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.
What happens next at the Environment Agency?
The comprehensive spending review of 20th of October looms!
We face the prospect of 25% to 40% cuts in public sector spending - the axe is now being sharpened!
Last Thursday (14 October), the government listed the fate of the country's Quangos. Whether or not you agree that the Environment Agency (EA) is a ‘Quango’, this is what was said of the Environment Agency;
"Retain and substantially reform - Reform through structural, process and cultural change to become a more efficient and customer focused organisation; and clarify accountabilities. Further announcements after the spending review. The Environment Agency in Wales may move to form part of a WAG Environmental Body."
The Environment Agency has an important role to play in the renewable energy sector including regulation of aspects of hydro-power and ground source heating as well as impact assessments of large wind developments. Our recent newsletter commented on the need for the Environment Agency to streamline their approach to regulation of open loop ground source systems. A major reduction of staff is unlikely to help ‘streamlining’ unless the recently formed and largely ineffective ‘National Permitting Centres’ are a primary target for the axe!
The projected substantial reform might, bring back the good, experienced, technical experts with local knowledge closer to the sharp end. Decision making could be brought back to the local level. Staff might be allowed to use their expertise and experience to make pragmatic decisions. Reduced spending on outsourced services, might mean that local procurement of key niche expertise will prevail, rather than grandiose, wasteful, poorly focused term contracts.
The EA could do with some reform, but it also provides an essential regulatory service. It employs staff with some fantastic technical expertise, communicators and ambassadors. Whatever the reforms, the EA should work hard to keep its core values reverting to systems that worked in the past; it should focus on the sharp end and provide the local technical support and line management to make it work in the real world. There has been too much hiding behind the rule books recently. Don't throw the book away, but print in big bold letters on the front "THIS BOOK IS FOR GUIDANCE ONLY – PLEASE USE YOUR BRAIN AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE".
Nobody wants to see people lose their jobs in the Environment Agency or anywhere else. My sincere sympathy to those that are impacted by the cuts. We know how you feel; we’ve had a few cuts of our own out here in the private sector! Good luck, let’s hope there are as many silver linings as storm clouds...
Climate Change Committee ‘policy position statement’
This was my comment made to the CIWEM Climate Change Committee ‘policy position statement’ on the need for standards and training in the renewable energy industry.
"In the ten years that there could be considered to be a renewable energy sector in the UK, early entrants have in some cases developed in-house standards or have adopted elements used in more mature markets overseas (which may not always be readily applicable to the UK). By their very nature, in-house standards are developed in isolation and with a degree of protectionism to promote a brand. As the market grows, new and inexperienced companies from wide ranging backgrounds continually enter the market. This can (and has) lead to a fragmented, and in some cases substandard, approach to design and installation of some renewable energy systems.
In order to promote confidence and growth within the market there is a requirement for ‘one voice’ to distill standards and training methods from current best practice. This function is best performed by technology-specific professional bodies or trade associations in full and open consultation with the industry and regulators. These trade associations must ensure they are independent of any one company and are seen to represent the interests of the sector as a whole. This process is starting to take place but there is urgent need for co-ordinated action to ensure public and commercial confidence is maintained and to avoid development of different standards or best practice guidance by different bodies."
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