The European Commission thinks the biomass subsidy deal struck by the UK’s biggest coal plant operator and the coalition government may be too generous. It has launched an in-depth investigation today to see if that proves to be the case. It is scrutinising whether the deal breaches EU state aid rules and invites comments from Read more…

The news that Eon must foot the bill to repair defective offshore wind turbines at Robin Rigg may have ramifications for UK offshore wind farm developers. Many developers have had to deal with issues relating to the grout used to connect turbine towers to their foundations. It’s a costly and often difficult fix in a Read more…

GDF Suez is urging firms with anaerobic digesters to consider exporting biogas to National Grid rather than burning it for electricity. Injecting direct to grid is a far more efficient process, according to the company, and there is a growing market for green gas. Combined with the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), the economics of exporting Read more…

United Utilities is to bolster its self-generation to the tune of 3MW as work begins this week on a floating solar PV plant at Godley reservoir. The water firm will complete the installation ahead of steep cuts to solar subsidies. The Hyde project will be the largest floating solar plant in Europe and is expected Read more…

Regulators have rubber stamped the move by two major pension funds and Santander to launch a $2bn investment vehicle for water and sustainable energy projects. Cubico Sustainable Investments, with 19 infrastructure assets transferred by Santander, will be headquartered in London. Cubico’s stated aim is for long term asset ownership delivering stable cash flows and superior Read more…

Biomass fuel supplier LC Energy has acquired wood fuel boiler business Ecolyf. The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, makes LC Energy a supplier of both boilers and fuel. That’s good news for customers, said LC Energy boss Mark Lebus. “The quality of the wood fuel is crucial to the performance and reliability of Read more…

Renewable energy company, Eneco, launched its second wind farm near Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire. Twinshiels Wind Farm, as it is now to be known, is a 10 turbine, 25MW development with a capacity to generate energy to power 14,000 homes. It adjoins Eneco’s Tullo Wind Farm – a seven turbine, 17MW development that has been in operation Read more…

John Field of TEAM (EAA) explains how to make the most of returns from biomass Renewable Heat Incentive schemes. The Renewable Heat Incentive is the UK government’s world-leading subsidy scheme to encourage switching from fossil fuel heating to renewable heating sources. Like all world-leaders it is not without imperfections and controversy. The scheme was set Read more…

London Southend Airport has demonstrated its commitment to self-generation with the largest ever installation of solar panels at a British airport. Britain’s largest solar installation to date at an airport has been completed at Stobart Group’s London Southend Airport as part of a £10m terminal expansion by Kier Construction. The expanded terminal’s range of shops, Read more…

The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) and Equitix have today announced a £24.5m investment to finance the installation of renewable energy boilers at Bernard Matthews’ turkey farms. The project, the largest of its kind, will see 179 new biomass boilers installed across 21 farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire, meaning that 40% of Bernard Matthews’ estate Read more…

The renewable energy sector has been under intense pressure over the last decade from national trade bodies, imposed UK energy targets and EU regulations. In fact, in 2010, renewable power constituted about a third of all newly built power generation capacity. Here, Steve Hughes, managing director of REO UK, explains how the testing of electrical Read more…