News archive - Week ending 30th November 2007

£2.5m Carbon Capture Research

A government-funded project, led by Edinburgh University and ScottishPower, has received £2.3 m for research into capturing carbon dioxide produced by coal-fired power stations and burying it beneath the Firth of Forth.
The project would see liquefied C02 from Longannet power station forced into sandstone buried a mile beneath the River Forth. The gas would eventually dissolve and become fizzy salt water. There is believed to be ?decades' worth? of reserves in such rocks near Britain's coal and oil power stations and refineries, and 300 years' worth in the North Sea for Europe's needs.

New Renewables Target for Scotland

Scotland has a new target to generate 50 per cent of its electricity from renewables by 2020, with an interim target of 31 per cent by 2011. The Scottish Government's previous renewable target was 40 per cent by 2020.
Energy Minister Jim Mather said the target was now more transparent and challenging, as it takes account of transmission losses between the source of electricity and consumers, and would increase confidence in Scotland's renewables industry.

Winners of the EAS EnergySavers Award 2007

The EAS EnergySavers Award is run annually by fuel poverty charity Energy Action Scotland and is supported by eaga for the sixth year. The Award recognises excellence in local energy-saving initiatives which tackle fuel poverty and improve domestic energy efficiency. There was a first prize of £1,500 and a runner up prize of £1,000.
Entries were invited from projects throughout Scotland which had helped local people to benefit from greater energy awareness or to make energy savings in their homes. Projects involving lower income or disadvantaged households or communities were particularly welcomed.
The winner of the EAS EnergySavers Award 2007 was the Hadyard Hill Community Energy Project by The Energy Agency and South Ayrshire Council. The project used a community wind farm fund to install free insulation in a rural, off mains gas area which had higher than average fuel bills, poorly-insulated properties and many households on benefits. The runner up was the Caithness Energy Advice Project , Energy SOS Shout Out ?Savings!?, by Ormlie Community Association. It operates in a rural area where relatively high fuel costs mean household fuel bills are about 50% higher than the Scottish average. The project provides an energy advice service which helps mainly elderly or disabled people and others on benefits.