Solar News

Tuesday 16 February 2010

Glastonbury festival 2010 is set to house 1,100 solar panels. Image: glastonburyfestivals

Glastonbury to host UK's largest private solar electricity system

Worthy Farm in Somerset, home to the annual music festival Glastonbury, is set to house 1,500 square meters of solar panels for this year's event, in what would be the UK's largest private solar electricity system.

Festival organiser Michael Eavis hopes to place 1,100 solar panels on cow sheds during Glastonbury 2010. It is thought that on a clear, sunny day, the panels would generate around 200kW of power. Work will begin to install the panels on August 1 2010, subject to planning permission being granted and surveys confirming that the barn roof is strong enough to hold the panels.

Michael Eavis said: "It's a very exciting project for us. We first had renewable energy at the Festival in 1979 and we've been trying to increase it ever since. We want the Festival, and the farm, to be as green as they can be. The solar panels will make a huge contribution towards that."

Plans for second Oyster wave energy device to be unveiled

Wave energy developer Aquamarine Power is preparing to unveil its plans for its second Oyster wave energy project to be tested at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in 2011.

The company will be holding a public meeting and drop-in information session at Stromness Golf Club tomorrow (February 17) to share its plans. Earlier this month, Aquamarine Power secured £5.1 million of public funding from the Marine Renewables Proving Fund (MRPF) to support the manufacture of the Oyster 2 device (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story). The next-generation 2.5MW Oyster 2 project will consist of three linked wave energy devices powering a single onshore hydro-electric generator. The Oyster 2 device features a new shape designed for increased performance and efficiency - capturing more of the ocean's energy and producing more power per tonne of steel. The device has also been designed for mass manufacture and will consist of a modular construction for ease of installation and maintenance.

Martin McAdam, chief executive officer of Aquamarine Power, said: "This is a very important time for the marine energy industry and Orkney is right at the centre of this exciting new industry. The people of Orkney have been incredibly welcoming to us since we began developing our first Oyster project at EMEC. The views of the local community are very important to us and to the development of Oyster 2 and we very much look forward to welcoming people along to this event and hearing their views."

WAG launches Boiler Scrappage Scheme

The Welsh Assembly government has launched its version of the Boiler Scrappage Scheme and is planning to target the over 60s who are likely to be more vulnerable to fuel poverty.

Welsh Environment minister Jane Davidson was considering introducing the scheme last month (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story) and has now announced that it will be open to around 5000 over 60s across Wales who have an inefficient (G rated) boiler. Eligible applicants will receive a £500 voucher towards the costs of replacing their old boiler. Details of the of the delivery mechanism and application process for the scheme are currently being finalised and are due to be announced shortly. The scheme will open for applications on 1 April.

Addressing Assembly Members, Jane Davidson, said: "We have allocated £2.5 million to the boiler scrappage scheme for 2010/11 and expect up to 5,000 Welsh households to benefit from a significant improvement in the energy performance of their heating systems as a result. This additional funding underlines the Assembly Government's ongoing commitment to tackling fuel poverty and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Wales."

Public to influence investigation into wind energy potential in Doncaster and Goole region

Partnerships for Renewables has announced that it will hold two public exhibitions this month showcasing the ongoing work to investigate the potential for wind energy on British Waterways' land in the Doncaster and Goole region.

The aim of the exhibitions, which will take place on February 23 and 24, is to give the local community further opportunity to discuss the ongoing investigations with the project team and influence how the work progresses. Although at an early stage, Partnerships for Renewables have said that initial studies are focused on three sites in the region: ‘Went End Junction', south of Southfields Reservoir, which could accommodate up to 2 turbines; ‘Goole Canal', between the Knottingley & Goole Canal and Dutch River, which has the potential to accommodate up to 8 turbines; and a single turbine site near the village of ‘Barnby Dun', between the Dun Navigation and the River Don. Further information is required before the size of the turbines is finally established however it is thought that they would have a maximum tip height of 130 metres.

Tony Duffin, regional manager for Partnerships for Renewables, said: "As with all Partnerships for Renewables projects, we are keen to ensure that the local community is central to our ongoing development work. We will hold further public exhibitions as our investigations in the region continue and we will ensure that the community is kept informed."