INDUSTRY NEWS

17 June, 2021 – Solar Energy UK has released a report that explains that the UK solar capacity is predicted to double by 2030. However, this increase would still leave the UK 11GW behind its solar PV installation target. Solar Energy UK has suggested policy amendments that would help the solar capacity treble by 2030, with policies including cutting VAT for solar PV installations. Interested in installing solar PV? Contact OnGen today to find out if installing solar PV would be suitable for your site.

15 June, 2021 – The National Grid ESO expects that the UK will have periods of zero carbon grid electricity by 2025. The rise of renewable energy and energy storage will allow for fossil fuels, such as natural gas, to not be relied on as ‘back-up’ to meet high electricity demand periods. Instead, renewables, including wind and solar, are predicted to produce sufficient energy to meet the electricity demand in the UK. It is expected that these zero carbon periods will be small at first and will increase as the volume of renewables deployed increases throughout the UK.

11 June, 2021 – Ikea has announced plans for its suppliers to be powered by 100% electricity. Ikea has acknowledged that its supply chain contributes to two-thirds of the company’s carbon emissions. Therefore, a switch towards renewable energy will significantly lower the supply chain emissions. Ikea will support 1,600 suppliers in China, Poland and India by setting up initiatives such as Power Purchase Agreements for suppliers to source renewable energy. It is expected that 670,000 tonnes of carbon emissions will be saved annually if the suppliers are fully powered by renewables.

 

10 June, 2021 – Research by Propel has found that farmers in the UK are prioritising investment in onsite renewables. The study has found that renewable energy technology is the third-highest purchase by farmers, after tractors and trailers. As farmers continue to diversify, onsite renewables including wind and solar PV are having a strong financial return. Interested in installing onsite renewables at your site? Contact OnGen to see how the OnGen Expert can find the most suitable technology for you.

9 June, 2021 – The UK government has announced a ban on halogen and fluorescent light bulbs in a bid to cut 1.26 million tonnes of carbon emissions per annum. Many of these light bulbs will be banned from shops by September 2021, allowing for consumers to switch to  more energy efficient LED light bulbs. LED light bulbs are 8 times more energy efficient than halogen and fluorescent light bulbs. The energy labels of light bulbs will also be changed, with ratings from A-G being introduced to make energy efficiency easier to understand by consumers.

 

9 June, 2021 – The brewing company Budweiser has donated 5 million kWh of renewable electricity to offset the emissions emitted from the energy used during the G7 summit. The G7 summit, which is taking place in Cornwall this week, will receive renewable energy certificates from Budweiser that will match the event’s energy consumption. Budweiser produces 100% renewable energy for its operations from solar PV and wind installations around the UK.

4 June, 2021 – The renewable energy company, Ørsted, has announced that it is committing to reuse, recycle or recover all of its wind turbine blades across its portfolio of onshore and offshore wind farms. Ørsted is planning to conduct research into the recycling of the wind turbine blades and has committed to storing the decommissioned wind turbines until the best solution is found. The company hopes to inspire other wind manufacturers to take on the same responsibility.

 

4 June, 2021 – Edinburgh Council has stepped up its plans for reaching its net-zero 2030 target. The council will focus on reducing its energy emissions by retrofitting historical buildings to help them become more energy efficient. Other plans include installing electric car charging hubs for public service vehicles and building new homes with net-zero building techniques. The City of Edinburgh Council has set aside over £750,000 to help start working towards its net-zero goal.

3 June, 2021 – A new education program has been unveiled in London to support careers in the solar industry. The ‘Solar Skills London’ scheme has been launched by Solar Energy UK and the Mayor of London to include online training and work placements for people interested in a career in the solar industry. The program should help increase the number of people that are skilled as solar technicians as the UK recovers from the pandemic.

 

3 June, 2021 – The University of Strathclyde’s latest study has highlighted that the Scottish renewables industry supports 22,600 jobs across Scotland. Onshore wind has the highest number of employees at 8,780, while offshore wind supports 4,700 and hydropower supports 3,290 workers. The study also found that the renewables industry also supported an additional 3,000 jobs in construction and 2,200 in manufacturing. These findings demonstrate the positive impact that renewables have on the Scottish economy.

28 May, 2021 – Roche UK is the first life sciences company to trial a renewable energy initiative with E.ON. Roche UK plans to purchase 100% renewable energy from E.ON that has been produced from UK wind energy at a competitive rate. Roche UK will also be supporting its supply chain partners to ensure that each company can access green wind energy to power sites at a special rate. This partnership aims to help Roche meet its goal of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2031.

 

28 May, 2021 – The UK Government has awarded £30 million of funding to support three heat networks located in Southeast London, Manchester and Cambridgeshire. The network proposed in Manchester will produce heat for commercial buildings, hospitals and housing within a 5km radius of the site using air source heat and solar energy. Aside from these three projects, an additional £14.6 million will be used to fund 11 other projects related to low carbon heating and cooling.

27 May, 2021 – Electricity company, Emergent Energy, is offering a new system of leasing heat pumps, solar PV and EV chargers from developers. This energy system should benefit property developers and social housing providers that wish to install these systems to form a micro-grid. The developers will receive long-term payments from leasing the installed technologies from Emergent Energy. The energy company aims to use the generated energy with communal battery storage and algorithms to effectively manage the grid.  

 

25 May, 2021 – Abandoned mines in Holborn, South Tyneside will be repurposed to become a district heating system. The project will use a mine water heat pump and a river water heat pump (from the River Tyne) to produce heat for public buildings. The heat pumps will be powered by electricity from solar panels mounted on the front of the building. This project is expected to save 2,436 tonnes of carbon a year. South Tyneside Council has secured £4 million of government funding to begin working on this renewable project.

21 May, 2021 – 35% of councils in the UK have set a net-zero target that pre-dates the central UK Government. Councils such as St Albans City and District Council and Hammersmith & Fulham Council are some of the 57 councils that have signed the UK100 pledge of net-zero by 2045. These local councils are calling for more powers from the UK Government to be able to facilitate changes for reaching net-zero early.

 

20 May, 2021 – Proposed energy park at Gwent Levels is causing controversy due to the area being an important conservation site. Plans for an energy park containing 250,000 solar panels along with 160 battery storage units have been submitted for the Gwent Levels area. The proposed installation would supply 40,000 households with green energy and has claimed it would help restore nature in the area. However, due to the important conservation value of the site, organisations, including Friends of the Gwent Levels, are against this installation, as it may threaten rare wildlife.

20 May, 2021 – The UK’s electricity grid emissions have increased during 2021 when compared to 2020. The National Grid ESO published that carbon intensity during the first few months of 2021 were 5% higher than in 2020. These findings highlight the need for an increase in renewables to help decarbonise the grid. Renewable UK, Solar Energy UK and the Nuclear Industry Association have demanded that the government release a solid plan for meeting net-zero grid emissions.

 

18 May, 2021 – Latest analysis by the Carbon Trust and Imperial College London has communicated that more energy flexibility could reduce energy costs by £16.7 billion a year by 2050. The research suggests that the energy system must be expanded for the decarbonisation of heat to be achieved. The report also highlighted that hydrogen could be important for creating a flexible energy system.

13 May, 2021 – Schools in the UK have seen their energy bills increase by 6.5% over the past few years. A new report by eLight has found that, in the Yorkshire and Humber and the North East regions, there has been an increase in average annual spending per pupil for energy costs. It is thought that a large percentage of the energy used by schools could be reduced as a result of more energy-efficient improvements. The cost of electricity bills could also be reduced by installing onsite renewables at schools. If you are interested in finding out the best energy solutions for your site, contact OnGen today.

 

13 May, 2021 – The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) and ARUP have published a report relating to the economic potential of deep geothermal energy. This report is backed by businesses and industry professionals and urges the UK Government to include deep geothermal developments as part of the green recovery. REA’s report suggests 12 deep geothermal projects could be installed in the UK, resulting in £1.5 billion of investment and the generation of 35,000 direct and indirect jobs. The proposed deep geothermal projects would also have an annual carbon saving of 3 megatons.

11 May, 2021 – The International Energy Agency (IEA) has reported that the global renewable energy industry in 2020 had the fastest growth rate since 1999. IEA communicated that renewable energy projects had a 45% increase in the rate of new capacity in 2020 than compared to 2019. China has seen the largest rise in renewable technologies, making up a large percentage of this increase. IEA predicts that 2021 will have a similar capacity of renewables as in 2020.

 

10 May, 2021 – The National Grid has announced plans for installing power flow technology at three substation sites to have an additional 1.5GW of network capacity. SmartValve TM technology will be deployed to help free space on the grid, benefiting new renewable installations. A new network capacity of 500MW will be created in each substation region because of this new technology, helping improve the grid capacity in the UK.

7 May, 2021 – RenewableUK has asked the UK Government to up its onshore wind ambition by setting a 2030 target for 30GW of onshore wind to be installed. The latest report by RenewableUK also demands that older wind farms should be regenerated to be powered by modern technology rather than disposed of. Calls for an increase in green hydrogen and marine energy were also mentioned within RenewableUK’s report.

 

6 May, 2021 – Buccleuch has proposed a 210MW pumped storage hydro installation along with an onshore wind farm in the Queensberry Estate, Dumfriesshire. The project will be located at a former opencast coal mine, giving the site a new lease of life. Buccleuch is working with the investment bank Noble & Co to help fund the £250 million required to complete this project. The pumped storage hydro system would be effective at helping balance the energy system.

4 May, 2021 – During the Early May bank holiday, the UK reached another wind generation record as a result of blustery winds. A total of 17.6GW of electricity was produced by onshore and offshore wind turbines, which is a new generation record. As a result of this high generation, wind made up 48.5% of the electricity grid in Scotland, England and Wales. Although, due to the poor weather, solar farms only generated a fraction of the electricity mix at 2.3%.

 

4 May, 2021 – Cambridge University has submitted a planning application for a large ground-mounted solar installation. The solar farm is to be deployed in a nearby field at the edge of Cambridge. The planned area for ground-mounted solar is very large, covering the size of 50 football pitches. If this installation is granted planning permission, it is expected to generate enough electricity to power 13,500 homes.

30 April, 2021 – A survey conducted by Opinium and Liquid Gas UK has revealed that 28% of rural households could not afford to install a low carbon heating system. Many people do not want to spend more than £4,000, but the average heat pump ranges from £11,000 to £18,000. 88% of the rural households want to see more government support for low carbon heat and to be realistic about the most suitable heating systems for rural properties.

 

30 April, 2021 – Over 50% of UK households are considering installing renewable energy at their property, according to research by GHD. Installing solar is the most popular option. Swapping to a hydrogen boiler, hydrogen batteries or ground source heat pump is also being considered by over half of the people surveyed. The analysis demonstrated that over 75% of the UK agree that the public have a role to play in become more sustainable. These results clearly show a positive future for renewables and green hydrogen.

28 April, 2021 – The Energy Transitions Commission’s latest reports indicate that renewable energy capacity must be at least five times larger by 2030 for the world to be aligned with net-zero targets. The dramatic increase in renewable energy installations needed is partly due to predictions that electricity will make up 70% of the energy demand by 2050.

 

27 April, 2021 – The sale of a community wind turbine in Berwick is helping fund onsite renewable projects in the region. The fund has already awarded £127,000 to community groups, charities and sports clubs for installing technologies like solar and heat pumps. The fund is currently open for applicants in the northeast of England. Successful projects include Berwick Bowling Club, which has saved £400 in their yearly electricity bills after gaining funding to install solar PV. If you are interested in installing onsite renewables at your site, contact OnGen today.

22 April, 2021 – SSE Renewables’ latest report communicates that its four onshore wind projects within the Scottish Highlands will supply £485 million to the UK economy during the projects’ lifespans. The report also highlighted that these wind projects will greatly benefit the local community, with £23.1 million expected to be invested into the local areas surrounding the projects. The onshore wind projects have helped create hundreds of jobs within the Scottish Highlands.

 

22 April, 2021 – New climate targets have been prominent around the world this week with the US, Canada, Japan and the EU all announcing more ambitious climate targets. The US has unveiled a 2030 goal for halving its emissions against its 2005 levels. Japan has confirmed a 46% reduction in emissions by 2030 based on the countries 2013 baseline. It is hoped that these high emitting countries’ targets will lead the way for stronger climate goals globally.

21 April, 2021 – Ofgem has confirmed the introduction of a market-wide half-hourly settlement for the electricity retail market. This system should enable all domestic and non-domestic users to record half-hourly energy consumption. The new system will use data collected from smart meters to track energy consumption. It is hoped that this new system will be more accurate and support grid flexibility. Ofgem has set the target of October 2025 for full implementation of this system.

 

20 April, 2021 – Boris Johnson has confirmed the UK’s latest ambitious climate target of reducing carbon emissions by 78% by 2035. This commitment will also include international aviation and shipping for the first time. This latest target was recommended by the Climate Change Committee, with the cut in emissions based on 1990 emission levels. Full plans by the UK Government will be required to understand how the UK will reach this target.

15 April, 2021 – Community Windpower’s seven Scottish onshore wind farms have reached a new generation record within the company of 5TWh. This generation total is enough energy to power 1.4 million homes in Scotland. Community Windpower hopes to further increase its energy generation by installing three additional wind farms in Southern Scotland, totalling 164 turbines.

 

14 April, 2021 – According to WindEurope, wind investments in Europe hit a new record in 2020, with €43 billion being invested. This level of investment is resulting in 20GW of wind being installed throughout Europe. Investment soared by 70% when compared to 2019. The increase in investment is thought to be due to wind energy remaining a strong investment choice throughout the. The UK has invested the most in wind energy, with €13 billion invested during 2020.

13 April, 2021 – Good Energy, in partnership with Zap-Map, has released a new tariff specifically for EV drivers. The latest tariff will offer time periods when EV drivers can charge their car or power their home for free. These free periods will be when there is a high volume of solar and wind energy being generated. Good Energy’s tariff will be the first EV-specific tariff that is powered by 100% genuine renewable energy.

 

13 April, 2021 – Hackney Council have installed solar PV at London Fields Lido Outdoor Swimming Pool. The 33kW solar installation is expected to generate enough energy to operate the facility and excess energy will be fed back into the grid. The solar PV array was deployed while the facility was shut due to the pandemic. Hackney Council next plan to install a water source heat pump to meet the heating requirements of the swimming pool. OnGen has helped local authorities meet their energy demand with onsite renewables. Interested? Get in touch.

9 April, 2021 – The Gordonbush Extension Wind Farm in Brora at the Scottish Highlands has begun generating power. This subsidy-free wind farm will generate 38MW of electricity, which is enough to power 46,000 homes in the UK each year. The renewable energy generated by the wind farm is predicted to save 37,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually over the next 25 years. The wind farm is expected to be fully operational by mid-2021.

 

8 April, 2021 – A heat pump project is being led by Centrica to help increase the energy efficiency of social housing for landlord Sanctuary Housing. Approximately 600 properties throughout England will benefit from having heating pumps installed. The chosen properties will have an air source heat pump fitted along with necessary accessories, including new radiators. It is hoped that the EPC rating of these homes will reach C or above while also lowering carbon emissions. The OnGen Expert can assess the feasibility of air source heat pumps at non-domestic properties. Interested? Contact OnGen today.

8 April, 2021 – Tesco’s EV charging network has reached 500,000 charges after 600 free charging points were installed throughout the UK. This project is in partnership with Volkswagen and Podpoint. The charging points are powered by carbon-neutral electricity and a total of 3 million kWh of electricity has been used for the 500,000 charges. This initiative is part of Tesco’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2035.

 

6 April, 2021 – Easter Monday has been hailed as the greenest day ever recorded in the UK. Due to a mix of sunshine and windy weather, there was a rise in the volume of renewable energy produced. The good weather resulted in 60% of electricity in the UK being generated by solar and wind. Owing to this, the lowest grid carbon intensity was confirmed at just 39g for each kilowatt-hour of electricity. This carbon intensity is the lowest recorded by the National Grid.

1 April, 2021 – Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority has unveiled its roadmap for reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Plans include installing air source heat pumps, solar panels and introducing an electric hybrid-powered patrol boat. There will also be nature-related projects including tree-planting and peat restoration to help offset emissions.

 

1 April, 2021 – Research by the University of Sussex Business School has found that, in order for the uptake of heat pumps to increase, there need to be more enthusiastic heat pump users to influence homeowners. The study used Finland as an example, where heat pump users have actively shared their positive heat pump experiences and as a result, the installations of heat pumps increased. The University of Sussex academics have advised the UK Government to follow the same technique as Finland, along with offering subsidies to help increase heat pump installations.

31 March, 2021 – The ORE Catapult’s latest report explains that finding a solution to wind turbine blade recycling is necessary for achieving zero carbon within the wind industry. It is expected that 20,000 jobs could be created by recycling turbine blades within the UK supply chain alone. Wind turbine materials are 85-90% recyclable but the components are currently difficult to breakdown. Therefore, a recycling solution could help reduce the carbon emissions produced by this industry. The ORE Catapult is calling for UK companies to find a resolution to this recycling issue.

 

29 March, 2021 – The UK Government have axed the Green Homes Grant, closing the scheme to new applicants on the 31st of March, 2021. The grant scheme was previously criticised due to the slow uptake and homeowners being hesitant to let tradespeople into their houses due to the pandemic. A further £300 million of funding has been given to local authorities to help with additional green home upgrades for private households. The additional funding is only a fraction of the £2 billion that was originally planned for energy efficiency improvements.

25 March, 2021 – Scotland narrowly missed its 2020 target of generating 100% of the country’s energy by renewables. Scottish Renewables has announced that 97.4% of electricity was generated by renewable technologies in 2020, which is extremely close to the 2020 target. This percentage has increased by 7.3% compared to 2019, highlighting that Scotland’s renewable energy is continuing to rise year on year. Scotland’s next step is to work towards decarbonising heat, with only 6.5% of heat currently coming from renewable sources.

 

25 March, 2021 – MCS’s latest report has communicated that homeowners in Orkney and the Western Isles have the highest volume of green energy installations. One-fifth of households in Orkney and one-seventh of houses in the Western Isles have installed onsite renewables including solar PV and heat pumps. These areas are thought to top the charts due to being off the grid and suffering from high fuel poverty. Scotland is also ahead of the rest of the UK when installing onsite renewables. Onsite renewables could be a great asset for your business. Interested? Contact OnGen for more information.

24 March, 2021 – West Sussex County Council has confirmed plans for building a 12MW energy storage facility. The 12MW battery system will be installed at a former waste site, allowing for this site to be efficiently repurposed to fit with the UK’s transition towards clean energy. The batteries aim to offer additional energy security by storing excess electricity and releasing the energy at peak times. Installing onsite battery storage may be ideal for your organisation. Contact OnGen to find out more.

 

23 March, 2021 – The latest report from the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) has predicted that the European storage market will double in size during 2021. The UK, Italy and the Nordics are the areas with the largest market growth and are driving the European storage market. Funding from the EU’s €1.8trn COVID-19 Recovery Plan is also expected to help support the storage market with further expansion. EASE estimates that the market will reach 3,000 megawatt-hours by the end of 2021.

19 March, 2021 – Unite Students, a student accommodation provider, has announced a net-zero by 2030 goal. The company aims to reach this goal by increasing eco measures, including reducing its buildings’ energy consumption and switching the energy supply to renewable sources. Unite Students has previously installed solar PV and air source heat pumps at some of their sites. Unite Students plan to release further details on its net-zero plan later this year.

 

18 March, 2021 – REN21’s newly published report has highlighted that the UK’s cities are world leaders in net-zero measures. The report communicated that 73% of the UK’s urban population live in areas with net-zero targets, with 493 cities and towns having targets, while the global average was just 25%. REN21’s report considered mainland Europe, the US, the UK, Canada, Japan and South Korea, which are the world’s highest carbon emitters.

17 March, 2021 – The UK Government has announced £1 billion of funding for an Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy. The strategy plans to supply the UK’s industries with 20 TeraWatt hours of low carbon power by 2030 (approximately 40% of current demand). The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is part of the strategy, with 429 projects to be funded in England during phase 2 of the scheme. This funding can be used to install onsite renewables, including solar PV and heat pumps. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme opens next month for phase 2 of applicants. OnGen has helped multiple local councils build a business case for accessing this fund. If you’re interested, contact OnGen today.

 

16 March, 2021 – The International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) latest report has found that 90% of all decarbonisation efforts by 2050 will be powered by renewable energy including solar and wind. Carbon capture and removal technologies will also help lower carbon emissions. IRENA predicts that green hydrogen will contribute largely to the electricity demand too. For global climate goals to be reached by 2050, IRENA report that planned investment must increase by 30%, to US$131 trillion.

12 March, 2021 – The car manufacturer, Nissan, has announced plans to install an onsite ground-mounted solar installation at its car factory in Sunderland. The installation will generate 20% of its energy demand by renewables. The generated onsite energy is expected to be enough power to build Nissan’s Leafy EV. Onsite renewables are ideal for reducing carbon emissions. Contact OnGen today for more information.

 

12 March, 2021 – Glasgow City Council’s Affordable Warmth program, which offers energy efficiency measures for domestic properties, has been praised for helping the city save half a million tonnes of carbon emissions. The city council has made over 11,000 energy efficiency improvements throughout Glasgow. The energy efficiency improvements are helping bring down energy costs, while also saving carbon emissions. If your business is wanting to become more energy-efficient, contact OnGen today.

11 March, 2021- Energy storage pioneer, Gravitricity, has gotten the go-ahead to test their innovative energy storage project in a trial session at Forth Ports’ Prince Albert Dock in Edinburgh. The project uses excess electricity to hike up a weight in an underground shaft that charges the system. The weight will then be lowered, resulting in electricity being discharged back to the grid. If the energy storage mechanism is successful, it could be a great way of storing energy.

 

10 March, 2021- The UK Government has brought forward the ban on petrol and diesel cars to 2030. To help support this, the UK Government has added £20 million of funding to help with EV research and development. It is hoped that by bringing forward the ban on petrol and diesel cars, the UK can rapidly reduce carbon emissions and meet the country’s net-zero target.

5 March, 2021 – Data from Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy has revealed that a total of 49.2% of electricity in Northern Ireland came from renewable energy in 2020. The percentage of renewable energy consumed has increased by 5.6% when compared to 2019. Wind energy made up the highest percentage of renewable energy at 84.9% of the renewable mix, while solar contributed 3.4%. Northern Ireland aims to produce 80% of the country’s energy needs through renewables by 2030.

 

5 March, 2021 – Aberdeen City Council has released a five-year climate change plan to help reduce carbon emissions within the council by 2025. The council’s goals include becoming more energy efficient and for the rubbish-collecting vehicles to switch to an electric or hybrid model. Aberdeen City Council have announced that they have already reduced carbon emissions by 34% since 2015 levels. If your business wants to become more energy efficient, try our newest software, OnEfficiency. Contact OnGen today for a free demo.

3 March, 2021 – Rishi Sunak revealed the UK Government’s 2021 budget, which features multiple green funds in an effort for the UK to reach the 2050 net-zero target. The 2021 budget confirmed multiple green budget announcements including a £1bn Net-Zero Innovation Fund for supporting sectors including energy storage and biomass and a further £57m of funding towards helping Scotland support 260,000 jobs, as the energy sector transitions from oil and gas towards low-carbon energy and cleantech.

 

2 March, 2021 – Citigroup will join major investment banks, including Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase, by setting a net-zero 2050 emissions target. Citigroup’s new chief executive officer, Jane Fraser, announced the climate commitment on her first day in the role, demonstrating a clear drive for Citigroup to be a greener investment bank. The net-zero roadmap will be published within the next year, with a focus on Scope 3 (indirect) emissions.

25 February, 2021 – Energy and environmental organisations, including Greenpeace and Community Energy England, have grouped together to ask the UK Government for a higher solar PV commitment. The organisations have requested that the government increases their solar PV installation target to 40GW by 2030, with a mix of large-scale and onsite installations. Furthermore, these organisations are requesting that solar PV and energy storage should be part of the Green Homes Grant scheme to help households from all backgrounds afford to install these renewable technologies.

 

25 February, 2021 – WindEurope has announced concern for the slow wind turbine installation in Europe during 2020. In 2020, a total of 14.7GW of wind was installed within Europe; however, this installation rate is 6% less than installations in 2019. WindEurope explains that 18GW of wind will need to be installed each year to meet existing wind targets. The UK is predicted to deploy the highest wind capacity of 18GW by 2025, with most of the wind installations being offshore. Germany plans to install a similar volume of wind, with onshore wind being prioritised.

24 February, 2021 – The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has released its ‘green recovery pathway,’ which includes ambitious targets for reaching net zero emissions. REA’s plans include having over 50% of electricity generated by renewables by the end of 2022 and increasing to 100% by 2032, as well as having renewable and clean technologies meeting the energy demand for the heat and transport sectors by 2035. REA predicts that 200,000 new jobs could be created by 2035 to help reach these climate goals.

23 February, 2021 – BloombergNEF’s latest report forecasts that at least 160GW of solar PV will be installed in 2021, with solar PV installations potentially reaching as high as 209GW. If the global solar PV installations reached this level in 2021, there would be at least a 13% increase in solar PV deployments when compared to 2020. BloombergNEF expects this rise in installations partly due to China and India having plans to install a large volume of solar PV in 2021 in a bid to work towards lowering their carbon emissions.

18 February, 2021 – A roof-integrated PV system has been pioneered for new build houses in the UK through a partnership with HBS, JA Solar and GSE. The in-roof solar can be installed with JA Solar half-cell modules, ranging from 320W to 370W with an array of designs to help offer flexibility for the housebuilders. The roof-integrated PV system will be ideal for reaching the UK’s Future Homes Standard for reducing carbon emissions in new builds, while being aesthetically pleasing for the homeowner.

17 February, 2021 – A committee of MPs has suggested that VAT should be reduced on green home improvements and repairs. The cut in VAT has been advised as an incentive for homeowners to install low-carbon technologies and make their homes more energy-efficient. By reducing the VAT on these green goods, the committee of MPs hopes that low-carbon technologies will be more accessible for homeowners and would raise people’s interest in green technology. The committee has also asked the government for a carbon tax to be introduced.

17 February, 2021 – Amazon and Global Optimism’s Climate Pledge has had 20 new businesses join the net-zero by 2040 commitment. The businesses include IBM, which announced a 2030 net-zero target this week, along with Iceland Foods and Johnson Controls. The increase in signatories highlights that businesses are becoming more interested in reducing their carbon emissions and becoming more eco-friendly. The Amazon and Global Optimism’s Climate Pledge focuses on promoting clean energy and energy efficiency to reach these net-zero targets.

16 February, 2021 – Coventry City Council and Coventry Airport Ltd plan to enter a Joint Venture partnership to propose the building of a ‘Gigafactory’ to manufacture batteries, which would create 4,000 new job opportunities while growing the battery industry in the UK. The project is still at the early stage of planning, with investment and planning permission still required. However, if the project was successful, it would be a strong asset for the battery and EV industry in the UK.

12 February, 2021 – A large UK-based school uniform provider, David Luke Schoolwear, has installed a roof-mounted solar PV system at their headquarters in Manchester. The company have installed over 1,000 solar panels to help reduce the cost of the energy bills and lower carbon emissions. The installation is predicted to save 3,600 tonnes of carbon emissions within 25 years. David Luke Schoolwear has been able to finance the solar panels due to HSBC’s UK Green loans scheme. If you are interested to find out if roof-mounted solar is feasible for your organisation, then contact OnGen today.

12 February, 2021 – The UK Government has removed a large percentage of the £2 billion funding set aside for the Green Homes Grant Fund. The Government has announced that the original funding was only a ‘short-term stimulus’ and after only spending 5% of this budget, the funding has now been cut to £320 million. The Green Homes Grant Fund remains open, but with these budget cuts, fewer homes will be able to take advantage of this fund.

11 February, 2021 – The European Parliament has accepted plans for a €672.5 billion green recovery. The green recovery fund will help EU countries’ economies bounce back from the pandemic while lowering carbon emissions. The fund will offer €312.5 billion in grants and €360 billion in loans to be claimed by 2024. The fund will offer support for a variety of green projects, including green transition and digital transformation. EU member states will be able to submit project plans to request funding.

10 February, 2021 – The Welsh Government has announced a 2050 net-zero emissions target following recommendations by the Climate Change Committee. Wales is aiming to reach its net-zero target sooner than 2050 but has currently set their net-zero goal as 2050 to align with the UK Government’s target. Wales is planning on reaching this goal by working closely with the UK Government and setting ambitious climate policies. Furthermore, Wales has set a 2030 net-zero goal for local councils.

5 February, 2021 – According to RenewableUK’s latest report, the capacity of battery storage in the UK that is deployed, under construction or planned has increased by 5.5GW when compared to December 2019. A total of 16GW of battery storage capacity across 729 projects has been recorded in the UK, with a further 4.5GW in the early planning stage. The change in legislation for battery storage planning permission now allows for projects’ planning permission to be decided by local planning authorities rather than the central government. This latest change should help quicken the planning process for battery storage, resulting in more batteries being installed.

4 February, 2021 – The Scottish Government has announced a £33 billion plan to help launch a ‘green recovery’ from the coronavirus pandemic. This funding is planned to help a variety of sectors, including £1.6 billion towards supporting a transition to low carbon heating for homes and businesses. Other measures include decarbonising rail transport and increasing flood defence. The range of measures is expected to support 45,000 jobs between 2021 and 2026.

3 February, 2021 – The Heat Pump Association has reported that heat pump manufacturers predict that the UK’s heat pump sales will double in 2021 when compared to sales in 2020. This year, there have been 67,000 heat pump units ordered by suppliers in the UK to help meet the growing demand for both air source and ground source heat pumps. As heat pumps are expected to grow in popularity, the Heat Pump Association has communicated that more must be done to help upskill the UK’s workforce. If your business is interested in finding out if a heat pump is feasible at your site, contact OnGen today.

3 February, 2021 – The West Midlands Combined Authority has released its initial 5-year action plan for working towards their net-zero target. The combined authority has a 2040 net-zero goal and plans to work towards this aim by reducing their carbon footprint by 25% within the next five years. The West Midlands Combined Authority expects to create over 21,000 jobs by 2026 due to the increase in the green technologies and industries required to meet the 25% carbon reduction.

29 January, 2021 – Residents in Barcombe Village, East Sussex, are working with UK Power Networks in a ‘CommuniHeat’ project to help create a zero-carbon heating solution. The first part of the project is to establish how village residents use their energy by installing smart metres. UK Power Networks will then decide on the best way for the village to transition to electric heating or heat pumps. If you are interested in switching your business to a zero-carbon heating source, contact OnGen today.

28 January, 2021 – Ikea has generated 132% of its overall electricity consumption in 2020 through renewable generation. To meet this amazing goal, Ikea installed 920,000 solar panels and 547 wind turbines in a mix of onsite and offsite locations. Aside from Ikea’s strong commitment to renewables, the company have also increased recycling initiatives and reduced their single-use plastics.

26 January, 2021 – Energy Systems Catapult’s latest research has highlighted that 60% of the local councils in the UK that have previously announced a climate emergency have found it hard to access appropriate data to help make green decisions. Although these local councils have a large range of accessible resources, many are missing the appropriate tools and in-house expertise to help make informed decisions. If you are part of a local council and are looking for the best way to reach your net-zero target, contact OnGen today to see how onsite renewables could lower your council’s carbon emissions.

25 January, 2021 – The Scotch Whisky industry has announced a 2040 net-zero target across all of its operations. To meet this ambitious target, the Scotch Whisky industry’s aims include producing sustainable packaging and using water efficiently by 2025. The whisky distilleries will also require some energy-efficient initiatives to reach this 2040 target. With the Scotch Whisky industry contributing a large percentage to Scotland’s economy, their net-zero target should help support Scotland’s green net-zero transition.

21 January, 2021 – Wood Mackenzie’s latest report highlighted that the price of solar PV has continued to drop over the past two decades and predicts that solar will become the cheapest source of new energy by 2030, attributing to a prediction of a price fall by another 15-25%. The further drop in price is expected due to additional technological development, allowing for the technology to become more efficient.

21 January, 2021 – The latest analysis by Solar Energy UK has highlighted a rise in solar PV installation by 27% in 2020 when compared to 2019. A total of 545MW of solar PV has been installed in the UK during 2020. The large quantity of solar PV installation is particularly notable, due to 2020 being the first full year without the Feed-in-Tariff and installation being more constrained due to COVID-19. 2020 has been the highest year for solar PV deployment in the UK since 2017.

20 January, 2021 – The UK government have announced that, by 2025, new builds must produce 75-80% fewer carbon emissions than current building standards, improving energy efficiency. Existing homes will also be expected to become more energy-efficient, with building extensions having specific energy efficiency requirements too. Non-domestic new builds will have more ambitious targets by aiming to be ‘zero-carbon ready’ by 2025.

19 January, 2021 – Natural Power, a renewable consultancy team, has pioneered a new technology which will help reduce bat collision with wind turbines. The new technology has a Detection and Active Response Curtailment (DARC) system, which has an acoustic monitor that monitors bat activity by listening for bat calls. When bat activity is sensed at the wind turbines, the turbines will cease moving for 30 minutes. By shutting down turbines, bat collisions should reduce, making wind turbines less damaging to their ecosystem.

14 January, 2021 – Tim Davie, the Director-General of the BBC, has recently announced that the BBC has committed to a 2030 net-zero target. Details on how the BBC will reach this target are expected to be released in the next few months. The BBC’s net-zero plan is expected to include onsite renewable energy installations, along with increased energy efficiency measures. The BBC will join other large broadcasting organisations, such as Sky and BT, in committing to a net-zero target.

13 January, 2021 – The National Grid ESO have announced that 2020 has been the greenest year for the UK’s electricity. Both wind and solar have reached new generation and percentage contributed to the electricity mix records in 2020. The renewable energy highlight of the year was that, in 2020, the UK was powered coal-free for 5,147 hours, which sufficiently tops previous years. It is hoped that 2021 will be a promising year for further renewable energy records.

12 January, 2021 – A cold snap in the UK this week has resulted in the price of electricity reaching a record high rate of £1,500 per megawatt-hour. The increase in the price is related to the extremely high demand in periods of low renewable energy generation. The price of gas has also risen in price by 1/5 during this freezing winter period. The installation of onsite renewable energy is a great way to ensure long-term cost-savings on energy and to avoid price volatility. Contact OnGen today to find out if onsite renewables are feasible at your site.

12 January, 2021 – Aggreko a temporary power provider has invested £4.5 million to create a ‘future energy hub’ in Scotland. The company are planning on turning their production facility in Dumbarton into an eco-friendlier site. Green initiatives include replacing diesel with low emission hydrotreated vegetable oil, installing standalone battery storage and replacing light bulbs with LED lighting. The latest investment at this site will help Aggreko work towards meeting their net-zero goal.

8 January, 2021 – Distilleries across the UK have received up to £75,000 from the UK government to motivate sustainable produce. The funding is expected to help support jobs in the industry and help the industry transition to net-zero. The seventeen distilleries that have received funding are planning to invest in onsite renewables and low-carbon heating technologies, including biomass, biofuel boilers, hydrogen and geothermal energy. Our software, the OnGen Expert, allows for you to assess the feasibility of biomass CHP and biomass heating, along with an array of other onsite renewables and low-carbon technologies. Contact OnGen today for a software demo.

8 January, 2021 – Norfolk County Council has unveiled energy efficiency plans to install a further 15,000 LED streetlights across the county to reduce emissions and become more energy efficient. The County Council is already making progress towards its carbon neutrality 2030 target, with earlier LED instalments providing 1,2000 tonnes of carbon savings. Our software, OnEfficiency, can recommend the best ways for your buildings to become more energy-efficient, providing greater cost and carbon savings. Contact OnGen for more information about OnEfficiency.

7 January, 2021 – OnGen have completed a successful pilot with the North East Yorkshire and Humberside (NEYH) Energy Hub. OnGen’s software, the OnGen Expert, has been used to assess the feasibility of onsite renewables for 76 locations across 12 local and combined authorities. The pilot has identified an array of opportunities for large carbon savings within this Energy Hub. The NEYH Energy Hub Manager, Paul Taylor, has claimed that the project has been a “huge success, with public bodies identifying investable, decarbonisation schemes where they have not had the tools and expertise to do so before.”

5 January, 2021 – Portsmouth International Port confirms plans to be the first UK port with a MW-scale battery and solar canopy installation, paired with 1,670 roof mounted solar panels. The 750 killowatt peak system solar and battery installation is expected to meet approximately a third of the site’s electricity requirements, with 159 annual tonnes of carbon savings. Onsite renewables are the perfect way to increase carbon savings at your site. Contact OnGen today to find out your potential for onsite renewables today.

4 January, 2021 – UK government funding of £8 million will be split across six projects in the UK to aid with creating the world’s first net-zero emissions industrial zone by 2040. The projects are located in West Midlands, Tees Valley, North West, Humber, Scotland and South Wales. These projects aim to create new employment opportunities while reducing emissions. The next step for the net-zero projects is to produce more in-depth plans for becoming net-zero in their industrial sector.

4 January, 2021 – Good Energy have launched a new electricity tariff which will benefit EV drivers. The energy company’s new tariff has an extended off-peak window which is paired with a lower energy price, allowing for EV drivers to charge their vehicles for a lower cost. Good Energy aims for this new initiative to make EVs more accessible, while also reducing strain on the electricity grid, as EVs would be charged at times of lower grid demand.

31 December, 2020 – The National Grid ESO has reported that 2020 is expected to be the greenest year on record for electricity generation in the UK, reaching an average grid intensity figure of 181gCO₂/kWh in January to November. The average carbon intensity value has largely decreased when compared to previous years, with a 15% decrease from 2019. With an aim to reduce grid carbon intensity to 100gCO₂/kWh by 2030, the UK still needs to continue increasing decarbonisation initiatives to reach this target.

28 December, 2020 – Boxing Day’s Storm Bella provided record wind generation for the UK, with 50.7% of the total electricity consumption being generated by wind power for over 24 hours. Earlier in December, the record for the highest power supplied by wind farms was reached at 17.3 gigawatts. During the earlier record, the electricity demand was higher in the UK, resulting in wind making up a smaller percentage of total energy consumption. These wind records help celebrate a triumphant year of renewable energy records being met.

18 December, 2020 – A joint statement signed by eight large energy companies including Total, BP and Equinor agrees on six ‘energy transition principles’ for reaching net-zero. These energy companies have agreed to follow net-zero principles including supporting the Paris Agreement, aiming to reduce their carbon emissions and being more transparent with any climate change risks. It is hoped that these principles noted will help these energy giants reach their net-zero targets.

18 December, 2020 – The latest annual energy statement for Scotland has highlighted that the Scottish renewable energy output for 2019 equates to the equivalent of 90.1% of the country’s total electricity consumption, another record year for the increase of renewable energy electricity generation. The Scottish government aim to further increase the percentage of renewables by decarbonising energy-intensive industries, heating and transport through acting on new sustainability policies announced in the Scottish government’s Climate Change Plan Update.

17 December, 2020 – Scottish Water have announced plans of installing over 1MW of solar paired with battery storage (800kWh capacity) at Perth’s wastewater treatment works. The project will result in 2,520 solar panels and four vanadium flow batteries being installed in 2021 and will reduce the site’s energy costs by 40%. The project is also predicted to reduce 160 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year to help Scottish Water meet their 2040 net-zero emissions target.

17 December, 2020 – HSBC’s latest poll involving 1,000 UK-based companies has found that 73% plan to introduce new net-zero goals in 2021. Furthermore, 78% of these companies are expecting their sales to increase in 2021 as a direct result of concentrating more on sustainability. These companies would like to see more government support, with 42% of the surveyed organisations wanting more government funding for initiatives to reduce their emissions.

14 December, 2020 – Yü Energy’s latest survey based on SMEs’ energy efficiency measures has found that just 46% of SMEs are making energy efficiency improvements to their businesses. Of the surveyed companies, less than 20% have buildings which have an EPC rating above B. Yü Energy suggest that by becoming more energy-efficient and achieving a higher EPC rating, an SME will not only be more eco-friendly but will also save up to 28% off energy bills. If you are interested in increasing your SME’s EPC rating, try OnGen’s newest software OnEfficiency for recommendations on how to make your business more energy efficient.

11 December, 2020 – The Scottish Government’s decarbonisation manufacturing fund has now opened for applicants. The £34 million Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund allows for companies within the manufacturing industry to apply for grants of up to £125,000 to invest in onsite energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon technologies. The fund is open for applicants until the 26th of February 2021. If you are interested in taking advantage of this fund to deploy renewable and low-carbon technologies, contact OnGen to unlock the potential of renewables at your site.

10 December, 2020 – Plans for recycled wind turbines to replace raw materials in cement manufacturing in the US have been announced by GE Renewable Energy. The recycled wind turbine blades can replace up to 90% of the raw materials used to create cement. This recycling process has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in cement production by 27%.

10 December, 2020 – Amazon has released plans for 26 new renewable energy projects spanning from the UK to Australia to help power their company. Amazon is planning for a 3.4GW increase in electricity production because of these new projects, which will help Amazon become the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy. These projects are expected to be a mix of solar PV and wind installations.

8 December, 2020 – Ofgem have announced plans for investing £40 billion into the national electricity grid infrastructure as part of the finalised RIIO-2 price control. Ofgem aims for this funding to help increase green energy investment. The investment will also help network companies make repairs and upgrades to the grid.

7 December, 2020 – IEA reported that 2020 has had the lowest level of investment in energy efficiency improvements within the past decade. IEA is alarmed by these findings, as they believe that energy efficiency improvements are necessary for meeting climate targets. We hope that the government’s funding packages, such as the UK’S Green Home Grant, should have a positive impact on energy efficiency in future years. If you would like to improve the energy efficiency of your organisation, contact OnGen to learn more about our software, OnEfficiency.

4 December, 2020 – The UK Government have announced 2030 plans to reduce their annual carbon emissions by 68% when compared to the UK’s 1990 levels. This new target is a large rise in the UK’s reduction target when compared to the current target of 57%. It is hoped that the UK’s larger target will help lead the way in encouraging other countries to also increase their climate reduction target.

4 December, 2020 – The latest report by Green Alliance has highlighted that local councils in England are struggling to meet their net-zero goals due to a lack of government funding. Although there is a significant amount of funding available for the public sector, it is still lower than in previous years and has decreased by 24% in the last decade. The report suggests that an increase in funding and the size of the skills force will be necessary for local councils to meet their net-zero goals.

3 December, 2020 – A new partnership between European Energy and Norstar will help support the deployment of 12 new solar projects in the North East of England. It is hoped that the expertise of both companies will allow for a strong partnership that will incorporate local and European solar knowledge.

30 November, 2020 – The Gresham House Energy Storage Fund (GRID) have finished their investment in the 50MW standalone battery in Wickham Market, Suffolk. The battery installation has a storage capacity of 74MWh and has been connected to the distribution network. The completion of this project totals GRID’s operational standalone battery portfolio to up 315MW. The standalone battery is expected to gain revenue by trading within the wholesale market and National Grid’s FFR tenders and Balancing Mechanism.

30 November, 2020 – The UK’s largest battery storage project has been announced to be built in Essex at the Thames Estuary. InterGen is planning to install 320MW/640MWh of battery storage with the potential to expand the capacity to 1.3GWh. The battery storage will help balance the grid in Essex and is planned to be built by 2024.

24 November, 2020 – Octopus Energy’s latest study that surveyed institutional investors has highlighted that global investment in renewables is forecasted to double within the next five years. Investment in renewable energy is expected to increase from 4.2% to 8.3% within the next five years and continue to rise to 10.8% by 2030. The largest volume of investment is expected from investors in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

24 November, 2020 – The UK government have announced plans of increasing the renewable energy capacity by 12GW in the next CfD auction in 2021. The proposed increase is over double the capacity of the last auction at just 5.8GW. The rise in capacity will help the UK meet the net-zero goal. The renewable technologies will also be split into different groups when competing in the fourth round, resulting in onshore wind and solar being in a separate category from the other renewable technologies. Offshore wind will be in its own category.

23 November, 2020 – Wärtsilä Energy’s latest report suggests that if the UK government supported the installation of more renewables and battery storage rather than building a new nuclear plant, £660 million could be saved by 2030. The cost savings would be a mix of reduced operational and building costs. However, with many of the UK’s nuclear power plants closing, the government would prefer to not completely lose nuclear generation.

19 November, 2020 – The Advertising Association have released a new framework to help the UK’s advertising industry meet net-zero emissions by 2030. The project will offer advice to companies in the advertising industry related to reducing emissions through renewable energy installations and energy efficiency investments. If advertising companies sign up to the framework, they are then committed to reducing their emissions and reaching their net-zero target.

19 November, 2020 – The City of London Corporation are going to pioneer a £40 million power purchase agreement (PPA) with Voltalia. The green energy for the PPA will be generated at a 50 MW solar plant planned to be built in south-west England. The project is the first PPA to be set up between a local authority and a renewable. The City of London Corporation is expected to save £3 million on energy costs over the next 15 years. If you are interested to understand the cost-savings from installing solar PV at your business site, contact OnGen today for a renewable energy site assessment.

18 November, 2020 – The UK is investigating if solar power from space could be used as a constant source of renewable energy. A space-based solar power system would be composed of large solar satellites that would generate renewable energy in space. The generated energy would then be converted into radio waves and beamed to ground-based receivers. The receivers could then be connected to the electric grid. Frazer-Nash Consultancy will be conducting the project research to understand if this project could be feasible.

17 November, 2020 – Boris Johnson unveiled a 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution to take place in the UK. The government have set aside £12bn to meet these goals, which include a ban on diesel and petrol cars by 2030 and investment in carbon capture initiatives. The 10-point plan is also expected to create up to 250,000 jobs throughout the UK. However, it is questioned if this plan is ambitious enough to meet the UK’s net-zero target.

13 November, 2020 – Tesco has announced the installation of three UK ground-mounted solar farms to generate energy to power their UK stores. The excess energy will be exported back to the grid through a PPA. The installation of their solar farms will help Tesco reach their goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2030, in-line with their net-zero 2035 UK goal. The company also plan to install roof-mounted solar on a further 17 of their English stores. Interested in installing solar like Tesco? Contact us today to see if it’s feasible at your commercial site.

12 November, 2020 – BEIS Public Attitudes Tracker survey of 4,000 adults has found that nearly 80% of people in the UK support the use of renewable energy. The highest supported renewable energy technology was solar energy, with 85% public approval, while the lowest public approval percentage was onshore wind at 73%. The BEIS survey also highlighted that 80% of the public are concerned or fairly concerned about climate change.

10 November, 2020 – The International Energy Agency reported that 2020 has been a record year for global renewable energy installations. Nearly 90% of all energy installations during this year have been renewable technologies. Furthermore, the IEA suggest that due to recent trends of renewable installations increasing while fossil fuels decline, renewables are set to become the biggest global energy source by 2025. The results from this report come as great news after previous concerns that COVID-19 would slow down the renewable installation rate during 2020.

9 November, 2020 – The Scottish Government have announced £4.5 million of cashback funding to help support households installing renewable heating systems or energy efficiency measures. The installation of a renewable heating system offers 75% cashback up to the value of £7,500 and 40% cashback is offered for households taking energy efficiency measures up to £6,000. This new scheme should be a great incentive for households wanting to take more sustainable measures.

6 November, 2020 – The Egni Co-op have installed roof mounted solar panels on multiple primary schools in Swansea, resulting in emissions being reduced by 1,600 tonnes over the course of 20 years between these sites. These installations are helping Swansea Council meet their aims of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The OnGen Expert^TM can be used to assess the feasibility of solar PV at your school or business. Contact OnGen today for more information.

6 November, 2020 – A blacked out part of the transmission network been restored as a result of wind power from Dersalloch windfarm in South Ayrshire. The project used virtual synchronous machines to manage the frequency and voltage from the energy generated by the wind turbines. This technology was able to keep the system balanced and could also merge the energy supply with the grid to restore power to areas of the transmission system that had been blacked out. The success of the project is allowing Dersalloch windfarm to become a fully ‘black-start’ windfarm by 2022.

5 November, 2020 – Vattenfall have transformed a wind turbine in Leicestershire at the M1 motorway into a poppy to honour Remembrance Sunday. The wind turbine was modified to look like a poppy by projecting a 90-metre-wide poppy head onto the blades and smaller poppies surrounding the wind turbine. It is hoped that this installation will allow for people to see the wind turbine poppy for miles into the distance to pay remembrance in their own way.

3 November, 2020 – RenewableUK estimate that onshore wind could reach 30GW capacity in the UK by 2030, producing enough power for over 19.5 million homes per annum. The deployment of onshore wind will also help drive a green recovery, with an estimated 30,000 jobs being supported. The predicted rise in capacity is partly due to onshore wind being part of the CfD auctions, as well as decreasing capital costs.

29 October, 2020 – Primark are the latest fashion store to sign the UN’s Fashion Charter, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. The UN Fashion Charter launched in 2018 and has over 50 businesses committed to the net-zero goal, including H&M and Levi Strauss. Primark also aim to reduce their emissions by 30% by 2030 and are currently developing a decarbonisation roadmap.

29 October, 2020 – Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council have received over £6.5 million of funding to allow for the development of a low carbon energy network in Solihull Town Centre. Solihull plans to install an open-loop ground source heat pump which will provide heat to multiple properties within the town centre. The project will save over 280,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide once installed by 2022. Unlock the potential of ground source heat at your site by using the OnGen Expert. Contact OnGen for a software demo.

27 October, 2020 – Tesla have announced the highest Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff in the UK as part of the Tesla Energy Plan. The Tesla Energy Plan is now available for homes with solar panels and Tesla Powerwall battery systems with or without an EV. The rate of £0.08/kWh for Tesla vehicle owners and £0.11/kWh for non-Tesla vehicle owners has been offered, which is significantly higher than the current SEG tariffs on the market. At OnGen you can assess the feasibility of solar PV with a battery system for your business with a chosen SEG tariff. Contact OnGen today for a free demo of our software.

27 October, 2020 – Wood Mackenzie’s latest quarterly market outlook expects photovoltaic installations to have increased globally by 115GW by the end of the year. However, an increase in COVID19 outbreaks may result in installation for the rest of 2020 slowing. Wood Mackenzie predict a 5% global increase in installations for 2020 when compared to 2019. The percentage of global increase is forecasted to steadily raise up to 2025. Photovoltaic installations are increasing the most in Asia, with 39GW being deployed in 2020.

21 October, 2020 – DNV GL has reported that a global effort and investment is needed to increase the uptake of energy-efficient measures. Energy efficiency is often a forgotten step in a company’s decarbonisation journey, although it is the easiest way to cut emissions. Energy-efficient measures should be remembered as another pillar to help reach emission reduction goals. If you are interested in helping your company become more energy-efficient, contact OnGen for a demo of our new software, OnEfficiency.

21 October, 2020 – Vattenfall’s ornithological study in Kilm Wind Farm, Denmark has found that birds are able to avoid the rotor blades of wind turbines far easier than previously thought. The study demonstrated that 99% of the short-billed geese and cranes that flew within the Kilm Wind Farm area were able to avoid the blades of the wind turbines. The results of this study are highly positive for the installation of wind turbines, especially as the studied area is also within an important natural area.

20 October, 2020 – Cornwall Insight estimate a 1.3GW increase in installed capacity of onshore wind this winter in the UK. The increase in capacity would result in a 5% increase in total capacity to 25.4GW. This rise in onshore wind is the result of this technology being included within the Contracts for Difference scheme which allows for this technology to be even more financially feasible. However, the National Grid ESO’s report estimates that a faster installation rate is needed to meet the UK’s net-zero goal.

19 October, 2020 – Wood Mackenzie’s latest report highlights that an increase in module efficiency rates and the power class of solar PV will significantly reduce the cost of solar energy during the next decade. The capex cost of a solar project is expected to reduce by 3-9% during this period as solar module technology rapidly evolves, with modules with small wafer sizes eventually being phased out of the market as large modules become more cost-efficient.

16 October, 2020 – Solar Trade Association (STA) chief executive, Chris Hewett, is urging the UK government to increase their solar and battery storage ambition. Hewett estimates that the UK will have to triple its solar capacity within the next 10 years to have a chance at meeting the net-zero goal. The STA chief executive wishes to see a similar boost in solar that has previously been seen with wind.

15 October, 2020 – The Cheshire Energy Hub has been awarded over £700,000 of government funding to build the first smart energy blueprint in the UK. The aim of the project is to create a local, low carbon, smart energy system for the Energy Innovation District in a port in Cheshire, which is made up of an array of businesses. The project will be used to explore energy generation potential with onsite renewables and hydrogen fuel.

13 October, 2020 – The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest report highlighted a promising future for renewables, while fossil fuels such as coal have a more gloomy outlook and may never return again to pre-pandemic consumption levels. IEA predict that solar could reshape the future of energy by becoming the leader of electricity due to record levels of deployment expected. The report also demonstrated that as a result of current policy commitments, renewable deployment should continue to grow, meeting up to 80% of projected growth.

13 October, 2020 – Aggreko has announced their new global rental scheme for solar panels. The company are allowing customers to rent up to 1MW of solar panels with the deployment of the rental technology taking place within just 4 months. The contract duration begins at 5 years and the solar panels can be co-located with a battery storage system to make the system even more energy-efficient. If you are interested in the potential of onsite solar, contact OnGen today for a desk-based feasibility assessment.

9 October, 2020 – Carbon Trust’s annual survey has highlighted that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have placed more importance on sustainability. The survey involved 453 interviews from different companies across Europe, Mexico and Singapore and found that 63% of the interviewees reported that the sustainability budget of the company is planned to increase in 2020. The number of dedicated sustainability professionals will also increase by 4% compared to 2019.

7 October, 2020 – The South Yorkshire Pensions Authority (SYPA) have set the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. SYPA aim to have an action plan to achieve this goal within the next 6-months and will work with Border to Coast Pensions Partnership to help reach this carbon neutral target. The SYPA is not the first pension organisation to announce a net-zero goal, with NEST, Aviva and BT’s pension fund previously announcing net-zero targets.

5 October, 2020 – Octopus Energy have announced plans to generate 1,000 more technology jobs with an aim to make the UK the ‘Silicon Valley of energy.” These jobs will be created in London, Brighton, Warwick and Leicester, along with plans to create a tech hub in Manchester. This initiative has been praised as a great opportunity for employment during the planned green recovery.

2 October, 2020 – Ofgem announced that seven energy suppliers owe a total of £34 million for the Renewables Obligations (RO) and Feed-in Tariff levelisation payments. The levelisation payment will be used to provide the owner of onsite renewable energy a payment. If these suppliers do not attempt to pay these payments, Ofgem may remove their energy licence.

2 October, 2020 – Wood Mackenzie have predicted that the energy storage capacity will continue to grow by one-third every year within the decade to reach 741GWh by 2030. The US are expected to dominate the growth over this period to make up around half of the worldwide capacity by 2030, while China will also greatly contribute to the energy storage increase. Europe are expected to contribute less to the energy storage capacity because of slower market growth.

2 October, 2020 – RWE Gas Storage West GmbH and CMBlu Energy AG have announced plans for research into the storage of renewable electricity within underground salt caverns. These caverns are currently being used for gas storage, but it is thought that they could be used as an organic battery. RWE plan to fill the caverns with an organic electrolyte solution, which would be used as the main energy source for the battery storage.

1 October, 2020 – The NHS announced plans to be the first health system in the world with a net zero target. The NHS aim to firstly reduce direct emissions by 2040 and then have their wider supply chain in line with reaching net zero by 2045. Plans to reach this target include electric vehicles, reducing single-use products and building more energy efficient buildings. Our software suite is suited to help organisations like the NHS meet their net-zero targets. Contact us today on how to get started.

29 September, 2020 – IRENA’s annual report highlighted that 498,000 full time roles have been created globally in 2019 within the renewable sector. This new addition of jobs in 2019 brings the total number of renewable energy jobs up to 11.5 million. The largest increase in roles over 2019 was found within the bioenergy sector, while solar made up one-third of the total renewable energy occupations. IRENA forecast that COVID-19 will have a positive impact on the sector due to the green energy transition.

24 September, 2020 – The UK government announced a further £6.9m of funding for energy efficiency skills training in preparation of the Green Homes Grant Scheme. This funding is open to organisations that currently offer low carbon retrofit training, with an aim to get the workforce ready for the expected increase of up to 100,000 jobs within the construction sector as the new scheme comes into place in England.

24 September, 2020 – PwC’s latest report highlights that venture capital investment into climate-related technology is increasing five times quicker than the average rate of all other industry investments. PwC have found that, in 2019, $16bn has been invested into this sector. The growth within green technology is likely to be driven by corporate requirements to meet climate targets, with over 300 companies committing to a net-zero future.

24 September, 2020 – Plans for the first 100% recyclable wind turbine have been announced as part of a collaboration project headed by the Zero Waste Blade Research project. LM Wind Power will be building the prototype blades for this project using Elium, which is a fully recyclable thermoplastic resin. Further research is taking place to understand the best method to recycle the Elium material.

22 September, 2020 – Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind project, has announced that it will be powered by the new 13MW Haliade-X turbine, which is the most powerful wind turbine available globally. This site will be the first in the world to install these turbines, which are 107 metres in height. As these turbines are so powerful, fewer wind turbines will be required at the site, which will help lower the operation costs and improve efficiency.

18 September, 2020 – The UK’s most energy-efficient housing scheme has started undergoing construction in Kent. Each home will be carbon neutral by roof-mounted solar PV being established for electricity generation and an air source heat pump being installed for hot water and heating. Interested in going carbon neutral? Contact us today to find out more about the potential of onsite renewable and low carbon technologies at your site.

17 September, 2020 – Fitch Solutions announced their latest renewable energy forecasts up until 2029. Fitch expects that the global renewable capacity will increase by over 1.4TW by 2029 and the capacity of solar PV will overtake wind as soon as 2021. The growing installation of solar PV is thought to be related to the variety of ways it can be deployed, from domestic roof-mounted solar to large-scale ground-mounted solar PV.

17 September, 2020 – A Zero Carbon Heating Taskforce has been launched this week, made up of industry experts in energy, construction and finance, to research zero-carbon heating alternatives for domestic heating. It is hoped that the work that the taskforce completes will help increase investment and knowledge within this sector.

16 September, 2020 – Calls for the UK government to increase the size of the next CfD auction in order for the different renewable technologies to be able to equally participate. Industry experts from the solar, offshore wind and tidal energy sectors are calling for a boost in capacity and financial support from the government. The final details of the next CfD auction have yet to be announced but it is hoped that it will keep the UK keep on track to meet the 2050 net-zero target.

11 September, 2020 – Solar Trade Association, TechUk and Renewable UK have issued a joint declaration to promote a green recovery. The partnership will be promoting long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) within the tech industry to help increase onsite renewables and examine the impact that technology can have in advancing the renewable sector.

10 September, 2020 – Climate Assembly UK have reported that the UK’s citizens assembly are in strong favour of the deployment of wind and solar renewable technologies to meet the net-zero target. Offshore wind scored 95% in public favour, while solar power received 81%, clearly demonstrating that renewable energy is largely accepted as the way forward for a low carbon future.

8 September, 2020 – An Atkins report highlights that the UK is behind in the build rate required to meet the country’s net-zero target. The deployment of over 6,520 wind turbines and 80GW of solar PV is still needed to be built, along with a wealth of other technologies to help generate enough clean energy to meet the 2050 goal.

7 September, 2020 – A new battery storage rental option for the vanadium electrolyte has been recently announced by battery provider Invinity. This innovative idea will allow for the cost of battery storage to be spread over the course of a project to help make batteries more affordable.

4 September, 2020 – The first completely domestic weekly Firm Frequency Response deal was won by Social Energy, who offer domestic battery storage systems with an artificial intelligence platform. It is hoped that this trial deal will help balance the electricity demand on the national grid while reducing customers’ energy costs.

4 September, 2020 – Cornwall Insight report shows that during the Covid-19 outbreak in March, the demand for power in the UK was 15% lower than 2019 levels. As Britain returns to work and school, the electricity rates have risen back to 2019 levels over the summer months and are expected to remain at higher levels. Are you interested in reducing your organisation’s grid energy consumption? Contact OnGen to see how onsite renewables could help your organisation.

28 August, 2020 – A new collaboration between GE Renewable Energy and Wykes will allow for the UK’s first DC-coupled battery storage system to be developed. The new battery system will be combined with the 60MW ground-mounted solar PV site located at Chelveston Renewable Energy Park.

28 August, 2020 – World Forum Offshore Wind report findings highlight that the UK continues to remain the largest global offshore wind market for the first half of 2020. In the last six months, the UK has added an installed capacity of 714MW. China is a strong contender in this race, with its offshore wind market dramatically growing, with 1.4GW installed over the six-month period.

19 August, 2020 – New research by solar panel specialists has found that installing panels on properties can increase house prices across the UK by £32,459 on average, an increase of 14%. The highest increase was seen in London, followed by Bristol and Edinburgh. The ability to sell surplus generation to the grid and the reduced energy bills makes solar extremely desirable for home buyers. 

18 August, 2020 – The government has announced a six-month extension for applications to the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive in the wake of coronavirus. The decision postpones the scheme’s planned closure in March 2021 to September 2021. The move is only an extension for projects already under development and those that have not benefited from recent extensions to tariff guarantees. 

14 August, 2020 – Engie is offering fixed-price long-term power purchase agreements that are tailored to fit the individual requirements of developers and funders. These PPAs will provide guaranteed income that is often needed to secure funding. Developers can choose PPAs of any length up to 10 years. 

13 August, 2020 – Compared with the same period in 2019, offshore wind helped the UK’s renewable generation increase by 30% in the first quarter of 2020. Wind generation increased significantly for both offshore (53%) and onshore (29%). However, solar generation decreased by 11% in the first quarter of this year compared to last year. 

11 August, 2020 – The National Infrastructure Commission has advised the UK to increase its renewable electricity target from 50% to 65% by 2030. New research shows this can be delivered at the same cost as meeting only half of the total demand. The commission recommends a refreshed pipeline of contracts for difference auctions to accelerate more offshore and onshore wind, as well as solar power projects. 

7 August, 2020 – Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng has announced a review of current energy infrastructure at sea, focusing on improving the cabling and transmission network to reduce costs and impacts of connecting new wind farms to the onshore grid. The announcement follows an Oil and Gas Authority report which found that offshore renewables could account for 30% of the emissions reductions needed by 2050. 

7 August, 2020 – The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Reports have shown that the Bank has been offering support packages to large companies without environmental conditions, going against their stated prioritisation of low-carbon finance. The Bank’s Corporate Bond Purchase Programme has invested £11.4bn of the total £20bn in energy-intensive and high emitting sectors. 

6 August, 2020 – The world’s largest coal mine, North Antelope Rochelle, has reported a loss of £1.17bn for the second quarter of this year, owing to cheap gas and increasing wind capacity coming online. Mine production has decreased by over 50% since 2014, which can be attributed to increased demand for clean energy. 

5 August, 2020 – The University of Surrey is set to start developing a battery that captures carbon dioxide emissions. This project aims to position the UK as a leader in portable energy storage through breakthroughs in efficient carbon dioxide fixation.

5 August, 2020 – Iberdrola has announced it will build and operate the world’s largest onsite self-consumption solar power system in Spain. The 100MW array will create up to 500 jobs during construction and will provide green electricity to SABIC’s industrial plant, making the industrial complex the first large-scale chemical production facility to operate fully on renewable electricity. 

27 July, 2020 – Good Energy has announced a new heat pump tariff, which is set to offer cheaper rates when the grid is greener and experiencing lower demand. The tariff thus aims to make greener heating more cost-effective for UK households. After Rishi Sunak’s announcement of the Green Homes scheme, where homeowners can claim up to £10,000 for heat pumps, this tariff is a welcome additional push to help heat pump deployment increase. 

27 July, 2020 – The expansion of offshore wind, bioenergy and carbon capture and storage could lead to negative emissions in the power sector by 2033. Demand-side response and storage will also contribute to this net zero projection. However, to achieve this, we need immediate action across key technologies and policy areas, most notably in the transport, heating and energy efficiency sectors. 

24 July, 2020 – A YouGov poll found that only 23% of British citizens think biomass should be classified as renewable energy, while 55% oppose continued Government subsidies for this technology. Research has shown that large-scale biomass use can release more carbon than a coal plant, especially when including the emissions from importing biomass overseas. 

24 July, 2020 – The Treasury Committee is relaunching an inquiry to examine whether the UK’s response to coronavirus should take net zero targets into account. Specifically, the committee wants to address whether support packages should distinguish between companies based on their pollution levels. Without green conditions on financial assistance, public money will be used to support businesses whose efforts do not align with net zero targets. 

19 July, 2020 – The potential for green hydrogen production in the UK is immense, owing to high winds from the North Sea. The UK has all the ingredients to make hydrogen successful, but significant government intervention is needed. Successful expansion of hydrogen will reduce emissions, provide real export opportunities and boost job prospects in regions suffering most from the impact of coronavirus. 

17 July, 2020 –Transport for London (TfL) is aiming to source all its electricity requirements from zero-carbon sources by 2030 through power purchase agreements. As TfL is one of the largest electricity consumers in the UK, this will act as a significant step to reaching the UK’s net zero target. The plans will also explore the potential for meeting the Greater London Authority group’s wider demand for renewable electricity. 

15 July, 2020 – Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng launched a review into the existing offshore transmission regime to address the barriers it creates for future offshore deployment. The review will see a focus on projects due online before 2025 and will consider how to give developers the flexibility to test new ways of bringing power to shore. It will also look further into the future, seeking to create a long-term regime that helps limit environmental, social and economic costs. 

15 July, 2020 – A new analysis by IHS Markit Hydrogen and Renewable Gas Forum states that green hydrogen production could become cost-competitive by 2030, owing to increased scale and standardised manufacturing. The study suggests that hydrogen will be used increasingly to decarbonise the transport, heating, industry and power generation sectors. 

13 July, 2020 – Despite the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, global offshore wind investment more than quadrupled in the first half of 2020. BNEF believes this can be attributed to falling capital costs. The growth in offshore wind powered a 5% rise in total renewable energy investment to $132.4bn, despite a slump in onshore wind and solar projects. 

13 July, 2020 – East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust has released a plan to power half of Margate’s Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital with 1,200 solar panels. Plans also include the deployment of LED lighting and the upgrade of heating systems. This project is expected to save more than 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and £1.2m per year. Interested in cost and carbon savings? Contact us today. 

9 July, 2020 – Ofgem has proposed a £35bn overhaul of the energy network, making it greener and more resilient. The money will be invested in new wind and solar farms, as well as network upgrades to deal with the intermittent nature of renewable energy. Further changes will include the addition of hydrogen into the grid to help decarbonise heat. 

8 July, 2020 – A flywheel project in north-east Scotland aims to be operational by winter of 2021 and will help stabilise the grid’s electrical frequency, removing the need for carbon-emitting spinning turbines. This project will allow the grid to use more renewable energy and help prevent future blackouts, like that seen in August 2019. 

8 July, 2020 – Edinburgh’s Saughton Park has become the UK’s first fully eco-powered greenspace. Its micro-hydro technology generates electricity for all the park’s needs, including the running of two ground source heat pump systems, which heat the buildings. Over 90 tonnes of carbon dioxide and £19,000 will be saved annually

8 July, 2020 – Exeter City Council has announced plans to build a 1.2MW solar array co-located with a 1MW battery. This scheme will help the city reach its net zero by 2030 target. Interested in becoming a world-leading green city? Contact us to see how onsite renewables can reduce your organisation’s carbon emissions while saving money on energy bills. 

2 July, 2020 – The UK government has granted consent to the 1.8GW Norfolk Vanguard project, which would provide electricity for nearly two million homes. Located 30 miles offshore, the farm will consist of 90-180 turbines and will provide 400 jobs during the construction phase. This project will boost the government’s chances of delivering 40GW of offshore wind by 2030. 

30 June, 2020 – Improving the energy efficiency of UK homes by increasing insulation could create 8,000 jobs, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, save on household energy bills and help protect the NHS. Increased physical and mental health benefits will prevent excess winter deaths and could save the NHS £63 million in the first year of roll-out. 

30 June, 2020 – Boris Johnson has committed to plant more than 30,000 hectares of trees per year and spend £40 million on local conservation projects. He said he would step up investments in technologies like net zero planes and renewables, however, he made no mention of improving home insulation. We need to retrofit and renovate to meet net zero, as, by 2050, 80% of UK families will still be living in homes that have already been built today.

29 June, 2020 – Yorkshire Water hs opened a tender for an agreement that covers the development of solar arrays across 150 of their sites. The generated electricity will be purchased by the water company under a PPA, with all surplus exported to the grid. Once operational, 6000 tonnes of carbon dioxide will be saved per year, energy costs will be reduced and biodiversity will be enhanced. We can help companies like Yorkshire Water meet their net zero goals through onsite renewables. Contact us to get started today. 

25 June, 2020 – A consortium of trade associations related to the renewables industry has sent an open letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak calling for renewables to be embedded in the UK’s recovery package. The letter highlights the value of developing a circular economy to help meet net zero targets and provide a return on investment, as well as millions of jobs and energy security.

25 June, 2020 – In the first quarter of 2020, 47% of the UK’s electricity generation was provided by renewable generation, surpassing the previous record of 39%. The increase seen was driven by growth in solar and wind generation, with a notable increase of 53% in offshore wind power generation since last year. 

22 June, 2020 – Brighton Council plans to install solar panels on 500 households, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 300 tonnes per year. Set to finish by 2023, the scheme will have a significant impact on meeting their carbon-neutral by 2030 target. At OnGen, we have helped several local authorities meet their targets through onsite renewables. Contact us to kickstart your journey today.

22 June, 2020 – The benefits from solar, LED lights and ground source heat pumps are immense; from energy security to cost savings, the consumer is likely to benefit in more ways than one. Interested in transforming your energy consumption? Contact us to find out what renewable and energy efficiency options are right for your site. 

18 June, 2020 – Construction near Manchester is beginning on the world’s largest liquid air battery, which will store renewable electricity. The system will use spare green energy to compress air into a liquid and store it to be later released into a gas to power a turbine. This project, set to be operational in 2022, will be able to power 200,000 homes for 5 hours.

17 June, 2020 – SSE Renewables has plans to press ahead with the UK’s biggest onshore wind farm, a 443MW project on Shetland. It is hoped that the project will be completed in 2024 and would create about 400 jobs at peak construction. This project will help Shetland harness its renewable potential, securing its electricity supplies and decarbonising its energy source. 

16 June, 2020 – In a new letter to the Secretary of State of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, the Solar Trade Association states that the UK government should commit to a 40GW solar capacity target. The government should also implement green tax reform to ensure sustainable growth of rooftop solar and battery storage. Green finance should be available for solar installations through grants or zero-interest loans. 

16 June, 2020 – As coronavirus lockdown restrictions begin to ease, there are early signs that domestic renewable energy installations are recovering. The average number of solar installations in May rose by 37% compared to April, as caution eases and the supply chain begins to be restored. Interested in solar? Assess the feasibility on your site using the OnGen Expert. Contact us for more information. 

11 June, 2020 – Jobs insulating homes can be created at a fraction of the cost of other construction jobs and help cut local pollution and energy bills. 700,000 direct jobs could be created in England’s low-carbon and renewable energy economy by 2030, with 46% of those related directly to clean electricity generation and 21% involved in energy efficiency product installation. 

10 June, 2020 – Crown Estate Scotland has launched a leasing round for up to 10GW of offshore wind, the first in Scottish waters for a decade. Agreements can lead to leases for offshore wind farm development, forming a large part of Scotland’s green recovery. Total investment could surpass £8 billion and deliver more than enough green electricity to power every Scottish household. 

9 June, 2020 – Reductions in carbon dioxide emissions during the lockdown are likely to be temporary unless we make real changes. Onsite renewables can help take pressure off the grid, improve energy security and save money on energy bills. Interested in joining the collective fight against climate change through installing onsite renewables? Contact us today to get started. 

9 June, 2020 – The lockdown caused by the pandemic has the potential to change the energy industry long term. Wholesale electricity prices went negative, causing grid operators to pay their customers to use power and nuclear plants provided nearly half of the low carbon electricity used in Europe; how will the energy sector look following the pandemic? 

4 June, 2020 – BEIS plans to protect suppliers from 80% of the increase in suppliers’ obligations under the CfD, owing to the impact of the pandemic. CfD regulations will also be amended to defer an increase in obligations by an additional quarter, pushing to the second quarter of 2021. Proposals are now going to parliament for approval, which is predicted before 9 July. 

3 June, 2020 – WindEurope and other trade groups are calling on the UK and the EU to work towards net zero emissions in tandem. Trade groups state that linkages and cooperation are needed to preserve the current system functioning and enable the evolution of future systems. Specific focus was placed on the benefits of efficient and cost-effective trading over interconnectors and the importance of continued collaboration. 

2 June, 2020 – May was the UK’s “greenest” month since the Industrial Revolution, running without coal-fired electricity for a full calendar month. Wind and solar made 28% of May’s energy mix and gas contributed 30%. The collapse in energy demand due to the coronavirus lockdown, as well as the unseasonably sunny weather, contributed to this dramatic change in the energy mix. 

2 June, 2020 – The UK Government has refused planning permission for Vattenfall’s up to 340MW offshore wind farm due to potential impacts on commercial shipping routes. This expansion was thought to be an important development for the local area and the road to net zero. To achieve the 40GW capacity by 2030 target, new projects will need to be progressed.

28 May, 2020 – The UK Secretary for BEIS, Alok Sharma, has approved a 350MW solar farm in Kent, which will generate enough energy to power 91,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 68,000 tonnes annually. The solar farm will also include energy storage and will significantly contribute to the net-zero agenda.

28 May, 2020 – National Grid and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) are exploring using surplus wind energy to heat Scottish homes to prevent wind curtailment. There are currently 380,000 homes in Scotland that could benefit from electric heating solutions such as ground source heat pumps. Interested in ground source heat? Contact us to see if it’s the right option for your site. 

27 May, 2020 – COP26 has been further postponed to November 2021 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic having placed restrictions on events and public gatherings. The delay is notable due to the US elections scheduled for later this year, which would either enable Trump to fully withdraw from the Paris Agreement or allow Biden to rejoin the agreement. Further, the UK has yet to unveil a clear roadmap to net-zero; this additional time should allow the UK to lead the way with a green recovery. 

26 May, 2020 – NextEnergy Capital has secured £100m debt financing with Santander to built two subsidy-free solar plants. Llanwern solar farm in Wales will be the largest subsidy-free plant, as well as the largest solar farm in the UK to date. The intention is to move the two farms to a new subsidy-free private fund, which will target new-build solar projects in the UK. 

22 May, 2020 – According to a report by RenewableUK, the UK could source 76% of its power demand from renewables by 2050. Overall wind capacity could grow by 66 GW by 2030 to provide more than half of the UK’s power demand. With a large renewable capacity, the UK could also produce hydrogen using renewables, helping hydrogen become competitive quickly and helping it decarbonise the grid.

22 May, 2020 – Hundreds of renewable energy projects may be asked to turn off this bank holiday weekend to avoid overloading the grid, as electricity demand in the UK plummets to new lows. Sunny weather is expected to generate more electricity than needed, threatening to overwhelm the energy system. Small wind turbines and solar installations, therefore, will be paid to stop generating by a new Nation Grid scheme. 

20 May, 2020 – The UK Government has published its Capacity Market response, with plans to reduce the minimum capacity threshold for participating generators from 2MW to 1MW. Other changes include reporting and verification mechanisms for the introduction of carbon dioxide emission limits in the Capacity Market. These, alongside the other changes, will help cutting-edge clean technologies compete. 

19 May, 2020 – Analysts, economists and environmentalists argue that renewable energy should help power a green economic recovery following the coronavirus lockdown. After the last financial crisis, the UK’s green economy supported tens of thousands of jobs and helped contribute to fiscal growth. The Social Market Foundation predicts that clean energy could provide 1.4 million new jobs with little risk, as renewable energy technology costs plummet.

15 May, 2020 – Edinburgh-based Flexitricity will optimise revenue and help balance supply and demand for Europe’s largest battery. The lithium-ion battery storage site will be monitored from Flexitricity’s 24/7 control room and Flexitricity will dynamically move the asset between different markets. Investment in batteries will help decarbonise the grid and transition to a renewables-led electricity market. 

13 May, 2020 – Scottish Power has unveiled plans to repower Scotland’s oldest windfarm as part of a £150m scheme to deliver 100,000 homes with green electricity in central Scotland. This windfarm is expected to create 600 jobs at its peak and 280 long-term jobs. Similarly, SSE and Equinor have plans to use the Port of Tyne for the world’s largest offshore wind development, creating 200 permanent jobs. These projects, alongside others, will help boost the economy when the pandemic ends. 

13 May, 2020 – A report by the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute suggests the CCS technologies must form a key part of delivering net-zero emissions by 2050. CCS will help reduce emissions in hard-to-abate industrial sectors and help decarbonise hydrogen production. The institute predicts that more than 2,000 CCS facilities will be needed by 2050, a large increase compared to the 19 large-scale facilities that are currently operating. 

12 May, 2020 – The Flexibility in Great Britain project, led by the Carbon Trust and Imperial College London, will investigate how flexibility in the heat and power sectors can reduce consumers’ costs and explore how an integrated flexible system can be delivered. Findings will be published in 2021 and will inform the rapid transition towards net zero and low emission transport options through new flexibility. The project consortium includes organisations like EDF Energy and the Greater London Authority, as well as the engagement with BEIS and the CCC. 

7 May, 2020 – Drax has launched a Biomass Carbon Calculator to measure emissions in the supply chain to ensure the sustainability of biomass supply. This comes after Drax announced they will become carbon negative by 2030. This carbon accounting tool will consider possible emissions in the production and transportation of the biomass pellets through the use of supply chain data.

7 May, 2020 – Latest figures from the Public Attitudes Tracker show 82% of people support the use of renewable energy. 76% of people also said they were concerned about climate change. These figures show the importance of including investment in new renewables in economic recovery packages, as they will stimulate growth and employment, as well as help meet our net zero emissions target, which are all key issues in the public’s eye.

6 May, 2020 – Optimisation of energy use in the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust will generate financial savings of £1.4 million per year and cut carbon emissions by 7.7 tonnes annually. Key improvements will include the installation of LED lights and a new combined heat and power plant, as well as boiler upgrades. Interested in achieving carbon reductions while saving money on your energy bills? Contact us at OnGen to find out how you can achieve your renewable energy goals like the United Lincolnshire Hospitals.

5 May, 2020 – A £7 million heating scheme will tap into geothermal energy from the underground pits of the Hebburn Colliery to heat South Tyneside Council buildings. The scheme is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 319 tonnes per year and help upgrade the energy performance of fuel-poor homes. The mine water heating system will be powered with local solar panels and a water-source heat pump will extract the heat from the mine water to distribute it across the heat network.

30 April, 2020 – The International Energy Agency predicts that renewable technologies will be the only source resilient to the global energy shock caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Renewable generation is expected to grow by 5% this year to make up 30% of the world’s lessening electricity demand. In recovery periods, fossil fuel companies may shift towards renewable generation as governments hopefully include clean energy in economic stimulus packages.

29 April, 2020 – BEIS has launched a consultation to explore support for low carbon heat beyond the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The RHI is expected to be extended to 2022 amid the current pandemic. The consultation backs the future replacement of the RHI with a new Clean Heat Grant, which will provide financial support for heat pumps and biomass boilers. A Green Gas Support Scheme will also aim to increase the proportion of green gas in the grid through biomethane injection.

27 April, 2020 – A £320 million deal will allow a 50-turbine wind farm to be built on the border between East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. Set to be operational by 2023, the wind farm will provide enough electricity to meet the needs of 170,000 homes. Construction will commence as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

27 April, 2020 – In an online video conference with key stakeholders, UK BEIS Secretary Alok Sharma called for technical assistance and policy support to make clean power the most attractive option for all countries. He noted that collaboration between countries, businesses and civil society is key to a just transition away from coal. We must not lose sight of the huge challenges climate change presents and commit to the scaling up of cheap, clean power and battery technology.

23 April, 2020 – As part of Energy Superhub Oxford, Oxford City Council has added 6 new EVs, with an aim to deliver a further 27 in the next 4 months and 25% electrification by 2023. Additionally, Pivot Power is installing a charging network that delivers 25MW of power throughout the city, connecting public charging facilities directly to the transmission network. The world’s largest hybrid energy storage system, comprising of a 50MW lithium-ion battery and a 2MW vanadium redox flow battery, will also share this connection. It is great to see a continued commitment to driving decarbonisation.

22 April, 2020 – Despite huge subsidy cuts from UK Government, the number of solar panel projects has tripled in the past 8 years. It is great to see Scotland taking advantage of renewables to decrease their carbon footprint and increase their energy cost savings. Interested in benefiting from onsite renewables? Contact us at OnGen to find out more.

21 April, 2020 – A report from GlobalData suggests that there was a 31% drop in corporate funding in the solar PV sector between January and March compared to last year. The drop in funding levels can be attributed to the pandemic bringing the global economy to a halt, causing minimal activity in the solar PV market. Once the pandemic is over, we hope the solar PV market will get back on track.

21 April, 2020 – On 20 April, oil prices fell negative for the first time in history as demand dropped due to coronavirus lockdowns across the world. Low oil prices present a good opportunity to introduce a tax on fossil fuels and increased investment in renewables. However, if governments don’t use this price decrease to push forward a green agenda, it is likely the world will return to ‘business as usual.’ We hope this marks an important turning point for our green future.

20 April, 2020 – The International Renewable Energy Agency found that accelerating investment in renewable energy could power economic recovery from the pandemic, with GDP gains of almost £80 trillion between now and 2050. It would also quadruple the number of green jobs available and improve global health and welfare scores. We hope that governments commit to this transition on a large scale to enable these benefits, as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 70% across the energy industry.

17 April, 2020 – The clapping for the NHS and key workers has created new patterns of consumption, resulting in a 950 MW spike in electricity demand. This is known as the ‘pick up’ effect, where everyone went inside to switch on the kettle. It is likely that our new ways of life will result in different energy consumption trends as daily commutes are replaced with outdoor exercise.

16 April, 2020 – New comments from GlobalData suggest that UK’s anticipated installations of new wind capacity could be downgraded by 20% due to the coronavirus lockdown. Supply chain breakdowns, travel bans and deferred maintenance also mean that the output of existing wind farms could significantly decrease. Solar capacity is also set to fall 16% compared to previous estimates, which could lead to the first year in more than 30 years that solar installations fall below levels recorded the year prior.

16 April, 2020 – A new Gas Goes Green project, partnering the UK’s leading gas operators, aims to deliver the world’s first zero-carbon gas grid to help meet the broader net zero by 2050 target in a cost-effective way. The project will aim to boost existing infrastructure with new technologies like hydrogen and biomethane. Capturing waste heat is also important to make efficient systems and has become key to low carbon farming.

15 April, 2020 – According to a poll by Venson Automotive Solutions, 45% of UK drivers claim they would consider swapping to an electric vehicle in the wake of the pandemic. This is attributed to the lockdown causing radical air quality improvement, thus positively impacting people’s awareness of environmental benefits. The public would also like to see more done by the government to help expedite the uptake of electric vehicles following recovery from the pandemic.

15 April, 2020 – SSE Renewables warns that a business as usual approach will not deliver 40GW of offshore wind installed capacity by 2030 and is, therefore, calling for increased capabilities and cooperation across government departments. In their published nine-point action plan, SSE Renewables asks for more regular and increased seabed leasing volumes, the removal of barriers to the consenting process and new market design to help develop grid infrastructure, among other aspects.

9 April, 2020 – BEIS has announced that the consultation deadline for the Contracts for Difference auction, which is due to close of 22 May, will not be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The certainty that the auction is continuing as planned is vital for helping secure the new renewable energy capacity needed to meet net zero quickly. We look forward to the climate and consumers benefiting from cheap and clean power as fast as possible.

8 April, 2020 – Nothern peatlands may lose their carbon sink capacity by 2050 owing to increased soil mineralisation and permafrost thawing if the climate continues warming. Currently, peatlands are capable of storing five times more carbon dioxide than forests. It is therefore vital that we reduce carbon emissions – interested in reducing your organisation’s emissions through onsite renewables? Contact us for more information.

7 April, 2020 – A new survey of environmental professionals has shown that investment in sustainability and energy projects has been paused by many, with many organisations halting sustainability-related announcements. However, net-zero remains the top green policy priority, which we hope is reflected in the UK’s green transition progress. To set your organisation up for green energy deployment, why not try our renewable energy feasibility assessment tool? Contact us for more information.

7 April, 2020 – Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) project global greenhouse emissions could be cut by 34% by 2050 through a switch to clean hydrogen. While it could be the way forward, storage and transportation would require an investment of £520 billion by 2050 to provide a fuel like natural gas. Governmental subsidies are therefore a necessity for rolling out this technology on a large scale.

3 April, 2020 – Hackney Council is sourcing 100% of its electricity through rooftop solar systems, a stepping stone towards meeting their net-zero by 2040 goal. The council is also looking to install EV charging points and convert all streetlamps to LED bulbs. At OnGen, we can help local councils realise their net-zero goals through onsite renewable generation. Contact us for more information and to kickstart your renewable energy journey today.

3 April, 2020 – Oil prices have crashed amid the coronavirus outbreak due to decreased energy demands, potentially placing pressure on the economics of renewable energy sources. Unfortunately, if low crude prices last, internal combustion engine vehicles may become competitive against electric cars. We hope, instead, that low oil prices will push oil and gas companies to invest in renewables at faster rates.

31 March, 2020 – As of 31 March 2019, the UK’s Feed-in-Tariff, which provided payments to owners of small-scale renewable generators, closed. As a result, 43% fewer small-scale PV installations were made in February 2020 than in February 2019. However, as capital costs continue to fall and there is increased focus placed on the climate crisis, it is expected that installations will increase in future.

30 March, 2020 – Virtual events, due to the COVID-19 crisis, have led to a 99% reduction in related emissions, owing to a decrease in travel, overnight hotel stays and catering. V-Ex, a virtual exhibition platform, states a virtual exhibition will create less than 1% of the carbon emissions of a live event. Virtual conferences are a great way to achieve our climate-related goals amid this global crisis.

27 March, 2020 – On Monday 23 March, before UK lockdown, electricity demand was down 9% versus an average March Monday in 2019. Decreases are expected to increase as lockdown continues due to a decrease in industrial and commercial load. Low demand has led to lower energy prices, pushing the day-ahead price for Wednesday 25 March down 39% compared to an average March Wednesday in 2019. Lower demand means there is less space to operate large synchronous generators, potentially causing wind power to be constrained to keep thermal plants such as gas or coal running.

26 March, 2020 – The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions fell for a seventh consecutive year in 2019. The outbreak of Covid-19 has already dented energy demand by roughly 7%, owing to the steep drop in demand at factories, construction sites and offices. With shutdowns ongoing and renewable generation continuing to rise, emissions are predicted to be lower in 2020.

24 March, 2020 – Oxford postpones zero-emission zone launch as all focus shifts to managing coronavirus impacts. The council plans to resume consultation in late 2020, with a view of implementing the scheme in the summer of 2021. Other councils, including Birmingham, have made similar changes. It is pertinent that resources are placed on coronavirus mitigation, but it is important to consider that the climate crisis will not wait for us. We must still devote efforts to mitigate against climate change, as it will and already has, impacted the lives and health of people around the world.

20 March, 2020 – Sarah George, senior editor for edie, raises important thoughts to consider on how sustainability relates to the coronavirus crisis. George states that it’s not likely that any related emissions reductions will stick following the end of the pandemic, as businesses will try to ‘make-up’ for lost productivity and changes made are not economically or socially sustainable for the majority of adults; households living on the breadline will feel the negative impacts of rapid shifts the most. We, therefore, need to create transitions which are socially just to create permanent change at scale.

20 March, 2020 – The inclusion of onshore wind in the next CfD auction will make a significant difference to the viability of many projects, ensuring that onshore wind can make a bigger contribution to the UK’s climate change targets, says Claire Wallis of CMS. However, there will be rising challenges in obtaining planning permissions, with the additional documentation and negotiations with landowners needed. It is still predicted that the changes to the CfD are positive and likely ones that will increase activity and promote healthy competition.

19 March, 2020 – Penso Power has gained approval to install a 150MW battery in south-west England, the largest project of its kind in Europe. This project, aiming to be operational in 2021, shows the importance that storage will play in the UK energy market in future. Inspired by batteries? Why not see if one is suitable for your site through our feasibility assessment software. Contact us to find out more.

19 March, 2020 – The Unite union, which includes thousands of staff employed by energy and utilities, has asked the BEIS secretary to class such employees as ‘key workers’ amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This would mean their children would be provided access to otherwise shut down schools, allowing power, gas and water supplies to keep running smoothly. As the NHS is one of the key dependents of such services, we hope to see this change soon.

17 March, 2020 – By April 2021, council buildings in Bradford will use 100% renewable electricity. In addition, more electric charging points will be installed and there will a cut down on single-use plastic. Bradford Council, along with other local councils, needs the support of businesses to facilitate a green energy transition. Here at OnGen, we can help local authorities maximise their benefit from onsite renewables. Contact us to kickstart your renewable journey today.

13 March, 2020 – Nearly one million out-of-date smart meters were fitted in the year after firms were supposed to switch to the newer version. The total number of devices installed also decreased in the last year, raising fears that the Government’s target it have a complete roll-out by 2024 will be missed. 29% of domestic meters are now operating in “smart mode,” meaning they are tracking energy and sending readings automatically to suppliers. Want to make the most out of your wealth of data? Assess your onsite renewable potential with OnGen today.

12 March, 2020 – Rishi Sunak delivered the UK Government’s 2020 Budget, including his plans for the energy sector. The largest reform introduced was an increase in taxation on polluting energy industries starting April 2022. The Climate Change Levy will be frozen on electricity and increased on gas. £270 million will be allocated to encourage heat networks to adopt low-carbon heat sources, as well as build carbon capture and storage facilities. The budget is criticised for the lack of urgency in reducing emissions and it is suggested that additional support will be needed to meet zero targets.

11 March, 2020 – A £4 million investment at Mackie’s ice cream of Scotland will fund the installation of a freezer powered by onsite biomass boilers. The biomass boilers will produce ammonia, providing low carbon, efficient power to freezing equipment. Carbon emissions will be reduced by 90%, with energy cost savings of up to 80%. This project is a great example of what can be achieved by transitioning to onsite solutions. Contact us at OnGen to find out more.

10 March, 2020 – According to a new report by Energy Systems Catapult, the UK could need 90 GW of wind energy and 80 GW of solar power to meet the 2050 net zero carbon target. Additionally, major innovation and deployment in electric and heat storage technologies will be needed to manage intermittent generation. Carbon capture and storage will be essential in capturing industrial emissions and offsetting lifestyle emissions from air travel and livestock.

5 March, 2020 – In December 2019, the UK’s major water companies launched a project to help the sector achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 through onsite renewables, energy efficiency measures and moving towards electric vehicles. The water industry has collectively reduced operational emissions by 43% since 2011 and has increased onsite electricity generation by more than 40% in the same period. OnGen is working with water companies to help achieve their net zero goals; contact us to get involved.

4 March, 2020 – Onshore wind may not be able to be produced at scale to meet increasing electricity demands, owing to the land area needed, as well as the large quantities of coal required for turbine production. Modular nuclear reactors may be able to produce power more reliably than intermittent sources, with each reactor providing the power equivalent of 150 onshore wind turbines. Additionally, CHP systems can cut costs and emissions simultaneously and ultimately help ease pressure on the distribution system. It is said that cutting edge techniques are needed to address the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.

3 March, 2020 – IKEA, the world’s largest furniture retailer, decreased its carbon footprint by 4.3% in 2019, despite sales growing by 6.5% in the same year. IKEA has a 100% renewable energy target for 2030, with an interim aim of 100% renewable electricity by 2025. For electricity, IKEA uses onsite generation in the form of rooftop solar and, with their £171 million investment package in clean energy and nature restoration schemes, we are excited to see what they have planned next. It’s time for other businesses to progress in the same direction. Contact us at OnGen to help your business become a renewable leader.

3 March, 2020 – In 2019, the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions fell to levels seen last in 1888, representing a 2.9% drop from 2018 and the seventh year of consecutive carbon cuts. Coal use was considerably reduced, with a 29% decrease driving the decline in emissions. To meet the UK’s carbon budgets, it is predicted that emissions would need to fall by another 31% by 2030. How can we do this? Onsite renewables provide a great opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and save money at the same time. Contact us at OnGen to start your renewable journey today.

2 March, 2020 – A group of ten organisations have launched a Hydrogen Taskforce to reach a collective position on the next steps needed to effectively use hydrogen to decarbonise and promote large-scale deployment across the UK. The action plan, as set out in their report ‘The Role of Hydrogen in Delivering Net Zero,’ includes the development of a Hydrogen Strategy within UK government, financial support development and amendments to the Gas Safety Management Regulations.

2 March, 2020 – The UK government has permitted onshore wind to participate in the 2021 CfD auction after years of opposition to help meet net zero targets. Windfarm developers will have to comply with new proposals on community consent to qualify for the auction process. Following the year with the lowest level of new onshore wind projects, we hope onshore wind, the cheapest source of renewable energy, can begin to expand once again.

27 February, 2020 – Octopus Energy for Business has launched 3 new tariffs for companies with their own solar power. Panel Power offers fixed single, Tri-band and Agile import tariffs, as well as a 4p/kWh export tariff. It is designed to support companies in their pursuit of green energy following the closure of the FiT, which has left businesses with financial uncertainty. Panel Power aims to provide simplicity by proving companies with a singular bill showing how much power they’ve generated, how much they’ve imported from the grid and how much they’ve sold back.

27 February, 2020 – According to The Carbon Trust, companies with fewer than 250 employees account for almost 20% of the UK’s total carbon emissions. Knowledge is vital to helping reduce emissions and as all small UK businesses are eligible to have smart meters installed by their energy company, it is time to make data-driven decisions! Onsite energy generation and storage can help businesses meet their needs independently of the grid, supporting carbon reduction and lower energy costs. Interested in starting your renewable energy journey today? Contact us to find the best way to reduce your business’ carbon footprint.

27 February, 2020 – Drax will stop using coal by 2022, three years ahead of the UK’s deadline, as it seeks to become a carbon-negative energy business through the use of biomass fuel. However, the environmental friendliness of biomass is still heaving debated by some environmentalists who state that it can be more damaging than fossil fuels. As Drax moves towards biomass, they may implore further gas production to help with the transition. Expanding gas output has also caused environmental concern, as the transitional window is getting narrower by the second and a focus on renewable energy is pertinent.

26 February, 2020 – Supported by BEIS, Project TraDER is a pilot programme that will allow generators to transact directly with flexible assets across the UK, with the aim of improving speed and simplicity in system operation. Renewables will be able to pay flexible assets to provide grid capacity, promoting new low-carbon generation to be brought online at lower cost. Piclo Flex, another pilot supported by BEIS, aims to launch a nationwide flexibility marketplace, allowing procurers of flexibility to be able to search for and bid into different products. Flexibility programmes like these are needed to allow further integration of low carbon sources into our energy system.

26 February, 2020 – Flexibility services, like energy storage and demand side response, will play a critical role in reaching net zero, as they are key to allowing increased quantities of intermittent energy sources into the mix. Flexibility could also deliver savings of £8bn a year by the end of the decade and as much as £40bn a year by 2050. However, a new version of the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan is needed to set specific targets and collaborate to ensure their delivery. We need a market that rewards consumers for providing flexibility; industry and government to work together to find the optimised solution.

24 February, 2020 – The amount of heat that could be supplied from ground source heat pump systems located in green spaces across Scotland represents 5.5% of non-electrical heat demand. This heat transition would reduce Scotland’s total emissions by 1.4%. If solar was installed, this would equate to 0.4% of Scotland’s annual electricity consumption. Communities and governmental bodies should facilitate the use of such green spaces in meeting net zero targets. OnGen can help unlock the benefits of these technologies on a site-specific basis. Contact us to find out more.

20 February, 2020 – Gas heating will be eliminated from all of over 300 Historic Environment Scotland properties, including Edinburgh Castle, by 2032. On some sites, low-carbon district heating systems will be used, where energy is released as heat and transferred through highly insulated pipes. Alongside this change, Historic Environment Scotland will also move away from taxis and move towards electric vehicles and increased cycling infrastructure. This transition acts as an important model for other public organisations.

20 February, 2020 – Wandsworth Council in London will transition to 100% zero carbon energy through solar panels and renewable energy procurement. Wandsworth Council is projected to be carbon neutral by 2030 due to the effectiveness of their renewable energy measures. Wandsworth acts as a great model for what can be achieved, setting an example for other councils in London and beyond. At OnGen, we can help with the first stage feasibility assessment to help realise your carbon and cost savings potential. Contact us to find out more.

18 February, 2020 – Hackbridge Primary in Sutton has become England’s first zero-carbon school through its installation of solar panels, heat pumps and highly energy efficient design. However, only a handful of the new schools being built are installing renewable energy, as the Department for Education’s recommended designs have no mention of onsite generation. Hackbridge’s new building was instead subsidised by Sutton council as part of their environmental strategy. We cannot afford to ignore the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy, especially on new buildings. Set an example, like Hackbridge Primary, by installing onsite renewable generation; OnGen is here to help you on your journey.

18 February, 2020 – Greencoat Capital has launched a new private markets fund, Greencoat Renewable Income, that has already secured £277 million of commitments from Brunel and SAUL, UK pension investors. Investments will largely focus on solar, wind, bioenergy and renewable heat that deliver predictable cashflows. The fund has already allocated £120 million to a share of the Templeborough biomass power plant and two large low carbon greenhouses.

17 February, 2020 – All ScottishPower domestic fixed price tariffs will be supplied by 100% green electricity, generated by their own wind farms. Money made from these tariffs will be reinvested into new renewable generation to meet future demands. ScottishPower aims to prevent users from being ‘greenwashed’ through increased confidence that their electricity comes from renewable sources, as it is not uncommon that suppliers will claim their electricity is renewable when, in fact, it is not.

17 February, 2020 – The UK is decarbonising at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world, attributed to a move towards renewable energy and a 13% reduction in power demand in the last decade. However, as heat and transport sectors are electrified, this demand decrease may be reversed. We therefore need to continue deployment of renewables – why not help with installing onsite renewable generation? Contact us at OnGen to find out more.

14 February, 2020 – More than 11% of the NHS’s estate will be switched to 100% renewable energy this spring. Along with this, there will be a move to low-carbon heating and use of LED lighting. These changes will reduce emissions by more than 40,000 tonnes. We look forward to see the continued success of the NHS as it decarbonises and hope to provide help with not only renewables, but energy security through onsite generation. Please contact us at OnGen for more information.

13 February, 2020 – According to WWF, the Global Trade Analysis Project and the Natural Capital Project, climate change could cost the global economy £7.6 trillion by 2050 if environmental damage is not reversed. Poorer countries would bear the brunt of the costs and the agricultural sector would be hit the hardest by lost natural benefits. Now more than ever it is vital that we focus all our efforts on combating climate change.

13 February, 2020 – Ofgem is set to review the UK’s electrical system operation model in the spring to see if it needs to be changed to facilitate renewables growth. Ofgem states they want to help deliver net zero at the lowest cost to consumers and grid operation plays a large part. As renewables become a larger part of the energy mix, it is vital that the grid can cope without hindering the energy producer or consumer.

13 February, 2020 – Prime Minister Boris Johnson has fired BEIS and Defra secretaries, as well as the COP26 president in first major cabinet reshuffle, all of which were important female leaders in climate-related positions. To meet net zero targets, we need government leaders to help pave the way, which does not seem likely with this new cabinet. We hope to be wrong, but either way, we must remember that renewables can be feasible with or without government support. Contact us for more details.

6 February, 2020 – Carbon capture and hydrogen cannot be relied on to meet the UK’s climate targets, as neither are predicted to be running at scale by 2050. Relying on breakthrough technologies is risky and delays action and instead, it is suggested to focus on achievable alternatives such as renewable energy and behaviour change (e.g. diet, travel). Want to make a difference and start your renewable journey now? Contact us at OnGen for more information.

5 February, 2020 – Renewable energy could be hit harder than other industries as the UK leaves the EU, due to the reliance on materials and expertise from Europe. Although the UK is a world leader in renewable energy, onshore wind installations fell by nearly 80% in 2018 and in 2019, there was a 94% reduction in domestic solar installations. With 11 months to reach an agreement, it is vital that we continue to work together across Europe and the UK to meet net zero targets.

3 February, 2020 – Ofgem has launched a new Decarbonisation Action Plan to ensure energy networks are ready to deliver net zero through decarbonised heat and transport, as well as low carbon innovation. Commitments outlined in the plan include a new regulatory fund for innovative climate solutions, as well as a pledge to coordinate the rapid expansion of an offshore energy grid. This forward-thinking plan begs the question of why such little importance is placed on onsite renewables, notably through the dismantling of the Feed-in-Tariff and the lacklustre implementation of the Smart Export Guarantee.

28 January, 2020 – The Association for Consultancy and Engineering and the Environmental Industries Commission have formed the Net Zero Taskforce, which aims to launch 2 reports during COP26 in Glasgow later this year. One will identify how organisations can help meet net zero targets, while the other will support SMEs needing to adjust to the new working environment.

27 January, 2020 – The UK has a target of net zero emissions by 2050, with an aim to meet this through the use of alternative fuels or carbon capture technology. But why has this only become a target as of 2019? Starting with the Kyoto Protocol in the 1990s, this article gives a complete run through the environmental legislation that led to where we are today.

27 January, 2020 – The English health and care system is currently responsible for 4-5% of the country’s total carbon footprint, contributing to climate change and harmful air pollution. The NHS has therefore announced it is to step up action to tackle climate change and in doing so, reduce rates of asthma, heart attacks and strokes. The NHS has stated they aim to source more energy from renewable generators, but why not become energy producers? The NHS would benefit from the resilience and cost-effectiveness of onsite generation and storage.

23 January, 2020 – Counter to the Committee on Climate Change, Duncan Brack, energy specialist at Chatham House, says that cutting down forests for renewable energy is counterproductive. Biomass provides the second most successful source of renewable energy after wind, providing 12% of the UK’s electricity in 2019. Brack states that most models do not consider that older trees absorb carbon faster and therefore simply replacing trees cut does not create a carbon neutral system. It is instead suggested that grassland crops and short rotation coppice are used instead of wood, presenting a much greener alternative.

22 January, 2020 – Energy wasted by London offices could power more than 65,000 homes. Thinktank Green Alliance says corporate energy waste can be seen across the country, with thousands of office buildings wasting enough power to supply more than 100,000 homes, costing businesses £60 million in unnecessary bills. How can businesses avoid this? Onsite generation and storage that is effectively sized to meet the building’s demand. Please contact us at OnGen for information on how to get started.

20 January, 2020 – Octopus Energy has confirmed a deal to purchase the domestic supply arm of ENGIE UK, adding 70,000 domestic UK customers to their 1.4 million customer base. ENGIE UK state this move is in line with its strategy to focus on the net zero transition for businesses and local authorities, whereas Octopus looks forward to bringing their new customers renowned service, pricing and technology.

18 January, 2020 – With COP26 happening this December in Glasgow, is Scotland really leading the way on tackling climate change? Greenhouse gas emissions are half of what they were 30 years ago, however the hardest changes lie ahead. With a target of net zero by 2045, it is vital that Scotland shows the world the progress we are capable of. Want to make a difference? Why not consider onsite renewables for your home or business. Contact OnGen to start your renewable journey today.

15 January, 2020 – Ovo Energy confirmed its purchase of SSE’s household energy and services arm for £500 million. All 8,000 SSE staff will transfer to OVO, totalling to 10,000 employees overall. OVO aims for this acquisition to allow millions more people to access zero carbon living. Becoming an OVO customer? Why not benefit from their Smart Export Guarantee through installing onsite renewables. Contact us at OnGen to find out how you can kickstart your renewable energy journey today.

14 January, 2020 – The National Trust has planned to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030 through planting 20 million new trees, capturing 300,000 tonnes of carbon or the equivalent of 370,000 homes’ annual electricity output. The Trust also will invest in renewable energy and help people connect to the natural environment through a year-long campaign. Pledges like these are vital to mitigate the impacts of the climate emergency; we look forward to other organisations following suit.

8 January, 2020 – Energy consumption is projected to increase by 50% worldwide between 2018 and 2050, led by growth in Asia and other regions where strong economic growth is driving demand. Demand increases will need to be met by supply, with a 79% increase in electricity generation needed. To tackle the climate emergency, renewables must be at the forefront of this increase. Take the first steps towards securing our future and start your renewable journey now through OnGen’s onsite renewable feasibility assessment software to find out what’s right for you.

7 January, 2020 – A community-owned solar farm is now giving access to 100% renewable energy for 300 residents and business in the Swansea area. The Gower Power Solar Storage scheme enables households and businesses to know where their energy is coming from and keeps profits in the local area when they choose the bespoke tariff developed by Gower Power and Bristol Energy. Funding from the Welsh Government has secured the addition of a Tesla battery, which will allow the farm to store and distribute green electricity. At OnGen, we can help communities take their first steps towards renewable generation and storage – contact us to start your renewable journey.

6 January, 2020 – 11 office properties across Manchester and Liverpool have been declared as net-zero. Net-zero standards were met through building to BREEAM requirements, investing in energy efficiency and offsetting any remaining emissions through tree planting. Alongside this, Neath Port Talbot council has granted planning permission for a net-zero housing development equipped with onsite solar, battery storage and ground source heat pumps. Interested in net-zero? Contact OnGen to find out how you can kick-start your renewable journey today.

5 January, 2020 – By 2024, new rules in Scotland will ensure all new homes will use renewable or low-carbon heating. This project will run alongside a £30 million investment in renewable heat plans. For each home, it is important that the correct renewable system is chosen and sized to meet the home’s forecast demand, which is where OnGen comes in. Our onsite feasibility assessment software can help inform which system and size unlock the highest carbon and monetary savings. Please contact us for more information.

2 January, 2020 – The UK Government’s Smart Export Guarantee came into effect on 1 January 2020, making energy suppliers with over 150,000 domestic customers required to release an export tariff above 0 p/kWh. Social Energy topped the list, with a tariff of 5.6 p/kWh, while Shell Energy came firmly at the bottom, only offering 0.001 p/kWh. Newer suppliers are leading the way – it is up to the Big Six and other large suppliers to follow in suit.

31 December, 2019 – From Ofgem’s price cap to growth in renewables and the introduction of smart meters, this decade has seen large progressions in the energy market. Highlights include coal production has decreasing over 40%, 15 energy suppliers going bust and the Big Six losing their hold on the market. This article provides a complete rundown on where the market has come from and where it is headed next.

19 December, 2019 – Gridserve has completed a 34.7 MW solar farm combined with a 20 MWh battery storage system for Warrington Borough Council. The electricity will be sold on the open market, bringing millions of pounds into delivering vital council services. In addition, the council is also buying a 25.7 MW solar farm to supply the area directly, which will make it England’s first local authority to produce all its own electricity. This truly sets the bar for other local authorities, as we strive to tackle the climate emergency. At OnGen, we can help local authorities take their first steps towards renewable generation – contact us to start your renewable journey now.

19 December, 2019 – UK Government figures show that from July to September this year, renewables outperformed gas for the first quarter ever, generating 38.9% and 38.8% of the UK’s energy mix respectively. Generation increases were seen across all categories of renewables, with wind and solar up by 22% and hydro up by 58%. This historic tipping point is great news for the net zero emissions targets, but will need to be sped up to effectively transition to clean power.

17 December, 2019 – Falling temperatures could see each household spending an average of £448 more this winter compared to the spring-summer period. 11% of people admit to being confused about how to heat their homes efficiently, so we need to shift to using our heating in a way that keeps us warm, while saving money and energy. A good way to achieve savings is by using onsite renewable heat, such as ground source heat or a combined heat and power system. Want to learn more? Contact OnGen to see which renewables are feasible for your site.

16 December, 2019 – According to Business Electricity Prices, clean power only accounted for 11% of the UK’s final consumption, as opposed to the majority of Southern African nations, which are generating close to 100% renewable energy. Not only is the UK missing from the top 10 world ranking, but it only makes it to 59th position in terms of renewable generation. If we want to meet net zero targets, serious developments will need to be made. Luckily, OnGen are here to help businesses start their renewable energy journeys, so get in touch now!

13 December, 2019 – After delivering a Conservative Party majority, Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds the future of UK environmental legislation in his hands. This article provides an insightful outline of what should be at the top of Johnson’s green ‘to do’ list; from new environmental standards to fracking, Boris Johnson better get cracking.

12 December, 2019 – The Women in Wind Global Leadership Programme published a guide for ‘Best Practices for Gender Diversity at Industry Events,’ helping events address unconscious bias and unequal representation to promote greater gender diversity in the wind sector. To stay on-track for the Paris targets and UK’s own net zero targets, we need a larger renewables talent pool, which requires more female role models and positive gender norms in clean energy; increased diversity will raise our chances of meeting our climate targets.

10 December, 2019 – Drax pledged to be the world’s first carbon negative energy firm by 2030. Drax’s power plant, which already uses renewable fuel,  will burn wood pellets and use carbon capture technology to store the carbon emissions produced. Negative emissions technologies are an important aspect in meeting the UK’s net zero targets; we are excited to see Drax’s progress in meeting their targets.

9 December, 2019 – On the 8th of December, windfarms generated nearly 45% of the UK’s electricity, causing thousands of households with smart meter tariffs to be paid to use extra renewable electricity. Customers were told to set timers to take advantage of payments made during overnight use, with people earning between 1 to 5p per kWh used, rather than spending double this rate a few hours later. Sounds like a win-win to us!

6 December, 2019 – The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is investigating renewable energy options for Cairngorm mountain. To decide the appropriateness of different renewable technologies, they are procuring a contractor to carry out appraisal work. Assessing renewable feasibility is OnGen’s forte, considering aspects HIE noted such as scenery and environment. Our automated assessment software, the OnGen Expert, is an accessible and quick way to kickstart your renewable energy journey, so why not start now?

5 December, 2019 – Interesting debate between what is best for meeting the net zero targets: nationalising or privatising the energy supply sector. Regardless of the election outcome, both private and public entities must work towards and focus on decarbonisation goals, leaving all potential political frustrations at the door.

26 November, 2019 – Research by OVO Energy indicates that 64 million unnecessary emails are sent every day in the UK, increasing our carbon footprint. If every adult in the UK sent one fewer ‘thank you’ email a day, over 16000 tonnes of carbon would be saved every year, equivalent to taking over 3000 diesel cars off the road. An interesting but important part of tackling the climate emergency – now we will think before we thank!

26 November, 2019 – Dandelion Energy claims its Sonic Drill Suite technology can reduce installation time for ground source heat pumps from up to one week to one day, lowering costs by up to 50%. Their mission to make geothermal energy available and affordable for everyone will help remove barriers to deployment, ultimately helping reduce harmful emissions. Interested in ground source heat? Why not check out our feasibility tool, the OnGen Expert, to see if it’s suitable for your site.

21 November, 2019 – Ofgem has released their final decision on the Targeting Charging Review, stating that fixed charges will be applied to all households and businesses in an attempt to fairly spread charges. Starting in 2021, generators will no longer receive payments for reducing their Transmission Demand Residual payments. Ofgem’s decision removes incentives for flexible technologies such as battery storage and risks damaging the UK’s ability to deploy cheap renewables quickly.

20 November, 2019 – The UK has climbed the world rankings for investment in renewable energy, reaching 7^th place. EY’s biannual renewable energy country attractiveness report states that the UK’s spending on renewables is picking up pace, despite national political uncertainty brought by Brexit. The drive towards net zero trumps domestic issues; there is no better time than the present to transform and decarbonise our energy sector.

13 November, 2019 – British Gas, supported by Npower, SSE, EDF, Eon and Scottish Power, won their appeal against Ofgem regarding the energy price cap, which Centrica claims cost their business £70 million. Ofgem sticks by their price cap, stating that it will remain in place to continue to protect households from unfair prices.

13 November, 2019 – Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles and Arizona State University have developed an innovative new type of solar technology that could harvest 400% more energy. The SUNbot, like sunflowers, can bend to the light to achieve optimal exposure to the sun. These novel technologies give us hope for the future.

8 November, 2019 – Great transitions seen in our base country, Scotland, with employees being contracted from oil and gas work into offshore wind. It goes to show that renewable energy can both provide employment and protect the planet. We look forward to seeing the energy transition continue in Scotland and beyond.

4 November, 2019 – Helpful insights provided by Michelle Stephens on the current state of the UK’s energy market. Stephens outlines the benefits that onsite renewables bring to businesses: from lowered energy bills and heightened environmental credentials, the case for onsite renewables is clear. Want to find out how your company can start their renewables journey? Get in touch with us at OnGen and try our onsite renewables feasibility assessment software, the OnGen Expert.

30 October, 2019 – A new study by ClientEarth found that 63% of UK adults believe that global warming is the biggest issue humanity is facing, with 54% saying that climate change will influence the way they vote in the next general election. With the declared climate emergency, let’s be hopeful this issue stays pressing in the public’s minds!

28 October, 2019 – Stephen Reid, Managing Director at AMP Clean Energy, provides insight into the future of onsite renewables in a post-Brexit and TCR UK. He states a focus on renewable heat investment will help decarbonise without the potential ramifications from TCR. The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund provided by the government will also be launching next year – it is not the end for onsite generation!

24 October, 2019 – A new study finds that 25 million EV charging points and 22 million heat pumps will need to be installed to meet the UK’s net zero by 2050 goal. Heat pumps are powered by electricity to absorb heat from either the outside air or the ground. We look forward to contributing to the increased quantities of installations through our online feasibility platform, the OnGen Expert.

24 October, 2019 – This week, the European Commission approved the Capacity Market scheme after a suspension in November 2018. Chief Executive of Energy UK said this will help ensure supply security at the lowest cost at times of high demand. The Capacity Market is depicted as constantly evolving and hopefully will help drive a net zero economy.

16 October, 2019 – A helpful explanation of our future under the Smart Export Guarantee. A key point is made – although the level of subsidy is less as compared to the feed-in tariff, the energy bill savings from having onsite renewables are still high. With only exports accruing revenue, it is important to size the new renewables scheme to the site’s energy demand, which is precisely what the OnGen Expert can do.

15 October, 2019 – According to a study by Schneider Electric, 85% of business leaders feel torn between doing the right thing for society and doing the right thing for the performance of their business. Onsite renewables give you the benefit of doing both: save the planet and save money at the same time!

10 October, 2019 – Guernsey will now be connected to renewable energy supplied by France thanks to a new undersea cable. This new connection means they are on the European grid, helping secure supply and enhance decarbonisation. We look forward to seeing the results once operational next month.

10 October, 2019 – Great insight into how to be successful with a renewable energy project, from feasibility to installation stages. Farms are often a great location for solar due to the lack of shade. Interested in starting your renewable journey? Why not use our feasibility assessment, the OnGen Expert? Please contact us for more information!

3 October, 2019 – In the UK, 2018 had the smallest reduction in cutting greenhouse gas emissions since 2012. After the declared climate emergency, investment in renewable technologies is increasingly important. Our software can assess onsite renewable energy feasibility for commercial and industrial properties. Try it now to not only see your carbon savings, but the financial payback.

2 October, 2019 – Congratulations to the team at Edinburgh University for receiving a grant regarding hydrogen storage research. It is great to see their continued investment in renewable technologies, especially after their use of the OnGen Expert.

Edinburgh University assessed their onsite renewable potential to meet their carbon neutral promise by 2040, ultimately uncovering 4000 tonnes of lifetime carbon savings.