John’s Climate Change Blog
John Findlay expresses his views and opinions on climate change, the potential impact on the way we live and the arguments surrounding the climate change debate.
Renewable Heat; Where Are We Now?
Although FITs (Feed-in Tariffs) are now well established for renewable power generation, the timing and scope of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for heat generation is less clear.
The RHI is intended to provide financial support to encourage a switch from fossil fuel to renewable technologies; such as heat pumps. The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) consultation on the RHI earlier this year was aimed at an April 2011 launch. Many companies linked with the installation of renewable heat systems had ‘budgeted’ on this happening.
Heat generation dominates energy use in the UK and is responsible for nearly 50% of our entire carbon emissions. In February of this year, the government announced aims to meet 12% of the UK’s heat demand through renewables by 2020. The RHI was to be a major driver toward this goal. Since the new government formed in mid-May, there has been no decisive comment with regard to the RHI - and so the rumour mill has been in full swing!
Chris Huhne (DECC) in his first major speech in June, referred indirectly to tariffs. He said DECC "would step up support for renewables" and that the government’s new Green Deal would be supported by new green building standards as well "triggers and incentives". In a press release on 12th July Greg Barker (DECC) outlines plans for a new micro-generation consultation process. Barker says; “By becoming more self sufficient we can create sustainable local energy economies. People and communities can save money on their fuel bills at the same time as generating an income and cutting carbon.”
Funding of the RHI is likely to be in part at the cost of gas and electricity users; a political hot potato! If the UK is truly committed to meeting its targets on carbon emission reduction, and making real progress toward a ‘green economy’ then the RHI is a necessity.
Will the RHI become a reality? On balance, we say yes - but it may fall victim to the current round of austerity measures. The original plan was for the RHI to provide a 12% return on investment. This number could well be revised. As to whether the new government will favour one renewable heat technology over another? That’s a big question for another time!
Welcome to John’s Climate Change Blog!
Hello! My name is John Findlay and this is my first blog on Climate Change and Renewables. I'm a Director of a renewable energy consultancy and a renewables installation company. Just a few words about me; in many ways I'm a typical family man living in a typical house in England's smallest county of Rutland. I'm very aware of man's impact on the environment but like most of us still drive too much, consume too much and drink too much - but at least I recycle the bottles!
My background includes 8 years in worldwide oil exploration followed by 20 years in various aspects of hydrogeology and water resource management. Over the last 8 years the focus of my work has shifted to include renewable energy issues with a focus on ground source heating & cooling (GSHC). I've been involved in many of the UK's larger GSHC projects and so I like to think I know a good deal about the pros and cons of ground source design and other renewable technologies. I have many thoughts and theories on the wider issues of climate change, peak oil, UK energy policy, renewables uptake, feed-in-tariffs, nuclear power and many things besides! Over the coming weeks I hope to cover a few (or all) of these subjects and hopefully spark some debate. This is such a rapidly evolving and exciting sector. Who could have foreseen the situation we now find ourselves in just ten years ago? Hardly anyone had heard of climate change at the turn of the millenium - now its rarely out of the news! I really hope many of you out there will join in with your own thoughts and comments - the more the merrier! Back in touch soon, JohnWelcome to my climate change blog
Hello
Welcome to my climate change blog.
I'll be posting comments and opinions about the issue of climate change here - please feel free to respond with your own opinions.
John