News archive - Week ending 8th February 2008

Trial of "Smart Meters"

Alyth in Perthshire is to be one of the first places in Scotland to have meters installed which tell householders exactly how much fuel they are using. In all, 364 of the meters will be fitted in as part of a project to reduce power consumption in the area by 10% over the next two years.

This should mean an end to estimated bills and meter readings because energy usage information will be passed directly to Scottish Hydro Electric. The trial in Alyth is part of a wider project which will see 2,400 smart meters being installed in homes across Tayside and, if successful, the meters could be introduced across Scotland.

Prototype Tidal Energy Plant

Plans for the first Caithness-based venture to extract power from the Pentland Firth have been broadly welcomed. Dutch firm Tocardo Tidal Energy Ltd is to build the turbines for its 10-megawatt prototype tidal energy plant at Wick harbour.

The Company established an office base at New Park's technology park at Forss in July last year to further its interest in the Pentland Firth. Following the completion of a successful feasibility study, it has confirmed its plans to establish a long-term base in the area. Managing Director Hans van Breugel said yesterday: "We're proud to be the first tidal energy developer based in Caithness, doing our share in harnessing the vast tidal energy potential of the Pentland Firth."

Tocardo will move its operation later this year to Wick, where it is to establish production, assembly and office facilities at the one-time dry dock, next to the north pier.

Mr van Breugel said it is intended to start work on the new 10-megawatt plant by the end of this year and to have it in the water in early 2009. The twin-bladed devices, which generate electricity from sea currents, have been described as upside-down wind turbines. The prototype features a horizontal axis turbine with direct drive generator and fixed pitch blades. Because the devices operate completely submerged in water, they have no visual impact. The exact site for the prototype has yet to be disclosed.

Date for Introduction of Home Reports

The Local Government and Communities Committee in Scotland has announced that from 1 December 2008 properties for sale in Scotland will have to be marketed with a Home Report.

The Home Report, commissioned by the seller, will provide prospective buyers with detailed information about the condition and value of the property and included an energy report. This will give a home's energy efficiency rating and its environmental impact in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. It recommends ways to improve the building's energy efficiency and gives contact details for further advice and information about how to make a home more energy efficient and save fuel costs.

Further information is available here. www.homereportscotland.gov.uk.

Renewable Energy: Heat Recommendations Report

The Forum For Renewable Energy Development In Scotland (FREDS) has provided its recommendations on renewable heat to Scottish Ministers. FREDS is comprised of representatives from, among others, Scottish Government, Scottish Renewables, Friends of the Earth, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Enterprise, Forestry Commission and the renewables industry.

The report concludes that a commercially viable and diverse renewable heat industry could help serve Scotland's future heating needs and cut emissions. According to the report, Scotland's 2.4 million households each use an average of 20 Megawatt hours of heat energy per year. Annual heat usage in Scotland is estimated to be approximately 57% of total energy demand in Scotland; more energy is used for heating and hot water in Scotland than for transport and electricity combined. Renewable heat sources can include wood and other forms of biomass energy crops, solar, heat pumps, energy from waste biomass or landfill gas.

Among the recommendations coming out of the study are:

· An analysis of potential heat markets with the aim of setting an appropriate target

The development of a wider heat strategy, taking account of regulatory and financial support mechanisms
The need to improve the existing building stock to maximise uptake of renewable heat
Speaking at the Scottish Energy and Environment Conference in Glasgow, Energy Minister Jim Mather said, "Renewable heat is massively under utilised. Scotland has the resources and the talent to lead the rest of the UK in developing a vibrant renewable heat market. Renewable heat is in its infancy in Scotland. Around a third of homes are not connected to gas and, in these areas in particular, renewable heat can offer a viable alternative. Welcoming the FREDS report the Minister said that he would consider the recommendations carefully in developing an action plan for renewable heat in Scotland.