GEN News

All the most up-to-the-minute, UK-relevant news from the world of renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions. GEN News is published twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays. If you sign up to become a Member or Supporter you have the option to receive our GEN News bulletin direct to your email Inbox. This ensures you keep right up-to-date with all the latest UK-specific news on energy efficiency and green energy generation issues.

If you have UK specific Press Releases please send them to pr [at] greenenergynet [dot] com for publication.

GEN News

Bulletin: 16th May 2013

Research & Academia

Scotland seeks to create smart grid hub with Power Networks Demonstration Centre (BusinessGreen)
New £12.5m research centre designed to provide world-leading test facility for new smart grid technologies

Europe could save €45bn renewables costs (Renews)
Siemens calls for access to the most efficient site in Europe

Government urged to capture industrial CCS opportunity (BusinessGreen)
Final report from CCS Cost Reduction Taskforce argues technology could compete with nuclear and renewables if targeted funding is delivered

We can let fission fizzle out in a renewable world (New Scientist)

Green Energy Sector

Report forecasts energy jobs bonanza (BBC News)
The renewable energy industry could create more than 10,000 jobs on Scotland's islands by 2030, according to a government-commissioned study

Government report highlights renewables potential in the Northern Isles (The Orcadian)

Cross-border power line hold-up ‘costing consumers £25m’ (Belfast Today)
Stormont Energy Minister Arlene Foster said there was a need to “get to grips” with restrictions on the electricity system in Northern Ireland

Grid pays £6m to turn off wind farm turbines (Herald Scotland)
Media fall once again for REF monthly constraint payment release

Engineering company Mowat placed into administration (Herald Scotland)

SeaEnergy receives £849,000 after sale dispute (Herald Scotland)

Offshore wind-farm venture and Fluor settle dispute over claims (Herald Scotland)
The offshore wind-farm venture half-owned by utility SSE has finally settled its dispute with engineering giant Fluor

Powerful lesson from past about nature of progress (Courier)
Looking back at hydro

World Bank rethinks stance on large-scale hydropower projects (Guardian)
Despite their disruption, can dams help the organisation work towards ending poverty while keeping carbon emissions down?

Bulletin: 13th May 2013

Communities

Curtain up at Neilston (Renews)
Wind farm with a 10% community equity stake

Farmers & Landowners

Solar panel price set to rise (Farmers Weekly)
Hike in capital costs likely following EU proposals to impose anti-dumping duties on imported Chinese panels

Businesses

How can business help boost access to energy for those who need it most? (Guardian)
From crowdfunding platforms to development banks, the private sector can have a big impact in low-income energy markets

Public & Voluntary Sector

Councillor fears that SNH map is a step 'too far' (Inverness Courier)
Highland Council

GIB mobilises £2.3bn in five months (Renews)
The UK Green Investment Bank said today it has “hit the ground running” in its first five months of operation, making 11 transactions with a total value of £2.3bn

Street lamps in Scotland could switch to 100% low-energy bulbs (Guardian)
Ministers unveil plans for the green investment bank to fund a Scotland-wide LED lighting programme

Charles: 'Climate change sceptics are turning Earth into dying patient' (Guardian)
But doesn't back wind farms..

Research & Academia

First commercial liquid air plant among UK competition winners (Engineer)
Construction of Britain’s first commercial-scale liquid air energy storage plant could begin this year after the government revealed the winners of its new technology competition

Angus College students want Holyrood to take action on climate (Courier)

Green Energy Sector

Alarm at plans to water down green standards for buildings (Herald Scotland)
Holyrood ministers are coming under fierce criticism from the energy conservation sector for backtracking on a commitment to higher standards for new buildings.

Watering down energy standards (Herald Scotland)
Editorial view

Scotland doubles training pot to £6.5m (Renews)
Scottish government is providing a £6.5m training boost to Energy Skills Scotland for sectors including renewable energy, twice the original amount pledged only last year

Wind farm targets may be hit by no-go zones (Scotsman)
Holyrood 'separation distances' criticised

SSE boss 'ashamed' over mis-selling (BBC News)
Ian Marchant interviewed

Key climate change adviser resigns from Cameron post (Guardian)
Ben Moxham, senior policy adviser and former aide to BP chief Lord Browne, becomes latest energy official to quit

Hydro schemes face bans over moss (Scotsman)
SNH is facing a clash with developers over plans to declare dozens of waterfalls off-limits to new schemes to provide hydro-electric power

Biomass: should we burn trees to generate electricity? (Guardian)

Moving the UK solar market past the ‘boom and bust’ stage (Your Industry News)

Firm reduces wind project stake (Press Association)
Vattenfall looks to new shareholders for Aberdeen offshore