After much controversy over the premature closure of the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme, the government has bent under the pressure and allowed an extended grace period. There are no plans to bring back the RO scheme, as Amber Rudd sticks to her pledge amid claims she is protecting customers against high bills. “As we have […]
CEO of Renewable UK announces resignation
Maria McCaffery, chief executive of Renewable UK has announced that she will step down from her role in spring next year. Her successor will be recruited in the coming weeks. We’d be interested to know if the new government and its attitude towards renewable energy development has been a deciding factor for McCaffery. Maria said […]
Offshore windfarm application rejected by DECC
A 970MW offshore windfarm application has been refused by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) due to the potential visual impact to the landscape. Energy secretary Amber Rudd said that the project posed a “significant adverse impact” to viewers standing on the Dorset coastline, much of which is designated by Unesco as a […]
Government rejects four Welsh wind farm proposals
Four Welsh onshore wind farm projects have been denied by the UK government amid concerns over their effect on local biodiversity, local traffic, landscape and visual impacts. “Careful consideration has been given to each application, and the planning and energy issues involved,” a DECC spokesperson said in a statement. The proposed Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llaithddu, Llanbrynmair, […]
Planning approved for largest onshore wind farm
Scout Moor has received planning permission to add a further 14 turbines to its current site of 26 making it the largest onshore windfarm in England. Peel Energy and United Utilities requested 16 extra turbines but only 14 have currently been approved with the other two pending. Rossendale Borough Council gave the go-ahead, which will […]
Clean energy means rising bills for consumers
It’s not good news for consumers with energy bills set to rise due to failing renewable energy schemes. Under the previous coalition government, consumers and businesses were encouraged to produce renewable energy and guaranteed a subsidy for doing so. The subsidies were paid for by a “levy” on household energy bills, which was meant to […]
Climate change doesn’t have to cost the earth
Economic growth no longer has to have a detrimental effect on global warming a new report shows. With renewable energy costs coming down, countries should be better placed to cut greenhouse gas emissions without denting economic growth. Up to 96% of the emissions cuts needed to prevent risky global warming could be achieved by 2030 […]
Wind farm subsidy cuts threaten job losses
The “renewables obligation” subsidy will be closed to onshore wind farms from April next year instead of 2017. As the government ends subsidies earlier than expected, it’s feared that thousands of jobs will be lost. There’s also anger that the new government aren’t taking renewable energy pledges as seriously as they ought to. Maria McCaffery, […]
Tories take the wind out of SNP’s sails with subsidy cuts
The Conservative government is due to shut down the current wind subsidy scheme earlier than expected, effectively preventing the development of thousands of turbines, under plans being considered by Amber Rudd. It seems the Conservatives are making good on their manifesto pledge to end any new public subsidy for onshore wind farms – amid concerns that […]
Blue Energy buys trio of windfarm developments off SSE
SSE is selling three of its Scottish wind farm developments for an undisclosed sum to renewable energy developer Blue Energy. Blue Energy has taken over ownership and the projects are believed to have a combined installed capacity of up to 98.7MW when constructed. Martin Pibworth, SSE’s Managing Director, Wholesale, said: “We are pleased to confirm […]