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danmoscatiello · 2 months

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How Government Policies Can Achieve Carbon Neutrality

The global challenge of climate change demands urgent and coordinated action from governments worldwide. Achieving carbon neutrality—balancing carbon emissions with carbon removal or elimination—requires comprehensive strategies and robust policies. Governments play a crucial role in leading this transition by implementing policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy, and foster sustainable development. This article explores various strategies that governments can adopt to achieve carbon neutrality, including carbon pricing, renewable energy incentives, energy efficiency standards, transportation policies, waste management improvements, climate finance, and international cooperation.

Implementing Carbon Pricing

Carbon pricing is one of the most effective tools for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It involves setting a price on carbon emissions to encourage businesses and consumers to reduce their carbon footprint. There are two main types of carbon pricing: carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems.

A carbon tax directly sets a price on carbon by defining a tax rate on greenhouse gas emissions or the carbon content of fossil fuels. This approach provides a clear economic signal to emitters to reduce their emissions. For example, Canada’s carbon pricing plan, which aims to reach CAD 170 per ton by 2030, incentivizes businesses to adopt cleaner technologies. This policy has already shown promising results, with significant reductions in emissions reported since its implementation.

Cap-and-trade systems, on the other hand, set a limit (cap) on the total level of greenhouse gas emissions and allow industries with low emissions to sell their extra allowances to larger emitters. The European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is the world’s largest cap-and-trade system, covering more than 11,000 power stations and industrial plants across 30 countries. This system not only caps total emissions but also creates a financial incentive for companies to innovate and reduce their carbon footprint.

Both carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems have been effective in reducing emissions where implemented. They provide a market-based approach to environmental regulation, allowing businesses to find the most cost-effective ways to cut emissions. Additionally, the revenue generated from carbon pricing can be used to fund renewable energy projects, further driving the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Promoting Renewable Energy

Governments can achieve carbon neutrality by promoting the development and deployment of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. Financial incentives, such as subsidies, tax credits, and grants, can encourage investment in renewable energy projects. For instance, the United States has pledged significant public funding for clean energy infrastructure and technologies, including green hydrogen and advanced nuclear power. These investments are essential for transitioning away from fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

China’s commitment to reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 involves substantial investments in renewable energy sources. The country has become a global leader in renewable energy, with significant growth in wind and solar power capacity. By investing in renewable energy, governments can reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.

Moreover, governments can implement policies that facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the grid. This includes investing in energy storage technologies, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, which can store excess renewable energy for use when demand is high or supply is low. Grid modernization efforts, such as smart grids, can also enhance the efficiency and reliability of renewable energy systems.

Strengthening Energy Efficiency Standards

Improving energy efficiency in buildings, appliances, and industrial processes is crucial for reducing emissions. Governments can set stringent energy efficiency standards and provide incentives for retrofitting existing buildings with energy-efficient technologies. For example, the European Union’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires member states to adopt energy efficiency measures in new and existing buildings. This directive includes setting minimum energy performance standards and ensuring that all new buildings are nearly zero-energy buildings by 2021.

In the United States, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) develops and implements energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment. These standards have led to significant energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. By setting high energy efficiency standards, governments can reduce energy consumption, lower utility bills for consumers, and decrease overall emissions.

Additionally, governments can promote energy efficiency through public awareness campaigns and programs that provide technical assistance and financial incentives for energy-efficient upgrades. Programs like the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) in the U.S. help low-income households reduce their energy bills by improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

Transforming Transportation

The transportation sector is a significant source of carbon emissions. Governments can promote carbon neutrality by encouraging the use of electric vehicles (EVs), improving public transportation, and investing in cycling and walking infrastructure. Policies such as subsidies for EV purchases, investments in charging infrastructure, and regulations to phase out internal combustion engines are crucial. For example, California aims to achieve 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035 as part of its plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2045.

In addition to promoting EVs, governments can enhance public transportation systems to reduce reliance on private vehicles. This includes expanding and modernizing bus and rail networks, implementing dedicated bus lanes, and improving the affordability and accessibility of public transit. Cities like Copenhagen and Tokyo have demonstrated that well-developed public transportation networks can significantly reduce urban emissions.

Investing in active transportation infrastructure, such as bike lanes and pedestrian pathways, can also encourage more sustainable modes of transport. By making cities more walkable and bike-friendly, governments can reduce emissions, improve public health, and enhance the quality of life for residents.

Enhancing Waste Management

Effective waste management policies can significantly reduce methane emissions from landfills. Governments can implement policies that promote recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy technologies. For instance, Sweden’s waste management policies have successfully diverted a significant portion of waste from landfills to recycling and energy recovery, contributing to its carbon neutrality goals. By setting high recycling targets and imposing landfill taxes, Sweden has created a circular economy that minimizes waste and maximizes resource efficiency.

Governments can also invest in technologies that convert waste into energy, such as anaerobic digestion and incineration with energy recovery. These technologies can reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills and generate renewable energy, further contributing to carbon neutrality.

Public education and outreach programs are essential for promoting sustainable waste management practices. By raising awareness about the environmental benefits of recycling and composting, governments can encourage individuals and businesses to adopt more sustainable behaviors.

Mobilizing Climate Finance

Achieving carbon neutrality requires substantial financial investments. Governments can mobilize climate finance by allocating public funds for green projects and leveraging private sector investments through public-private partnerships. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is an example of an international initiative that provides financial support to developing countries for climate mitigation and adaptation projects. By mobilizing both public and private resources, the GCF aims to support the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient development.

Governments can also create green banks or financial institutions that provide low-interest loans and grants for renewable energy projects, energy efficiency upgrades, and other sustainable initiatives. These institutions can help de-risk investments in green technologies and attract private capital.

Additionally, carbon pricing revenues can be used to fund climate initiatives. By reinvesting the proceeds from carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems into renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation projects, governments can accelerate the transition to carbon neutrality.

Fostering International Cooperation

Climate change is a global issue that requires coordinated international efforts. Governments must work together to share knowledge, technology, and resources to achieve carbon neutrality. International agreements like the Paris Agreement play a vital role in fostering global cooperation. Under this agreement, countries have committed to limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. The agreement also emphasizes the need for developed countries to support developing nations in their climate efforts.

Collaborative frameworks, such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), facilitate knowledge exchange and technical cooperation between countries. By participating in these frameworks, governments can learn from each other’s experiences and implement best practices in their own climate policies.

Regional cooperation is also crucial for addressing transboundary environmental issues. For example, the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in the northeastern United States are examples of successful regional initiatives that promote carbon reduction through collective action.

In Conclusion

Government policies are crucial for achieving carbon neutrality and mitigating the impacts of climate change. By implementing carbon pricing, promoting renewable energy, strengthening energy efficiency standards, transforming transportation, enhancing waste management, mobilizing climate finance, and fostering international cooperation, governments can create a sustainable and resilient future. These strategies require a collaborative effort from policymakers, businesses, and communities to ensure that we meet our global climate goals and protect the planet for future generations.

Achieving carbon neutrality is not only an environmental imperative but also an opportunity to drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve public health. By adopting comprehensive and ambitious policies, governments can lead the way in the global fight against climate change. The path to carbon neutrality is challenging, but with determined action and international collaboration, it is achievable.

#dan moscatiello #Government Policies #Carbon Neutrality

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esgagile · 3 months

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Carbon Footprint's Effect on Business

We are a Carbon footprint consultant In Dubai, the term "carbon footprint" describes the quantity of greenhouse gases (GHG) released into the atmosphere by an individual, group, activity, occasion, or thing. Because they can trap heat in the atmosphere, greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and climate change. Managing your organization's emissions is essential to solving the climate change issue. You need to be aware of how you contribute to the problem. If not, your attempts to cut emissions might need to be more thorough. The next step is to determine how much of the emissions you contribute to are your own now that you fully understand how you do so. The greenhouse gas protocol is one of the most often used techniques for determining a company's emissions. Businesses can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting a circular economy and cutting waste.

As a Carbon footprint consultant In UAE, Emissions are converted to CO2 based on how likely they are to cause global warming. Once completed, you may calculate your absolute CO2 emissions in metric tons. It is counterproductive to invest in reducing carbon emissions solely from a business standpoint. But that isn't even close to being true. Remember that customers will demand environmental responsibility from the firms they patronize as they become more aware, proactive, and vocal about the issue of protecting the environment. Your brand has numerous incentives to invest in decreasing emissions and following rules. Governments and industry regulators are implementing strict criteria for regulating carbon emissions as the need to reduce emissions reaches critical levels. Penalties, fines, and reputational damage for breaking these requirements can exist.

In our role as Carbon footprint consultant, you must comprehend and abide by the regulatory structure in your industry when you adopt a greener strategy. There is a lot of attention on what firms are doing since everyone wants to make sure that future generations may live in favourable conditions. Therefore, companies encouraging sustainability and lowering their greenhouse gas emissions have a greater chance of winning over customers, employees, and investors. Businesses that don't manage their carbon footprint risk damaging their reputation. Reducing carbon emissions is a costly and pointless endeavour. Even though you might get paid later, these projects will improve your business's financial situation. Organizations can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and improve their relationships with customers, employees, and communities by involving suppliers and stakeholders.

We believe as a Carbon footprint consultant In Dubai, establishing your company's reputation as a sustainable one will increase investment, result in cheaper insurance costs, and raise your credit score. Furthermore, by implementing such efforts, you will gain the loyalty of your customers, which will boost your revenue. Losing risk is one of the indirect advantages of controlling carbon emissions. As a result, as you strive to create sustainable goods and services, you'll match your brand with the growing market for greener options. It is imperative that you cut back on your greenhouse gas emissions if you want to pursue sustainability and environmental management. Reducing carbon footprint can result in cost savings, increased efficiency, and new business opportunities despite its daunting appearance.

As an expert Carbon footprint consultant In UAE, there’s a pressing need to act swiftly. Reducing carbon emissions is one of the most efficient ways to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which has issued a warning. There must be a thorough plan in place to cut carbon emissions. As a clean and sustainable substitute for fossil fuels, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power produce electricity without emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. One of the leading causes of carbon emissions is energy use. Therefore, one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions is to use energy more efficiently. Making such a change will cut your energy expenses and your emissions. Maintaining products, parts, and materials at their best possible value and usefulness is the goal of a circular economy.

#Carbonfootprintconsultant #Carbonfootprintconsultantindubai #Carbonfootprintconsultantinuae

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trending-rock · 5 months

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The Best Solar Panel Deals in Canada: Find Your Perfect PVT Match

1. Solar Panels in Canada

Solar panels are an excellent way to harness clean, renewable energy and reduce your carbon footprint. In Canada, there are many solar panel options available, with competitive deals to suit various needs and budgets.

2. Why Go Solar in Canada?

Canada boasts an abundance of sunlight throughout the year, making it an ideal location for solar energy production. Solar power helps you save on energy costs, reduce your reliance on traditional power sources, and benefit from potential tax incentives.

3. Types of Solar Panels Available

There are several types of solar panels on the market:

Monocrystalline: Known for high efficiency and longevity.

Polycrystalline: Offers a balance of efficiency and affordability.

Thin-film: Lightweight and flexible, but lower efficiency.

Choose a type based on your energy needs, available space, and budget.

4. How to Find the Best Solar Panel Deals in Canada

Research online: Compare options and read customer reviews.

Consult local installers: Ask for quotes and advice.

Attend solar expos: Explore options and meet industry experts.

Check for promotions: Look for seasonal sales and offers.

5. Canadian Solar Panel Incentives and Rebates

Canada offers several incentives to encourage solar panel adoption, including tax credits, grants, and rebates. Check with local and provincial governments for current programs.

6. Choosing the Right Solar Panel for Your Needs

Assess your energy needs: Calculate your household's energy usage.

Consider your budget: Balance initial cost with long-term savings.

Evaluate space: Ensure your property can accommodate solar panels.

7. Top Canadian Solar Panel Brands

Explore leading Canadian solar panel brands such as:

Hydro solar: Known for quality products and extensive warranty.

Silfab Solar: Offers efficient panels and strong customer support.

Guelph Solar: Specializes in innovative solar solutions.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the lifespan of a solar panel? Solar panels typically last 25-30 years.

How do I maintain my solar panels? Clean panels regularly and monitor performance.

Can solar panels work in cold climates? Yes, as long as they receive sunlight.

9. Conclusion

Switching to solar energy in Canada is a smart investment that offers long-term savings and environmental benefits. By finding the best solar panel deals and selecting the right type for your needs, you can enjoy clean energy for years to come.

#solar panels #solar

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insightinvestnews · 9 months

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Fuel Cell Generator Market Is Driven by Minimalization of Carbon Residues

The size of the fuel cell generator market was USD 330 million in 2022, and the figure is set to rise at a CAGR of 17.50% from 2022 to 2030 and reach USD 1,199 million by the end of this decade.

There are several reasons for this development, including the minimalization of CO2 emissions, the easy availability of fuel cells, and their ability to renew energy. The snowballing need for the production of clean power along with minimal releases from CO2 will drive the market.

Numerous regions and nations throughout the globe are targeting to decrease overall releases of CO2 to zero by 2050, To achieve CO2 neutrality. The government's focus has amplified on making a decarbonized civilization in the past few years. To achieve this aim, the introduction of renewable sources, including solar, biomass, hydro, wind, and geothermal, is vital.

The production of electricity with the support of solar and wind has a few drawbacks, like the lack of ability to regulate the generation and huge quantity of output disparities reliant on weather conditions.

Aquaculture is the fastest-rising end-user developing at a CAGR of approximately 19.2%, credited to the increasing quantity of aquaculture amenities and increasing ecological impacts related to it such as the consumption of electricity and water. Mainly to lessen the environmental effects, governments have taken numerous steps to utilize fuel cell-based generators as an alternative to diesel generators.

North America is dominating the fuel cell generator market and is projected to continue with this dominance throughout the decade. This can be ascribed to the growing concentration and fast acceptance of clean sources.

In North America, the U.S. is leading the market, and it will develop with a CAGR of 18.1%, credited to solid economic support. The innovative growth in the usage of renewable sources and snowballing electricity needs from the aquaculture and data centers industry are the major reasons that will boost the industry in the future as well.

Hence, the minimalization of CO2 emissions, the easy availability of fuel cells, and their ability to renew energy are the major factors contributing to the growth of the fuel cell generator market.

#Fuel Cell Generator Market #Market Trends #Fuel Cell Technologies #Clean Power Generation #Backup Power Systems #Mobile Applications #Market Dynamics #Key Players #Emerging Opportunities #Energy Solutions #Telecommunications #Automotive Industries #Sustainability #Resilience #Decentralized Power Generation

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climatesamurai · 3 years

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SJVN – Creduce (JV) bags 1500 MW, Largest Indian Hydro Power Based Carbon Credit Deal

SJVN – Creduce (JV) bags 1500 MW, Largest Indian Hydro Power Based Carbon Credit Deal #SJVN #CREDUCE #HydroPower #HydroPowerProject #CarbonCredit

Creduce Technologies Private Limited – HCPL JV announces winning the bid for India’s single largest Hydro Power Carbon Credits project with Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. This project under joint venture could result in the creation of more than 80 million carbon credits from Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam’s vintage project making it the biggest public-private collaboration for claim and trade of carbon…

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#Creduce #Creduce Technologies Private Limited #Hydro Power Based Carbon Credit #Hydro Power Project #Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station #Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam #SJVN

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cleantechventures-blog · 4 years

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Explained: Energy Storage

Batteries play two key roles in the energy sector: maintaining consistent grid voltage, a function called frequency regulation, and multi-hour storage for intermittent electricity harvested from wind and solar sources (read more here).

One battery dominates the current marketplace: lithium ion. The high-energy density (storage capacity per volume) of lithium ion cells makes them a great match for portable electronics, substantiating their widespread use in mobile phones, laptops, and electric vehicles. Though developed for these smaller applications, lithium ion accounts for more than 80% of utility-scale battery storage.

These cells, however, have two major issues. Firstly, operating them in high temperatures severely reduces their battery cycle life, thus temperature controls are needed to keep them cool. Those controls, in turn, create a “parasitic” drain on electricity that reduces overall cell efficiency. The flammability of lithium ion electrolytes is the second, even more serious concern. In addition to highly-publicized Tesla vehicle and Samsung smartphone battery fires, a number of utility-scale battery installations have burst into flames, most recently at Arizona Public Service’s McKicken storage facility in April 2019.

Researchers are developing materials and designs to produce cells that are safer, cheaper, have a longer battery life, and perform better in hot climates than existing lithium ion batteries. Some notable possibilities include lithium-metal, lithium-sulfur, solid-state batteries incorporating ceramics or solid polymers, and “flow batteries” with external tanks that allow for easy expansion of storage capacity.

PRICES DROP, DEMAND SURGES

The shortcomings of lithium ion batteries haven’t hindered their exponential growth in the US battery storage market. From just a few megawatts a decade ago, utility-scale battery installations reached 866 megawatts of power capacity by February 2019, and total battery storage is expected to approach 4.5 gigawatts of cumulative capacity by 2024 – a significant leap, but still just a fraction of a percent of overall U.S. generating capacity. To safeguard grid stability against increased consumption and demand uncertainty, deeper investments in energy storage will be needed, for longer-duration, inter-day storage equaling roughly 3-7% of renewable energy-based electricity production.

Though lithium ion prices continue to plummet, as production ramps up. Between 2010 and 2018, the average price of a lithium ion battery pack dropped from $1,160 per kilowatt-hour to $176 per kilowatt-hour – an 85% reduction in just eight years. Within the next few years, Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts a further drop in price to $94 per kilowatt-hour in 2024 and $62 per kilowatt-hour in 2030.

This huge decline in battery prices has economically enabled solar plants to be paired with storage, particularly in states where high electricity rates coincide with strong policy (like high renewable portfolio standards). A Hawaiian solar-plus-storage plant on the island of Kauai is expected to save 2.8 million gallons of diesel oil annually while supplying 65% of the island’s peak nighttime electric load. It is part of a cohort of new and planned solar-plus-storage facilities that will help Hawaii meet a regulatory mandate requiring 70% renewable energy-based electricity by 2030 and 100% renewable electricity by 2045.

In California, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has also committed to making battery storage an integral part of its infrastructure. In September 2019, it approved a power purchase agreement that will provide 400 megawatts of solar power and 1,200 megawatt-hours of battery-stored energy for an astonishingly low price of 3.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, making it a cheaper source of electricity than natural gas. Along with the advantage of favorable economics, this deal was driven by the city’s commitment to deliver customers 100% renewable electricity by 2045.

MICROGRIDS

Along with their utility-scale functions, batteries are emerging as key elements in microgrids – small-scale power systems that can supplement or substitute for grid-supplied electricity. The recent spate of hurricanes and wildfires knocking out grid-supplied electricity has brought significant awareness to microgrids, especially for emergency shelters, hospitals, and similar applications. Creating “energy islands” by pairing battery storage with solar arrays creates a degree of local energy autonomy if grid power is lost (now being planned for Puerto Rico). This architecture is valuable for responding to cyber-threats as well as extreme weather events.

THE NEXT GENERATION

What technologies are out there to meet our growing demand (25-62% increase by 2050, according to NREL), and replace the hazardous, inefficient lithium ion cell?

Pumped-Storage Hydropower: Pumped-storage hydro (PSH) facilities are large-scale energy storage plants that use gravitational force to generate electricity. Water is pumped to a higher elevation for storage during low-cost energy periods and high renewable energy generation periods. When electricity is needed, water is released back to the lower pool, generating power through turbines. Recent innovations have allowed PSH facilities to have adjustable speeds, in order to be more responsive to the needs of the energy grid, and also to operate in closed-loop systems. A closed loop PSH operates without being connected to a continuously flowing water source, unlike traditional pumped-storage hydropower, making pumped-storage hydropower an option for more locations.

In comparison to other forms of energy storage, pumped-storage hydropower can be cheaper, especially for very large capacity storage (which other technologies struggle to match). According to the Electric Power Research Institute, the installed cost for pumped-storage hydropower varies between $1,700 and $5,100/kW, compared to $2,500/kW to 3,900/kW for lithium-ion batteries. Pumped-storage hydropower is more than 80 percent energy efficient through a full cycle, and PSH facilities can typically provide 10 hours of electricity, compared to about 6 hours for lithium-ion batteries. Despite these advantages, the challenge of PSH projects is that they are long-term investments: permitting and construction can take 3-5 years each. This can scare off investors who would prefer shorter-term investments, especially in a fast-changing market.

Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES): With compressed air storage, air is pumped into an underground hole, most likely a salt cavern, during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper. When energy is needed, the air from the underground cave is released back up into the facility, where it is heated and the resulting expansion turns an electricity generator. This heating process usually uses natural gas, which releases carbon; however, CAES triples the energy output of facilities using natural gas alone. CAES can achieve up to 70% energy efficiency when the heat from the air pressure is retained, otherwise efficiency is between 42-55%.

Thermal (including Molten Salt): Thermal energy storage facilities use temperature to store energy. When energy needs to be stored, rocks, salts, water, or other materials are heated and kept in insulated environments. When energy needs to be generated, the thermal energy is released by pumping cold water onto the hot rocks, salts, or hot water in order to produce steam, which spins turbines. Thermal energy storage can also be used to heat and cool buildings instead of generating electricity. For example, thermal storage can be used to make ice overnight to cool a building during the day. Thermal efficiency can range from 50 percent to 90 percent depending on the type of thermal energy used.

Flow Batteries: Flow batteries are an alternative to lithium-ion batteries. While less popular than lithium-ion batteries—flow batteries make up less than 5& of the battery market—flow batteries have been used in multiple energy storage projects that require longer energy storage durations. Flow batteries have relatively low energy densities and have long life cycles, which makes them well-suited for supplying continuous power.

Solid State Batteries: Solid state batteries have multiple advantages over lithium-ion batteries in large-scale grid storage. Solid-state batteries contain solid electrolytes which have higher energy densities and are much less prone to fires than liquid electrolytes, such as those found in lithium-ion batteries. Their smaller volumes and higher safety make solid-state batteries well suited for large-scale grid applications.

However, solid state battery technology is currently more expensive than lithium-ion battery technology because it is less developed. Fast-growing lithium-ion production has led to economies of scale, which solid-state batteries will find hard to match in the coming years.

Hydrogen: Hydrogen fuel cells, which generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, have appealing characteristics: they are reliable and quiet (with no moving parts), have a small footprint and high energy density, and release no emissions (when running on pure hydrogen, their only byproduct is water). The process can also be reversed, making it useful for energy storage: electrolysis of water produces oxygen and hydrogen. Fuel cell facilities can, therefore, produce hydrogen when electricity is cheap, and later use that hydrogen to generate electricity when it is needed (in most cases, the hydrogen is produced in one location, and used in another). Hydrogen can also be produced by reforming biogas, ethanol, or hydrocarbons, a cheaper method that emits carbon pollution. Though hydrogen fuel cells remain expensive (primarily because of their need for platinum, an expensive metal), they are being used as primary and backup power for many critical facilities (telecom relays, data centers, and credit card processing).

Flywheels: Flywheels are not suitable for long-term energy storage, but are very effective for load-leveling and load-shifting applications. Flywheels are known for their long-life cycle, high-energy density, low maintenance costs, and quick response speeds. Motors store energy into flywheels by accelerating their spins to very high rates (up to 50,000 rpm). The motor can later use that stored kinetic energy to generate electricity by going into reverse. Flywheels are commonly left in a vacuum so as to minimize air friction, which would slow the wheel.

For further information or strategy consultation regarding raising seed round, advisory partnership and creation of business plan including extended pitch deck, you may contact Cleantech Ventures.

#energy #solar power #save energy #wind energy #flywheel #thermal energy storage market #energy conservation #energy costs #energy crisis

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mikeo56 · 4 years

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The bottom line is that there are: Too many Clever Apes; consuming too much; too rapidly. And ALL efforts on addressing the climate costs are reduced to illusions/delusions designed to keep our over-sized human footprint and out-of-control consumption chugging along without any consumer sacrifices or loss of consumption-based profits.

We have ample scientific evidence of what happens when ANY specie expands/consumes to a point beyond the carrying capacity of its habitat. As I always note: “We could power the grid on Unicorn farts. But is we keep on breeding and consuming at the same, or likely higher, rates; we’ll still eat the planet.”

Very Inconvenient Truths

Some of the reality presented:

+ all “alternative energy” itself is fossil-fuel-based. None of it could or did exist without fossil fuels. Solar panel themselves are made with metallurgical coal and quartz – both derived from blowing up mountains. The top beneficiaries of tax subsidies to promote solar? The Koch Bothers!;

+ same with wind and even hydro and Nukes, as the essential major ingredient in the creation of cement and steel is…coal. None of these technologies existed, nor could they exist, without fossil fuels. The grid cannot even operate without fossil fuel-derived steam-generated baseloads – in the spring when hydro is surging, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) cuts off wind power (and still has to pay its providers after a lawsuit), yet has to keep the Boardman Coal plant (Oregon’s top carbon polluter) running in order to balance the baseload. Even eCon Musk’s famed battery plant in Nevada is powered by…fracked natural gas. The huge bird and desert-destroying Ivanpah Solar array in California also has fracked natural gas as an essential ingredient;

+ the documentary depants the ubiquitous memes/reports of how “Germany gets its energy from renewables.” It trots out footage of a series of the top misleaders stating one after the other: “Germany gets 30% from renewables,” “40%,” “50%,” “60%”,… The reality is that Germany gets just 3.5% of all its renewable energy from solar and wind combined. A whopping 70% of what passes for “Green” energy in Germany comes from Biomass – grinding up trees in the Amazon and the US Southeast and shipping them to Europe where Germany (and Great Britain) burns them for electrons and get Carbon Credits for doing so!;

+ the other part of the Germany myth is that “Germany gets off coal…” The reality here is that Germany gets 37% of its energy from coal and is even trying to level one of its last intact forests to get at the coal underneath. The only thing currently stopping the destruction of the 12,000-year-old Hambach Forest is mass protests;

+ the top beneficiaries of Biomass are, of course, Big Timber giants. The Koch brothers, again, own Georgia-Pacific, the second largest stump creator in the world after Weyerhaeuser. G-P’s two mills in Oregon are the state’s #4 and #5 carbon polluters, as well.

“A loose affiliation of millionaires and billionaires, and baby these are the days of miracle and plunder…” ~ apologies to Paul Simon

#planet of the humans #m Moore #renewables #extinction #ppm

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scifigeneration · 6 years

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California aims to become carbon-free by 2045. Is that feasible?

by Sarah Kurtz

Monitoring the flow of electrical power at the California Independent System Operator grid control center. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed a new law mandating that the electricity the state consumes not cause carbon emissions by 2045.

He also issued an executive order that goes even further: It commits California to “achieve carbon neutrality” across the board and not just for power generation by 2045. Together, these steps codify California’s ongoing transition away from relying on fossil fuels for energy. This effort has been ramping up since 2011, when Brown signed another law committing the state to deriving a third of its energy from renewable sources like wind and solar power by 2020 – not including big hydroelectric dams.

Based on more than 30 years of research related to solar energy, by my assessment, California can meet the law’s ambitious goal as long as it continues to implement programs that encourage the rapid expansion of renewable energy in the state.

A growth industry

The new law actually sets multiple targets rather than just one. It commits California to draw half its electricity from renewable sources by 2026, a share that would rise to 60 percent by 2030.

To take the next step, rather than mandating that all power be renewably sourced, state lawmakers established a 100 percent “zero-carbon” goal. They did not define this term, but it is understood as including wind and solar power, big hydropower plants and other sources of electricity that do not generate carbon dioxide.

Utility-scale solar and wind electricity increased from 3 percent in 2010 to 18 percent in 2017 in California, exceeding prior state targets, largely because solar prices have dropped sharply in recent years.

Being open to a wide range of technologies makes meeting the 2045 target easier and allowed State Senator Kevin de Leon, the original bill’s author, to amass broad support for the bill.

California State Sen. Kevin de Leon, celebrating after his colleagues approved the zero-carbon energy bill he championed for two years. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

Where things stood in 2017

About 56 percent of the power California generated in 2017 came from sources that don’t emit carbon. That puts it more than halfway toward this new goal by 2045.

However, the Diablo Canyon plant, California’s last nuclear power station, is slated for decommissioning by 2025, and no other reactors are in the works. This closure would eliminate the 8.7 percent of the state’s carbon-free power that came from nuclear energy.

Nearly all of the remaining 44 percent of the state’s electricity is currently generated by burning natural gas, and virtually none comes from coal. Going completely zero-carbon would require phasing out the state’s natural gas power plants.

On top of wind and solar energy, other generation options include geothermal, small nuclear reactors and carbon dioxide sequestration.

One quirk about this legislation is that it deals only with utility-scale power. It would not preclude private electricity-generation facilities such as the diesel generator a farmer might use to pump water. Nor would it count the power generated by a homeowner’s rooftop solar panels.

When the sun shines

One complication is that the state’s mix of energy sources can vary a great deal, even from one hour to the next.

Consider what happened on April 8, 2018, for example. It was a generally sunny and windy Sunday, with relatively low electricity demand. At night, about 40 percent of electricity was generated from renewable sources. But around noon that day, more than 80 percent came from renewable sources including large-scale hydropower.

If the electricity generated from these renewable sources is approximately doubled, as I estimate is necessary to meet the 2045 target, the power available in the middle of the day would greatly exceed the demand for electricity at that time.

This challenge shifts throughout the year.

On July 24 and July 25, 2018, Californians were asked to voluntarily use less electricity between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to avoid an outage because of hot weather. Prices spiked by more than a factor of 10, helping to keep demand within the supply.

On those days, renewably sourced electricity never met half of the demand for power.

Balancing act

Due to this degree of variability, relying heavily on renewable energy will require ample energy storage and big investments in grid-based technology.

Today, the expected demand for electricity is balanced by the Independent System Operator, an entity that controls the flow of electricity on the grid and selects the lowest-priced sources of electricity available.

Pumped hydro storage, electricity generated from water pumped to a reservoir, is the state’s most common form of storage today. While limited to locations with large dams, the amount of energy stored this way could be increased in California, as recently proposed for Hoover Dam.

Big lithium ion batteries are becoming more affordable and are now beginning to be deployed on the utility scale. As battery and solar prices drop, it may become attractive to disconnect from the grid and use electricity generated by a solar system and stored by a battery.

Lower battery costs are also spurring the sales of more electric vehicles. Ideally, these vehicles could be charged at times when electricity is plentiful and cheap. By 2045, I believe they could be helping make the grid more stable.

Other options are becoming available. One example is utility-scale compressed air storage, where energy is stored as pressurized air.

And there is growing interest in solar thermal plants, which generate electricity from sunlight’s heat and use high-temperature storage to continue generating electricity after the sun sets.

The University of California Merced and many other wholesale electricity customers are saving money by using thermal storage. They chill water when rates are low and use the chilled water for air conditioning when electricity prices are high.

Wiggle room

Because California’s new law does not require that every watt be generated within California’s borders, utilities could keep buying electricity from nearby states, as long as they verify its origins are in keeping with the new law’s requirements.

And because the law does not define “zero-carbon,” it provides flexibility in how the state can meet this new target.

For example, California would allow the continued operation of natural gas plants when their output is coupled with purchase of renewable energy certificates, credits issued for the generation of renewable electricity that may be sold, from a utility that generates solar or wind power.

These credits arise through several kinds of arrangements. Perhaps the most common is through rooftop solar systems. Small-scale solar energy supplied about 5 percent of California’s electricity in 2017. It is likely to grow because of California’s mandate for solar panels on most new homes, starting in 2020.

In assessing whether the goal of going zero-carbon by 2045 is realistic or not, it is worth considering that solar energy has grown for years at a pace that far exceeded projections thanks to technological progress, government policies like California’s new law, market forces and the public’s demand for renewable energy.

About The Author:

Sarah Kurtz is Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Merced.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

#science #technology #technopolitics #energy #renewable energy #california #wind power #carbon emissions #solar energy #energy policy #featured #energy transition #power grid

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fycanadianpolitics · 7 years

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Ford’s terrain

Ford will run on a hard right platform of balancing the budget through deep cuts. It will assuredly try to avoid previous PC mistakes of announcing all of his worst intentions in such an overt manner as Hudak’s planned 100,000 jobs cuts or stripping away of union rights. He will try to frame his campaign along the populist line that Ford Nation has already carved out, namely looking out for the little guy, offering up tax cuts, “stopping the gravy train” in the public sector, ending the carbon tax.

This is no doubt a bad development for workers in this province. Ford represents a more bullish and virulent right-wing strand of the party. Rob Ford’s administration in Toronto was steeped in a strident opposition to unions and workers’ rights. One of Rob Ford’s first acts as mayor was to privatize garbage service for half the city. Doug Ford continues this along with Ford Nations’ ugly brand of sexism, racism and homophobia – which will only get uglier as he plays to the social conservative part of his base.

What is deeply concerning about Ford is his ability to drag the whole political debate to the right in the lead up to the election. He will undoubtedly make this election about deficits, government corruption, and hydro, alongside standing up for taxpayers and small business. Painting the Liberals as downtown Toronto elites, we can expect Ford to present himself as the defender of the downtrodden against a runaway corrupt government.

To defend the key NDP/Tory battlegrounds in Southwestern Ontario it is quite possible the NDP will shift right to duke it out with Ford. The NDP has a policy book that is to the left of the Liberals, with better stances on major issues including workers’ rights and pharmacare. But when it comes to communication with the public, they have ceded much ground to the Liberals on issues like the $15 minimum wage and accessible post-secondary education. The NDP came out in support of the $15 minimum wage in April 2016, a year after Fight for $15 and Fairness campaign launched, but then the NDP never fully championed the idea. They never campaigned on it, never outlined a timeline for implementation and shied away from fully supporting other aspects of the campaign.

This left the door open for the Liberals, who announced their support for $15 in the spring of 2017 and passed a sweeping set of labour law reforms in November. During this period, the NDP stated that the Liberals should have announced the $15 minimum wage sooner because the phase-in was too quick and disruptive, which could have been avoided with a longer phase-in. The NDP was also the leading voice for tax credits and tax offsets for small business. During the Bill 148 hearings, they argued for tax credits, tax breaks, or offsets for small businesses three times more than both the PC and Liberals combined. The NDP pushed this onto the agenda and the Liberals passed a one percent tax cut, and other hiring incentives, for small business in November – costing the province $500 million over three years.

In Horwath’s February “Change for the Better” speech, she only mentioned workplace issues once in passing. Rather than being champions of decent work and a $15 minimum wage, the party has largely stayed silent or argued that the Liberals have stolen their ideas. In its press release responding to the Ford victory the NDP focused solely drawing battle lines around privatization they made no mention of his attack on abortion rights or the $15 minimum wage.

How not to beat Ford

In the vote rich GTA, look for the Liberals to present themselves as the defacto anti-Ford option. They will amp up the talk of strategic voting, and many unions and others on the left may join them. Years of job killing Liberal policies, attacks on union rights and its pro-corporate privatization agenda will be downplayed or outright ignored in the developing narrative of lesser evilism.

Those taking this road will likely focus on the character of Ford and his supporters. They will be mocked as brutes and bullies, as ignoramuses who should be kept out of power at all cost. The reactionary racism, sexism and homophobia that Ford Nation stirs is horrific and worrisome. It must be confronted head on. It would be an absolute tactical mistake to focus derision on the character of Ford Nation. As we know from the last U.S. election, when the left and progressives talk down to people, turn them into “deplorables” and rubes, it doesn’t turn out well.

Ford has a real base in this province that even extends into racialized communities in the GTA. Millions will vote for Ford because they see in him someone who speaks for them, for the taxpayer, someone who stands up to a political establishment, to unions, to intellectuals, to downtown elites to all the people that ignore and deride them.

If the NDP does not undertake a major course correction, it could be in for a world of pain. With Ford in the mix, talk of hydro costs, Liberal corruption, and tax cuts for small business will only feed the Ford Nation narrative and embolden the right-wing further. It would be an outright disaster for workers if Horwath focuses her campaign on balancing the budget, Liberal corruption and targeted tax cuts. For those who think that this cannot happen, remember this was the NDP playbook in 2014.

Beating Ford

But, Ford is beatable. He doesn’t have the same affable charisma as his brother. While the Tory party is leading in the polls, it is in a bit of mess internally and there is not a major crisis that Ford can ride into power on. When Rob Ford came to power in 2010, it was on the back of a garbage strike provoked by then Toronto Mayor David Miller. Ford Nation was born on the back of progressives moving to the right.

Ford is vulnerable on a decent work agenda. Polling routinely shows that a $15 minimum wage is popular – even if the party most identified with the issue is not. Other workplace reforms, especially those aimed at improving minimum standards for all, like paid emergency leave days, fair scheduling, equal pay for equal work and cracking down on temp agencies have a resonance in the wider working class. Polarizing on class issues is our best chance at fighting Ford.

It would be the height of folly for labour and the left to abandon campaigning on these issues for strategic voting or targeting specific ridings. What is needed more than ever is a redoubling of effort and resources into grassroots campaigns like the Fight for $15 and Fairness, which has already proven effective in redrawing the political terrain in the province by speaking to the wider working class, including union and non-union workers.

We cannot treat Ford’s victory for PC Party leader as a coronation for premier. Ford is vulnerable. But his leadership victory requires us to re-focus on polarizing along class issues, pushing OUR agenda for decent work with workers right across the province. We need to keep bully bosses in the crosshairs, who will no doubt feel empowered to attack workers with a possible Ford administration on the horizon.;

If we let Ford control the narrative and force the political debate and other parties to the right, we are finished. Ford can be beat, but this means we need to fight

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esgagile · 4 months

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Carbon Footprint's Effect on Business

#Carbonfootprintconsultant #Carbonfootprintconsultantindubai #Carbonfootprintconsultantinuae

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f4rmville · 3 years

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Montana’s renewable energy city coalition grows

Originally published at ILSR.org

For this episode of our Voices of 100% series of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell talks with Helena Sustainability Coordinator Patrick Judge and Citizens Conservation Commission Member Mark Juedeman. Judge and Juedeman supported Helena as the city committed to 100% renewable energy. In making its commitment, Helena has joined Missoula and Bozeman, building a commanding coalition in western Montana.

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

Podcast (localenergyrules): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | RSSEpisode Transcript

Driven to sustainability by identity

Patrick Judge and Mark Juedeman were both drawn to work around sustainability and climate change because of their backgrounds.

Judge, Helena’s Sustainability Coordinator, was born and raised in Helena. His love for natural amenities and professional interest in the physical sciences drive him to make Helena a cleaner, more sustainable place. Moreover, Judge’s experience working on climate change issues allowed him to identify environmental threats to tourism and agriculture.

“Clearly… global climate change is the most pressing issue facing us today on the environmental front, and beyond that, with serious threats to Montana’s quality of life: with the wildfires, and public health implications of that, and drought threatening our largest industries of agriculture and tourism.”

Patrick Judge

Similarly, Mark Juedeman’s identity as a Montana native and educational background in geology led him to sustainability work and his role on the Citizens Conservation Commission. From being an early solar power adopter in Louisiana to his experience installing wind at his Montana ranch, Jeudeman’s commitment to Helena’s 100% renewable energy transition is evident in his lived experiences.

Creating lasting change, despite resistance

Together, Juedeman and Judge have helped Helena advance toward its sustainability goals. Thirty percent of the city’s electricity supply already stems from hydro, wind, and solar energy. By 2030, the City of Helena plans to run on 100% clean electricity community-wide.

Helena’s clean electricity resolution was born from a 2009 Climate Change Action Plan, which drew inspiration from over 40 community recommendations on how to transition Helena to clean energy. More importantly, the 100% clean electricity goal was revitalized by a 2017 citizen conservation board led by Juedeman.

These sustainability efforts, however, have been met with major backlash from local and state officials. In the last five years, Helena has struggled within the confines of:

Reduced tax credits for conservation and renewable energy

Additional fees on electric vehicles

Attacks on net metering and a cap of 50 kilowatts on distributed solar

Preemption bills to limit the imposition of carbon taxes by local governments

With resistance coming down from the top, Helena community members have responded with grassroots organizing to broaden community support. The city is also working on its own energy efficiency and has also opted into a Property Assessed Clean Energy loan program, which provides zero-interest loans for improvements to energy efficiency or the installation of solar.

“We face tremendous headwinds from the legislature and the executive branch. And so that’s kind of our motivation for doing everything we can at our city level.”

Mark Juedeman

Community solar legislation would help make the transition more equitable, says Juedeman, because there is an affordability crisis in Montana and many cannot afford to own their own home. Since there is no state legislation allowing it, Helena has piloted some projects installing solar on affordable housing complexes.

Warily Partnering with Northwestern Energy

Another challenge to achieving Helena’s renewable energy goals? The regional monopoly utility company: Northwestern Energy. Northwestern Energy has a 220-megawatt coal plant that the company plans to operate until 2042, says Judge, along with plans to build a new 175-megawatt gas plant in the future. It will be difficult for Helena to reach its goals if the utility is serving them with electricity from these generation sources.

On the positive side, Northwestern Energy did hold a 2019 stakeholder convening with leaders from cities including Helena, Missoula, and Bozeman to discuss how the utility can serve their communities, says Judge.

We have had many conversations with the utility and, you know, we’re optimistic that we could make some progress.

— Patrick Judge

The group became interested in replicating Utah’s 2019 Community Renewable Energy act. However, Northwestern Energy did not think an opt-out model was feasible in Montana. After the stakeholder input, Northwestern Energy is moving forward with an opt-in green tariff program.

Those communities already represent about a quarter of Northwestern’s Montana customer base, and those communities are also some of the fastest growing in the state… We think that’s a powerful, strong collective voice that the utility has to pay attention to.

— Mark Juedeman

Episode Notes

See these resources for more behind the story:

Helena’s Resolution Establishing a Goal of 100% Clean, Renewable Electricity by 2030

Check out Helena’s Climate Change Action Plan from 2009

Find out how Helena, Bozeman, and Missoula are teaming up behind a green tariff.

See Montana’s enormous potential for clean energy generation in our Energy Self Reliant States report from 2020.

For concrete examples of how towns and cities can take action toward gaining more control over their clean energy future, explore ILSR’s Community Power Toolkit.

Explore local and state policies and programs that help advance clean energy goals across the country, using ILSR’s interactive Community Power Map.

This is the 31st episode of our special Voices of series, and episode 137 of Local Energy Rules, an ILSR podcast with Energy Democracy Director John Farrell, which shares powerful stories of successful local renewable energy and exposes the policy and practical barriers to its expansion.

Local Energy Rules is Produced by ILSR’s John Farrell and Maria McCoy. Audio engineering by Drew Birschbach.

This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter, our energy work on Facebook, or sign up to get the Energy Democracy weekly update.

Featured Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife via flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

from https://ift.tt/3kDhMZk

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solarliving · 3 years

Text

Montana’s renewable energy city coalition grows

Originally published at ILSR.org

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

Podcast (localenergyrules): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | RSSEpisode Transcript

Driven to sustainability by identity

Patrick Judge and Mark Juedeman were both drawn to work around sustainability and climate change because of their backgrounds.

Patrick Judge

Creating lasting change, despite resistance

These sustainability efforts, however, have been met with major backlash from local and state officials. In the last five years, Helena has struggled within the confines of:

Reduced tax credits for conservation and renewable energy

Additional fees on electric vehicles

Attacks on net metering and a cap of 50 kilowatts on distributed solar

Preemption bills to limit the imposition of carbon taxes by local governments

“We face tremendous headwinds from the legislature and the executive branch. And so that’s kind of our motivation for doing everything we can at our city level.”

Mark Juedeman

Warily Partnering with Northwestern Energy

We have had many conversations with the utility and, you know, we’re optimistic that we could make some progress.

— Patrick Judge

— Mark Juedeman

Episode Notes

See these resources for more behind the story:

Helena’s Resolution Establishing a Goal of 100% Clean, Renewable Electricity by 2030

Check out Helena’s Climate Change Action Plan from 2009

Find out how Helena, Bozeman, and Missoula are teaming up behind a green tariff.

See Montana’s enormous potential for clean energy generation in our Energy Self Reliant States report from 2020.

For concrete examples of how towns and cities can take action toward gaining more control over their clean energy future, explore ILSR’s Community Power Toolkit.

Explore local and state policies and programs that help advance clean energy goals across the country, using ILSR’s interactive Community Power Map.

Local Energy Rules is Produced by ILSR’s John Farrell and Maria McCoy. Audio engineering by Drew Birschbach.

This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter, our energy work on Facebook, or sign up to get the Energy Democracy weekly update.

Featured Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife via flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

from Renewable Energy World https://ift.tt/3kDhMZk via Solar Energy Marketing Blog

#Renewable Energy World #Solar Energy #Digital Marketing #Renewable Energy

0 notes

brewedsunlight · 3 years

Text

Montana’s renewable energy city coalition grows

Originally published at ILSR.org

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

Podcast (localenergyrules): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | RSSEpisode Transcript

Driven to sustainability by identity

Patrick Judge and Mark Juedeman were both drawn to work around sustainability and climate change because of their backgrounds.

Patrick Judge

Creating lasting change, despite resistance

These sustainability efforts, however, have been met with major backlash from local and state officials. In the last five years, Helena has struggled within the confines of:

Reduced tax credits for conservation and renewable energy

Additional fees on electric vehicles

Attacks on net metering and a cap of 50 kilowatts on distributed solar

Preemption bills to limit the imposition of carbon taxes by local governments

“We face tremendous headwinds from the legislature and the executive branch. And so that’s kind of our motivation for doing everything we can at our city level.”

Mark Juedeman

Warily Partnering with Northwestern Energy

We have had many conversations with the utility and, you know, we’re optimistic that we could make some progress.

— Patrick Judge

— Mark Juedeman

Episode Notes

See these resources for more behind the story:

Helena’s Resolution Establishing a Goal of 100% Clean, Renewable Electricity by 2030

Check out Helena’s Climate Change Action Plan from 2009

Find out how Helena, Bozeman, and Missoula are teaming up behind a green tariff.

See Montana’s enormous potential for clean energy generation in our Energy Self Reliant States report from 2020.

For concrete examples of how towns and cities can take action toward gaining more control over their clean energy future, explore ILSR’s Community Power Toolkit.

Explore local and state policies and programs that help advance clean energy goals across the country, using ILSR’s interactive Community Power Map.

Local Energy Rules is Produced by ILSR’s John Farrell and Maria McCoy. Audio engineering by Drew Birschbach.

This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter, our energy work on Facebook, or sign up to get the Energy Democracy weekly update.

Featured Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife via flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

from Renewable Energy World https://ift.tt/3kDhMZk

#Renewable Energy World

0 notes

the-breakfast-chub · 3 years

Text

Montana’s renewable energy city coalition grows

Originally published at ILSR.org

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

Podcast (localenergyrules): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | RSSEpisode Transcript

Driven to sustainability by identity

Patrick Judge and Mark Juedeman were both drawn to work around sustainability and climate change because of their backgrounds.

Patrick Judge

Creating lasting change, despite resistance

These sustainability efforts, however, have been met with major backlash from local and state officials. In the last five years, Helena has struggled within the confines of:

Reduced tax credits for conservation and renewable energy

Additional fees on electric vehicles

Attacks on net metering and a cap of 50 kilowatts on distributed solar

Preemption bills to limit the imposition of carbon taxes by local governments

“We face tremendous headwinds from the legislature and the executive branch. And so that’s kind of our motivation for doing everything we can at our city level.”

Mark Juedeman

Warily Partnering with Northwestern Energy

We have had many conversations with the utility and, you know, we’re optimistic that we could make some progress.

— Patrick Judge

— Mark Juedeman

Episode Notes

See these resources for more behind the story:

Helena’s Resolution Establishing a Goal of 100% Clean, Renewable Electricity by 2030

Check out Helena’s Climate Change Action Plan from 2009

Find out how Helena, Bozeman, and Missoula are teaming up behind a green tariff.

See Montana’s enormous potential for clean energy generation in our Energy Self Reliant States report from 2020.

For concrete examples of how towns and cities can take action toward gaining more control over their clean energy future, explore ILSR’s Community Power Toolkit.

Explore local and state policies and programs that help advance clean energy goals across the country, using ILSR’s interactive Community Power Map.

Local Energy Rules is Produced by ILSR’s John Farrell and Maria McCoy. Audio engineering by Drew Birschbach.

This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter, our energy work on Facebook, or sign up to get the Energy Democracy weekly update.

Featured Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife via flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

from https://ift.tt/3kDhMZk

0 notes

yesterdaysdreams · 3 years

Text

Montana’s renewable energy city coalition grows

Originally published at ILSR.org

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

Podcast (localenergyrules): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | RSSEpisode Transcript

Driven to sustainability by identity

Patrick Judge and Mark Juedeman were both drawn to work around sustainability and climate change because of their backgrounds.

Patrick Judge

Creating lasting change, despite resistance

These sustainability efforts, however, have been met with major backlash from local and state officials. In the last five years, Helena has struggled within the confines of:

Reduced tax credits for conservation and renewable energy

Additional fees on electric vehicles

Attacks on net metering and a cap of 50 kilowatts on distributed solar

Preemption bills to limit the imposition of carbon taxes by local governments

“We face tremendous headwinds from the legislature and the executive branch. And so that’s kind of our motivation for doing everything we can at our city level.”

Mark Juedeman

Warily Partnering with Northwestern Energy

We have had many conversations with the utility and, you know, we’re optimistic that we could make some progress.

— Patrick Judge

— Mark Juedeman

Episode Notes

See these resources for more behind the story:

Helena’s Resolution Establishing a Goal of 100% Clean, Renewable Electricity by 2030

Check out Helena’s Climate Change Action Plan from 2009

Find out how Helena, Bozeman, and Missoula are teaming up behind a green tariff.

See Montana’s enormous potential for clean energy generation in our Energy Self Reliant States report from 2020.

For concrete examples of how towns and cities can take action toward gaining more control over their clean energy future, explore ILSR’s Community Power Toolkit.

Explore local and state policies and programs that help advance clean energy goals across the country, using ILSR’s interactive Community Power Map.

Local Energy Rules is Produced by ILSR’s John Farrell and Maria McCoy. Audio engineering by Drew Birschbach.

This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter, our energy work on Facebook, or sign up to get the Energy Democracy weekly update.

Featured Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife via flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

from https://ift.tt/3kDhMZk

0 notes

georgewagner · 3 years

Text

Grants and financial support to make your home more energy efficient

Installing energy efficiency improvements in your home brings many benefits: lower energy bills, reduced carbon footprint, and an increase in the value of your home, too. However, the upfront cost may put you off certain green home upgrades. Whilst the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme closed earlier this year, there are alternative schemes that also reduce the overall cost of making your home eco-friendlier.

Find a list of energy efficiency home grants, cash incentives, discounts and other schemes available at both national and local levels, below.

Skip to:

England, Wales, and Scotland schemes

Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive – quarterly payments for renewable heating systems.

Smart Export Guarantee Scheme – payments for unused renewable energy.

VAT reduction – pay less VAT when installing certain green home improvements.

Energy Company Obligation Scheme – discounted or free energy efficiency and heating home improvements if you receive certain benefits.

Affordable Warmth Obligation – free heating upgrades if you receive certain benefits.

Discounts on energy bills.

Warm Home Discount – discounted winter electricity bill of pensioners and people on low incomes.

Winter Fuel Payment – discounted heating bill of pensioners.

Cold Weather Payment – a payment for each 7-day period of cold weather if you receive certain benefits.

Fuel Direct – support for people receiving certain benefits to pay their fuel and electricity bills.

Scotland-specific schemes

Home Energy Scotland loan – an interest-free loan to install certain energy efficiency measures.

Warmer Homes Scotland funding – funding to install measures that make your home warmer if you’re struggling to pay your energy bills.

Electric car charging point grant – a grant to install a home charge point for electric vehicles.

Wales-specific schemes

NEST Wales – free energy efficiency home improvements.

Northern Ireland-specific schemes

Boiler Replacement Scheme – grant to replace your current boiler.

Affordable Warmth Scheme – free energy efficiency home improvements.

England, Wales and Scotland

Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme

If you install certain renewable heat systems in your home and join the domestic RHI scheme, you’ll get quarterly payments for seven years. The renewable heat systems eligible for the scheme are:

Solar thermal panels.

Air source heat pumps.

Ground source heat pumps.

Biomass boilers.

The scheme is run by Ofgem (The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets).

How much can I get?

The amount of money you’ll get depends on the amount of clean renewable heat that your system produces. Find out how much you could get by using the domestic RHI payment calculator.

Who’s eligible?

Homeowners and private or social landlords in England, Scotland, and Wales. Owners of new build properties aren’t usually eligible, except if you’re building your own home.

When’s the deadline?

Midnight on 31st March 2022.

How to apply

Before installing a renewable heat system in your home, follow Ofgem’s guidance on preparing to apply for the scheme. This includes looking at the Domestic RHI Product Eligibility List. Then, you can apply for the domestic RHI. You can do all of this on the Ofgem website.

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) Scheme

Through the SEG scheme, households that export the excess, unused renewable electricity that they generate to the National Grid will get payments from electricity suppliers. The low-carbon electricity systems covered by the scheme are:

Solar PV panels.

Wind.

Micro combined heat and power.

Hydro.

Anaerobic digestion.

The SEG scheme replaces the Feed-in Tariff.

How much can I get?

The amount of money you’ll get depends on the electricity supplier you apply to. So, it’s important to shop around. The following companies are mandatory SEG suppliers from 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022:

Avro Energy.

British Gas.

Bulb.

EDF Energy.

E.ON.

Octopus Energy.

OVO Energy.

People’s Energy.

Pure Planet.

Scottish Power.

Shell Energy.

So Energy.

The Utility Warehouse.

Utilita.

Utility Point.

Find voluntary SEG suppliers on the Ofgem website.

Who’s eligible?

Anyone that has a low-carbon electricity system in Great Britain, with a total installed capacity of 5MW maximum, or 50kW maximum for micro combined heat and power.

When’s the deadline?

The scheme started on 1st January 2020 and is in its second year. It’s ongoing so there isn’t a deadline.

How to apply

Apply directly on the SEG supplier’s website.

VAT reduction

When you get certain energy efficient home improvements installed in your home and meet certain criteria, you’ll pay a reduced VAT rate of 5%. The eligible energy efficient home improvements are:

Central heating and hot water system controls.

Draught proofing, such as insulating around windows and doors.

Wall, floor, ceiling and loft insulation.

Solar panels.

Ground-source heat pumps.

Air-source heat pumps.

Micro combined heat and power.

Wood-fuelled boilers.

If you get an energy efficiency home grant for certain installations, you’ll also be eligible for the VAT reduction on the grant-funded part of the work.

The eligible upgrades are:

Heating appliances: Installation.

Central heating systems: Installation, repair, and maintenance.

Renewable source heating systems: Installation, repair, and maintenance.

The green home upgrades that aren’t eligible for the VAT reduction are:

Heating appliances or systems (unless grant-funded, as explained above).

Energy efficient boilers or fridge freezers.

Secondary or double glazing.

Low emission glass.

Wind or water turbines.

Who’s eligible?

People over 60 years old that receive one of the following:

Child Tax Credit (not including the family element).

Council Tax Benefit.

Disability Living Allowance.

Personal Independence Payment.

A disablement pension.

Housing Benefit.

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Income Support.

War Disablement Pension.

Working Tax Credit.

When’s the deadline?

The VAT reduction is ongoing; there’s no deadline currently.

How to apply

Your supplier will charge you the correct rate of VAT.

Read more on Gov.uk.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme

The ECO scheme helps households to install energy efficiency and heating home improvements at a reduced price. The current phase of the scheme (ECO3) is targeted towards lower income households. If you’re eligible, you might be able to get some improvements fitted for free.

What can I get?

The green upgrades available vary by supplier, but the possibilities include:

Cavity wall and loft insulation.

Boiler repairs and replacements.

Upgrading storage heaters

Installing central heating systems.

See what each ECO supplier is currently offering on the Simple Energy Advice website.

Who’s eligible?

You might be eligible if you receive certain benefits, such as:

Pension Guarantee Credit (not including Pension Savings Credit).

Universal Credit.

Income Support.

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Income-based Employment and Support Allowance.

Tax Credits (Child Tax and Working Tax).

Attendance Allowance.

Carer’s Allowance.

Disability Living Allowance.

Personal Independence Payment.

Severe Disablement Allowance.

Industrial Industries Disablement Benefits.

War Pensions Mobility Supplement.

Constant Attendance Allowance.

Armed Forces Independence Payment.

Child Benefit.

Complete the ECO eligibility questionnaire to find out if you’re eligible. You might be able to get help even if you don’t receive any benefits.

When’s the deadline?

ECO3 is in place until 31st March 2022, after which a new phase will start.

How to apply

Contact the ECO supplier of your choice to apply directly with them. The current ECO suppliers include:

Avro Energy.

British Gas.

Bulb.

E-ON.

Ecotricity.

EDF Energy.

Octopus Energy.

OVO Energy.

Pure Planet.

Scottish Power.

Shell Energy.

So Energy.

Utility Warehouse.

Utilita.

Utility Point.

Affordable Warmth Obligation

Energy suppliers are providing help with insulation, boiler replacements or repairs and other heating upgrades.

Who’s eligible?

People claiming certain benefits that live in private housing (e.g., homeowners or people that rent from a private landlord) or live in social housing. The eligible benefits are:

Pension Guarantee Credit (not including Pension Savings Credit).

Universal Credit.

Income Support.

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Income-based Employment and Support Allowance.

Tax Credits (Child Tax and Working Tax).

Attendance Allowance.

Carer’s Allowance.

Disability Living Allowance.

Personal Independence Payment.

Severe Disablement Allowance.

Industrial Industries Disablement Benefits.

War Pensions Mobility Supplement.

Constant Attendance Allowance.

Armed Forces Independence Payment.

Child Benefit.

People that rent must have the owner’s permission to do the work. If you live in social housing with an energy efficiency rating of E or below, then you might be able to get help with installing insulation or a heating system for the first time.

When’s the deadline?

There is no deadline.

How to apply

Speak to your energy supplier. In addition, you can read more about the scheme on Gov.uk.

Discounts on energy bills

Warm Home Discount

What can I get?

£140 off your winter electricity bill for 2021 to 2022. You’ll get a one-off Warm Home Discount for your bill from October to March.

Who’s eligible?

The ‘core group’. This includes people that get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit and:

Your name, or your partner’s name, is on the electricity bill.

You or your partner get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (including those that also get Savings Credit).

Your energy supplier is part of the scheme – find the full list of suppliers for last year’s scheme on Gov.uk.

The ‘broader group’. This consists of people on a low income.

How to apply

Applications open on 18th October 2021. There isn’t a set date for people living in park or mobile homes. Fill in the Park Homes Warm Home Discount form to be notified when the scheme opens.

The core group

You’ll get a letter between October and December 2021 telling you how to get the Warm Home Discount. Follow any instructions on the letter, and your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31st March 2022. If you think you’re eligible for the core group but you don’t get a letter by 31st December, call the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 731 0214 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).

The broader group

Electricity suppliers have a limited number of discounts to give out. Check with your supplier to see if you’re eligible and how to apply – even if you got one last year. Your supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31st March 2022 if you’re eligible.

If you’re in Scotland, you can call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 to see if you’re eligible.

If you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meter, your electricity supplier can tell you how to get the discount.

Winter Fuel Payment

Who’s eligible?

People born on or before 5th October 1954 that lived in the UK for at least one day during the ‘qualifying week’, which is 21st to 27th September 2020. If you didn’t live in the UK during that time, you might still be eligible if you live in Switzerland or an EEA country, or you have a genuine link to the UK such as having previously worked here.

How much can I get?

Between £100 and £300 to pay your heating bills. The amount of Winter Fuel Payment you get will depend on your circumstances.

If you were born between 28th Sept 1940 and 5th Oct 1954, and:

You live alone or with people that don’t qualify: You’ll get £200.

You’re living with someone under 80 who also qualifies: You’ll get £100.

You live with some 80 or over who also qualifies: £100.

You’re living in a care home and don’t get certain benefits: £100.

If you were born on or before 27th September 1940, and:

You live alone or with people that don’t qualify: £300.

You’re living with someone under 80 who also qualifies: £200.

You live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies: £150.

You’re living in a care home and don’t get certain benefits: £150.

When’s the deadline?

Most payments are made automatically, usually in November or December. In addition, you should get a letter telling you how much you’ll get and your payment date.

Cold Weather Payment

£25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1st November 2021 and 31st March 2021.

Who’s eligible?

People that get:

Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI).

Pension Credit.

Universal Credit.

You must also have a health condition or disability and limited capacity for work or have a child under 5 that lives with you.

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

If you’re not in a work-related activity group or support group, you might still get Cold Weather Payments if you have a severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, a child under 5 that lives with you or Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element.

Income Support.

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

For the latter two, you must also have a disability or pensioner premium, a child who’s disabled, a child under 5 that lives with you or Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element.

When’s the deadline?

The 2020 to 2021 scheme has ended, but you’ll be able to see if your area is due a payment for next year’s scheme from 1st November 2021.

How to apply

The Cold Weather Payment is an automatic offer.

If you get Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and you have a baby or a child aged under 5 that starts living with you, tell Jobcentre Plus otherwise you won’t automatically get your Cold Weather Payments.

Anyone that doesn’t get their Cold Weather Payment should tell their pension centre or Jobcentre Plus. If you get Universal Credit, add a note to your journal on your online account or ring the helpline listed on letters you’ve received about your Universal Credit claim (if you don’t have an online account).

Fuel Direct

You can get some of your fuel and electricity bills (and other bills, like rent) paid directly through your benefits payments if you’re having difficulty paying.

How much can I get?

Some of your benefits will be paid directly to the person or company you owe. The exact amount depends on how much you need to pay off.

Universal Credit recipients can get a 5% deduction for gas, electricity and water.

Who’s eligible?

People that receive:

Universal Credit.

Pension Credit.

Income Support.

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

How to apply

Talk to the Jobcentre Plus or your pension centre and tell them:

How much you owe and who to.

Your customer reference number for your bills.

Your National Insurance number.

Find out more about Fuel Direct and the other bills covered, on Gov.uk.

Scotland-specific schemes

Home Energy Scotland Loan

An interest-free loan to install energy efficiency measures. You can also get up to 40% cashback for some measures, and 75% for specific renewable heating systems.

How much can I get?

The amount you get depends on the upgrades you want to make; the upgrades covered are:

Energy efficiency improvements

Solid wall insulation: Up to £6,000 loan plus £4,000 cashback; £10,000 total.

Gas, LPG or oil heating systems: Up to £5,000 loan.

Warm air units or high heat retention electric storage heaters: Up to £4,600 loan plus £400 cashback; £5,000 total.

Gas connection: Up to £5,000 loan.

Glazing: Up to £4,100 loan plus £400 cashback; £4,500 total.

Insulated doors: Up to £4,500 loan.

Flat roof or room-in-roof insulation: Up to £2,400 loan plus £1,600 cashback; £4,000 total.

Loft, floor or cavity wall insulation: Up to £600 loan plus £400 cashback; £1,000 total.

The above figures are maximums – cashback is normally up to 25% of the total funding. Any additional funding is subject to availability.

Renewable systems

Wind or hydro turbines: Up to £2,500 loan.

Solar PV: UP to £5,000 loan

Solar water heating systems: Up to £1,250 loan plus £3,750 cashback; £5,000 total.

Hybrid PV-solar water heating systems: Up to £7,500 loan.

Energy storage systems (heat or electric batteries): Up to £6,000.

Heat pumps (air source to water, ground source to water, water source to water, hybrid air source to water): Up to £2,500 loan plus £7,500 cashback.

Heat meters installed alongside heat pump: Up to £500 cashback.

Biomass boilers or stoves (excluding non-automated, non-pellet stoves and room heaters): Up to £2,500 loan plus £7,500 cashback.

Connections to a renewably powered district heating scheme: Up to £1,250 loan plus £3,750 cashback; £5,000 total.

Cashback for renewable heating measures is given on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you apply for heat meter funding, you’ll need to be willing to give meter readings on request after installation.

Secondary improvements

You can borrow up to £500, including £200 cashback for improvements combined with one of the energy efficiency improvements or renewable systems listed above.

Who’s eligible?

Homeowners that live in the property they own, or self-builders (for home renewable systems or energy storage systems). However, landlords, businesses, and property developers aren’t eligible.

How to apply

Call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 to speak to an advisor. Read more about the scheme on the Home Energy Scotland website.

Warmer Homes Scotland

Households struggling to pay their energy bills can get funding to make their home warmer and therefore reduce their energy costs.

What can I get?

Loft and wall insulation.

Draught proofing.

Central heating, including new gas boilers.

Renewables.

Who’s eligible?

Homeowners or people that rent privately, that:

Live in the home as their main residence.

Have lived in the home for 12 months minimum, unless they have a DS1500 certificate.

Live in a home that’s 230 sq m in floor size, with an energy rating of 67 or below.

Live in a home that meets the tolerable living standard detailed in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. If not, then the living standards mustn’t have an impact on the effectiveness of the measures recommended under the scheme.

Haven’t received Warmer Homes Scotland funding in the last 5 years.

They must also be:

75 or over with no working heating system and in receipt of a passport benefit.

Pregnant or have a child aged 16 or under and in receipt of a passport benefit.

Receiving Payment Independent Payment with a disability.

In receipt of high rate Disability Living Allowance (care or mobility component).

In receipt of low or medium rate Disability Living Allowance and an income related benefit.

A carer receiving Carers Allowance.

In receipt of Armed Forces Independence Payment or War Disablement Pension and have been injured or disabled whilst serving in the Armed Forces.

Injured or disabled due to an accident or disease caused at work, and in receipt of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

The passport benefits are: Guarantee element of the Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, Council Tax Reduction (excluding the 25% single occupancy discount), Carer’s Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, War Disablement Pension, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Higher Rate Care or Mobility components of Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment, or Universal Credit or any of the benefits due to be replaced by it.

How to apply

Contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or fill in the contact form for a call or email back. In addition, you can read more about the scheme on the Home Energy Scotland website.

Electric car charging point grant

The Energy Saving Trust and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) provides grants towards the cost of installing 32-amp home charge points for eligible electric vehicles, in line with OZEV technical specifications.

What can I get?

£350 from OZEV.

£250 from the Energy Saving Trust.

£100 extra from those in the most remote areas of Scotland, from the Energy Saving Trust.

Who’s eligible?

Any installation done by an OZEV-accredited supplier, for the OZEV grant. For the £250 and extra £100 reimbursement, it needs to be installed by an Energy Saving Trust-approved domestic charge point installer. Use the domestic charge point installer map to find one.

How to apply

Get at least one quote from a domestic charge point installer. Getting three quotes is recommended.

Send electronic copies of your chosen quote and proof that you own an electric vehicle (e.g. an order form) and submit your application form.

Once you’ve received a grant offer, you can arrange a date for the work to be completed with your supplier. You won’t be eligible for the funding if you get your charge point installed before you get a grant offer.

Get your invoice and electrical installation certificate from the installer.

Send your paid invoice, electrical installation certificate and completed grant claim form to the Energy Saving Trust.

The initial £350 will be paid directly to your supplier. Once you’ve paid anything over that to your supplier, you can apply for the £250 reimbursement from the Energy Saving Trust.

If you’re looking to switch to an electric car, van, motorbike or scooter, you can get an interest-free loan of up to £28,000. Read more on the Home Energy Scotland website. Or, you can switch to an eBike or adapted cycle with the help of an interest free loan worth up to £6,000 – read more on the Home Energy Scotland website.

Wales-specific schemes

NEST Wales

You can get free energy efficiency improvements done in your home through the scheme. The improvements covered are a new boiler, central heating and insulation.

Who’s eligible?

Homeowners or private-sector renters (not council or housing association renters) that:

Live in a home that’s energy inefficient and expensive to heat.

Receive, or live with someone that receives, a means tested benefit or has a chronic respiratory, circulatory or mental health condition and income below defined thresholds.

Read more details on the eligibility criteria on the Nest website.

How to apply

Call the freephone number 0808 808 2244 or fill in the online form to get a callback.

Northern Ireland-specific schemes

Boiler Replacement Scheme

You can get a grant to:

Replace an inefficient boiler with a more energy efficient condensing oil or gas boiler.

Switch from an oil to gas boiler.

Switch to a wood pellet boiler.

How much can I get?

A grant of up to £1,000, depending on your total gross annual income.

People earning less than £20,000

You’ll get £700 to replace your boiler. The grant will rise to £1,000 total if controls are also installed.

People earning over £20,000, but less than £40,000

You’ll get £400 to replace your boiler. The grant will rise to £500 total if controls are also installed.

Who’s eligible?

Owner occupiers with an inefficient boiler that’s 15 years old minimum, and a gross household income of less than £40,000.

How to apply

Get in touch with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to apply, on:

Phone: 0344 892 0900.

Email: [email protected].

Affordable Warmth Scheme

A scheme offering free energy efficiency improvements to households with an income of £20,000 or below. The improvements covered are:

Insulation, ventilation, or draught proofing

Installing or topping loft insulation up to 300mm.

Roof, loft, or eaves ventilation.

Cavity wall insulation or removing and replacing ineffective cavity wall insulation.

Draught proofing of doors and windows.

Providing a hot water cylinder jacket.

Heating

Installing natural gas or oil central heating to replace solid fuel, LPG or Economy 7 systems.

Converting an Economy 7 system to a high efficiency electrical storage system, where gas and oil systems aren’t viable.

Replacing or upgrading a boiler that’s at least 15 years old, for householders that are either aged over 65, are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance, or have a child that’s in receipt of Child Benefit.

Windows

Replacing single glazed windows.

Replacing defective double glazing.

Solid walls

Solid wall insulation.

How much can I get?

A grant of up to £7,500. If your home needs solid wall construction and insulation, you could get up to £10,000.

If you rent your home privately, your landlord will need to pay 50% of the total cost of the energy efficiency measures needed, as well as agreeing to the measures being installed and registering with the Department for Communities’ Landlord Registration Scheme.

Who’s eligible?

People that live in Northern Ireland with a total annual gross income of less than £20,000, and:

Own their home.

Or rent their home from a private landlord.

Or have their day/life interest in the home.

How to apply

Council staff are visiting homes that are most likely to be affected by fuel property. Or, you can contact your local council to see if you’d qualify for help and to apply.

To search for more energy efficiency home grants available in your area of the UK, head to the postcode search tool on the Simple Energy Advice website.

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