TEF Global

Oct

Local finance flows as old mills and weirs come back on stream

Climate Change Minister Greg Barker today called on enterprising communities to harness the power of their rivers and streams to generate both green electricity and money, as he visited the Torrs Hydro scheme in New Mills, Peak District.

Greg Barker will use today’s visit to a successful community hydro scheme in the Peak District to announce that former mills and water turbines which are brought back to life will now be eligible for financial support under the feed-in tariff.

To help drive forward the ambitious new plan, DECC is also launching the new hydropower help guide [External link] prepared by the Environment Agency, which offers advice to groups looking to use the power of local streams, weirs or rivers to cut emissions and generate new income for their areas.

Greg Barker, said:

“When it comes to the UK’s performance on renewables there’s much more to do and hydropower is currently a missed opportunity. There is more to renewable energy than just large wind turbines. We need to unlock the clean energy of our past as well as the future."

Oct

The Spending Review

The Chancellor has set out the Government's four-year public spending plans in the Spending Review 2010.

The Spending Review is a Treasury-led process to allocate resources across all government departments, according to the Government's priorities.

Spending Reviews set firm and fixed spending budgets over several years for each department. The 2010 Spending Review will cover the four years from 2011-12 to 2014-15.

Oct

Severn Tidal Study

The Severn study – published today - found that there was no strategic case for major public sector investment in a large-scale energy project in the Severn estuary at this time. It would be very costly to deliver and very challenging to attract the necessary investment from the private sector alone.

The Severn Tidal Power feasibility study showed that a tidal power scheme in the Estuary could cost in excess of £30bn, making it high cost and high risk in comparison to other ways of generating electricity. The report did recommend that a Severn tidal project should not be ruled out as a longer term option if market conditions change, but noted significant uncertainty over complying with regulation and that a scheme would fundamentally change the natural environment of the estuary.

Commenting on the Severn study, Chris Huhne said:
"The study clearly shows that there is no strategic case at this time for public funding of a scheme to generate energy in the Severn estuary. Other low carbon options represent a better deal for taxpayers and consumers."

Oct

Government review of public bodies

Today the Cabinet Office announced the outcome of the Government review of public bodies, setting out which bodies will be retained, merged or no longer be an NDPB. DECC is closing three bodies and retaining a further nine.

The majority of DECC’s public bodies are considered to have met one of the three tests set out to determine whether an arm’s length public body remains the right delivery mechanism, (performing a technical function, requiring political impartiality or needing to act independently to establish facts).

Three of DECC’s public bodies will no longer continue - the UK Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority Advisory Committee; Advisory Committee on Carbon Abatement Technologies; and Renewables Advisory Board.

Sep

PM challenges departments to slash energy use

The Prime Minister today challenged Whitehall to slash energy use at their departmental headquarters over the month of October. As each department strives to cut emissions at their Whitehall HQ, an online league table will be updated daily to allow the public to see how each department is doing.

David Cameron said

“In May I called for real action to make us the greenest government ever. I made a commitment that over the next 12 months, central government departments would reduce their carbon emissions by 10%. We have made a start but clearly we can all do much more to show leadership on this vital issue. So today is a clear challenge to Cabinet ministers and an opportunity for the public to hold us to account."

Sep

World's largest windfarm opens at Thane

Chris Huhne attended the opening today of the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Thanet Offshore Wind Farm, off the Kent coast, has 100 turbines and will generate electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of over 200,000 British households.

Chris Huhne said,

"I’m pleased that we’ve reached the point where 5GW of our energy comes from onshore and offshore wind – that’s enough electricity to power all the homes in Scotland. Getting these massive structures out here into the sea is a tremendous feat of engineering and I applaud all involved with this awesome achievement."

"We are in a unique position to become a world leader in this industry. We are an island nation and I firmly believe we should be harnessing our wind, wave and tidal resources to the maximum."
"I know that there is still more to do to bring forward the large sums of investment we want to see in low-carbon energy in the UK, and we as Government are committed to playing our part."

Sep

Chris Huhne opens zero-carbon homes project

Secretary of State Chris Huhne today opened one of the UK's largest development of zero-carbon homes. SSE (Scottish and South Energy) has developed 10 eco-homes in Chalvey, Slough in a project designed to understand the changing role of the energy supplier in a low carbon socierty.

Speaking at today's launch, Chris Huhne said “Slough's project is a glimpse into the future of how we could all be living in years to come. Homes in the UK account for more than a quarter of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions so saving energy makes sense for the planet as well as the householders."

Sep

Capital markets in the spotlight in fight against climate change

Greg Barker launched the Capital Markets Climate Initiative (CMCI) at the London Stock Exchange today, where he highlighted the City of London’s potential to become a global hub for green finance and why low carbon investment is a huge opportunity for the UK’s financial services industry. The CMCI aims to help unlock the private sector’s ability to help meet the $100 billion of new green investment required annually by 2020 to tackle climate change in developing countries. Greg Barker said -"The vital role of capital markets in tackling climate change has been overlooked for far too long. The finance needed to help developing countries become low carbon isn’t flowing at the rate and scale needed.I have convened today’s meeting to bring together our key players from the City and internationally to help drive green economic investment."

Sep

Boost for school solar power

Greg Barker visited Birchwood High School in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire today - the first school to benefit from a new scheme offered by renewable technology enabler,Our Generation. The private sector funding has been secured by Our Generation as a result of the Government’s Feed in Tariff, launched in April of this year. It will enable hundreds of schools throughout Britain to have solar electricity systems installed free of charge and low-cost fixed price energy for 25 years. Greg Barker said; “The school children at Birchwood High are showing how going green is not only good for the planet but makes good financial sense too. Feed-in tariffs have given a much needed boost to the industry with great take up so far. The £50m investment being announced today by Our Generation means lots more schools across the country are going to be able to benefit from clean energy and lower fuel bills."

Aug

Local authorities to sell renewable electricity The Energy Secretary has overturned the ban on councils selling renewable electricity. Councils across Britain will now be allowed to sell renewable electricity to the grid and should assume their rightful place leading a local power revolution, Chris Huhne has said in a letter to all local authorities.

Aug

URGENT - 50 days for businesses to register with carbon cutting scheme With just 50 days to go until the end of registration for the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC), Greg Barker is calling on the remaining organisations to register now. Launched in April 2010 the CRC requires large public and private sector organisations to register by 30th September 2010.

Jul

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne set out 32 actions being taken to accelerate the transformation of the energy system and wider economy, in the first ever Annual Energy Statement to Parliament today.

Jul

Chris Huhne makes European push on climate change.

May

Energy Bill announced in Queen's Speech.

May

The UK Government has issued a series of cost cutting measures across all departments.

Latest News

Oct

28

Local finance flows as old mills and weirs come back on stream

Climate Change Minister Greg Barker today called on enterprising communities to harness the power of their rivers and streams to generate both green electricity and money, as he visited the Torrs Hydro scheme in ...

Oct

20

The Spending Review

The Chancellor has set out the Government's four-year public spending plans in the Spending Review 2010. The Spending Review is a Treasury-led process to allocate resources across all g...

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