Breaking Wind

So what’s the deal with wind power? On 10th December 2007 – the Guardian declares ” Thousands of new offshore wind turbines could power every home” echoed by the BBC “10 Dec 2007 … All UK homes could be powered by offshore wind farms by 2020″

Roll the clocks forward, and in May 2008, Shell sells it stake and backs out of the London array.

Meanwhile, in April, the Crown Estate steps in and buys the world’s largest wind turbine for deployment in UK waters, its representative saying It is widely recognised that offshore wind energy will provide the majority of the required contribution needed to ensure that the UK meets its demanding renewable energy target to supply 15 per cent of our consumed energy from renewable sources by 2020.

We’re getting some mixed messages here. Are we breaking records in wind power – or on a heading to breaking our promises?

Some consistency in our approach to wind power would be welcome. All this to-ing and fro-ing makes investors nervous – and nervous investors don’t like to take risks on any project.

It’s not just up to the Government to make the renewables targets achievable, we all have to do our bit to make these projects happen. Sometimes that means seeing things through. Sometimes that means taking a risk. Let’s not make this setback put us on the back foot with our renewables targets. Deep breath. Dust off. Start again. I wish the remaining partners of the London Array luck as they push forward with their plans, and hope they will find the extra support they need to deliver this project without too many delays.

Indigestion

Recently, I met a pig farming couple based near the M40. Pig farmers are struggling to survive with the recent increases in the price of grain and feedstock.

The opportunity they have of using pig slurry as part of the fuel for anaerobic digesters has been made all the more obvious to those who listen to Radio4’s The Archers where two of the main characters are investigating installing a digester on Home Farm.

The opportunity here in Oxford appears obvious. In Banbury, we have a number of food manufacturers; waste from which could be included in the fuel for the digesters.

The government is making enormous efforts to encourage the production of biofuel crops, providing financial supports. Energy Crops Scheme provides grants for establishing short rotation coppice and miscanthus under the new Rural Development Programme England (RDPE), which will run from 2007-2013 and planning (subject to EU approval):

• £1,000 per hectare for short rotation coppice
• £800 per hectare for miscanthus

But why is there no direct support for anaerobic digesters? This type of local energy generation should surely attract its own focused scheme? Asking DEFRA and the digesters companies themselves, and you are pointed to the diversification programme.

Look on DEFRAs website under grants for livestock farmers, and you will see the words “Scheme now closed” in most of them. The setting up of an anaerobic digester facility can cost millions, so how the pig farming community is expected to fund this is a mystery.

So come on, DEFRA, give the pig farmers a break – and help them survive and thrive by providing interest free loans – payable once the renewable energy starts to earn cash.

The good news about climate change

OK, so how bored are business people with hearing about climate change?

It all seems such doom and gloom, especially for the smaller businesses, like FSB members, who might not benefit from the help of the Carbon Trust or Energy Savings Trust.

This blog aims to capture a different spirit – how we can do something constructive about the problem and still keep our businesses alive and flourishing. Hey – maybe we can even get a competitive edge if we think creatively.

That is what Ems2 is all about.