Posted 16.11.14
Hundreds of Wigan Borough council tenants are set to benefit from cheaper energy bills thanks to a world first trial that could see up to £20 million invested in the local economy.
Six hundred households across Greater Manchester - including more than 300 council homes in Wigan Borough - will be fitted with state-of-the-art smart energy systems developed by Japanese experts.
Air source heat pumps will be fitted into people's homes, replacing their existing heating systems. These pumps effectively act as air conditioning units in reverse, compressing air to produce heat and hot water.
The pumps are connected to a "smart grid" system which can aggregate the energy produced in people's homes. During times of peak demand, the system switches to stored energy reducing demand on the National Grid, which is currently close to capacity.
It's the first time the technology has been used in homes anywhere in the world. Not only does it reduce overall demand on the grid, it also produces energy in an efficient way, which will mean energy bills could also be reduced. The impact on the environment is reduced too, as the system is more environmentally-friendly.
The technology has been developed by Japan's Department of New Energy and Development Organisation (NEDO), who signed a deal worth up to £20 million with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to trial it in the UK.
Wigan Borough was chosen to lead the experiment, which includes social housing in other parts of Greater Manchester.
It is hoped that the pilot project will help develop technology that could reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuels. The technology will create new supplies of renewable electricity, help keep energy costs low and assist in meeting climate change targets.
Posted 04.11.14
More than £81 billion worth of renewable energy projects representing nearly half (47%) of all infrastructure spending in the UK are proposed by 2025, with wind farms accounting for nine out of the 10 key projects, according to figures released by Barbour ADI.
According to the data, there are a total of 405 forthcoming renewable energy developments including the £25 billion Severn Barrage, phases one to six of the East Anglia One offshore wind farm jointly worth £10.8 billion and the £3.75 billion Hornsea offshore wind farm.
The research emphasises the importance of wind energy following a report from the Adam Smith Institute and Scientific Alliance published recently, which argues that wind farms are 'unreliable' and 'intermittent'.
Barbour ADI's lead economist Michael Dall said:
"With a number of projects already confirmed and many more at early stages of planning, the future of renewable energy construction in the UK looks bright."
The Government has recently been criticised for its proposal that 5MW+ solar farms will no longer receive financial support through the Renewables Obligation (RO)scheme.
