rate (p/kWh) Small biomass Solid biomass; Municipal Solid Waste (incl. CHP) Less then 200 kWth Tier 1: 7.9 Tier 2: 2.0 Medium biomass 200 kWth and above; less than 1000 kWth Tier 1: 4.9 Tier 2: 2.0 Large biomass 1000 kWth and above 1.0 How the tiers work In each year the Tier 1 tariff is paid until the system has operated up to 15% of the annual rated output (i.e. the equivalent of 1,314 hours at the rated capacity of the installation) For the rest of the output in the year, the Tier 2 tariff will apply. This is how the government explained it. It is not clear how this approach will be averaged over the quarterly RHI payments, but the administrator’s guidance notes will presumably cover this. An example A biomass boiler rated at 250kWth operates for 7 hours/day in winter and 3 hours/day in summer, i.e. 1,825 hours in total over the year. This size of boiler is classified as ‘Medium Biomass’. It therefore receives the Tier 1 tariff of 4.7p per kWh for the first 1,314 hours and the Tier 2 tariff of 1.9p per kWh for the other 511 hours • 1314 x 250 x £0.047 = £15,439.50 • + 511 x 250 x £0.019 = £ 2,427.25 Making a total of £17,866.75 per annum (plus inflation adjustment) How long do the tariffs last? They are paid for 20 years from the registration date and index-linked for inflation. Is that long enough to cover the installation costs? In most cases the simple answer is yes. We estimate that many participants will earn enough money from the tariffs to pay off their installation costs in about seven to nine years. According to the Government, which has set the tariff levels, the average for most systems be a return of around 12% per annum. Where the money comes from? It was announced on October 20th 2010, within the Spending Review, that the RHI will be paid for directly by the Treasury. The Government had originally planned in the initial consultation to levy the money on resellers of heating fuels. How much is available? A total of £860m will be available for the period until fiscal year 2014/15. The government is developing cost control mechanisms to ensure that the budget is not overspent. Please call us to find out more on biomass and the RHI and how it can benefit your business. Please call us on 0800 781 7626.

  A £7m loan from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to The Green Deal Finance Company (TGDFC) has been agreed today that will allow TGDFC to continue developing its offer of low cost finance, expected to be available early in 2013. Green Deal Providers will be able to access finance through TGDFC, enabling them to offer low cost finance packages to consumers upgrading their homes under the Green Deal. The Green Deal is also being considered as an early candidate for the use of infrastructure guarantees, Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, announced today. This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to working with the private sector to provide finance at a low but sustainable cost to Green Deal customers. Infrastructure guarantees will provide guarantees for major UK infrastructure projects and could potentially support up to £40 billion of investment. From today, the register for Green Deal Providers, Assessors and Installers will also open. The register will give the seal of approval to businesses that successfully go through the Green Deal authorisation process. All authorised Green Deal Providers, Assessors and Installers will have to display the new Green Deal Quality Mark to demonstrate they comply with the required Green Deal standards. This will be vital for protecting customers from any rogue traders. Only registered and authorised businesses will be able to use this mark. To find out more please visit the Department of Energy of Climate Change.