Solar for All...

Posted on June 21, 2011 at 10:08 AM

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The offering of a free or reduced cost electricity-generating solar panel or ‘PV for Free’ as it is often dubbed is not a new development here in the UK. A number of organisations have announced their intention to go to market with such an offering including many of the ‘Big 6’ power companies.

Indeed, Scottish and Southern Energy recently offered such an approach to their customers but selection was predicated on the size of roof space available. It was however free for customers (if they chose this approach) and they would receive free electricity when available from the panel but no direct financial return. The revenue element would be retained by SSE and help offset the cost of the installation and SSE would also retain the lifetime carbon savings. It is, however, clearly a win-win for both sides and helps with a) the rollout of lower carbon energy generation and b) reducing the cost of panels overall by increasing sales.

 However, it appears that the mighty Google is yet again looking to be a major player in this field, especially in the USA. They have invested $280 million in SolarCity, a company that offers a similar approach to US homeowners where they can choose a panel lease approach. This will see the homeowner pay for their panel out of the $100 per month savings made from their utility bill and over the lifetime of the panel they would save $16,000. A clever approach and one that echoes the looming Green Deal ethos coming to the UK.

A UK-wide broadband network...for £31million?!

Posted on June 14, 2011 at 1:50 PM

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A highly promising unveiling from a Cambridge start-up called NeulNet has gotten the network industry buzzing. Neil is looking to utilise the white spaces between the tv broadcast network for the provision of wireless broadband. White spaces, unlike the mobile phone spaces, is unregulated and therefore free of any Government licensing requirements. It is however still illegal to use them but a number of interested parties are looking to utilise the spare capacity.

Google have looked in to it in the USA but this is the first bona fide effort I know of in the UK. Neul claim that 99% of the UK could be covered with a network capable of speeds up to 15mb down for £31million – about 40% of the cost of one Eurofighter jet. A similar mobile network would cost £500 million. It also consumes less power than a mobile network.

If this technology can be proven realistic and capable in a real-world deployment then this is surely something that needs public agency support and is a worthy investment in bringing better connectivity and network provision to more of the country for less cost. The potential benefits would be incredible.

Set to Bloom...

Posted on June 7, 2011 at 3:11 PM

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Bloom Energy is a company I have been following for quite a while now...

They produce a pretty remarkable technology called an Energy Server, which is a fuel-cell based electricity generator that can use virtually any fuel source to generate electricity for a home or business. It decentralises the generation process, moving the demand away from the big dirty power stations. Beyond the obvious capital and fuel costs, the energy is free. The most common fuel source used is natural gas.



The cells convert hydrogen and oxygen in to electricity via solid oxide cells and an electrochemical process. The secret sauce is in the cheap materials used and the conducting paint on the cells. Bloom believes that the Servers will have a big impact by providing power in off-grid areas as well as eliminating demand from the big power plants. The servers cost $700,000 each but many big companies such as Google, eBay, Walmart and Coca-Cola have already bought one.

Many believe this technology could take off if the capital cost comes down sufficiently and the decentralised approach will help minimise the sizeable impact of transmission losses. Bloom Energy is even working on a domestic scale system. I would love my own power plant in my home!

CSE report gives strong backing to wind turbines

Posted on June 7, 2011 at 12:19 PM

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The recently released ‘Common concerns about wind power’ report written by the Centre for Sustainable Energy makes for fascinating reading and explodes a number of myths and concerns often touted by those against turbine developments.

I am a wind turbine proponent, but only as part of a mix of energy generation options and energy reduction measures, and they cannot be relied on alone to provide all of our clean power needs in future. However, I do think they are critical to our low carbon future. But they do need to be located in areas where they make sense, in terms of the environmental, visual and generation impact. I also strongly believe they need to provide a clear and direct benefit to the communities located closest to them, an approach I favour in my professional life.

As part of my job I often engage directly with communities concerned about turbine developments. Often it is those most upset at the whole concept that I hear from the most, the so-called ‘vocal minority’, as they are the ones most likely to come out to a meeting or event to voice their displeasure. A great many concerns I hear include fears about the impact on house prices, visual change, noise, flickering light, ice and other broad safety concerns. Any concern an individual has is a valid one but the reality has to be based on fact.

The recently published report from the Centre for Sustainable Energy shines a light on this reality and it makes for interesting reading…

It clearly outlines and negates the often over-egged headline impacts seen in media coverage and often flat wrong suppositions put forward in respect of likely turbine impact on house prices, infrasound, net energy costs and the environment. It also underpins the assertion that they do have a role to play as part of a broad energy generation mix.

Key findings include:

- The statement that turbine farms payback their embedded energy in less than 6 months, torpedoing one of the common arguments against them.
- Onshore wind costs approximately 3.2p per kWh to generate which compares favourably to the grid-wide wholesale price average of 3.0p per kWh.
- Clarification of the difference between load factor and efficiency – they are not the same. Onshore wind averages 27% load capacity whilst conventional thermal power stations average 38%. As the technology improves, the efficiency of turbines will only go in one direction, narrowing this gap.
- Indication that we need onshore wind turbines to help meet our energy and carbon targets and it is still cheaper to build a turbine on land than offshore.
- The statement that the UK’s free market nuclear sector does not allow for the necessary level of control as evidenced by France’s successful state-owned programme.
- The fact that heavy community involvement in any turbine development is a must. A sentiment I would echo greatly.
- That there is no evidence of turbines impacting on local house prices.
- Evidence that wind energy is one of the safest forms of generation.
- Shadow flicker and noise has minimal impact and can be mitigated.
- That noise can be a factor (dependant upon location) but improved design has helped mitigate any impact
- Many, many more birds and bats are killed by traditional energy generation systems, buildings and power lines than wind turbines even when figures are averaged out.

This detailed report is a powerful statement that many of the concerns held against wind turbine developments are unfounded and I would urge anyone on either side of the debate to read it. You can download it here