Latest News
News and updates from Carbon Zero Consulting.
Ground Source Live Presentation
Posted by Carbon Zero Consulting on 27/0411 at 09:46 AM
Carbon Zero Consulting has been asked to present a paper on their SoilHeat service at the forthcoming industry event ‘Ground Source Live’ on the 7th June at EXEC Peterborough.
Director, John Findlay will present a talk titled ‘Thermal needle probe conductivity testing of subsoils for the design of horizontal ground heat exchange systems’.
Highlights of the SoilHeat service can be found at
http://www.soilheat.com
CZC Appearing at ‘FIT’ for Farming
Posted by Carbon Zero Consulting on 11/0411 at 12:54 PM
CZC are taking an active part in the renewable energy event for farmers at Stoneleigh park on the 12th April.
Our experience and knowledge of ground source heating seems to be in heavy demand with a busy programme of presentations and meetings with farm managers interested in ground source heat.
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We'll let you know how we get on!
DECC to slash large PV FIT payments
Posted by Carbon Zero Consulting on 18/0311 at 05:18 PM
Has DECC killed off large PV arrays? Their consultation document proposes a massive reduction of FITs for schemes of over 50kW from 30p down to 19p or less.
Very large schemes could now only attract a FIT payment in single figures.
This will kill off PV 'farms' and large community schemes.
THE RHI - First impressions
Posted by Carbon Zero Consulting on 11/0311 at 03:19 PM
DECC has issued the first details of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in a 90 page document introduced by Minister Greg Barker. Carbon Zero Consulting welcomes the news but worries that the 2 phase system to be introduced between July 2011 and October 2012 will create complication and confusion for domestic users while the government continue their assessment and deliberation. Commercial renewable heat systems have more clarity – they will be paid their RHI tariff from July 2011.
It will take some time to decipher all of the details but we have condensed 3 of the major issues below. Further comment will be added to our website over the coming days;
1.
The 2 phases. The RHI has 2 phases that treat commercial and domestic installations differently. Phase 1 will start sometime in July this year and finish when Phase 2 starts in October 2012. Some key points are;
Domestic systems will NOT be able to claim a tariff during Phase 1 but there will be a system of ‘Premium payments’ introduced as an incentive to homeowners to install renewable heating. These will be one-off lump sums paid from a ‘first come first served’ government fund of £15M. The fund may be aimed mainly at heat pump and biomass boiler installations for homes off the gas grid. Initial estimates suggest that the amount of ‘Premium’ payment for a ground source heat pump would be about £1200
Commercial and public buildings will be able to start claiming their RHI tariff from the start of Phase 1. Systems installed since July 15th 2009 will be eligible.
Phase 2 starts in October 2012 when eligible MCS accredited domestic heat technologies installed since July 15th 2009 can start to claim their tariff. Systems installed during Phase 1 will also be eligible. Money will be paid quarterly.
Will Air source heat pumps installed since July 2009 be eligible? Subject to further DECC investigation they may be eligible post Oct 2012.
2.
The technologies to be supported are;
• Ground source heat pumps (although the cooling element from heat pumps is not covered)
• Water source heat pumps (sometimes referred to as pond or lake loops)
• Biomass boilers
• Energy from waste combustion
• Deep geothermal systems
• Solar thermal
• Biogas combustion
• Biomethane injection to the gas grid
• CHP from renewable fuels
2.
The Tariff system
Commercial tariffs have been published and are shown below. Will they be the same as domestic tariffs? We don't know yet.
Ground source heat pump systems will be paid a tariff in 2 bands to be paid for 20 years;
• Heat pumps of thermal output below 100kW will be paid a tariff of 4.3p per kWh. If domestic tariffs are the same then, a household with a 10kW heat pump will attract a tariff of about £900/annum, index linked.
• Heat pumps of thermal output above 100kW will be paid a tariff of 3p per kWh. A commercial building with a 100kW heat pump would attract a payment of about £6000/annum, index linked.
Solar thermal panels will be paid a tariff of 8.5p/kWh
Biomass boilers payments are divided into 3 sectors.
• Small boilers of less than 200kW capacity will be paid 7.6p/kWh for the first 1314 hours per annum then at a rate of 1.9p for every hour thereafter
• Medium boilers between 200kW and 1000kW capacity will be paid 4.7p/kWh for the first 1314 hours per annum then at a rate of 1.9p for every hour thereafter
• Large boilers between of over 1000kW capacity will be paid at a flat rate of 2.6p/kWh
Ground source heating scheme opened by Dame Ellen MacArthur.
Posted by Carbon Zero Consulting on 07/0311 at 06:48 PM
A ground source heating system designed by Carbon Zero Consulting was opened on 6th March by Dame Ellen MacArthur at Alderwasley Village Hall in the Derbyshire Peak District. The system was installed by Water & Energy Field Services and Director Chris Barbour who represented WEFS at the opening said “everyone was very impressed with the scheme, particularly Dame MacArthur, who was particularly knowledgeable about renewable energy”.
