When staff and students returned after the half-term break, there were some noticeable additions to two of the Academy’s roof areas. On 31st May a company called Cleaner Air Solutions Ltd finished installing our new photovoltaic system which will enable us to generate power and heat by using the sun’s energy to create electricity.
Unlike solar hot water panels, which merely “harvest” solar energy, photovoltaic systems (PV) create electrical energy directly from a physical process inside the solar cell. This is DC power which is then converted by an inverter into AC power. This will then be used to contribute to the Academy’s electricity needs.
The system has a meter which will allow us to monitor the total amount of renewable energy we have generated and this will be shown on our website and used to help teach students about the benefits of renewable energy. To give an idea about how much energy will be produced, the two phototovoltaic systems with a rating of 3.24kWp each, generates on average 2420kwh, per annum. This equates to a saving of 4.2 tonnes of carbon emmissions every year.
We are currently awaiting planning permission for an additional source of renewable energy with the installation of two large scale wind turbines. Hopefully, you’ll see them very soon!
A fast growing environmentally friendly firm which provides businesses with the technology to save costs and protect the planet, has doubled its turnover in the last two years and is set to double its turnover again in the next twelve months with a major expansion planned.
The success of Durham based CLS Dual Fuel Limited, the market leader in the development, supply and installation of LPG Autogas fuel systems and its sister company Cleaner Air Solutions Ltd, which supplies and installs Renewable Energy technologies, specialising in Solar PV electricity generation systems, is forcing the firm to move from its current site in Bearpark to a brand new purpose built site at Bowden Court, St Johns Road Meadowfield. The move which will take place in December will provide much needed space for the company’s rapid growth.
There are plans to create ten new jobs over the next 12 months, increasing the company’s workforce from 12 to 22 staff.
CLS Dual Fuel Ltd which specialize in vehicle LPG gas conversions to help companies become environmentally friendly will be trebling its work space to cater for its growing number of business customers seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.
The firm has recently won a contract from a Spanish client valued at almost £5million over the next two years alone and is confident of securing government grants of almost half a million for UK installations, for it’s clients. These contracts together represent a colossal 450 tons of CO2 emission savings.
The new 6,500 square ft premises will incorporate the latest energy efficient state of the art technology including a Solar PV Array to showcase the technology produced by CLS Dual Fuel’s sister company Cleaner Air Solutions Ltd.
Gary Bowden, the firm’s managing director said: “Our company is going from strength to strength despite this industry being seen as high risk and non viable a few years ago. We need a bigger site and purpose built premises to cope with our expanding business operations”.
“Our success is due to the expertise and commitment of our staff and our knowledge of energy saving technology. This combined with the money our customers save from our products and services and the benefits to consumers and the environment has to be seen as a win-win situation”.
“Thousands of homeowners and businesses in the UK benefit from lower energy bills by harnessing the power of solar energy through our solar PV panels and wind turbine generators. Our business is unique in that all our core products and services achieve reductions in carbon emissions with every customer who walks through the door”.
“With every one of our customers that has an LPG conversion, this results in cleaner, greener and leaner exhaust emissions and this aligns with our Cleaner Air Solutions business and our clients who invest in clean energy saving sources of energy”.
“With regard to Cleaner Air Solutions Limited, we are amongst the first three companies in the whole of the UK to have successfully achieved accreditation under the new DTI/BRE Renewable Energy Scheme. There is a huge opportunity for this region to become the hub of clean and renewable technologies as a future centre of excellence”.
“By using clean, renewable and environmentally friendly sources of energy, we can reduce fuel bills and reduce the emissions of harmful pollutants which will help in the fight against climate change, will benefit the environment and will help future generations”
CLS Dual FuelLtd is going from strength to strength with turnover increasing
from £850,000 in the last financial year to over two and a quarter million this year. The firm has successfully positioned itself as a UK leader in LPG Autogas fuel conversions and has built a national network of LPGA Approved Autogas conversion and service centres.
Cleaner Air Solutions Ltd which started trading in April this year is heading for a £4 million turnover. It has fought off national competition, winning major public and private sector contracts from companies wanting to save energy costs. Clients include Thos Proctor & Sons Ltd, Lanchester Wine Cellars etc. Both companies are rapidly making a name with businesses wishing to clean up their act.
The companies were formed by managing director Gary Bowden ( CLS Dual Fuel was established in 2000 and Cleaner Air Solutions in 2004) who had the foresight to set up a firm which would help other businesses be more environmentally friendly.
Gary said: “We offer an exceptional service to companies wanting to reduce their carbon emissions and are looking to expand our activities globally over the coming months . These new premises will enable us to run operations from the Meadowfield site – offering a global solution for cleaner air”.
Left: This is the installation on the CLS building - one of the UK's very top LPG Autogas conversion specialist's, going green is'nt just related to gas with these fella's They can convert your roof too !!
Extra £6m for green householders - Darling
21 March 2007
A 50% increase in funding for householders to install small scale renewables such as micro wind turbines and solar panels was announced in the Budget today.
It will take the total available under the Low Carbon Building Programme to more than £18million. At the same time the scheme is to be re-shaped to make best use of
the extra funding. Proposals will be brought forward in May.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said:
“With this extra £6m there is now £18m for homeowners who want to go low carbon.
“There has been exceptional demand for grants under the Low Carbon Building Programme. We are backing it. But there have been problems in meeting that unprecedented demand. We will re-structure the scheme to make it work better.
“We want many more people to be able to install low carbon technologies on their homes to help reduce damaging carbon emissions. This extra money will help us do it. Good for homeowners and the nvironment.”
While the scheme is re-structured the decision has been taken to suspend it for the April allocation. It’s important that this final additional funding for household renewables, due to end in mid 2008, is used to best effect to bring on a microgeneration sector that can stand on its own two feet without further subsidy.
DTI Ministers will be meeting with industry to discuss how best to operate the new scheme and will announce the way forward in May.
There were also a number of other ways of encouraging microgeneration in today’s Budget.
We will be consulting this spring on EEC3 and how microgeneration can be included within the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) as a measure energy suppliers can provide to their customers to meet their commitments.
These initiatives, along with the waiving of income tax on any surplus electricity sold back to the grid by microgenerators, add up to a major focus on reducing carbon emissions from our homes.
The Transport Direct website, which provides online journey planning information to travellers, has also been updated to give fuel consumption and carbon emissions figures for individual car journeys, according to engine size.
Later this year, the campaign will also feature a new car ranking system which will give information to consumers on the lowest carbon cars within the category and price range of their choice. The ranking is currently in development.
Notes to Editors
* The Department for Transport's campaign is the first to be launched under the cross Government brand 'Act on CO2', aimed at giving the public useful information on how to reduce their individual carbon emissions. The brand was developed by the Department for Transport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
* The DfT campaign launches today (Sunday 11 March) with a website, online and print advertising. Outdoor and radio advertising will start on Monday. TV advertising is planned later in the year.
* The Smarter Driving tips were developed with the Driving Standards Agency
* The Department for Transport's Journey Planner, Transport Direct (http://www.transportdirect.info), has been developed to include fuel and carbon information about car journeys.
* The 8% fuel saving assumption is based on trials undertaken by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). The fuel cost saving is calculated using fuel prices taken on 26/2/2007. The CO2 emissions were calculated using 2005 car and taxi fuel sales figures from 'Transport Statistics Great Britain 2006'.
Microgeneration could supply 40% of energy needs
12 December, 2005
EST report says that technologies such as mini-wind turbines and solar panels could help reduce CO2 by 15% a year.
Mini-wind turbines, solar panels and other small-scale technologies could supply up to 40% of the UK’s energy needs by 2050 says a new report.
The Energy Saving Trust found that between 30-40% of the UK’s total electricity needs could be supplied using microgeneration technologies.
In its report Potential for Microgeneration, Study and Analysis, it also found that microgeneration could help reduce CO2 emissions by 15% per year.
The report was commissioned by the DTI, which is publishing details of its Low Carbon Building Programme and microgeneration strategy in spring 2006.
“"This report makes an important contribution to the debate on microgeneration."”
Energy minister Malcolm Wicks
Energy minister Malcolm Wicks said: “This report makes an important contribution to the debate on microgeneration.”
“I would like more micro wind turbines, solar panels and other technologies on schools, homes and businesses as they can make a real difference in reducing the UK's carbon emissions, as well as helping people to understand better where our energy comes from and increase their energy efficiency.”
Sunday 11 March 2007 00:01
Department for Transport (National)
Act on co2 minister urges motorists
EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01 SUNDAY 11 MARCH 2007
Motorists were today urged to take action to cut down on CO2 emissions from cars. Transport Minister Gillian Merron highlighted the vital role that each of us can play in reducing emissions as she launched the first phase of the Government's new 'Act on CO2' climate change campaign.
The campaign starts by encouraging motorists to 'Drive Smarter', in a way that improves fuel consumption and therefore reduces carbon emissions. The campaign's website gives motorists 'top tips' on how to 'Drive Smarter' and offers the chance to put the tips into action in a new online game.
If all drivers in the UK followed the Smarter Driving tips, CO2 emissions from cars could be reduced by 8% - or over 5.5million tonnes of CO 2 a year, saving motorists over £2billion a year in fuel costs.
The new website will also host a 'Savings Calculator' to help individuals calculate how much money they could save personally if they tried Smarter Driving. This is done by entering the annual mileage, price of a litre of fuel and the miles per gallon the motorist averages in their car.
Gillian Merron said:
"Climate change will affect us all, but we can all do our bit to help tackle it. Little changes can make a big difference - and this campaign is all about giving drivers practical tips to help them make that real difference. Put quite simply, the way we drive can help to reduce our impact on the environment and by using less fuel, motorists can save money too."
Environment Secretary David Miliband said;
"I welcome this campaign to encourage people to cut their CO2 emissions from cars. The new cross-government 'Act on CO2' brand will inspire people to reduce their CO2 emissions, and we will be rolling the campaign out in the spring to enable individuals to think about changing their behaviours to adopt a lower carbon lifestyle and help tackle climate change."
"When it comes to acting on CO2 emissions, it's not just the car we buy, it's how we drive it that matters. People who've recently learned to drive may already be familiar with some of these Smarter Driving techniques, but for the first time, this campaign will spread the message to the wider motoring public. That means every motorist will know they have the power to make a difference."
The top tips for 'Driving Smarter' are:
* Pump up to cut down on CO2 - under-inflated tyres mean more CO2 so make sure your tyres are pumped up correctly
* Don't over rev the engine - change up a gear a little earlier when you can
* Less clutter in your car means less CO2 - the less weight you carry in your car, the easier it is for your engine and the less fuel it uses
More tips are available on the website.
Planning to be required for domestic renewable grants
9 May, 2007
By Alex Smith
DTI announces that homeowners will need planning in place before being eligible for renewable grants
Homeowners will need planning permission in place before applying for grants towards small-scale renewables under new rules announced today.
The surprise DTI decision follows an announcement last month that Communities minister Ruth Kelly was considering scrapping planning requirements for microgeneration installations such as PVs, solar panels and wind turbines.
The domestic renewable grants programme was suspended by the DTI in March following which led to the monthly grant allocations being distributed within hours.
Other changes to the application process include the abolition of the monthly cap and a £2500 maximum limit on grants available per household.
The remaining £12m of grants available in the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) will be made available from May 29.
The DTI said the take-up of grants had previously been delayed by planning consents not being in place and building delays.
Since the launch of the LCBP in April 2006 the government has spent £6.8m funding 2175 installations including 242 mini-turbines, 313 solar PVs and 1467 solar thermal heating systems.
The closing date for responses to the consultation paper Changes to Permitted Development, which is proposing the removal of planning requirements for domestic renewables, is 27 June 2007.
Wednesday 9 May 2007 10:50
Department of Trade and Industry (National)
£12m for home generators
Grants to help climate-conscious householders to install microgeneration technologies will be up for grabs again later this month, Alistair Darling announced today.
The Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) has already allocated £6.8m in grants to householders and, following the addition an extra £6m in the Budget, applications for the remaining £11.9m will be open from 29 May.
Since it launched in April 2006 the LCBP has directly funded 2175 installations on homes. This includes 242 mini-turbines, 313 Solar PV projects and 1467 solar thermal heating systems.
Mr Darling said:
"Micro-wind turbines and solar panels are fast becoming the credible response of householders to cutting their carbon emissions as well as their utility bills.
"The microgeneration industry has tremendous potential in the low carbon economy. Products are already available on the high street and are starting to become recognisable on our skylines. This grant scheme is designed to maximise carbon savings, demonstrate potential and help the sector become more commercially competitive in the long term.
"It is part of a wider government programme worth £86m that will also award grants for larger scale installations on schools and other public buildings."
The grant scheme was put on hold in March while the application process was streamlined to make sure it benefits the sector in the long term.
Key changes to the application criteria include the removal of the monthly cap and a new requirement to have planning permission before applying.
The Government is currently consulting on removing the need for planning permission for the majority of microgeneration installations but it must be in place for LCBP grant applicants in the meantime.
The changes are designed to overcome delays in the take-up of grants. Only half of the £6.8m already allocated by March had been spent because of supply chain issues, planning consents not in place, delays in building schedules and applicants not ready to proceed. The DTI will continue to monitor these areas.
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