Renewables are now a major contributor to UK energy

Retirado do site Renewable Energy Magazine:
"Robin Whitlock

Friday, 29 March 2013

Government figures reveal that 11.3 percent of UK electricity demand in 2012 was generated by renewable energy

Renewable energy generation in 2012 was up by 20 percent on the previous year according to government figures, thereby confirming the strong performance of renewables within the wider UK energy network. 11.3 percent of the country’s electricity supply was generated by renewables last year and 12.5 percent in the fourth quarter.

Much of the growth in the sector has been achieved by new on and offshore wind farms in spite of lower than average wind speeds over the course of the year. 2012 was also fairly dry which acted to reduce the output from hydro, however biomass generation increased by 17 percent, thanks largely to Tilbury’s conversion to biomass, while solar PV capacity increased by 70 percent to 1.7GW. The total UK renewable energy power capacity now stands at 15.5GW.

District heating company calls for an end to inefficient use of biomass in conventional power stations

Retirado do site Renewable Energy Magazine:

"Robin Whitlock

Friday, 29 March 2013

The Renewables Obligation (RO) is incentivising a wasteful use of biomass which squanders waste heat

Mark Whettall, a director of Hampshire district heating company CPV Ltd, has called for an end to the way in which the Renewables Obligation (RO) provides incentives for electricity producers to use biomass fuel in inefficient, conventional power stations.

“I of course acknowledge that using biomass is much better than simply burning fossil fuels  such as coal, but to do it at such a low level of efficiency - and furthermore provide financial incentives for doing so - really has to be brought into question” Mr Whettall said. “It's a finite resource and as such, we must make sure that we benefit from every milligram of the carbon saving inherent in the fuel, by utilising as much of the energy produced and not simply reject it into the atmosphere via a cooling tower.”