Britain’s first dual fuel bus will cut emissions by half

A consortium brought together by low-carbon experts at the University of East Anglia has launched the first bus in the UK to run on clean, biomethane gas. The innovative dual-fuel diesel-biomethane powered bus will reduce pollutant emissions and greenhouse gas emissions by around a half. It is hoped the technology will be rolled out to bus fleets across the country and further afield.

The consortium behind the new bus is led by UEA’s Low Carbon Innovation Centre (LCIC) and includes leading independent bus operator Anglian Bus, bus manufacturer Optare plc, and engine conversion specialists Hardstaff Group of Nottingham.

The dual-fuel vehicle is a standard Optare Solo single-deck diesel midibus from the Anglian Bus fleet. Originally powered entirely by diesel, the Mercedes-Benz engine has been adapted to run for 60-80% of the time on clean, low-carbon biomethane. Biomethane is chemically identical to the methane in natural gas but it is made by bacterial action on biowastes. Biomethane is extracted from landfill sites or from biogas produced in purpose-built anaerobic digestion facilities.

Project leader Dr Bruce Tofield, of UEA’s Low Carbon Innovation Centre, says: ‘Dual-fuel use is a very attractive option. The vehicle can still run on diesel, providing flexibility, but most of the time is running on biomethane gas which is a much cleaner and less polluting fuel.

‘In particular, the cost of conversion of a diesel bus to dual-fuel use is a small fraction of the cost of a new natural gas bus. Conversion to dual-fuel use is potentially a viable option for most if not all diesel buses in the UK and, indeed, across Europe and more widely.’

Funding for the project came partly from an EU-sponsored Civitas programme in which UEA and Anglian Bus were partners with Norwich, Norfolk County Council and cities across Europe. The Civitas Initiative exists to promote cleaner and better transport in Europe’s cities.

LCIC scientists have been monitoring air pollution in Norwich since 2005 as part of the Civitas programme. In Norwich, as in many UK cities, emissions from buses are of particular concern. They noticed how the buses in Malmo in Sweden, a partner city in the Civitas programme, were powered by clean natural gas (methane), resulting in significantly lower levels of harmful emissions. Of special interest was the fact that Malmo was beginning to use biomethane rather than natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as pollutant emissions.

‘This conversion shows just how important EU projects can be in helping us learn from what cities elsewhere have done,’ says Dr Tofield. ‘Now we are going one step further and showing how existing bus fleets can be economically converted to low-carbon, low-emissions running. The potential for reducing traffic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from buses and other fleet vehicles in cities in Britain, Europe, and across the world is very exciting.’

From: http://www.eei-online.com/news.php?key=2370 

EEDA Business Finance Roadshow

Held between:  19 June 2009 - 16 July 2009

EEDA has launched a new and improved portfolio of financial products to help support businesses in the region. Join us for one of these workshops to understand what’s available through EEDA and to find out if you are eligible to access it.

Who should attend?
Businesses looking for funding to prove an idea
Businesses looking to fund research and development projects
Business looking for finance to expand their business.

What it will cover?
The event will cover an overview of:

• Grant funding available from EEDA, (Proof of Concept, Grants for Research and Development, Grants for Business Investment)
• Loan funding available from EEDA for both start up and established businesses
• EEDA’s new Understanding Finance for Business Programme.

EEDA’s new Understanding Finance for Business programme helps you understand your options for securing finance and increase your chance of success. It is structured around a series of workshops and support that become more tailored as you move through the programme

Experts from EEDA will be on hand to talk to you through the various programmes.

When and where
Typically registration will open at 8.45, the event will begin at 9.15, presentations will be complete by 10.15 and the event closes at 11.15.

19 June: St Johns Innovation Centre, Cambridge
30 June: Hethel Engineering Centre, Norwich area
02 July: Biopark, Welwyn Garden City
08 July: Harlow Enterprise Hub, Harlow
09 July: Orbis Energy Centre, Lowestoft
16 July: Basepoint, Luton

To book please call 0845 601 1000 or visit www.bookevents.org and search for Business Finance

Norfolk in fast lane of electric dream

Norfolk has been urged to seize the moment and put Norwich in the fast lane of the government’s £250m vision of getting more drivers into electric cars.

Ministers unveiled radical plans to make electric cars a reality with drivers accessing grants of up to £5000 to buy one from 2011.

Electric cars can range from £10,000 for a two-seater My Car to up to £70,000 for a top-range Tesla Roadster but ministers want to do more to bring them into the price range of the average motorist because of the impact on carbon emissions.

The government is also seeking bids from places interested in becoming “electric cities” to showcase and promote the technology and pay for the installation of charging points - with a strong belief locally that Norwich could be the perfect location.

Around 200 electric cars would also be available in city centres for the public to test drive.

Norfolk engineering firm Lotus, which has helped developed the Tesla Roadster technology, urged transport chiefs to get behind a city bid, claiming one in five motorists in and around Norwich could be driving electric within a decade.

Simon Wood, its technical director, said both city and region were perfectly placed to take advantage of the scheme and government grants to get motorists to buy electric were “exactly the right answer”.

He said it would bring business benefits to the wider region and boost the use of “ultra low carbon” cars which could also include those powered by biofuels.

“I think it would be fantastic for the city,” he said. “It just seems so obvious. As a regional centre it has got well defined boundaries and a good park-and-ride network.

“There are lots of people who live in or just outside of Norwich who commute daily. That’s really where the electric car wins, and £5,000 off one of the lower price cars is probably enough to make people have a look at it.

“If the city and county councils were really positive they could say no-one could come into the city centre unless they had an electric car - otherwise they could leave their car at the park and ride.”

Currently electric car owners can get free parking permits in Norwich, while Chapelfield Shopping Centre car park is the only one locally where drivers can charge up.

The plans would also allow areas access to £20m to improve infrastructure such as charging stations and other types of infrastructure.

Brian Morrey, Norwich city council’s executive member for sustainable development, said: “It sounds like a good idea if they are willing to put the money in.”

But he said with council funding tight it would be down to the government to find most of the cash, adding: “I would like to know more of the details because I don’t want it to become another one of these things that’s going to cost us an arm and a leg.”

Marcus Armes, of the Carbon Reduction Initiative (Cred), said he was planning to talk to bosses at UEA, which is developing a renewable power plant capable of supplying electricity to the cars, to see if they would support the idea.

“I don’t think it’s a panacea, but electric cars have really got a part to play - 60pc of journeys are under 25 miles, and there is a lot of commuting going on in Norwich, so it would be a sensible idea for the city,” he said.

Adrian Gunson, cabinet portfolio-holder for planning and transportation at County Hall, said he would be happy for Norwich to look at the electric city idea but feared vehicles would not be viable in rural areas. And he was against banning traditional cars from the city centre.

“Anything that reduces pollution in the city is a good idea and well worth looking at, but for rural areas there are questions about whether the technology has reached the point to encourage people to go to the extra trouble of having one,” he said.

But Rupert Read, Green Party transport spokesman at City Hall said the investment would only work if supported by a “massive shift” towards renewable energy.

The AA welcomed the initiative and said while cities like London and Manchester could be in pole position for the electric city roles, Norwich could also be well placed because it had a car club, where electric cars could be used.

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon, who took a spin in an electric car with Lord Mandelson, said cutting road transport CO2 emissions was a “key element” to tackling climate change.

“The scale of incentives we’re announcing will mean an electric car is a real option for motorists as well as helping to make the UK a world leader in low carbon transport,” he said.

 From: http://www.edp24.co.uk

Advanced Virtual Biofuels Hub for the East of England

Renewables East (RE) is the renewable energy agency for the East of England, core‐funded by the East of England Development Agency, EEDA. Established as a not‐for‐profit company in 2003 by EEDA, RE has a unique role, with a remit to assist the region achieve the renewable energy targets set by the East of England Regional Assembly and, as important, to promote economic returns from renewable energy, in this case biofuels (both gaseous and liquid).

RE have promoted sustainable biofuels for some time and first organised a biofuels conference in early 2006 attracting over 300 delegates. Since then RE became involved with the UK launch of E85 by Morrisons and Saab’s BioPower car. This subsequently led to involvement with Lotus who themselves have developed a tri‐fuel Elise.

RE also brought together the British BioAlcohols Group, BBAG, based around the Norwich Research Park. The aim of this Group is contribute to the development of advanced generation biofuels using whole and different crops, organic residues and algae. Economic return would be in the IP associated with such work.

As well as the development of biofuels, naturally there are issues for the automotive sector given new fuels, new blends, combustion performance in engines, possible wear/corrosion effects and any repercussions for emissions.

RE have received funding from EEDA to develop a ‘Virtual Advanced Biofuels Hub’ for the region. This would help ‘link’ researchers in academia and industry, particularly the automotive sector. The Hub would initially be a database with web‐portal, accessible by interested parties with a support team to form a personal link and promote partnerships. As well as providing an opportunity for people to indicate general areas of research there would also be access to latest research from around the world via feedback from conferences and other databases. The Hub could stimulate combined research bids for funding etc.

The recent Gallagher Report on Biofuels for government suggested a specific Fuel Obligation for ‘advanced biofuels’ from 2015 with the intention that this would promote more UK research in this area. RE agrees with this and would like to have the East of England in the forefront of this work. RE feels that there appears to be little contact between academics (and industry) at various locations that could potentially be working in similar fields. The Hub could identify potential synergies and hence take forward research at an advanced rate. There also appears to be little linkage through to and within industry and the automotive sector. We feel certain that there could also be areas of common interests - subject of course to business confidentiality.

Participation in the Advanced Biofuels Hub involves no financial cost. RE are also reviewing the potential for a regional biofuels seminar and support towards attendance
at some biofuels conferences.

I would welcome feedback and contact with anyone interested in the Hub.

Please follow this link for information on the Bio Fuels East Launch Event.

Richard Parker, Development Director - Bioenergy
richardparker@renewableseast.org.uk

Norwich and Yarmouth set to cash in on North Sea offshore energy

Norwich and Yarmouth is set to cash in on investments of more than £80bn in the North Sea offshore energy industry in a major boost to jobs, a conference has heard.

Experts from across the region descended on the Holiday Inn at Norwich International Airport this week for the 2009 Southern North Sea Conference this week, organised by the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR).

Speakers from firms in the sector said the offshore oil and gas industry, off the Norfolk coast, is set to play a key role supplying reliable energy to the country to help reduce reliance on from overseas.

And with offshore wind set for major expansion Norwich and Yarmouth are well placed to benefit from the massive investment in the sector.

Blair Ainslie, managing director of Yarmouth-based offshore firm Seajacks UK, which manufactures self-propelled platforms used in the offshore sector, said his firm was set to take on nearly 100 new workers this year, with potential for hundreds more in the coming year.

He said: “We have already generated 36 jobs. By the time we take delivery of our second vessel in September that number will be about 130 and we are looking to build additional vessels.

“These jobs are just for offshore operations, and don’t include construction, and these are new jobs, not moving people from other parts of the UK or the world.”

He added: “The reason me and a lot of other people are in Yarmouth now they are not fishermen is because of the oil and gas industry, and we are ready to take the skills and experience we have into the renewables sector which is ready to boom.”

The area is also set to be host to the world’s biggest offshore wind farm, Greater Gabbard, off the Suffolk coast.

Steve Rose, offshore operations manager for the development, said about 140 turbines would be in operation by the end of next year, and said the industry would generate thousands of new jobs.

He said: “Our wind farm will create 100 new jobs just in operations. A lot of others are developing now and all projects are going to need local, dedicated technicians.”

John Best, EEEGR chief executive, said the event was aimed at ensuring businesses and different energy sectors worked together to offer secure, lower carbon emitting energy, and said the region was in an ideal location to benefit.

He said: “This is about continuing collaboration to deliver a robust, secure energy sector moving towards a lower carbon future.

“In this location we have got everything, shallow seas, gas reserves, a supply chain in place and 40 years’ experience and a demand for secure, reliable supplies for the future.

“Employment in the oil and gas sector is in excess of 20,000 people. Employment in growing offshore wind and continuing gas industry is all continuing to grow.

“You can’t spend the sort of sums we are talking about, which is in excess of £80bn, without requiring real, long-term employment.”

Is your company set to create new jobs? Call Evening News business reporter Sam Williams on 01603 772447 or email sam.williams@archant.co.uk

For the very best selection of local jobs log onto www.eveningnews24.co.uk and click on jobs24 or see the Evening News every Wednesday for the jobs24 supplement.

Source: Norwich Evening News 24. Sam Williams. 07/02/2009

£144m for East of England local authorities with plans for housing growth

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has today announced that fifteen areas in the East of England will share more than £144m to help deliver their long-term plans to increase house building to meet the needs of their communities.

Despite the current condition of the housing market, the long-term need to build more homes remains - the population is continuing to grow, people are living longer, and there are more single households.

And this money announced today will enable the local authorities with ambitious plans for growth to invest in the essential services that need to accompany the building of new homes, from transport links and schools to the regeneration of town centres and the provision of parks and other green spaces.

Under the Growth Points and Growth Areas schemes over the next two years Cambridgeshire will receive more than £28.7m, Bedford more than £16.2m and Harlow and Stansted more than £14.2m. Other areas to benefit include Peterborough with £13.6m, Norwich with £11.2m and Luton more than £11.1m.

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett said:

“In these difficult economic times we must not lose sight of the long-term need to build more homes. Yet if the support for these new homes is not in place, their construction will be delayed when we need them most, hampering the economy’s recovery. This means we need to be investing today in tomorrow’s infrastructure, while allowing local authorities to decide their own local priorities for spending this money. Today’s announcement delivers on both fronts.

“This money is targeted at those local authorities with the most ambitious growth plans. As well as helping to build the new homes we need, it will ensure we have the support and infrastructure in place so that these homes become part of the existing community, not a burden on their resources.”

Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency said:

“This funding will play a significant part in helping growth areas deliver not only more homes, but the vital infrastructure that is needed to underpin new communities. Through our Single Conversation model we will be working closely with these local authorities to support them, not only in the delivery of growth, but to create a single investment plan that will successfully bring forward local goals in a more integrated way.

“As part of that Single Conversation we will be looking at how the economic downturn might impact on the timing and delivery of growth proposals and how the HCA can assist in maintaining and, where possible, increasing the momentum of growth and renewal programmes locally.”

The £605m Growth Fund will be one of the funding streams managed on behalf of Government by the new Homes and Communities Agency. It is in addition to the £227m already being paid out for the current year, and completes an overall investment package of £832m for these local authorities.

£12m of this will be made available specifically to help some of the growth authorities develop exemplar schemes in response to climate change, specifically supporting the delivery of government targets on carbon reduction, waste reduction and flood mitigation. Such solutions may take the form of site or area-wide proposals that deliver new communities with innovative approaches to providing low carbon energy supply and other environmental technologies that may serve a single site or number of potential development sites. The HCA will support local authorities in bringing forward costed proposals that draw on best practice, and to encourage sharing of expertise and will also advise CLG on the viability and deliverability of successful proposals coming forward. Details for this scheme will be announced next year.

In addition to the investment announced today, we will also soon be announcing which of these local authorities will get a share of £200m to pay for transport improvements through the Community Infrastructure Fund, also managed by the Homes and Communities Agency.

Nationally the Homes and Communities Agency will be working with local authorities to maximise the alignment of funding to area-wide objectives that serve existing and emerging local and regional strategies; and to ensure that projects create the capacity for strategic growth as well as also meeting local needs.

 

 

Science centre hit by Iceland bank crash

Plans for a science research park in Norwich have been put on hold as the banking crisis hit Norfolk County Council’s funds.

The council, which looked set to provide £1 million towards the Genome Analysis Centre, had £32.5 million deposited in failed Icelandic banks.

It is unclear whether the council, just one of many organisations with money in Iceland, will get its funds back.

While councillors acknowledged the importance of the science centre, they agreed with leader Daniel Cox’s decision to put off pledging the funds until next month.

Mr Cox told the Norwich Evening News: "This type of project is required to take Norwich forward. But there are concerns about the financial situation facing the council in the very short term, so what I would like to suggest is we agree this in principle, but at this stage, given our uncertainty, to defer making the financial decision until our next meeting in November."

Current estimates suggest around 108 councils, as well as public sector organisations such as Transport for London, had up to £800 million in Icelandic banks.

Norwich ’should get bike hire’

Bicycles for the public to rent could be dotted around Norwich if Liberal Democrat councillors get their way.

Lib Dems on the city council have suggested a citywide bicycle rental scheme modelled on the projects in Barcelona and Paris.

OYBikes, which already has rental schemes in London, Cheltenham and Reading is to visit Norwich City Hall tomorrow (October 14th).

Judith Lubbock, councillor for Eaton Ward, told the Norwich Evening News that the city should capitalise on rising cycling rates.

"We should be building on these figures and finding new ways to encourage more cycling," she said. "It is a good way to get about in the city, it keeps you fit both physically and mentally and it is cheap."

Boosting the number of journeys made by bicycle instead of car could reduce air pollution in the area.

She added that she would like to see hire points at the Railway Station, the Bus Station, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, University of East Anglia, Norwich College and Park and Ride sites.

The OYBike system sees bikes chained to a special bike stand with a lock operated by a LCD screen and keyboard. Registered users call the OYBike call centre citing the number on the lock display and are sent a pin code to release the bicycle.

Upon returning the bike to an OYBike hire stand, the user is given a pin to send the company indicating their rental period has come to an end.

The city council leader Steven Morphew has said that the problem could be finding funding for the scheme.

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