Recent budget gets response from renewable industry specialists

After the Chancellor delivered his budget, the Chief Executive of the UK’s National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials (NNFCC), said it is a 'missed opportunity. Andrew Holmes, Managing Director of the Climate Energy Group, says: “We welcome the news that renewable energy is a priority for the Government. As gas and oil prices continue to rise, making energy bills unaffordable for many elderly and vulnerable people as well as families, we need to be looking at making renewable energy a realistic option for households across the UK.

“The Government must work with the industry to ensure that the future of renewable energy isn’t just a pipe dream but is achievable for both businesses and homeowners across the UK. “More clarity around the future of FiT, RHI and Green Deal will go a long way to helping to achieve this and will encourage further investment in renewables in the UK," concluded Mr Holmes. Read more ...

Billion pound wind farm announced by Scottish company Burcote

Scottish company Burcote Consultancy has announced plans to invest more than a billion pounds to develop 10 wind farms in the UK. At present the company has not secured any planning permission and will not seek finance for the projects until it does.

The Scottish government said the renewable energy sector secured £750 million of investment last year. If given consent, the farms could produce an annual electricity output capable of meeting the energy needs of 554,000 homes. Read more ...

NFUS calls for Scottish government on agri-renewables

Recently the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) has delivered fresh guidance to its members on developing wind energy projects. The union has also called for the Scottish government to make a start on the promised agri-renewables strategy that it promised in August 2011. “Since the commitment to the strategy in July, the list of issues around farm-based energy generation have continued to grow. They include inconsistencies and constraints in the planning system. Difficulties in getting site approval and, for wind energy, in meeting noise requirements mean that many farmers are struggling to get energy projects off the ground. Read more ...

Scotland cuts subsidies for biomass and wind but not tidal

Scotland's government plans to cut the subsidies support to wind power and biomass power. The increase in subsidies “provides the underpinning support we need for investment in our Kyle Rhea tidal array project that will be offered to the market next month,” Andrew Tyler, chief executive officer of Bristol, England-based Marine Current. The government has “serious concerns” about the sustainability of wood biomass used in larger power plants, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said in a statement. “UK ambitions for large-scale electricity-only woody biomass plants are an inefficient use of a finite resource.” Read more ...