Guidance Notes
Ofgem - Feed in Tariff
Ofgem Feed in Tariff - Guidence Document for Licensed Electricity Suppliers
Download (PDF 703KB) - Added 30/03/2010
Fuel Poverty
Fuel poverty, when a household needs to spend more than 10% of their household income on all domestic fuel use to heat their home to an adequate level of warmth, is an increasing problem across the UK. The number of households in fuel poverty has been rising since 2002, which directly contradicts the government's Fuel Poverty Strategy to eradicate by 2016. Rising fuel prices and the impact on personal income of the recession have served to compound the problem in recent times, often disproportionately affecting older people or young families. In the East of England more than 700 settlements of over 150 dwellings do not have access to the gas network, resulting in a reliance on expensive and carbon-intensive fuel sources such as oil. Under these circumstances renewable heat technologies can offer a viable, affordable and low carbon alternative to fossil fuels.
The Climate Change Act includes a CO2 reduction target of 80% against 1990 levels. Renewable heat technologies have poor market penetration, an immature supply chain and limited demand. Renewables East recent analysis of regional opportunities to move forward to deliver the EU primary energy target of 20% of our energy use coming from renewables by 2020 identified a substantial growth opportunity in bringing forward renewable heat solutions. Currently the region only delivers 0.8% of its heat demand from renewables. In moving forward to deliver 10% of heat demand from renewables by 2020 the region is well placed to create some 10,000 new jobs.
It is Renewables East's view that targeting renewable energy solutions at fuel poor households without access to the gas grid will have a positive outcome from an economic, environmental and social perspective. Microgeneration technologies have the ability to provide an affordable, low carbon solution to a household's space heating and domestic hot water requirements, whilst at the same time providing much needed real life examples of such technologies in action. Whilst the environmental credentials of new build properties are governed by an increasing number of standards and regulations, such as Merton style planning policies and the Code for Sustainable Homes, up to 70% of the domestic properties which will be occupied in 2050 have already been built, making the retrofit market possibly the largest and most important application for renewables in the domestic market.
Over the next 18 months, and in partnership with a number of key organisations, Renewables East will be rolling out a project which aims to tackle the problem of fuel poverty in off gas grid areas in three key stages. Firstly the project will seek to maximise the benefit income of targeted households by carrying out detailed benefits checks on all targeted households. In some instances it is anticipated that this measure alone will lift a household out of fuel poverty.
Secondly the project will address any shortfalls in energy efficiency measures within the targeted households, such as loft and cavity wall insulation top ups, hot water tank insulation and draft-proofing. It is estimated that up to 2 million lofts in the region are in need of additional insulation to bring them up to recommended standards, while even comparatively new houses may have only partial levels of cavity wall insulation.
Finally, once these two initial stages have been completed, and where appropriate and possible, the project will offer a renewable energy alternative to the existing heating and domestic hot water system. It is envisaged that heat pumps will be the primary technology deployed, predominantly air source heat pumps with ground source units installed where the size of the property and the availability of outside space for the siting of collectors dictates. Heat pumps have the ability to supply both space heating and domestic hot water from a single unit and air source in particular are highly suited to retrofitting in energy efficient properties due to their compact size. Other renewable energy technologies such as solar thermal and biomass will be considered, and as with all retrofit projects it will be the condition of the properties themselves which dictates the final choice of technology, and in some instances might rule out a renewable solution of any sort where insulation values cannot be improved sufficiently.
It is anticipated that up to 50,000 households will be assessed, 30,000 will receive energy efficiency advice, 12,000 will receive energy efficiency measures and 500 renewable energy installations will be put in place in the first two years of the project's operation.
While the key objective of the project is to lift households out of fuel poverty, its duel purpose is to drive market transformation in the microgeneration market. This market suffers from failure, and is weak and immature. The project will demonstrate improved market viability through reduced cost, achieved through economy of scale. This will be demonstrable through the cost comparison between the initial pre-pilot and the full project. The project will also monitor the technology and demonstrate performance insitu. The 500 installations will themselves increase capacity from a low point. The project will also create access to understanding through the actual project partners (e.g. LAs and RSLs) and through subsequent dissemination of results. It is also anticipated that considerable local economic benefit will result from effectively increasing the disposable income of targeted households, which will in turn enter the local economy.
The East of England regional project builds on the success of the initial Central Government pilots in the North East of England (the Community Energy Solutions group) but is tailored to best meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the current status of fuel poverty and renewable energy opportunities in the region. Activities in both the North East of England and the East of England will take place in full cooperation and, where advantageous and appropriate, collaboration, maximising learning and sharing.
Core capital funding has been secured from DECC, along with strategic funding support from EEDA. Other funding sources will be drawn from key partners in what will be a unique, pan-regional delivery partnership. Project activity has already begun, with a sub regional pilot being used to trial and hone a number of delivery aspects, with full roll out under the programme name of Anglian GOwarm initially taking place in 2010.
Biogas Handbook
One of the main environmental problems of today's society is the continuously increasing production of organic wastes. In many countries, sustainable waste management as well as waste prevention and reduction have become major political priorities, representing an important share of the common efforts to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and to mitigate global climate changes. Uncontrolled waste dumping is no longer acceptable today and even controlled landfill disposal and incineration of organic wastes are not considered optimal practices, as environmental standards hereof are increasingly stricter and energy recovery and recycling of nutrients and organic matter is aimed.
Download (PDF 4.9MB) - Added 14/12/2009
The environmental regulation of the production and use of anaerobic digestate from source-segregated biodegradable waste
Purpose of this position Publication is:
A Quality Protocol setting out end-of-waste criteria for the production and use of anaerobic digestate from source-segregated biodegradable waste is available from our website. As the Quality Protocol is voluntary, the purpose of this statement is to advise our staff and customers on the legal obligations that apply to those who produce anaerobic digestate from source-segregated biodegradable waste.
Download (PDF 93KB) - Added 11/12/2009
Commercial Assessment of Anaerobic Digestion
Download (PDF 1.2MB) - Added 08/08/2008
Commercial Assessment of Gasification
Download (PDF 3MB) - Added 18/07/2008
Community Wind Guidance Note
Guidance for community groups interested in developing a wind project.
Download (PDF 3.3MB) - Added 03/07/2008
Guidance Note 6
Quality Assured Combined Heat and Power (CHPQA) & Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) for Biomass Projects.
Download (PDF 3.1MB) - Added 07/05/2008
Guidance Note 2 (revised Aug 2007)
Power Purchase Agreements (PPA's) for biomass projects (2007)
Download (PDF 1.5MB) - Added 01/08/2007
Guidance Note 1 (Revised March 2007)
Grid connection for Biomass projects (2007)
Download (PDF 2.4MB) - Added 01/03/2007
Guidance Note 3 (Revised March 2007)
Application of Waste Incineration Directive (WID) to biomass projects (2007)
Download (PDF 2.6MB) - Added 01/03/2007
Guidance Note 4 (Revised March 2007)
Options for financing biomass projects (2007)
Download (PDF 1.3MB) - Added 01/03/2007
Guidance Note 5
Waste Management Regulations for AD Plants (2007)
Download (PDF 1.8MB) - Added 01/01/2007
Guidance Note - Commercial Wind Farming (2007)
Download (PDF 2.8MB) - Added 01/01/2007