SolarCentury chairman Jeremy Leggett has poured cold water on the case for new nuclear power stations.
In a debate on the UK’s future energy needs held as part of Ecobuild’s seminar series, Leggett outlined a three point argument for why solar PV is better placed than nuclear to plug the 25GW gap predicted to occur by 2020 as coal-fired power stations are taken offline.
He said: “As of last year, the Germans have a target to run their railways on 100 per cent renewable energy. Solar and wind back each other up very well which the Germans have done on scale and proven to its satisfaction.
Secondly, in Japan, 52 nuclear reactors have been turned off out of 54 and the lights have not gone out due to involuntary and voluntary demand management.
“Finally, our average selling price globally has come down 40 per cent whilst last year the industry grew 67 per cent when nuclear is shrinking.
“Nuclear costs $1.7 a watt to generate in China and anything up to $4 elsewhere so I don’t know how people have the nerve to talk about subsidies for renewables.”
He added: “The closer we get to grid parity, the dirtier they (the nuclear lobby) will fight.
“Our costs are coming done while their’s are going up.”
In a keynote speech on the opening day of Ecobuild, Minister of State Greg Barker re-committed the coalition to delivering the “Flagship” Green Deal programme in the Autumn.
Comedian and impressionist Alistair McGowen has cut the ribbon to open the Practical Installer zone at Ecobuild.
Plumb Center has teamed up with other renewables manufacturers to create an area for live practical demonstrations where visitors to London’s Excel Centre will be entertained by 36 installation presentations over the next three days.
“You may wonder what I’m doing here,” said McGowen. “But, this was too good an opportunity to turn down.
“This is the third year Plumb Center has organised Practical Installer and it will be a busy few days and an informative few days.
“Today more than ever we are encouraged to do our bit. Personally, I think the best way to reduce our emissions would be to get Jeremy Clarkson to stop breathing.
He added: “I am an ambassador of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) because it combines my love of the environment and wrestling. So I try and walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
“I have been a green spokesman for many years so I am thrilled to see this event generate so much innovation and interest.
“Many of the technologies are not just futuristic concepts but are real and here today and will stop us trying to kill Jeremy Clarkson.”
At a Pre-Ecobuild reception in the Houses of Parliament hosted by the BPVA, Minister of State Greg Barker once again spoke of the importance of the PV industry to be one of the major “transformational technologies” that drives Britain towards a lower Carbon Future.
He said the Government were committed to working with manufacturers and installers to build a long-term sustainable business, rather than a smaller cottage industry reliant on finite Government subsidies.
He said the Government’s targets of 1 million roofs by 2015, and 22GW of PV power by 2020 were challenging but achievable. The Government’s role would be to provide long-term certainty and transparency for the market to take informed decisions.
Opening the event, BPVA Chair Reza Shaybani spoke of the importance of Ecobuild in the PV calendar, emphasising that the Uk remains a safe an succesful place for investment and growth.
SCHUECO OFFERS 10-YEAR GUARANTEE ON ALL ITS SOLAR PRODUCTS
UK solar specialist, Schueco UK Limited, has announced that the products in its solar thermal and PV range are covered by a full 10-year guarantee. This applies to all its solar thermal collectors and mono-crystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film PV modules, as well as its mounting systems.
Suzi Perry will be the guest speaker at this year’s NICEIC Live South.
Kyle Harris, an installer with Cleaner Air Solutions, describes his route into PV installations and why he enjoys working where he does.
Cumbria’s largest commercial solar PV system at Lakeland Livestock Mart, Cockermouth, benefit from new technology.
Solfex Energy Systems and southern regional installer Ocean Solar recently undertook a 16kw system in the South West of England. This comprised of 66 panels of the Kioto 225w/p Module.
As the solar PV market comes to terms with the changes to the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT), Rupert Higgin, md of The Green Electrician, examines whether new pre-assembled kits may be the answer to help installers both improve efficiencies and operating margins.
Ecoskies Renewable Energy Training outlines how its training will help with the EPC ratings.
Wayne Terry of NQA, a certification body for MCS product certification, looks at the process a manufacturer needs to go through to gain MCS approval.
CCTV, security and panic alarms, cat 6 cabling, heat pumps, underfloor heating and local cooling units were all fitted along with Grant solar thermal and PV systems as part of a council supported £3.5m investment scheme designed to reduce the building’s carbon footprint and energy consumption.
Scottish community building Radio City has installed 240 Kingspan Renewables solar thermal vacuum tubes to meet its extensive hot water needs, whilst becoming a model of sustainability in the town of Kilbirnie, Ayrshire.
It may well be tempting to curb your marketing spend following the government’s decision to reduce the Feed-in-Tariff. With the explosion of sustainable energy providers during the past year added to the mix, Laura Jones, marketing manager at MCM Net, looks for the best way to navigate your company through a competitive 2012.
Naturesave Insurance is now offering renewable energy insurance for medium-sized wind, solar or hydro systems. The company’s marketing manager Bee West explains the benefits of this policy.
With a strong German manufacturing pedigree and ambitious plans for growth, Robert Markus Feldmann, Azur Solar, discusses why his company is perfectly placed to serve installers throughout 2012 and beyond.
Ploughcroft is expanding its national team with the appointment of 25 new staff.
102 of the UK’s most prominant entrepreneurs, investors, economists, scientists, engineers, energy providers, community builders and MPs have co-signed a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron questioning the government’s support for renewables.
Leads2Trade has reacted to the recent Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) consultation by signing an agreement to provide Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessments throughout the UK.
This September’s Renewables Awards will be hosted by television presenter, Gabby Logan.
The Oil & Renewable Energy Show 2012 – Call for papers
Infinite Energy is pleased to announce the completion of over 200kWp of solar PV over five different sites with Space Station self storage.
Green energy supplier Ecotricity has slammed “scaremongering” from the anti-wind lobby as the company released figures that confirmed onshore wind power added less than £5 to household energy bills last year.