Tuesday, 21 May, 2013 - 10:14
Immediate Release: 20th May 2013
Industry welcomed today's announcement by Greg Barker MP, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, that the Government has substantially increased voucher payments for the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme, viewing it as a positive step towards the longer term incentive scheme (the Renewable Heat Incentive) which has been postponed until spring 2014.
Dave Sowden, Chief Executive of the Micropower Council, commented:
"These new voucher levels are a welcome boost for an industry which has, in some sectors, seen dramatic drops in sales. This market uncertainty followed a series of delays to the long term incentive scheme and the threatened...
Wednesday, 1 May, 2013 - 16:35
The MPC has offered its support to the STA-led Campaign on increasing the voucher amounts for the recently announced RHPP scheme extension.
We sent a letter of support to the Minister this morning (1/5/13), which you will find using the link below. We are asking for an enhancement to the RHPP scheme at a level sufficient to support the market and to incentivise consumers.
Tuesday, 26 March, 2013 - 18:17
Wednesday, 20 March, 2013 - 16:41
Immediate Release: 20 March 2013
The Micropower Council and its members are strongly encouraged by the Chancellors budget announcement today in support of the 2016 Zero Carbon Homes target.
The microgeneration sector's business and supply chain have been gearing up to address the 230,000 projected new households a year, through investing in manufacturing facilities, creating jobs and upskilling the workforce. Investor confidence will continue to build on this showing the UK continues to be a stable, investable economy for low carbon solutions.
But at the same time, the lack of progress by Government on implementing the changes to the building regulations in part L may seriously undermine...
Friday, 1 March, 2013 - 12:09
Immediate Release: 27 February 2013
Industry welcomes the announcement from DECC today from the RHI consultation on "Providing Certainty, Improving Performance". It indicates some movement towards certainty and clarity for the RHI scheme and industry will welcome many of the proposals. In particular the slight tweaks to the budget management mechanism mean degression will only be triggered once the deployment of a particular technology hits 150% of its estimated levels and individual trigger levels will not apply if the scheme's overall deployment is under 50% of its estimated target.
The proposed Early Review of the existing tariff levels will hopefully lead to an upward revision of the tariff levels this Spring,...
Thursday, 28 February, 2013 - 10:21
Immediate Release: 27 February 2013
Industry welcomes the announcement from DECC today from the RHI consultation on "Providing Certainty, Improving Performance". It indicates some movement towards certainty and clarity for the RHI scheme and industry will welcome many of the proposals. In particular the slight tweaks to the budget management mechanism mean degression will only be triggered once the deployment of a particular technology hits 150% of its estimated levels and individual trigger levels will not apply if the scheme's overall deployment is under 50% of its estimated target.
The proposed Early Review of the existing tariff levels will hopefully lead to an upward revision of the tariff levels this Spring, and...
Thursday, 28 February, 2013 - 10:21
Immediate Release: 27 February 2013
Industry welcomes the announcement from DECC today from the RHI consultation on "Providing Certainty, Improving Performance". It indicates some movement towards certainty and clarity for the RHI scheme and industry will welcome many of the proposals. In particular the slight tweaks to the budget management mechanism mean degression will only be triggered once the deployment of a particular technology hits 150% of its estimated levels and individual trigger levels will not apply if the scheme's overall deployment is under 50% of its estimated target.
The proposed Early Review of the existing tariff levels will hopefully lead to an upward revision of the tariff levels this Spring, and...
Wednesday, 27 February, 2013 - 10:10
Immediate Release: 27 February 2013
In support of the 2016 Zero Carbon Homes target and beyond, the microgeneration sector's business and supply chain have been gearing up to address the 230,000 projected new households a year.
Substantial business investment in manufacturing facilities and jobs has occurred, yet the lack of progress by Government on implementing the changes to the building regulations in part L is seriously undermining investor confidence.
Not only is this affecting industry but also that of UK households which account for nearly 30% of the UK's CO2 emissions: householders (and the microgeneration industry) are already missing out on improving the energy efficiency of their homes and reducing their...
Friday, 1 February, 2013 - 17:24
Immediate Release: 1 February 2013
Industry welcomed the launch of the Green Deal scheme, the UK Government's flagship energy policy, this January. However, the announcement by the Green Deal Finance Company of their proposed interest rates for the scheme has served to increase industry apprehension about the scheme. It is now feared that the financial frameworks underpinning the Green Deal will not guarantee value for money to consumers.
The low carbon sector acknowledges the Green Deal's objective to enable consumers to finance energy efficiency solutions in their home but in practice, once costs of administering the finance scheme are incorporated, the loans will have an interest rate of over 7.5%
It...
Tuesday, 18 December, 2012 - 16:28
The MPC Christmas reception took place on the eve of 17 December 2012 on the terrace pavilion at the Houses of Parliament. The well attended event, kindly sponsored by Carillion entertained a plethora of poignant keynote speeches from the Rt Hon Greg Barker MP, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, Dave Sowden (Micropower Council), Phil Shepley (Carillion), Baroness Maddock and Dr Alan Whitehead MP.
The speeches set the tone for the evening by touching upon a number of the key developments for the microgeneration industry. This set the backdrop for some great networking opportunities and some festive drinks too for key stakeholders from Government, Industry, NGOs and Trade Associations involved in the microgeneration...
Thursday, 29 November, 2012 - 17:42
Introduction
A consultation on reducing electricity demand across the UK economy (covering the domestic and non-domestic/industrial sectors) was published by Government today - with responses due in by 31st January 2013. Government are looking for a 10% reduction in electricity demand which could produce savings of around £4 billion in 2030, which would more than compensate for the cost of making efficiency investments upfront.
The MPC's initial commentary on the consultation gives an overview as to DECCs views on the potential for new measures in the sectors and what areas DECC are seeking consultation on.
Whilst Government focus is on the non-domestic sector, they do raise the possibility...
Thursday, 29 November, 2012 - 16:35
‘UK households - the largest group of electricity users set to miss out on DECC's electricity demand reduction proposals'
Immediate Release: 29 November 2012
UK households, which account for 30% of UK electricity demand, and constitute the largest group of electricity users, are at risk of missing out on electricity demand reduction proposals as announced by DECC today.
The focus of the consultation on non-domestic and industrial electricity use risks sidelining the initiatives of incentivising demand reduction in the home. Measures for behaviour change programmes and product efficiency (which must go hand-in-hand) are essential to facilitating the involvement of microgeneration technologies and the domestic...
Thursday, 11 October, 2012 - 14:57
Micropower Council Awards winners announced at nextgen
11 October, 2012 - London: The winners in the Micropower Council Awards were announced last night (10 October) at a special black-tie gala dinner. Sponsored by the UK's largest provider of low carbon electricity, EDF Energy, the awards highlight the achievements of the microgeneration industry made in the past year.
The awards ceremony took place during, nextgen, the UK's fastest growing event showcasing emerging renewable energy technologies being held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. The two-day event encompasses microgen, a show serving small-scale (sub-50kW) power suppliers including wind, hydro and photovoltaic solar installations, and ebec, the UK's...
Thursday, 20 September, 2012 - 18:26
Immediate Release: 20th September 2012
Industry has given a warm initial welcome to Climate Change Minister Greg Barker's latest package of consultation proposals around support for domestic renewable heat installations and expansion of the non-domestic scheme to include air source heat pumps.
The Micropower Council has worked closely with Government on support for renewable heat over a number of years. The move to consult separately on the inclusion of air source heat pumps is the result of ongoing constructive engagement between the Micropower Council, alongside the other trade bodies representing the sector, and Government. This resulted in Greg Barker undertaking to seek to find a way to fast-track the inclusion of non...
Friday, 7 September, 2012 - 10:07
Immediate Release: 7 September 2012
Industry has welcomed Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker's clear signal that he would explore ways to change the Renewable Heat Incentive quickly to allow air to water heat pumps to compete fairly in the market for commercial renewable heating systems.
In a meeting on the 6th September with the Directors of four trade bodies representing the sector, the Minister said that the industry had made a "very strong" case and, subject to undertaking the proper processes internally within Government, he would seek to find a way to fast-track the inclusion of air to water commercial heat pumps ahead of other changes to the Renewable Heat Incentive planned for next...
