REI – the leading magazine for the renewables sector since 2008
Editorial panel members
They giveth & they taketh away
A
lthough I am
not normally
prone to
bouts of
casual blasphemy, this biblical maxim
would seem a fi tting analogy for another
month in which we, the industry, were
forced to endure the frustrations of
paradoxical government policy.
Given a helpful leg up via the recent
launch of the domestic RHI, our new
found momentum has been swiftly jolted
by a double threat to remove Renewable
Obligation (RO) support for large scale
solar and block onshore wind from further
fi nancial assistance beyond the next
general election.
Defenders of the coalition’s approach
to energy would no doubt point out
that these are mature technologies now
suffi ciently ripened for equal treatment
under the more competitive regime
of Contracts for Difference auctions.
The industry has been left dismayed
however that future deployment is being
undermined by misguided efforts to make
renewables more ‘cost-effective’ at a time
when substantially more investment is
needed, as opposed to less.
Curbing the development of large
scale solar and wind will not bring down
energy bills as per the misleading mantra
currently emanating from ministers, but
rather steadily increase them as we fail
to wean ourselves off the insecure supply
and volatile cost of carbon-intensive
generation. We will never ‘have enough’
clean capacity until this job is complete.
In happier news, interest has
been overwhelming since we opened
for nominations in this year’s Energy
Effi ciency & Renewables Awards. I’d like to
remind readers that you only have until the
end of June to put yourselves forward for
consideration in one of 15 categories.
Attractive sponsorship opportunities
remain for a limited time only which can be
discussed with Jonathan Hibbert on 01565
626 760.
Andy Buchan,
CEEC, Future
Renewable Energy Andy Boroughs,
Organic Energy
Garry Broadbent,
Lifestyle Heating Cathy Debenham,
YouGen
Ryan Gill,
Evoco Energy Liz McFarlane,
Zenex Solar
Steve Andrews,
Ecoskies Phyllis Boardman,
Green Deal
Consortia
Robert Burke,
HETAS Gideon Richards,
MCS
Contents
NEWS
05 News
DECC proposes solar RO scrappage
07 Analysis
Fighting fuel poverty with the RHI
08 Profi le
The RHI Training Fund’s fi rst applicant
OPINION
10 REI’s regular MCS column
14 Q&A Hydratech
KNOWLEDGE
20 Company profi le
NSA on its licence extension
23 Solar PV
PV Cycle, Apollo Solar Electric & Clean
Solar Solutions
29 Biomass
Innasol goes myth-busting
32 Case studies
35 Commercial
Expertise from John Felgate, Stiebel Eltron
36 Data
38 My working week
Mark Scott, Greenlife Renewables
17 Green Deal
ISSN 2049-3525
Editor: Paul Stephen
Sales director: Jonathan Hibbert
Circulation manager: Sandra Curties
General manager: Scott Masheder
Managing director: Nick Smith
Published by: Ashley & Dumville Publishing Ltd,
Caledonian House, Tatton Street,
Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6AG
Advertising
Tel: 01565 626760
Email: [email protected]
Editorial/press releases
Tel: 01565 653283
Email:[email protected]
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