WANTED: The Next Generation of ‘Green’ Entrepreneurs

Climate change has been identified as one of the biggest global threats of our time. Scientists agree that global warming and extreme climate phenomena can be increasingly attributed to human activity - in particular, heavy emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, resulting from industrial processes.

Solutions to those pressing problems could lie in the rapidly growing ‘green economy’: environmentally sustainable enterprises, technological innovations (new sources of clean, renewable energy), energy efficiency measures, economic incentives for low-carbon choices, etc. How can youth contribute?

The Essay Competition 2009 invites youth to share ideas on:

How does climate change affect you?
How can you tackle climate change through youth-led solutions?

Please answer both questions:

1. How does climate change affect you, your country, town or local community? How do you think it will affect you in the future? Think about the consequences for employment, health, security and other areas of your life.

2. What can you do, working together with your peers, to address the problem of climate change in your country, town or local community? Think specifically about the role of youth-led initiatives in the ‘green economy’.The International Essay Competition is open to all young people, students and non-students alike, between the ages of 18 and 25, from all countries of the world.

If you are at least 18 and not older than 25 on June 15, 2009, you are eligible to participate.

For more information go to: www.essaycompetition.org

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

Trident Energy strides on

The towering Trident offshore energy generator that derives power from the action of the waves this year begins a 12-month series of intensive sea trials off the east coast of England.

Constructed in Lowestoft by local marine engineers Small & Co, and the brainchild of East of England inventor Hugh-Peter Kelly, Trident Energy’s test rig is aiming for an optimum output of between 20kW and 30kW during the trial using eight full scale linear generators.

The rig was visited recently by the Minister for Energy and Climate Change Lord Hunt, and by local Waveney MP Bob Blizzard. Lord Hunt said: “I think it’s a very exciting project by Trident. It has great potential for developing expertise and for developing much more renewable energy”.

Trident Energy’s Chief Executive Officer Hugh-Peter Kelly, said: “Wave power is one of the most promising forms of renewable energy. Around 40% of our entire national energy needs for electricity could come from harnessing wave power around the UK”.

“Our goal has been to create a simple and sustainable solution that provides the maximum amount of renewable energy with the minimum environmental impact”.

With bases at Southend and Lowestoft, Trident Energy has developed a new and patented system for converting sea wave energy directly into electricity. It has taken Trident, working in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, and with its own staff of engineers, scientists and technicians, almost a decade to reach this large-scale sea trial stage.

The Trident system uses floats in the sea. As waves rise and fall so do the floats. Their movement in turn drives linear generators. With just one moving part and no hydraulic equipment or air compression required, Trident Energy says “This is the simplest marine renewable energy generation system there is”. A key aim of the sea trial is to ensure the equipment can survive storm conditions.

Long-term, a number of such devices in a square kilometre array could produce up to 100MW. This year’s sea trials follow successful tests off the north coast of Devon with a scaled-down prototype, and more recently a series of successful wave tank tests at Northumberland’s New and Renewable Energy Centre.

Trident Energy was able to construct its first big rig and go ahead with sea trials after raising additional private equity, and securing a research and development grant from the East of England Development Agency.

After the sea trials, the next step will be to seek Government funding through the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.

Yarmouth Seajacks’ $100m contracts

SPECIALIST vessel builder Seajacks, with an office in Great Yarmouth, have been awarded contracts for both of their new vessels Seajacks Leviathan and Seajacks Kraken, with a combined value in excess of $100m.

With their vessels near to completion at Lamprell’s shipyard in Dubai, Seajacks themselves view the contracts as a resounding confirmation of confidence in their business and vessels.

Both of the Seajacks vessels are state of the art, self-propelled liftboats, commissioned for their ability to perform under environmentally harsh conditions. These versatile jack-ups are designed to be utilised in the oil and gas industry and the offshore renewable energy sectors.

Seajacks first vessel, The Kraken, is contracted to ExxonMobil in Canada and will initially work as the offshore accommodation unit for the Sable Project located offshore of Nova Scotia, Canada before returning to the North Sea.

The Seajacks Kraken is scheduled for delivery to the company next month and will make her way on to Nova Scotia to start on the ExxonMobil contract in May this year.

Last week, Seajacks signed a contract with Fluor Ltd for The Leviathan to work as an installation unit for the world’s largest offshore wind farm, approximately 25 kilometers off the Suffolk/ Essex coast. This second Seajacks’ vessels is scheduled for delivery to the company in June of this year with its arrival in Europe planned for mid August in time for work to commence this coming September.

Seajacks hold options to build five more specialist vessels for use within the International offshore energy sectors.

With the news of the second contract, Seajacks has announced that, wherever possible, the recruitment for the crewing of ‘The Leviathan’ will be executed locally.

Seajacks has offices in Yarmouth at the Beacon Innovation Centre, and in the Orbis Centre at Lowestoft.

Source: Great Yarmouth Mercury 24

Peterborough City Council to back £250m incinerator

A £250 million plan to burn rubbish using the latest “green” technology has been given vital backing.

However, planning officers, while broadly in favour of the plan, said more information was needed in vital areas, including road access issues, safety concerns regarding the proximity to gas pipelines, and justification on developing the site in the countryside close to Flag Fen.

Councillor David Harrington said: “We are almost 10 years into the 21st century and have missed out on a whole generation of technology, including nuclear power, already. We need to support this scheme.”

Councillor Charles Swift said: “We should support this project unanimously and I hope the cabinet takes on board our comments.”

Speaking in favour of the scheme, Richard Olive, who is a member of Friends of the Earth, added: “I believe we have now run out of time to eliminate climate change and we have to embrace this technology.”

However, two members of the public stood up to express concerns about potential health problems from emissions.

Mr Donne Buck, of Gildenburgh Avenue, Eastfield, Peterborough, said: “A great number of vulnerable children would be subject to the discharge that would come from the chimneys and other airborne toxins.”

Fiona Radic, who is a member of the Green Party, added: “We have a landfill problem; soon we will have a sky-filled problem.”

Today, managing director of PREL Chris Williams said: “We felt that last night’s meeting was a great success.

“We will work night and day in the coming weeks to ensure that the information and clarification asked for on matters such as transport and highways, gas and environmental detail are provided in full.

“Only in working together can Peterborough realise its goal to become the environmental capital of the UK.”

Despite agreeing to the energy park proposals, councillors were still in favour of £38 million plans for a council incinerator, which would be built just 400 yards from the PREL site.

 

 

Floating wind farms to be developed as part of government-backed research

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), a partnership between global industries and the UK Government to develop renewables like wind and solar, has announced £20 million for its first four projects.

Two of the projects will look at the structure of wind turbines to see if there are ways to improve efficiency while a third will look at tidal power.

The fourth project, supported by a number of multinational companies including defence company BAE Systems, is looking at floating wind farms.

At the moment wind farms are usually sited at depths of up to 30m before it becomes difficult to build a standing structure.

Using technology from the oil and gas sector, where floating rigs are commonly used, the research hopes to develop wind turbines to float at a depth of up to 300m where there are high wind speeds and the structures cannot be seen onshore.

Project Deepwater Turbine will determine the feasibility of a 5MW floating offshore wind farm.

Floating wind farms are being developed in Scandinavia and other parts of the world but this is the first Government-backed project in the UK.

The UK is committed to producing 15 per cent of energy from renewables by 2020. As the windiest place in Europe it is expected much of this will be from wind.

However many communities are against onshore wind farms for fear of harming wildlife and blighting some of the UK’s most pristine landscape. Even even offshore wind farms that can be seen from the shore are blamed for ruining views.

Jon Mills, head of strategy development at BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies (Insyte), said the technology could not only solve the problem of aesthetic complaints but could make wind farms easier and cheaper to install in the short time available for the UK to switch to low carbon energy.

“Wind farms are not always popular with people when they are in their backyard but they appreciate the value of the technology,” he said. “Developing wind farms off shore eliminates the complaint and could make building and maintaining the turbines easier, bringing costs down, so that you have green energy at a lower cost.”

Up to £1.1 billion could be invested researching renewables as part of the ETI initiative.

Lord Hunt, minister for sustainable development and energy innovation, said: “The UK has pledged to increase dramatically our use of renewable energy to further secure our energy supplies and help fight the damaging effects of climate change.

“In order to meet these challenges we need to turn the best innovative ideas in wind and marine power into reality.”

 

 

Wave and Tidal Current Stream activity increasing

A new study published by energy business analysts Douglas-Westwood, “The World Wave & Tidal Market Report2009-2013″ forecasts that 86 MW of wave and tidal current stream capacity will be installed worldwide in the 2009 to 2013 period. 

Launching the first edition of the report today, Adam Westwood, Renewable Energy Manager at Douglas-Westwood stated that, “Both the wave power and tidal current stream energy sectors are emerging industries. Whilst development activities run back some 30 years, with over 200 concept technologies, commercialization of leading technologies in both sectors is only just beginning.

“The past five years have been characterized by small-scale and full-scale deployments from a wide number of technology developers. The next five years will, however, see commercial-scale activity increasing significantly. A total of 135 units are forecast for deployment over the next five years. Of these, 74 are commercial-scale units –55% of the total.

“The UK is forecast to be the biggest market, and is expected to install 51 MW of the total capacity (60%). The UK is so dominant due to three main factors. Firstly, the excellent wave and tidal resources that exist around the coastline; secondly, the market mechanisms and funding in place, which are comparatively strong and give more investor confidence than in other countries; and thirdly, the UK is home to a large number of wave & tidal device developers, including some of the early market leaders.

“The USA is expected to be the second largest market, with 11 MW (12%) of overall capacity. Portugal with 9 MW (10%) and Canada with 6 MW (7%) are the other most significant countries.

“The industry faces many challenges, however. Examples given by Westwood include survivability and reliability, cost reduction, attracting private investment, supply chain stimulation, and development of market mechanisms to support deployment and development activities.”

 

Boost for clean energy in the EU

EU governments and the European Parliament reached a consensus on Tuesday on legislation intended toboost renewable energy .

The Directive establishes national targets for renewable energy generation - which includes road transport fuels, electricity and heat. These are intended to drive the use of renewables to 20% of energy consumption by 2020. However, governments that fail to meet their targets will not automatically be penalised.

The Directive should be rubber-stamped shortly at a meeting of EU heads of government, which is expected to put a final polish on the EU’s ‘climate and energy package’ of legislation. However, the Austrian government could block the Directive by questioning its national target of 34%, according to the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC).

The bulk of the Directive’s text was fixed last week and finalised in a meeting of energy ministers on Monday. Italy insisted on a clause requiring the Directive to be reviewed in 2014, to the dismay of green groups. The agreed text makes clear that no changes should be made to national renewable energy targets, although the European Commission would still have the power to do so.

Green groups broadly welcomed the Directive, with Greenpeace describing it as a “a new dawn for a clean energy future that will benefit the climate and the economy”. However, it joined other NGOs in criticising the Directive for promoting biofuels.

Industrial organisations were more upbeat. EREC said the law was the “most important piece of legislation on renewable energy in the world”. Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive of wind group EWEA, said that Europe had rejected oil imports, “opting instead to put the money to work at home and exploit our abundant domestic renewable energy resources.”

Referring to the current UN climate negotiations in Poznan, Rapporteur MEP Claude Turmes said the deal was a “source of encouragement at the beginning of the week in which EU leaders will meet to decide on whether the EU keeps its leadership and credibility on climate policies.”

 

 

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