Will Incentives Move the Renewables Market?

GAA/ldo/13.07.10                                                                                                                                            MARKET 1/4

WILL INCENTIVES MOVE THE RENEWABLES MARKET?

Speakers at GAIN National Conference Felt Essential To Achieve Mass Market

Retain Our Green and Pleasant Land Urged Chairman Bill Giles

From the limited grant work already undertaken in the renewables field, it is clear that incentives are key to moving this market, which is still in its infancy in the UK. However, speakers at the Conference, ‘Will Incentives Move the Renewables Market’, organised by the Grant Aided Heating Installers Network (GAIN) and held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham, at the end of June, were very positive about the future prospects for the industry.

Talks were particularly informative and therefore well received by the 260 delegates present from RSLs, energy advisors and the energy efficiency industry: they also viewed the 31 stands in the accompanying specialist exhibition. Main sponsor for the Conference was eaga Plc, with additional support from Scottish Power Energy Retail Ltd.

          Keynote speaker was Baroness (Diana) Maddock, President of the Micropower Council, with her particular interest in energy efficiency since the 1990’s, when she took the Private Members Bill – the Home Energy Conservation Act – through its journey to become law. Currently, through the Micropower Council, she wished to see a mass market for the microgeneration sector.

          “The consumer market - owner occupied housing - is around one to two hundred thousand installations per year, as opposed to the 1.5 million gas boilers installed annually in the UK” – she reported – “also, until now it has been an aspirational rather than an economic purchase, funded by consumers with capital to spare and being regarded as a long-term investment.”

“A Renewable Heat Incentive could change all that!” “Meanwhile Feed-In-Tariffs are already bringing in more enquiries than the industry can cope with – and there is a noticeable difference in consumer interest, where economic purchasing is becoming the norm.” “The Micropower Council wished to see a consumer engagement taskforce to promote the microgeneration message to the general public.” “In the business market economics, driven by financial incentives, were playing an increasingly important role.”

          Chairing the Conference was Bill Giles, OBE, former senior BBC weatherman, now involved in the forecasting of Climate Change. “There was no dispute that the earth was warming up. It was globally the warmest decade for 500 and possibly 1500 years.” “Fossil fuels were finite. But consider – the sun always shone, the wind was present around our shores, and the earth provided underground heat – a clear case for renewables! It was, however, important to get the message across.” “We inherited a green and pleasant land: it is up to us to see we do not pass on a brown and desolate planet!”

          Jo Greasley, Head of Renewable Heat Incentive Team, Office of Renewable Energy Deployment, at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, spoke of their proposed Renewable Heat Incentive. “This was intended to provide renewables and carbon targets, and be instrumental in changing behaviour, particularly at small scale via a wide range of technologies. It would aid security of supply and provide economic benefits and new jobs.” “Estimated numbers of installations were 1,728,000 domestic and 144,000 non-domestic in 2020.” “Meanwhile, whilst the new government was committed to the renewables target and renewables heat, the cost of all policies including the RHI had to be considered – and further announcements would be made in the Autumn.”

Steve Wilkinson, eaga Renewables, spoke of their work in this field, including “major work installing solar thermal, air source heat pumps, photovoltaic and ground source heat pumps in the social housing sector. Over 8000 installations had been completed to-date in the UK”. “Schemes covered fuel poverty, the ‘able to pay’ and commercial customers.”

Willie Kinnaird, New Business Development Manager, Scottish Power Energy Retail Ltd, discussed the Feed-In-Tariffs, introduced on April 1, by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. “These are intended to incentivise small scale low carbon electricity generation through solar photovoltaic, wind, hydro, anaerobic and domestic scale micro CHP. This cashback scheme allows householders, businesses and communities to invest in small scale low carbon electricity in return for a guaranteed payment for the electricity they generate and for what they export.”

Rufus Logan and Matt Dickinson, BRE Scotland, explained the microgeneration technologies available today and how they worked. “Most popular were the heat technologies – solar water heating, biomass heating, and heat pumps; and the electricity technologies – solar photovoltaic and small wind turbines.”

Andrew Loynd, Project Manager (Flowe), Fylde Borough Council, advised RSL delegates of the practicalities of installing renewables. “Consideration should be paid to the best time to install renewables, the right technology for the specific situation, local considerations such as planning, public support etc, procurement to make the building as energy efficient as possible, who should install the technology, and financing the project.”

Andy Stephenson, Carbon Action Network (Durham County Council) followed up by explaining how local authorities worked to install renewables. “The network dealt with local, regional, national and international initiatives, providing a network for the sharing of information and best practice across the UK, covering home energy conservation. Challenges facing RSLs included funding streams, planning, the Code for Sustainable Homes and Zero Carbon Housing, fuel poverty, the existing housing stock, and increasing fuel prices. Councils were already proactive with schemes for micro-renewables, insulation etc. Working in partnership with other organisations was key.”

Steve Fitzgerald, the Prince’s Mayday Network, explained how they worked with business to build a sustainable future for people and the planet. “Business had a corporate responsibility to build confidence and trust as we come out of the recession. Resources needed to be managed wisely. There was a need to prepare for the future low carbon economy, developing the skills and talents needed for the future.”

Paul Cooper, Chairman of GAIN, explained that the Association had now been established for nine years. “Its installer base had extended its range of products and services, originally heating, to help meet the future challenges of the renewable sector. Like the market place, GAIN placed a huge emphasis on quality and service, illustrated by all full members needing to hold one of six international quality accreditations, providing them with a strong foundation to develop the renewables market. They were also keen to move into the SME market place, where little had been done to improve energy efficiency.” He “welcomed the new Government’s plans for Green Deal”.

The Grant Aided Heating Installers Network organises regular meetings for installers, scheme managers and suppliers of heating and renewable products, serving the grants and other markets. GAIN is based at P O Box 12, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3AH; tel: 01428 654011; fax: 01428 651401; e-mail: info@gainassociation.org.uk; web: www.gainassociation.org.uk.

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Editors: Press enquiries to Leonie on 01428 654011.

DOWNLOADABLE IMAGES:- Click on images to view, or right click then 'save target as' to save good quality file to your PC
	Picture shows: Bill Giles OBE who chaired the GAIN Conference.
	Picture shows: Baroness (Diana) Maddock, President of the Micropower Council who was the keynote speaker at the GAIN Conference.
	Picture shows: Jo Greasley, Head of Renewable Heat Incentive Team, Office of Renewable Energy Deployment, Dept. of Energy and Climate Change
	Picture shows: the 260-strong audience at the GAIN 2010 Conference.