The newest and most powerful wind farm in the UK is today officially switched on in what is proving to be a record year for the UK wind industry.

The opening today of Rothes wind farm in Scotland by Deputy Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson is the 8th commissioning of new wind projects this year. The 22 turbine 50.6 megawatt (MW) project brings the total UK wind power portfolio to 979 megawatts from 1234 turbines, representing some 0.7% of total UK electricity supply.

This figure is set to rise to 1.5% of supply by the end of 2005 as other projects currently under construction are commissioned, including the third of the UK’s large-scale offshore wind farms, Kentish Flats, off the coast of Kent.

2005 is a record year for wind energy, confirms a new survery by the industry association, BWEA. A total of 18 new wind farms will be officially commissioned this year alone, representing some 500 megawatts of capacity and this success is echoed in new wind farms receiving consent. 11 new projects with a total of 218.3 MW have been approved so far this year. With an additional 6,180 MW already in the planning system, representing some 6% of UK electricity supply, the wind industry is well on track to meeting expectations of the sector, widely predicted to be the technology that will meet the bulk of the Government’s targets for renewables by 2010.

BWEA CEO Marcus Rand commented:

�The wind industry in the UK is now expanding at a record rate. This year alone it will be commissioning as much new capacity as was achieved in the whole of the nineties. In 2006, the industry is set to grow at an even faster rate as we become the world leader in offshore wind development.

Wind projects representing some 10% of the UK’s electricity needs from on and offshore projects are either being commissioned, are awaiting planning determination or are due to enter the planning system over the next 12 months. This represents an investment potential of some 10 billion to create thousands of new jobs as well as helping in our fight against climate change.

The Rothes wind farm comprises twenty two turbines, situated at Cairn Uish, in Moray, 13km south west of Elgin and 10km west of Rothes and was developed by Fred Olsen Renewables Ltd., through its agent Natural Power Consultants. See http://www.naturalpower.com for further details.

For a list of all operating UK wind projects, see http://www.bwea.com/map. A list and map of projects due for commissioning in 2005 can be found at http://www.bwea.com/map/2005.html.

The 11 consented projects are:

Bessy Bel 2 (9 turbines, 11.7 MW)
Dalswinton, Pennyland Moor (16 turbines, 48 MW)
Drummuir (21 turbines, 42 MW)
Findhorn Foundation (3 turbines, 0.9 MW)
Hafoty Ucha 3a (1 turbines, 0.85 MW)
High Hedley 2 (4 turbines, 5.2 MW)
Millenium (16 turbines, 48 MW)
Nissan Motors Plant (7 turbinesm, 5.25 MW)
Power Factory (8 turbines, 10.4 MW)
Walkway, High Swainston (7 turbines, 21 MW)
Wether Hill (14 turbines, 25 MW)

Record year for UK wind industry

There are currently 18 wind energy projects under construction and due for commissioning by end 2005. These include the third of the UK’s large-scale offshore wind farms, Kentish Flats, off the coast of Kent. Once completed, these will add a further 600 megawatts (MW) to the UK’s wind power portfolio, increasing wind power’s contribution to the UK electricity portfolio to some 1.5% of total supply. Approved projects awaiting construction represent an additional 2% of supply waiting in the wings. A further 6,180 MW of potential wind capacity is currently progressing through the planning system, which if approved, represents and additional 6% of UK electricity supply.

BWEA is the professional association championing the UK wind and marine renewables industry representing 325 companies active in the sector.

Original press release: UK�s Largest Wind Farm Switches On in a Record Year for Wind Industry (BWEA)

Over 200 delegates, ranging from small wind turbine manufacturers and suppliers to Local Authorities, Government bodies and large commercial organisations gathered yesterday to embrace small scale wind at the ‘Wind Power - Small Scale and Building Integrated’ conference and exhibition. The event, the first in a series dedicated to small scale renewable energy, was organised by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and supported by the British Wind Energy Association.

Small wind systems first appeared in the UK over a quarter of a century ago with installations operational over the past decade. However, following the rapid development in new technology solutions, significant public interest and increased policy support from Local Authorities through to Government, small scale wind is now set to achieve mainstream status as one of the most exciting renewable markets of our time.

Microgeneration, including small scale wind, meets all four of the UK Government’s energy policy goals; reducing carbon emissions; improving security of supply; improving fuel poverty and providing competitive electricity markets. Not only has the publication of the Planning Policy Statement 22 in July 2004 given Local Authorities powers to require small scale renewable energy in certain developments, but the Government is set to launch a Microgeneration Strategy consultation this year.

Despite all this support, several issues will have to be resolved before small scale wind can be installed in large numbers. The BRE conference addressed most of these, including industry wide technical standards and Health & Safety; planning guidance; long term finance and grants; regulatory issues such as access to local authority networks, ROCs and exporting of electricity.

Marcus Rand, CEO of BWEA, speaking at the event commented:

“We are entering a fantastically exciting time in small wind. The technology is becoming more talked about both in the public and political agenda and we see more people wanting to install their own wind turbines. This sector of the wind industry is vital in our climate change and energy security targets since demand for small wind can potentially be enormous. However, there are still challenges ahead, particularly those of finance, regulation, planning and technical standards. By working together and encouraging innovative thinking the industry, stakeholders and Government can get this right, drive the market and get those much wanted economies of scale.”

Original press release: Embracing the Power of Small Wind Systems (British Wind Energy Association - BWEA)

A re-elected Labour government would put nuclear power back on the agenda in an effort to meet targets on climate change, government sources have said.

The sources told BBC News Tony Blair wanted a national debate on the issue.

He would raise the issue when ministers responded to a climate change policy review in June or July, they said.

The Tories say there should be new nuclear stations provided they meet cost and waste concerns but the Lib Dems oppose the idea.

Complete news release: Blair ‘to debate nuclear power’ (BBC News)

Using a new electrically-assisted microbial fuel cell (MFC) that does not require oxygen, Penn State environmental engineers and a scientist at Ion Power Inc. have developed the first process that enables bacteria to coax four times as much hydrogen directly out of biomass than can be generated typically by fermentation alone.

Dr. Bruce Logan, the Kappe professor of environmental engineering and an inventor of the MFC, says, “This MFC process is not limited to using only carbohydrate-based biomass for hydrogen production like conventional fermentation processes. We can theoretically use our MFC to obtain high yields of hydrogen from any biodegradable, dissolved, organic matter — human, agricultural or industrial wastewater, for example — and simultaneously clean the wastewater.

“While there is likely insufficient waste biomass to sustain a global hydrogen economy, this form of renewable energy production may help offset the substantial costs of wastewater treatment as well as provide a contribution to nations able to harness hydrogen as an energy source,” Logan notes,.

The new approach is described in a paper, ‘Electrochemically Assisted Microbial Production of Hydrogen from Acetate,’ released online currently and scheduled for a future issue of Environmental Science and Technology. The authors are Dr. Hong Liu, postdoctoral researcher in environmental engineering; Dr. Stephen Grot, president and founder of Ion Power, Inc.; and Logan. Grot, a former Penn State student, suggested the idea of modifying an MFC to generate hydrogen.

In their paper, the researchers explain that hydrogen production by bacterial fermentation is currently limited by the “fermentation barrier” — the fact that bacteria, without a power boost, can only convert carbohydrates to a limited amount of hydrogen and a mixture of “dead end” fermentation end products such as acetic and butyric acids.

However, giving the bacteria a small assist with a tiny amount of electricity — about 0.25 volts or a small fraction of the voltage needed to run a typical 6 volt cell phone — they can leap over the fermentation barrier and convert a “dead end” fermentation product, acetic acid, into carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

Logan notes, “Basically, we use the same microbial fuel cell we developed to clean wastewater and produce electricity. However, to produce hydrogen, we keep oxygen out of the MFC and add a small amount of power into the system.”

In the new MFC, when the bacteria eat biomass, they transfer electrons to an anode. The bacteria also release protons, hydrogen atoms stripped of their electrons, which go into solution. The electrons on the anode migrate via a wire to the cathode, the other electrode in the fuel cell, where they are electrochemically assisted to combine with the protons and produce hydrogen gas.

A voltage in the range of 0.25 volts or more is applied to the circuit by connecting the positive pole of a programmable power supply to the anode and the negative pole to the cathode.

The researchers call their hydrogen-producing MFC a BioElectrochemically-Assisted Microbial Reactor or BEAMR. The BEAMR not only produces hydrogen but simultaneously cleans the wastewater used as its feedstock. It uses about one-tenth of the voltage needed for electrolysis, the process that uses electricity to break water down into hydrogen and oxygen.

Logan adds, “This new process demonstrates, for the first time, that there is real potential to capture hydrogen for fuel from renewable sources for clean transportation.”

The Penn State researchers were supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Penn State Huck Life Sciences Institute and the Stan and Flora Kappe Endowment.

Original press release: Microbial Fuel Cell: High Yield Hydrogen Source and Wastewater Cleaner (Penn State University)

Room temperatures in Beijing government offices will be kept above 26 degrees Celsius this summer to help reduce strain on electricity supplies, says an order issued by the municipal government.

“We will continue to experience an electricity shortage this year, despite the rapid growth of generating capacity,” says Wang Yonggan, secretary-general of the China Electricity Council, an industry association. He says the deficit will be much lower this summer compared to last year.

Power shortages have become a major issue in many parts of the country since 2003. Nineteen out of 31 province-level regions on the Chinese mainland suffered power shortages in 2003, while it increased to 24 in 2004.

The order from Beijing also says different electricity prices will be implemented to encourage businesses to use electricity in off-peak hours.

It also asks government employees to form the habit of turning off lights when they leave offices for the day.

Guangdong Province introduced a new electricity rate system on April 1, enlarging the gap between peak-hour electricity prices and off-peak hour prices.

Guangzhou, the provincial capital, adopted a policy of protecting premium businesses. Several high-polluting small businesses in Zengcheng and Conghua have been ordered to stop production.

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has reshuffled the industrial sector to promote economical use of electricity.

Analysts say electricity supply will meet demand in 2006.

Original press release: Beijing to Keep a Lid on Climate in Offices (China Daily)

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Renewable Power Association (RPA) today issued a joint report showing the huge potential for greater generation of energy from waste. The report, Quantification of the Potential Energy from Residuals in the UK, concludes that there is the opportunity for certain types of waste to produce up to 17% of electricity generated in the UK by 2020.

Almost 30 million tonnes of household rubbish was sent to landfill in England alone in 2003. The report states that more than half of this rubbish could be used to create enough power to light 2 million homes each year. A large majority of this waste is recognised in EU law as a source of renewable energy.

Peter Gerstrom, Chairman of ICE’s Waste Management Board, commented, “Instead of burying rubbish that is left after recycling it can be used to create electricity through a variety of measures. We are not generating enough renewable electricity, which means that the UK will not reach the EU Renewables Directive target of producing 10% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2010. We are even less likely to reach the next target of having 20% provided by renewables by 2020.”

“Year on year the UK is producing more waste. Waste into energy will have environmental benefits by reducing the rubbish mountain. It also has the added bonus that recycling residual biodegradable waste in this way is an effective way of hitting the targets in the EU Landfill Directive.”

“The UK should be taking the opportunity to harness this energy as this will boost our environmental performance by increasing our use of renewable power and reduce the UK�s reliance on landfill. This will not happen in the current climate.”

“The findings of this report should be of interest to the Government as the current DTIconsultation Renewables Obligation Review, published 4 April 2005, has within its remit the opportunity to consider allowing producers of energy generated from waste to receive Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs).”

Gaynor Hartnell, Director of Policy at RPA, said, “Many of our European neighbours excel at both recycling and energy recovery. Producing energy from waste after recycling targets have been achieved is environmentally sound and will help us meet both our renewables targets and help us minimise the amount of waste going to landfill. It also helps with energy security, through reducing dependence on energy imports.”

“The UK should seek to limit the unsustainable option of landfill for Commercial and Industrial Waste, to bring us in line with the rest of Europe. This would encourage greater recycling and secure sufficient amounts of biodegradable waste to realize the 17% potential identified in the report. ICE and RPA are calling for government support to encourage the development of this energy resource.”

Peter Gerstrom continues, “It is patently not in the UK’s interest to allow the energy, enough to power the population of Wales and Northern Ireland every year, to go to waste by being buried. Radical thinking about alternative energy, such as that highlighted in this report, is required to ensure the safety and diversity of the UK energy supply.”

Original press release: Energy From Waste Must Not be Overlooked Say Industry Experts (Renewable Power Association)