http://www.yougen.co.uk/ YouGen Blog, latest 20 items Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:30:39 +0000 en http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1813/Fiddling+the+feed-in+tariff'3A+prosecutions+will+follow-|-|-|/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1813/Fiddling+the+feed-in+tariff'3A+prosecutions+will+follow-|-|-|/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:34:01 +0000 It has become apparent that a number of companies have committed fraud by submitting feed-in tariff (FIT) applications (or getting the consumer to do so) without actually having installed the equipment.


This has clearly been driven by the change of FIT rates announced and the eligibility date being brought forward to 11 December 2011 instead of the expected date of April 2012.


However, this does not excuse the behaviour even though companies[...]]]> It has become apparent that a number of companies have committed fraud by submitting feed-in tariff (FIT) applications (or getting the consumer to do so) without actually having installed the equipment.


This has clearly been driven by the change of FIT rates announced and the eligibility date being brought forward to 11 December 2011 instead of the expected date of April 2012.


However, this does not excuse the behaviour even though companies may argue that they were protecting their customers from what they feel is an unreasonable change to the scheme.


In fact the decision is being challenged in the High Court


Unfortunately, this is a serious offence and customers complicit in fraudulent applications also stand to be prosecuted.


The MCS database operated by Gemserv shows trends in download activity which indicate fraudulent notifications. DECC, REAL, Gemserv and the Certification Bodies are looking at the situation closely and it is likely that where fraud is identified that prosecutions will follow as well as potential suspension/removal from the MCS approved installer register and that of the Certification Body.


It is unfortunate that the Government seemed to give little thought to their hasty and ill-managed decision and if the Court case is successful it may end up costing them more in compensation claims than it would to have continued on until April with the 43.3p tariff.


The constant change in approach to renewables has hindered uptake for the past 10 years or more and for a Government allegedly committed to energy efficiency and meeting its 2020 targets it has a strange way of going about it. The industry needs a consistent approach to supporting the uptake of renewable technologies instead of the constant changes we have seen in the past. Even now the domestic RHI cannot be sold to customers as it has not yet been confirmed, so installers are reluctant to make promises for fear of later being sanctioned for mis-selling .


I would suggest anyone who has been involved in a fraudulent FIT application come clean to your Certification body or as a customer to OFGEM or your FIT supplier to whom you applied. Better that, than getting caught as part of the investigations which it would seem are now inevitable.


And don't be tempted to fiddle the dates in an attempt to beat the new 3 March 2012 deadline. It's not worth it.


Photo: Oakley Originals


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1841/Make+sure+your+biomass+stove+or+boiler+is+not+poisoning+you/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1841/Make+sure+your+biomass+stove+or+boiler+is+not+poisoning+you/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:08:01 +0000

If a biomass stove or boiler is correctly installed and properly maintained, the likelihood of exposure to dangerous levels of CO is minimal.


Protecting against carbon monoxide 


[...]]]>

If a biomass stove or boiler is correctly installed and properly maintained, the likelihood of exposure to dangerous levels of CO is minimal.


Protecting against carbon monoxide 


Using an appliance that is poorly maintained, incorrectly installed or using poor quality fuel will significantly increase the risk of the appliance producing carbon monoxide. To prevent that:




• Only buy appliances that comply with current British Standard.


• Have your appliances installed by a registered installer. Installers will ensure that work carried out complies with current Building Regulations.


• Have your appliance regularly maintained by a qualified engineer. Faulty appliances can lead to poor combustion which produces CO.


• Burn the correct fuel for the appliance. Make sure the wood is seasoned and dry. Unseasoned wet wood suppresses combustion yet produces products of combustion which contain CO.


• For a wood burning appliance, have your chimney swept by a professional at least twice a year.


• Make sure the appliance is set-up with sufficient combustion air to burn cleanly. Appliances with an incorrect fuel air mix can increase the rate of CO production.


• Make sure there is enough fresh air in the room where the appliance is installed. Some appliances require a fresh air vent in the room where they are located.


• A responsible landlord should provide proof that a solid fuel appliance has been serviced and the chimney recently swept before the start of a tenancy.


Symptoms 


These can be similar to many common ailments and may easily be confused with flu, viral infections, food poisoning, or simply tiredness or fatigue.


Symptoms include: headaches, collapse, breathlessness, stomach pains, nausea, erratic behaviour, dizziness, visual problems, loss of consciousness, tiredness, vomiting and drowsiness.



If you suspect a CO escape 




If you suspect fumes are escaping into your home, or your carbon monoxide alarm goes off:


• Where an appliance is automatically fed with fuel, turn it off.


• Open the doors and windows in your property and ventilate thoroughly.


• Leave the property immediately and don’t return until your appliance or boiler has extinguished and any CO has dispersed from the household.


• If you feel unwell, go to your doctor, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or, if urgent, phone 999 for an ambulance. Mention that your symptoms may be related to carbon monoxide poisoning.


Before you use the appliance again, have it inspected and the chimney checked by a qualified engineer or approved chimney sweep. Do not use the appliance until you are told it is safe to do so.


Fit an Audible CO Alarm

As of October 2010, Building Regulations make it compulsory (in England & Wales) to fit a fixed audible alarm with each new or replacement solid fuel/biomass appliance. HETAS recommends that a CO alarm is installed to existing installations as well. Check the battery regularly and replace when necessary.


Photo by Peta Hopkins



]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1840/Buyer+beware+as+rogue+solar+installers+claim+43-|3p+feed-in+tariff/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1840/Buyer+beware+as+rogue+solar+installers+claim+43-|3p+feed-in+tariff/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:20:01 +0000

These installers are promising that the rate of government subsidy on solar PV panels will be 43.3p per kWh generated. In fact, due to an ongoing legal battle, this cannot be guaranteed. Consumers may only get a feed-in tariff rate of 21p per kWh.


A search for[...]]]>

These installers are promising that the rate of government subsidy on solar PV panels will be 43.3p per kWh generated. In fact, due to an ongoing legal battle, this cannot be guaranteed. Consumers may only get a feed-in tariff rate of 21p per kWh.


A search for solar installers on Google brings up three companies on the first page claiming to offer the 43.3p tariff rate. There are also many misleading ads in local and national papers and landing on people’s door mats.


If you install a 4kW system based on an expectation of 43.3p, and the government wins its appeal to the Supreme Court, you will receive £20,000* less than you had calculated over the 25 year term of the feed-in tariff.


My advice to people interested in solar panels is to go ahead only if you are happy with the returns given by a 21p feed-in tariff rate. Then if the government loses its appeal, and the rate does go back to 43.3p for installations with an eligibility date before 3 March 2012, you will have a very nice bonus.


If a company says that they can guarantee the higher rate, show them the door, or put down the phone.


There are many honest and reputable solar installers who will do a good job. If people want to protect themselves from solar cowboys, they should:



check that the company is MCS accredited, and members of the REAL Assurance Scheme
Get three quotes
Ask for references from previous customers, or check consumer feedback in the YouGen directory.
]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1839/How+to+maximise+the+benefit+of+secondary+glazing/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1839/How+to+maximise+the+benefit+of+secondary+glazing/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:35:01 +0000 Q: Our property is old and the windows are not double glazed but made of oak and have 6 - 8 panes per each half of the window. Any ideas about secondary double glazing appreciated.


A: Thinking back to first principles, the aim is to stop 'coolth' getting into the room - draughts of cold air through gaps, and cool air tumbling off cold surfaces. Secondary glazing helps with both these basic issues. But it can be a job fitting the big panes in the autumn th[...]]]> Q: Our property is old and the windows are not double glazed but made of oak and have 6 - 8 panes per each half of the window. Any ideas about secondary double glazing appreciated.


A: Thinking back to first principles, the aim is to stop 'coolth' getting into the room - draughts of cold air through gaps, and cool air tumbling off cold surfaces. Secondary glazing helps with both these basic issues. But it can be a job fitting the big panes in the autumn then removing/storing them for the summer. 


Once fitted, secondary glazing has two critical but fixable weaknesses:




1) Condensation - because it's not in a sealed unit, the air between the window and the secondary glass has the same humidity as the surrounding air and will condense onto the cold window glass. Which you can't easily wipe due to ... the secondary glazing. 


2) Overall efficiency - lack of any vacuum between the sheets of glass means it doesn't insulate as well as double glazing, and the imperfect contact sealing around the mating surface can still allow heat loss. 




There are workaround solutions, of course - if they're carefully included, secondary glazing is MUCH better than nothing, but will never be as thermally efficient as double or triple glazing. (My Finnish in-laws have triple glazing throughout their 18th century wooden house, but they live through -40C winters as routine. And their wooden walls are a couple of feet thick.)


To address: 




1) Put packets of silica gel in the air gap. They will saturate over time, but quickly lose their absorbed moisture if you heat them eg. in a cooling oven or near a fireplace. But they'll only work at all if you...


2) Ensure the secondary glazing seals tightly all round its surface with the window. Standard draught-proof strip works well since it hugs all the small surface contours. If the seal's good, the silica gel should keep condensation down - but you'll need to swap the packets and heat-dry the originals every so often. 




Alternatively, revert to traditional solutions. Thick, floor-length curtains drawn at dusk can work very well. Lined fabric is a good insulator since it's not trying to be transparent as well. In extreme cases (like two-inch door gaps I've seen in 15th century properties) it's the only option, but it works. 




Silica gel is typically sold in tiny packets for eg cameras. Better to buy big packets or tubs - ask in a hardware shop, or you can buy tubs or bags on Amazon. 


Photo: Trey Ratcliffe



]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1838/UK+green+media+agrees+blackout+on+rogue+solar+PV+companies/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1838/UK+green+media+agrees+blackout+on+rogue+solar+PV+companies/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:01:01 +0000

The network of the biggest online sites is to create and maintain a blacklist of companies that will be refused editorial and marketing space.


The move is in response to press releases and online advertising campaigns targeted at the consumer, which carry misl[...]]]>

The network of the biggest online sites is to create and maintain a blacklist of companies that will be refused editorial and marketing space.


The move is in response to press releases and online advertising campaigns targeted at the consumer, which carry misleading claims and false facts to exploit the current confusion and uncertainty in the market.


BusinessGreen, ClickGreen, GreenWise, Renewable Energy Installer and YouGen have agreed to impose the three-month blackout in an attempt to deter companies from promoting inaccurate and irresponsible claims in editorial submissions and advertising.


ClickGreen's Stuart Qualtrough explained the joint agreement would hopefully help support the industry's long-term reputation.


“We will not be naming and shaming but simply ignoring,” he added. “We want to promote a level playing field for both the installers and the consumers that will encourage the further roll-out of renewable energy across the UK.”


And James Murray, editor of BusinessGreen, said the aim of the blackout was to protect both readers and reputable solar firms from misleading claims about the current level of incentives for solar installations.


"Rightly or wrongly the government has created confusion in the solar market by again appealing against a court ruling that deemed its proposed cuts to feed-in tariffs were unlawful," he explained. "But there are some adverts and claims circulating that ignore the nuance of the case and are attempting to drum up short term business based on misleading claims.


“We are delighted to promote reputable solar firms that communicate with customers in a clear manner, but those that seek to exploit current confusion are only serving to damage the entire market."


Cathy Debenham of YouGen, added: “It is really important that consumers are protected from this totally unethical practice. High feed-in tariff rates have led to many to many people being misled by dodgy sales people.


“We know that there are lots of excellent solar PV installers giving realistic information, and we want to make sure that it is their voices that are heard during this period of uncertainty, not those of the cowboys.”


GreenWise editor Louise Bateman, said: “The solar Feed-in Tariff debacle has been the biggest story to hit the UK green sector and it is important that it continues to be reported accurately and that rogue traders are not allowed to take advantage of the situation and further damage this important renewable energy industry. That is why we have agreed to this voluntary blackout.”


And Lu Rahman, editor of Renewable Energy Installer, added: “We represent the interests of the small-scale installer, the majority of whom have worked hard to create businesses built on trust, strong customer relationships and knowledge of their sector. It is therefore disappointing that a small number of installers are looking to exploit the current Feed-in Tariff situation for financial gain.


“Prior to the 12 December deadline many companies were working tirelessly to ensure their pre-bookings were met and customers qualified for the higher rate tariff before it was cut. Now we have businesses looking to make what they can from the situation without thinking about the knock-on effects it will have for the reputation of a growing industry.


“Only last year, the sector had to rise above the media claims of ‘cowboy installers’. Let’s hope the Feed-in Tariff doesn’t create a new reason for renewables to hit the headlines, in all the wrong ways.”


Photo: theregeneration


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1830/Get+the+best+out+of+your+renewable+energy+system'3A+make+sure+your+installer+tells+you+how/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1830/Get+the+best+out+of+your+renewable+energy+system'3A+make+sure+your+installer+tells+you+how/ Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:18:01 +0000

Research by Consumer Focus and the Energy Saving Trust found that while value for money is more of an influence on choice of installer than personal recommendation, it is not as important as the knowledge displayed and information provided by the installer.


Consumers need mor[...]]]>

Research by Consumer Focus and the Energy Saving Trust found that while value for money is more of an influence on choice of installer than personal recommendation, it is not as important as the knowledge displayed and information provided by the installer.


Consumers need more than just financial figures to give them confidence. The research found that where customers were dissatisfied it was mainly due to lack of information. Of course, in some case it was due to the the sales process. As Consumer Focus points out "if it feels like pressure selling, it is". 


The key areas where installers fell down was on helping consumers to understand the value of their system and on how to get the best out of their invesment:



10% of installers do not discuss energy performance
29% do not discuss planning and building control
40% do not discuss current energy use
64% do not discuss energy efficiency
40% of consumers are not provided with a guide to maintaining the system
66% are not given a guide to getting the best out of their system.

This last is the most distressing, as how the consumer uses the system can make a significant difference to the benefit they get from it.


If you are buying a renewable energy system make sure you ask your installer for a thorough guide to how to get the best out of it. And, installers, please sit down and write some guides right now!



Picture: Mark Chadwick




]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1837/Government+loses+feed-in+tariff+appeal'2C+but+uncertainty+continues/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1837/Government+loses+feed-in+tariff+appeal'2C+but+uncertainty+continues/ Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:54:01 +0000

What does this mean?

As a result, people who want to inst[...]]]>

What does this mean?

As a result, people who want to install solar panels between now and 3 March 2012 still do not know what rate of feed-in tariff they will get. If the government is given permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, and then wins the appeal, the rate will be 43.3p until 31 March this year, then 21p for the remainder of the scheme. Otherwise it will be 43.3p per kWh generated for systems up to 4kW in size for the 25 year duration of the scheme. The 3.1p per kWh export rate is not affected. See here for rates for larger installations, and full information on the feed-in tariff.



Why is this happening?

Good question: At the time of the judgement yesterday, Greg Barker, Minister of State at DECC tweeted: "Win, lose or draw today, important we move forward together, drive down costs + step up deployment." Then his department moved swiftly to ensure that the uncertainty that faces consumers and the industry will continue. Judging by the contents of tweets he's received since, the industry doesn't class this as "moving forward together"!


My analysis is that it's a move to protect the (already overspent) feed-in tariff (FIT) budget from another mini boom. If the rate had been confirmed to be back at 43.3p from yesterday, solar installers' phones would have been ringing off the hook with people trying to get a system installed in the next 38 days. With the uncertainty continuing, it's not such an appealing investment.


Is now a good time to buy solar PV?

Prices of solar panels have fallen considerably since the feed-in tariff was introduced, so while the tariff has halved, the rate of return hasn't fallen by the same amount. You can work out what returns you are likely to get using this spreadsheet (it has calculators for both the new and the old rate).


It will also depend on your attitude to risk. Four judges have now declared the way the cuts were introduced illegal, and it has also been slated by two parliamentary committees. If the Government fails to succeed in the Supreme Court, everyone who installs solar PV between 12 December 2011 and before the 3 March 2012 will get the old rates. However, it would be unwise to go ahead unless you are happy with the return you get from the 21p feed-in tariff rate, as you may end up with that.



Given the overspend on the FIT budget, it is possible that the feed-in tariff rate will be cut again from 1 April. The government has also announced an intention to introduce strict energy efficiency criteria, which will make 80% or more households ineligible for the scheme without significant investment in energy efficiency.



What next for solar PV?

The government is expected to publish the results of its solar consultation on 9 February, and to set out plans for further changes to the feed-in tariff scheme, which could start from 1 April 2012.


Photo by Cindy Andrie


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1751/Living+with+an+air+source+heat+pump/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1751/Living+with+an+air+source+heat+pump/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:54:01 +0000

At least three of the houses we stayed in were heated by an air to air heat pump. This means that the heat pump blows warm air into the room/house - and can be used in summer for air conditioning (cooling).


There have been two different approaches: the most common i[...]]]>

At least three of the houses we stayed in were heated by an air to air heat pump. This means that the heat pump blows warm air into the room/house - and can be used in summer for air conditioning (cooling).


There have been two different approaches: the most common is to have a unit mounted on the wall of the main living room. It looks like the sort of air conditioning unit that I've often seen in offices in the UK, but never (so far) in anyone's home (see picture).


Like the air conditioning in a car, this is programmed to a certain temperature, and it blows hot air (or cold in summer) out into the room. Like a car, it's both rather noisy, when it's going (which isn't all the time), and a bit drafty if you're sitting in the line of fire. It's also makes the air in the room quite dry.


In the UK, domestic air source heat pump installations are more likely to be air to water. This means that the pump heats water, that is then circulated round underfloor heating or radiators to heat the house. This means there isn't noise or a draft.


The unit that does the work is on the outside of the house, and I didn't notice any discernable noise from it when we were inside. However, I know the owners of the house had a serious problem with noise when their nearest neighbours put three units on their external wall, about 4m away. What I did notice was a huge blast of cold air as I walked past it. I guess it would be belching out hot air in summer.



Home heating in New Zealand is totally different from the UK. They make most of our homes seem lovely and warm. Virtually no one has central heating. In most cases the focus is on heating the main living room - usually with a heat pump or a wood burning stove.


Elsewhere there's probably a heated towel rail and a small blow heater in the bathroom and electric blankets in all the beds, plus various electric heaters around the house.


It has taken the Kiwis a long time to get round to the idea that insulation is a good thing. It's only in the past 10 years or so that it's been compulsory to insulate new homes and to double glaze them. Most of the places we stayed in didn't appear to have either.


We did stay in one very new house with central heating. It is powered by an air source heat pump, and has solar thermal panels on the roof to heat the hot water. It has vents, either in the floor or walls, where warm air is blown in. I didn't notice the drafts so much, or that it dried the atmosphere, but the noise was worse. While I didn't necessarily notice when it fired up, it was always a relief when it stopped and we noticed how quiet it was.


I wasn't paying the electricity bill in any of these places, so can't tell you how economic or otherwise the heat pumps are. However, where they have replaced electric heaters, it's likely that they have led to significant savings.


The jury is out for the people who have replaced old wood burners that didn't meet the new Kiwi emissions standards. Most of the people I talked to seemed a bit disgruntled (and cold) because heating the living room to the same temperature cost significantly more with an ASHP than it had with a woodburner  (timber is one of New Zealand's biggest industries, and wood has historically been cheap).


Electricity has also traditionally been cheap and plentiful in New Zealand, where the grid is powered by 80% renewable sources thanks to lots of hydro and geothermal generation. However, with increasing demand, and political difficulty damming more valleys, prices are likely to rise, and the percentage of grid electricity that's renewable has fallen.


We came back thinking how lucky we are to live in a well insulated, centrally heated house, but also with pause for thought. An American family visiting NZ welcomed the practice of only heating the living room. It gave them more family time, as the kids gravitated to the warm room, rather than to their bedrooms.


It also made me realise how much smarter we could be about using our heating systems. Roll on the day when sophisticated controls come as standard. In the meantime, each radiator does have an on and off setting - maybe we should use them more!


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1833/10+things+you+need+to+know+before+installing+solar+PV/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1833/10+things+you+need+to+know+before+installing+solar+PV/ Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:04:01 +0000

I'm writing this because a letter making seriously misleading claims dropped through my letter box this week. It said that "the higher rate solar pv tariff will still be applicable for new entrants until the end of February 2012[...]]]>

I'm writing this because a letter making seriously misleading claims dropped through my letter box this week. It said that "the higher rate solar pv tariff will still be applicable for new entrants until the end of February 2012". This is not true. 


I have reported the company to the REAL Assurance Scheme, the ASA and NAPIT (which accredited it for MCS), and will write in a future blog how they deal with my complaints.


In the meantime here's a point by point list of what you need to know before going ahead with a solar PV installation:


1. The uncertainty is caused by a legal ruling on government proposals to change the feed-in tariff incentive scheme for solar PV. The government is currently appealing against the ruling.


2. For installations up to and including 4kW in size you can be certain that you will receive a feed-in tariff of at least 21p per kWh you generate. Depending on the outcome of the legal shenanigans you may get 43.3p per kWh if your system is fully installed and registered before 3 March 2012, but it would be unwise to base your calculations on that.



3. What ever happens, you will also get 3.1p per kWh you export to the grid (this will be deemed to be half of what you generate).


4. Both parts of the feed-in tariff will be paid for 25 years, index linked and tax free (for domestic installations). You will also find that your electricity bills are lower, as you use home generated electricity when it's available. 


5. Check that your installer is MCS accredited (look on this website to make sure the accreditation is current), otherwise you won't qualify for the feed-in tariff.


6. The closer to south your roof faces, the better the generation will be.


7. Make sure that it is not shaded by dormer windows, chimneys, other buildings or trees.


8. The standard calculation of what a system will generate based on the solar irradiation in the middle of the British Isles. If you are south of that you will generate more, if you are north of that you will produce less electricity. Ask your installer if the figures they are giving you are specific to your location and situation.


9. Get at least three quotes, and don't sign up on the day, whatever inducement the sales person offers (if they are making this sort of offer they may be breaking the REAL Assurance Scheme code).


10. Don't give the installer a deposit until you have seen a written survey for the installation, and predictions of what it will generate.


Photo by Jon Callas


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1835/Solar+PV'3A+readers'27+tip+of+the+month/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1835/Solar+PV'3A+readers'27+tip+of+the+month/ Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:48:01 +0000
There are inevitably many 'cowboys' in the solar PV industry, and I have come across one. PV Solar UK Ltd claimed to be a Which? recommended. Which? has not made any recommendations. Also some of the technical info was rubbish.

Despite the considerable drop in the FIT, at 21p pe[...]]]>
There are inevitably many 'cowboys' in the solar PV industry, and I have come across one. PV Solar UK Ltd claimed to be a Which? recommended. Which? has not made any recommendations. Also some of the technical info was rubbish.

Despite the considerable drop in the FIT, at 21p per unit this pays me 50% more than I am paying my supplier, and with the drop in the capital cost, my return is anticipated - by me - to be around 9-10% per annum.

This is one industry of the future, and as Edison suggested back in the 1930s, the sun offers the very best in renewable energy. For me, this is one of my better decisions, and I have no doubts abouts the benefits.

My Tips:

1. Do your research, and do it thoroughly before you start contacting potential installers

2. Don't just rely on the financials, if the sun does not shine, neither will your bank balance.

3. If you are ignorant of the solar PV industry and the technology involved, you are exposed to the cowboy installers.

4. Always, always view personal experiences, and if possible go on recommendations from people you can trust, which is what I did. Talk to them and go and see their installations.

This tip comes from Tony Phillips

Photo by Taran Rampersad
]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1826/Solar+security'3A+grid+connection+and+batteries+give+the+best+of+both+worlds/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1826/Solar+security'3A+grid+connection+and+batteries+give+the+best+of+both+worlds/ Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:49:01 +0000 We’re pioneer microgenerators who installed PV in 2006 before the feed-in tariff or the spurious ‘when do I get my money back’ argument appeared on the scene.


We live in a rural area with no mains gas, with overhead power cables flapping around in ever more frequent storms; we are solely reliant on electricity for power – and to power oil-fired central heating.


To ‘secure’ hot water, we installed solar thermal in 2009 with[...]]]> We’re pioneer microgenerators who installed PV in 2006 before the feed-in tariff or the spurious ‘when do I get my money back’ argument appeared on the scene.


We live in a rural area with no mains gas, with overhead power cables flapping around in ever more frequent storms; we are solely reliant on electricity for power – and to power oil-fired central heating.


To ‘secure’ hot water, we installed solar thermal in 2009 with a solar-powered pump, i.e., independent from mains power.


As all solar PV owners know, they are as useful as a chocolate fireguard when there’s a power cut because the system shuts down (if it didn’t exported electricity could cause serious injury to people working down the line). So when a YouGen newsletter from Cathy Debenham arrived heralding a battery back-up system, this appeared to offer a solution.


After several false starts, we managed to locate an installation company, which was as committed to the concept as we were; there are a few outstanding issues, but the system is up and running.




The system Cathy highlighted came from SMA, whose units are very widely used in homes throughout Germany & Scandinavia.


The system provides battery power to the house in times of power failure, or may be manually switched on to use battery power when required.


It  comprises two separate, integrated boxes of tricks: unit one isolates the  home from the grid whenever there is a power cut or supply is momentarily disrupted, and engages battery power. The second unit regulates power flow into the home, and any solar PV power that is being generated at  the time continues to be the first choice, but is supplemented by battery power instead of grid power. The changeover takes milliseconds, ensuring  computers, TVs etc don’t go into death mode.



Unit one senses when grid power is restored, the process is reversed, restoring grid power once batteries are isolated safely.


In daylight, the excess electricity generated by the solar PV is used to recharge the batteries, rather than being exported to the grid; at night, mains electricity tops up the batteries ready for the next grid failure.


For our home, the back-up system provides battery power for around four days, but we shepherd our power use, which others may not.


As with all installations, there are compromises to be recognised and accepted, eg: 


1. both units remain on standby (around 40w between them) in readiness for grid failure and battery power flow,


2. space is required for unit installation & battery storage. 



The greatest compromise is cost – the final bills haven’t arrived yet, but I am reckoning on around £5,500 + 5% VAT. To our way of thinking, this represents savings exchanged for 20+ years of energy security in a rural area with a dubious national grid, which fails around four times a year.


Failures which are increasing due to the lack of investment in rural areas, which isn’t going to get better any time soon, and the increasingly worrying phenomenon of metal theft – several sub-stations in our region (SE) have been plundered for scrap metal in recent months; they are easy targets.


In an increasingly uncertain world, we have taken the initiative to secure the power supply for our home and home-based business. We’re happy to provide more detailed information to anyone interested in this type of system, and equally happy for people to view the installation.


Our suppliers: 

PV battery back-up: RS Eco Company Ltd.
Solar thermal (independent of mains): Solartwin




…and for the record, we have no financial interest in either of the two companies mentioned above; we merely think they are a very useful additions to solar PV.


Picture: SMA



]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1832/Solar+PV'3A+where+we+stand+as+consumers+in+all+the+chaos+'28updated'29/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1832/Solar+PV'3A+where+we+stand+as+consumers+in+all+the+chaos+'28updated'29/ Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:49:01 +0000

The government has laid a licence before Parliament to modify the Energy Act, with the result that any solar PV installations with an eligibility date on or after 3 March 2012 will have the rates laid out in the consultation (21p for installations up to and including 4kW). In addition it confirmed that if it loses its Appeal it will st[...]]]>

The government has laid a licence before Parliament to modify the Energy Act, with the result that any solar PV installations with an eligibility date on or after 3 March 2012 will have the rates laid out in the consultation (21p for installations up to and including 4kW). In addition it confirmed that if it loses its Appeal it will stand by its consultation proposals.



So what does that mean for someone who wants to buy solar panels?


If you are interested in installing a solar PV system of up to (and including) 4kW this is where you stand:


If you install between now and 31 March you will get at least 21p per kWh you generate from the feed-in tariff.



Depending on the outcome of the government's appeal, you may find yourself in the bonus situation of getting 43p per kWh. However, it would be unwise to bank on it.


In addition to the generation tariff mentioned above, you will also benefit from:



3.1p per kWh exported. In this size installation, the amount exported will be estimated to be half of the electricity you generate.
reduced electricity bills, because you will use your own generated power first. How much this is will depend on the proportion of electricity you use during the day, and whether you time your use of energy hungry appliances to when the panels are generating most.

The situation for larger installations is the same, but the rates are different. Click here for rates:


What rate the feed-in tariff rates will be for people with an eligibility date after 31 March 2012 is still unknown, but it's certainly not likely to be more than 21p, and may well be less. A consultation document is expected at the end of January, which may shed some light on the matter.


So if you are happy with the rate of return that 21p per kWh gives then now is a good time to install. It's unlikely to get better, and it's quite likely to go down again after 3 March 2012. You never know, you might win the 43p jackpot, but don't rely on it when making your decision.



Photo: Chelmsford Public Library


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1825/Act+now'3A+insulation+will+never+be+so+cheap+again/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1825/Act+now'3A+insulation+will+never+be+so+cheap+again/ Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:03:01 +0000

25% of heat loss from a house is through the roof; 35% through the walls. In essence, you are paying to hea[...]]]>

25% of heat loss from a house is through the roof; 35% through the walls. In essence, you are paying to heat the outside air. What a waste! Surely stopping this expensive waste is a no brainer.



So act now. Go up to the loft, and measure your insulation. If it's less than 270mm (10") thick, you're not getting as much benefit as you could. If there isn't any, you're leaking money.



If you don't know if you have suitable cavity walls - or whether they have been filled - get an installer out to have a look. They can drill a small hole in the wall and tell if they are suitable, and if they are already filled.


The energy companies have tough targets to meet this year, and this means that there are some great offers around. The supermarkets and DIY stores are also competing hard for your business. To get the latest information on what's available in your area ring your local energy advice centre on 0800 512 012.


People over 70, or those on certain benefits, can get free insulation as, in some circumstances, can those with small children. Otherwise you are likely to pay between £100 and £350 for loft insulation, which will save you up to £175 a year off your heating bill, according to figures from the Energy Saving Trust. Cavity wall insulation costs about the same, and saves up to £135 a year.


The hassle involved in emptying the loft puts off a lot of people, but why not think about it as a great opportunity for a clear out. Just think of all the money you could make taking the things you haven't looked at for years to the car boot sale, or putting them on ebay. It might even cover the cost of the insulation!


So if you do just one home improvement this year, make it insulation. You'll never get such a good deal again.



Photo by Joseph Robertson


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1828/Solar+PV'3A+where+we+stand+as+consumers+in+all+the+chaos/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1828/Solar+PV'3A+where+we+stand+as+consumers+in+all+the+chaos/ Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:43:01 +0000

So what does that mean for someone who wants to buy solar panels?


If you are interested in installing a solar PV system of up to (and including) 4kW this is where you stand:


If you install between [...]]]>

So what does that mean for someone who wants to buy solar panels?


If you are interested in installing a solar PV system of up to (and including) 4kW this is where you stand:


If you install between now and 31 March you will get at least 21p per kWh you generate from the feed-in tariff. This was confirmed by the Department of Energy and Climate Changed (DECC) in writing to the Solar Trade Association. It said:


“The tariff rate for PV installations less than or equal to 4kW will not fall below 21p for installations with an eligibility date between 12th December 2011 and 31st March 2012”


Depending on the outcome of the government's appeal, you may find yourself in the bonus situation of getting 43p per kWh. However, it would be unwise to bank on it.


In addition to the generation tariff mentioned above, you will also benefit from:



3.1p per kWh exported. In this size installation, the amount exported will be estimated to be half of the electricity you generate.
reduced electricity bills, because you will use your own generated power first. How much this is will depend on the proportion of electricity you use during the day, and whether you time your use of energy hungry appliances to when the panels are generating most.

The situation for larger installations is the same, but the rates are different. Click here for rates:


What rate the feed-in tariff rates will be for people with an eligibility date after 31 March 2012 is still unknown, but it's certainly not likely to be more than 21p, and may well be less. A consultation document is expected at the end of January, which may shed some light on the matter.


So if you are happy with the rate of return that 21p per kWh gives then now is a good time to install. It's unlikely to get better, and it's quite likely to go down again after 31 March 2012. You never know, you might win the 43p jackpot, but don't rely on it when making your decision.



Photo: Chelmsford Public Library


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1820/How+a+ground+source+heat+pump+works+'28video'29/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1820/How+a+ground+source+heat+pump+works+'28video'29/ Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:15:01 +0000














To watch the ful[...]]]>














To watch the full series of videos, and for plenty more information about installing a ground source heat pump, visit Kenza's installer zone.


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1824/Industry+calls+on+Prime+Minister+to+sort+out++solar+mess/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1824/Industry+calls+on+Prime+Minister+to+sort+out++solar+mess/ Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:17:01 +0000

The call comes on crunch day for the UK's solar industry, and those who want to install solar panels. Today, the Department of Energy and Climate Change will find out whether or not it has leave to appeal against the ruling that its decision to cut the rates of the feed-in tariff before the end of the consultatio[...]]]>

The call comes on crunch day for the UK's solar industry, and those who want to install solar panels. Today, the Department of Energy and Climate Change will find out whether or not it has leave to appeal against the ruling that its decision to cut the rates of the feed-in tariff before the end of the consultation is 'unlawful'.


We've joined chairmain of the Solar Trade Association Howard Johns and leaders of the solar industry in signing the letter, which says: 


Dear Prime Minister,


We are writing to ask you to intervene to end the uncertainty over solar and to put the system on a strong sustainable footing.


Any system which allows retrospective changes to feed-in tariff rates, as Government barristers are arguing for in court today, is anathema to investment certainty – not just for solar, but wider green investment.


We agree that tariff rates should fall in line with dropping solar panel costs. Government should make this happen lawfully by bringing a proposal before Parliament immediately.


Every day of is a further delay: costing jobs with empty solar order books, scuppering clean energy projects, and keeping fuel prices high including for some of the poorest people in social housing who would have benefited.


The Treasury’s arbitrary cap which is set to close the scheme down to one tenth its size must be lifted – funded by tax receipts from the solar industry. Government plans for new eligibility restrictions must be changed because they would block nine out of 10 homes from having solar panels.  Tariff rates must also be set for community and housing association solar schemes to go ahead.


30,000 jobs are on the line as well as your government’s green credibility – please sort out this mess.


Photo: UK in Italy


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1823/How+can+we+stop+heat+loss+from+our+bay+window'3F/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1823/How+can+we+stop+heat+loss+from+our+bay+window'3F/ Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:31:01 +0000

A: The problem with insulation is that when you leave a gap, it is really noticeable. It is a bit like a puncture in a tyre; 99% of the tyre is fine but all the air gets out of that one tiny hole. And so with heat. NASA did a survey of their buildings in 2004 (or thereabouts) and found that 5% gap in insulation accounted for 50% of the heat lost. 



Bay windows are notoriously difficult to insulate – often tightly space constrained, odd shapes and with a radiator in them. Conventional insulation materials tend to be just too thick to be usable. Thinner materials, like multi-foils, can work but are often difficult to install. The one option I have found that works is aerogel, marketed as Spacetherm by The Proctor Group.


It is available as either a blanket or laminated to plywood and plaster board. Thicknesses available vary from 5mm to 40mm in 5mm increments and it is at least twice as effective as an equivalent thickness of polyurethane. You don’t need any special tools or equipment to install it, and it is handled in the same way as mineral wool – but less itchy. However, it is ruinously expensive so limiting its use to just the bay walls and roof would be prudent.




In all probability the laminated option would be best as this can be simply screwed to the existing roof and walls. And you might still put a reflector behind the radiator. However good the insulation it will never be perfect.


And if that does not suit, think about curtains. A good set of ceiling-to-floor curtains, lined with fleece (your local fabric shop is likely to stock fleece similar to that they make jackets from) will help get the room warm in the evenings and cut down draughts. 


Photo VCU libraries



]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1821/BBC+Dragons+back+solar+despite+FITs+cuts/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1821/BBC+Dragons+back+solar+despite+FITs+cuts/ Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:56:01 +0000 [...]]]>

"Although the government’s proposals to reduce the FiT from 43p/kWh to 21p/kWh are drastic, we believe that even if this new tariff is introduced solar is still an attractive option to homeowners. As energy bills continue to rise consumers will be looking for ways of lowering their energy costs and going green. With the 21p/kWh FiT solar photovoltaic (PV) panel homeowners will get a sensible return on their investment, as well as seeing lower electricity bills and helping the environment.


"Theo [Paphides] and I are both 100% committed to the growth and stability of Ploughcroft, which is leading by example within the solar industry. The government’s proposals haven’t scared us off and should not discourage the British public from investing in solar and other renewable energies.


"Our job is to make sure people still understand there is a good reason to commit to renewable energy, both financially and ethically. Once the government’s final decision on the new FiT has been made the solid, for-ward thinking renewable industry can continue to grow."


Photo: Ploughcroft


]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1767/Why+the+RHPP+has+had+little+impact+on+the+ground+source+heat+pump+market/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1767/Why+the+RHPP+has+had+little+impact+on+the+ground+source+heat+pump+market/ Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:02:01 +0000 The renewable heat premium payment (RHPP) scheme was introduced on 1 August 2011. This Government scheme provides a grant to householders investing in renewable heat technologies – solar thermal panels, heat pumps and biomass boilers – and was introduced as an interim measure pending the launch of the domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI), scheduled for October 2012.


For a ground source heat pump (GSHP) installation, the grant is £1,250, and the social housi[...]]]> The renewable heat premium payment (RHPP) scheme was introduced on 1 August 2011. This Government scheme provides a grant to householders investing in renewable heat technologies – solar thermal panels, heat pumps and biomass boilers – and was introduced as an interim measure pending the launch of the domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI), scheduled for October 2012.


For a ground source heat pump (GSHP) installation, the grant is £1,250, and the social housing sector is served via a competitive bid process.


According to DECC presentations, a principal aim of the RHPP was to learn more about how these technologies actually perform prior to finalising policy for the domestic renewable heat incentive. As a consequence, grant recipients will be obligated to participate in two surveys: the first will cover their experience of the sales/installation process and the second will focus on system performance. In addition, a large number of installations will be subject to more sophisticated monitoring, undertaken at DECC’s expense, to deliver credible performance data.


DECC also made clear that it wanted to ‘to avoid a hiatus which hurts the sector and damages the supply chain and manufacturing’. At various stakeholder events, DECC officials expressed concern that the £12m householder RHPP fund would be over-subscribed which would necessitate measures to ensure all technologies and regions were treated fairly. Many within industry were confused, not believing that such modest grants would generate significant interest, particularly as qualification for an RHPP payment does not mean an installation will automatically qualify for any emerging RHI.


So what has happened?


More than half way through the eight month scheme the Energy Saving Trust in their last weekly update (5/1/12) show the following uptake:


Total number of vouchers issued: 3,954
Value of vouchers issued: £3,012,350 (of which 19% are for GSHP)
Number of vouchers redeemed: 1,603






Given there was pent-up demand at the outset of the scheme, with customers delaying system commissioning to qualify for the RHPP, it is clear that the run rate is far short of the required levels to distribute the entire £12m. Not every voucher will graduate into an RHPP, so it is clear this policy has done little to raise interest.


So why the poor take up?


I can only comment on the ground source heat pump market, although many of the reasons probably carry over to different renewable heat technologies.


Most importantly, for householders planning a green makeover, there has been increasing interest in solar PV thanks to the inflated feed-in tariffs. Indeed, many householders raced to complete installations ahead the 12 December cut off date for feed-in tariff reductions. With capital in short supply, most cannot contemplate a simultaneous heat pump installation nor is there much appetite until some certainty on the RHI emerges. £1250 certainly doesn’t provide sufficient stimulus.


Nor is the timing helpful. Many householders will choose to replace boilers during the summer months when space heating is not required. The delay in launching the RHPP until August meant that most people are hoping their existing system can survive another winter. This is a delay with the built-in bonus that they will not be gambling on being eligible for the full RHI.


Of course, if their boiler does fail, most householders will require an immediate resolution. As a consequence, any emergency purchase is typically a like-for-like replacement: certainly, the time taken to implement a heat pump installation means they are rarely installed in such circumstances.


Without doubt, all this was explained to DECC. The £1,250 is merely a reward for those who were going to install a heat pump anyway; it certainly isn’t a meaningful incentive designed to trigger additional sales. In truth, it was only after a considerable lobbying effort that DECC agreed to allow self-build installations to qualify for the RHPP so the weak demand could have been worse!


Sadly, it is questionable whether Government will actually achieve their main ambition of securing meaningful survey and performance data. It's likely that monitoring of most installations won't cover the whole heating system. Is it possible that DECC will argue for a continued delay in the launch of the RHI to provide further time to learn about the technologies?


In the meantime, until there is some parity with the electricity generating technologies, optimism within the heat pump sector is likely to remain in short supply. This is a considerable shame given the 4th Carbon Budget identifiest heat pumps as the preferred mass market technology for the residential sector. For the industry to deliver this outcome, it needs some help, and that should start with DECC respecting industry opinions on emerging RHI policy.


Photo: Kensa





]]> http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1822/Solar+PV+still+in+limbo+as+DECC+appeals+High+Court+decision/ http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1822/Solar+PV+still+in+limbo+as+DECC+appeals+High+Court+decision/ Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:35:01 +0000

DECC had proposed that a cut off date of 12 December 2011 for the reductions in tariff (from 43p to 21p per kWh for installations of up to 4kWp). This was 2 weeks before the consultation on the changes closed on 23 December. It was this that Judge Mitting declared "unlawful".[...]]]>

DECC had proposed that a cut off date of 12 December 2011 for the reductions in tariff (from 43p to 21p per kWh for installations of up to 4kWp). This was 2 weeks before the consultation on the changes closed on 23 December. It was this that Judge Mitting declared "unlawful".


This leaves consumers and installers in limbo, not knowing whether any new installs will get the proposed lower rates, or the previous ones. We won't know any more until the High Court decides whether to allow the appeal - it's new term starts on 11 January.



On the FITs appeal, A DECC spokesperson said:


"We have lodged grounds of appeal with the Court of Appeal. We hope that permission will be granted for an appeal and that we can secure a hearing as soon as possible so that we can provide clarity for consumers and industry on the way forward following the consultation.


"The High Court’s decision was based on the view that the proposed approach to implementing new tariffs for solar PV is inconsistent with the FIT scheme’s statutory purpose of encouraging small-scale low-carbon electricity generation.


"We disagree with this for a number of reasons. The overriding aim of the proposed reduction in tariffs for solar PV (as set out in the recent consultation) is to ensure that over the long term as many people as possible are encouraged to install small scale low-carbon generation (including other technologies as well as solar PV) and benefit from the funding available for the FIT scheme. Without an urgent reduction in the current tariffs, which give a very generous return, the budget for the scheme would be severely depleted and there would be very little available for future solar PV generators, or for other technologies. Our view is that the urgent steps we have proposed to protect the scheme for the future are fully consistent with the scheme’s statutory purpose.


"We have also made the point that the judicial review was premature as no decision has yet been taken, and a decision will only be taken after a full analysis of the responses to the consultation."


Friends of the Earth (FoE) was one of the three organisations that sought the judicial appeal on DECC's solar PV feed-in tariff proposals.



"Trying to appeal the High Court’s ruling is an expensive waste of taxpayers’ money – the court says the Government has no realistic chance of winning, and it will prolong uncertainty among solar companies just when they need reassurance," said FoE head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton.


"Ministers should accept the High Court’s decision and end business uncertainty and protect jobs with a clear plan to reduce payments from February, in line with falling installation costs.


"The Government must expand the scheme overall – with all the tax revenue the scheme generates, this can be done at no extra cost to bill payers."


Photo: Friends of the Earth


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