David Cameron is pressing his green credentials by unveiling plans to encourage homeowners to generate their own energy.

Increasing small-scale generation in homes, offices, schools and hospitals is key to the fight against climate change, the Tory leader is to say.

The Conservatives' energy policy is expected to include moves to make it easier for people to buy and install equipment such as solar panels and wind turbines, by offering grants and loosening planning rules.

Power companies could also be forced to buy the energy generated by homeowners at a fixed price in an effort to "decentralise" the system.

Environmentalists point out that much of the electricity from Britain's big power stations is lost as it travels along the wires to the consumer.

Mr Cameron will launch the proposals at Greenpeace offices in London, where he will be shown solar panels on the roof which power the building.

Greenpeace executive director John Sauven praised the Tory leader for "getting" the arguments for cleaner energy.

"We've been pushing this climate change solution for many years so it's very exciting to have a major political party take our ideas and adopt them as policy," he said.

"But we really want to see this as a Government priority, no matter who's in Number 10."

Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2007, All Rights Reserved.

Scottish and Southern Energy plc ("SSE") has developed a new tariff for householders and small businesses which export power to the electricity network generated via solar photovoltaic (pv) panels installed on their premises.

Under the new pricing structure, SSE will combine the price it pays for the Renewable Obligation Certificates ("ROC") associated with solar power and the price it pays for the power itself. It will also install export meters, act as the ROC agent and seek ROC accreditation for customers free of charge. The package will be called ‘solar energyplus’.



The new price will be 18 pence per kilowatt hour of power exported. This means that a householder or small business generating 1,500kWh of power a year (just under half the average household’s electricity consumption) will earn around £135 a year if it exports 50% of the total power generated. For customers who export the majority of their generation, SSE believes this will be the best export tariff in the market.



Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of SSE, said:



"This is another important step forward in the development of our interests in solar power. We are now offering solar power generators a simple pricing structure which represents real value for all concerned. I hope that it helps encourage further investment in solar power, which can play a growing and significant part in meeting the UK’s energy needs."

Solar panels, under-floor heating powered by a ground source heat pump, low energy lightbulbs and even a "green roof" have helped make a 1920s terrace house become one of the oldest houses in the UK to gain a top "eco-homes" rating.

While the Government has pledged to make all new build houses zero carbon by 2016, the Bournville Village Trust have refurbished one of their properties in Bournville, south Birmingham to demonstrate how the carbon footprint of current, inefficient, housing stock can be reduced.



Roger Cadbury, trustee of the Bournville Village Trust, said: "It is just as important for older existing housing stock to be as well maintained and energy efficient as new build. It is up to all of us to reduce our carbon footprint."

See Green Building Magazine

for more.

It will also be easier to install solar panels and wind turbines under a shake-up of planning laws aimed at cutting red-tape.

The changes in the Planning Bill also make it easier to build airports, nuclear plants, roads, railways and reservoirs
.

See The Mirror

for more.

ENERGY supplier Swalec is encouraging more investment in solar power by offering a new tariff for customers who export solar generated power to the electricity network.

Swalec will combine the price it pays for the Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC) associated with solar power and the price it pays for the power itself. It will also install export meters, act as the ROC agent and seek ROC accreditation for customers free of charge. The package is called 'solar energyplus'and customers will get 18 pence per kilowatt hour of power exported.

Damien Hirst is breathing fresh life into the renewable energy industry by ordering the country's second largest solar power system.

Hirst is to spend up to £1.5m on a 310kw solar power system for his studio buildings in Stroud, Gloucestershire. The system will generate enough electricity to power up to 150 homes.

Such is the small scale of solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment in Britain that Hirst's system will account for around 2% of the total 12 megawatt peak capacity in Britain. Germany has 200 times as much.

See The Guardian

for more.

The Bristol Evening Post reports that Eco-friendly solar panels are to be installed at two schools in North Somerset. Solar power systems worth £20,000 will be installed at Backwell School and Worle Community School.

Both schools are now awaiting a final structural survey before installation begins.

They are among five schools in the country to receive the renewable energy systems at no cost to them. The schools entered an initiative called Solar4Schools, run by solar energy company Solarcentury. It is backed by Barclaycard Breathe, a new credit card which raises money for green projects. All schools had to be checked for their suitability, including roof size and energy efficiency.

They will also benefit from the Solar4Schools teaching packs, display units and other educational resources as part of their prize.

Backwell head teacher Julian Baldwin, said: "We are delighted to be one of the schools which is going to benefit. We believe it is essential that we take a lead in becoming an environmentally friendly and sustainable community. "Our students share in this belief and are now actively working together to make Backwell an 'eco-school'."

Solar4Schools was selected as one of the first organisations to benefit from Barclaycard Breathe. The scheme is part funded by the Department of Trade and Industry's low carbon buildings programme, providing £10,000 towards the £20,000 system. Barclaycard Breathe provides the rest.

Jeremy Leggett, chief executive at Solarcentury, said: "We are delighted with this new impetus for the Solar4 Schools programme. We have already had hundreds of inquiries for funding. The support from Barclaycard Breathe will ensure that more schools are able to meet the fund requirements more quickly.

"Access to this silent, clean, sustainable energy is easy, and it is a crucial vehicle for educating young people on the benefits of solar PV-generated electricity."

Fifty per cent of profits from Barclaycard Breathe will go towards carbon reduction projects across the world, with a guaranteed £1m donation in the first year.

Energy company E.ON has given a £19,000 grant under its new SOURCE community initiative towards the cost of installing a solar thermal system at Jesmond swimming pool.

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The cash will be used to help pay for solar panels for the roof to provide heat for the pool water. The pool's trustees expect it to be the largest single solar thermal installation in the North East once completed.

Sarah Green, Community Relations Executive with E.ON, said: "We're delighted to be able to contribute towards this exciting project for the North East as part of our new SOURCE scheme, which is designed to help community groups get sustainable energy projects off the ground.

"The pool's trustees are determined to lower its carbon footprint and we're confident that the addition of this solar thermal system will bring down its energy bills."

The solar system is expected to save the emission of 5,350kg of carbon dioxide each year, and a display unit will be placed in the pool's entrance area so that users can monitor its output.

Glenn Armstrong, chief executive of the Jesmond Swimming Project, said: "We're delighted to have received this funding, without which we would have struggled to pay for such an important installation.

"By using solar power, we are demonstrating to the local and wider community the importance of controlling our carbon footprint, and at the same time reducing our annual power bills."

E.ON, one of the UK's leading green electricity generators, launched its SOURCE fund earlier this year to help with the costs of sustainable energy projects for community buildings.

The fund is backed up by the SOURCE website, which provides information and advice for community groups seeking to become more energy efficient or generate their own energy from sustainable sources.

The website, which contains full details of how to apply for a grant, can be accessed at
www.eon-uk.com/source

. 

The next deadline for applications for funding is 21 December 2007.

For further information contact:

Jane Branscombe on 024 7618 3681,
Jane.branscombe@eon-uk.com

Construction products manufacturer Kingspan has announced its acquisition of Thermomax Evacuated Solar Collectors, the UK's largest producer of solar thermal panels for hot water.
Thermomax, based in Bangor, makes solar heating systems but went into administration in July after running into financial difficulties.

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The firm employs 185 people at its Bangor factory in County Down, and 85 people in its Cardiff factory.

Kingspan said that it was buying the company as a going concern, maintaining the Thermomax name and brand identity and intended to expand its operations.

"The acquisition of Thermomax fits very well with Kingspan's business strategy of investing in renewable energy and sustainability in building, which we see as key to our future," said Noel Crowe, managing director of Kingspan Environmental and Renewables division.

"Thermomax is a significant strategic investment for Kingspan Environmental and Renewables. We will be investing further in the business to develop its full potential for the future," he added.

Founded in 1980, Thermomax had a £15m turnover, last year. Thermomax has established a worldwide reputation for the development of hi-tech vacuum solar panels. The company's products are sold to customers in over 40 countries.

Kingspan Environmental and Renewables is a division of the Kingspan Group headquartered in Co. Cavan, Ireland. Kingspan has manufacturing and distribution operations throughout the world. It was founded in 1972 as a small family business by Eugene and Brendan Murtagh, both members of the Board of Directors.

Since 2000, the Kingspan group has continued to grow through select acquisitions.

Local residents, Mr & Mrs Sinfield received a grant towards the installation of Solar Photovoltaic Panels to produce electricity. Mr Sinfield said: "We had already installed solar thermal panels to heat our domestic hot water and we were keen to generate our own electricity as well.

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The Council grant helped us to get the installation in place and installing the renewable energy technologies has made us think even more about the energy we use and how we can avoid wasting it."

A number of people have now been awarded grants from the Council's 'Building Sustainable Communities' fund and the first few installations are now in place. The fund provides grants of between £500 and £1,000 towards renewable energy equipment such as solar panels, micro wind turbines, ground source heat pumps and wood fuel heating systems.

The grant scheme is intended to support and encourage the installation of renewable energy technologies in the Borough and to raise awareness of renewable energy and climate change issues.