Electricity News

Wednesday 02 December 2009

Günther Oettinger has been appointed as the new Energy Commissioner

New Energy Commissioner announced

The European Wind Energy Association has welcomed the appointment of the current Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg in South West Germany, Günther Oettinger, as the new Energy Commissioner for the European Commission.

Mr Oettinger was given the role this week (November 30) but the new Commission must still be approved by the European Parliament before it can start a term of office running until October 31 2014. Since Oettinger became President of Baden-Württemberg in 2005 the region has raised its targets for electricity generated from renewable sources by 2020 from 11.8% in 2006 to 20% in 2007. However, wind energy currently provides less than 0.5% of electricity in the region.

Commenting on the appointment, the chief executive of the European Wind Energy Association, Christian Kjaer, said: "The renewable energy targets have improved under Oettinger's presidency, but the level of wind energy is still low. Given the challenges lying ahead in meeting the EU's 20% by 2020 target for renewable energy, I am absolutely confident we will build a very constructive working relationship with Oettinger. I have no doubt he appreciates the vast contribution that wind power can make to the security of Europe's energy supply, job creation and combating global warming."

Renewable electricity to power Scottish M&S stores

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has signed a long-term agreement with electricity retailer SmartestEnergy to purchase renewable electricity equivalent to 100% of the amount used to power most of its Scottish stores and offices.

The agreement, which was coordinated by Marks & Spencer's energy consultant, Inenco, will be effective from April 2010 until March 2014. M&S claims it is another step towards achieving its Plan A objective to source or generate 100% ‘green' electricity for M&S stores, offices and distribution centres in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Vice President for retail at SmartestEnergy, Jo Butlin, said: "We are delighted to be working with Marks & Spencer. The group has shown itself as a true leader not only in industry but also in its commitment to the environment and the local community. If we want to meet our renewable energy and climate change targets it is essential that we support independent generators who are fundamental in helping us bridge the forthcoming energy gap in a cost-effective and environmentally-responsible way."

Miliband calls for countries to push towards new deal at Copenhagen

With one week to go until Copenhagen, climate and energy secretary Ed Miliband has called for global pressure from politicians and the public to help reach a new climate deal.

He explained that the government's focus was on ensuring the "most ambitious, comprehensive" agreement possible was achieved during the summit, which will be held between December 7 and 13 (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story). Mr Miliband highlighted the importance of last week's announcements by China and the US in relation to reducing their emissions, but stressed that much more needed to be done to get the agreement needed.

Mr Miliband added: "Every day, in any way we can, we will be pushing every country to show the necessary ambition for the agreement we need. Copenhagen can and must succeed but it still needs maximum pressure from politicians and public alike."

Mandelson provides £22m to develop ‘composites' such as turbine blades

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has announced that the government will invest £22 million to further advance the development of ‘composite' materials including wind turbine blades.

He unveiled the plans last week (November 25) during his visit to Williams F1 conference centre in Oxfordshire, as part of the Government's new composite strategy. The funding is made up of £16m to launch a new National Composites Centre in the Bristol area; £5m for the winners of the Technology Strategy Board's new ‘Grand Challenge' competition (also launched on November 25) to develop new composites manufacturing techniques; and £1m upfront funding to help develop challenge bids. At their simplest level composites are made from at least two materials that together produce a material with much improved properties than its constituent parts.

In the ‘UK Composite Strategy' document Lord Mandelson estimates that the UK offshore composite wind turbine blade and aerospace wing market alone could be worth £22 billion by 2020. Lord Mandelson said: "Today's new strategy will help us to exploit the potential of composite materials which could help us lower carbon emissions, make cost savings by making things which last longer and boost our position globally making the UK the place to produce and develop composites."

Study launched to examine if vibrations can create electricity

A team of researchers from the University of Bristol are conducting a three year project to see how vibrations from the environment could be much more widely harnessed as a clean source of electricity in a process known as ‘energy harvesting'.

A harvester in action

The concept has been around for more than a decade but the team aims to make it possible to make use of a much wider range of vibrations than is currently possible. During the ‘Energy Harvesting: Vibration-Powered Generators with Non-Linear Compliance' project, the team are exploring how vibrations caused by machines such as helicopters and trains could be used to produce power. They are also developing a new type of device to make use of vibrations from a much wider range of frequencies. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences - is funding the research with just over £197,000 of backing.

Dr Stephen Burrow, who is leading the project, said: "There's a huge amount of free, clean energy out there in the form of vibrations that just can't be tapped at the moment. Wider-frequency energy harvesters could make a valuable contribution to meeting energy needs more efficiently and sustainably."