Ecotricity News Feed

Super-chargers rev up Ecotricity's Electric Highway

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:04:15 +0000

Ecotricity's motorway electric car charging network saw a huge 45-fold jump in use in the final quarter of last year, the green energy company has revealed.

Adding three super-chargers to the existing 14 standard charger units already installed at Welcome Break service stations resulted in over 4,000kWh of electricity being consumed between February and April 2013 compared to just 87kWh during the corresponding three month period last year.

The scheme also saw membership rise from 244 card holders at the end of April 2012 to 399 a year later, with membership now standing at over 500.

Ecotricity opened the first charge point at South Mimms services in Hertfordshire almost two years agowith the goal of creating a nationwide "Electric Highway" by fitting chargers at all 27 Welcome Break sites by the end of this year. The chargers are powered by wind or solar energy and are free to use for members of the scheme.

Three fast-chargers capable of filling up most electric cars' batteries to 80 per cent in half an hour were subsequently fitted at South Mimms, Oxford, and Hopwood Park stations last year, while a fourth is now up and running at Newport Pagnell services on the M1 near Milton Keynes.

The company said it intends to roll out super-chargers across the country this summer, while fitting the remaining Welcome Break sites with both standard and fast-chargers. Dale Vince, founder and chief executive of Ecotricity, said siting chargers on the motorway rather than in city centres will allow electric car drivers the same mobility as those in petrol or diesel vehicles.

"While the majority of charging points in Britain are in towns and city centres - we believe this is actually where they are needed the least," he added. "We chose the motorway network for good reason and now that we are adding super-chargers into these locations, we can solve the problem of range anxiety and charging times in one go.

"Of course electric car ownership is starting from a very low base - but couple the fact that petrol prices remain stubbornly high, the Electric Highway is free to use and zero carbon - this shows the massive potential for growth if you put the right technology in the right place.

"Ecotricity drivers may be among those using the chargers after the company revealed it is swapping its pool car fleet from diesel engines to Nissan LEAFs.

Vince said the decision was a "no brainer" given the reduced price for the latest model of the pioneering electric car made it price competitive with diesel alternatives "yet better for the environment and miles cheaper to run".

Last month, hotel chain Best Western announced plans to install charging points at 135 of its locations, while across the Atlantic, electric car manufacturer Tesla intends to complete a network connecting most major cities in the US and Canada by the end of the year.

Source: Super-chargers rev up Ecotricity's Electric Highway

Government attack on onshore wind a slippery slope

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:55:27 +0000

Ecotricity, the world’s first green energy company, says the Government’s latest attack on onshore wind power comes as planning approvals are already at an all-time-low.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said: “Britain has 40% of Europe’s wind resource and onshore wind power is the cheapest form of renewable energy available today.

“This is just another Government move against onshore wind dressed up as localism.

“The new planning guidelines introduced last year have already changed the balance against onshore wind.

“Planning approval rates plummeted to a historic low of 35% over the last year, half of what they’ve traditionally been.

“Will we see the same logic being applied to the new generation of gas plants and nuclear power stations? How about the third runway at Heathrow, waste incinerators, new roads or is it only wind power. This is a slippery slope.

“Let’s not forget, that we will all benefit from lower energy bills in the long term by investing in wind power and weaning ourselves off imported fossil fuels.”

Ecotricity Pledges Support To Team Badger

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:56:00 +0000

Ecotricity, the Stroud based green energy company, has pledged its support to Team Badger’s efforts to stop the proposed badger cull, which could commence as early as June 1^st.

Team Badger is the name given to a group of organisations including Animal Aid, VIVA!, and Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting (G.A.B.S) – all committed to exploring every possible avenue to stop the cull.

Kate Fowler, Head of Campaigns at Animal, said: “The government has ignored the fact that many eminent scientists oppose the cull. It pays no heed to Sir David Attenborough, Chris Packham and all the other wildlife experts who argue that the cull won’t work and that the suffering involved is utterly unacceptable. And it has disregarded the opinion of the public whose opposition to this policy has been made clear through countless opinion polls and the government’s own consultation paper.”

To show its support, Ecotricity is asking people to sign a petition to encourage MPs to abandon the proposed cull: simply go online or pop into the Ecotricity reception on Russell Street, Stroud to pick up a postcard and send it to Conservative Party Policy Minister, Oliver Letwin.

Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said: “I fully support Team Badger in their efforts in getting this hideous cull stopped. It’s worth considering that if we truly have to virtually wipe out a species like the Badger just to produce milk from cows, then maybe we should be questioning the basis for the dairy industry itself. After all we don’t need cows milk to live. We all need to work together to ensure that it does not go ahead.”

Last year, G.A.B.S presented Dale with the Golden Badger Paw award for his opposition of the badger cull.

Dale, who is a vegan, holds treatment of animals close to his heart and actively supports organisations that campaign against cruelty to animals.

Ecotricity set to go electric at WOMAD

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:00:18 +0000

Ecotricity has today launched a new partnership with WOMAD that will see the green energy company sponsor a stage at the Charlton Park world music festival in July.

Ecotricity will be hosting Molly’s Green Bar at this year’s festival from 25^th – 28^th July, where electro-swing cabaret, big skirts, china teacups and swinging grooves will be the order of the day.

Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said: “We’re looking forward to being a part of WOMAD, where we’ll be powering Molly’s Bar, chatting to people about our vision for a Green Britain, and having a good time like everyone else. In all my years as a traveller, I have been to a lot of festivals, but I never made it to WOMAD – so it will be great to come along and experience what I’ve heard so much about.”

More details on the acts and line-up for the Ecotricity stage will be announced soon.

Ecotricity are also offering a free weekend ticket to any new customer who switches their energy supply quoting WOMAD¹.

For more information on WOMAD’s Charlton Park event, including ticket info, line-up, opening times, and direction, visit their website.

Notes

¹Subject to availability. Full details and terms and conditions to be announced soon.

Fifth anniversary of Ecotricity green energy park at Fen Farm famous for UFO wind turbine incident

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:19:50 +0000

The Ecotricity green energy park at Fen Farm, Conisholme, has just marked its fifth anniversary.

The company says it has now produced ‘enough clean green electricity to power a light bulb for over two million years or brew over 10 billion cups of tea.’

Fen Farm was the UK’s first combined wind and solar park, 20 wind turbines were commissioned in 2008, followed three years later by the solar park in 2011.

The wind park hit the local and national news in January 2009 after it was reported that a UFO had collided with one of the turbines denting it - it is now listed as one of the top 10 UFO sightings in Lincolnshire

The solar park is made up of 5,000 panels.

Nick Osbourne, Ecotricity spokesperson, said: “The Fen Farm energy park is a brilliant example of renewable energy in action. Over the last five years, it’s produced a substantial amount of green electricity, harnessing both the wind and the sun.

“The key to our future energy independence and sustainability is to make use of numerous renewable energy sources – that’s the only way we can stem what is a very costly reliance on diminishing, climate-damaging fossil fuels.”

Ecotricity’s maintenance team, based in Louth, heavily rely on local apprentices, with 50 per cent of current employees apprentices from the Humberside Engineering Training Association.

Ecotricity apprentice turned full-time employee Adam Barnard recently picked up the Renewable Apprentice of the Year prize at the 2013 Footprint Awards.

Ecotricity, the first green energy company in the UK, supplies green electricity and gas to over 70,000 customers, and this year secured permission for a 22 turbine site in Heckington Fen, Lincolnshire.

Osbourne continued: “Heckington Fen is another very exciting project for Ecotricity – we have permission for up to 22 new wind turbines there, which could potentially provide enough electricity to supply the equivalent annual electricity needs of up to 39,700 typical UK households. It’s a big project and it will take quite a few years to get all of those turbines into the ground – but we’ll keep local people informed every step of the way.”

Source: Fifth anniversary of Ecotricity green energy park at Fen Farm famous for UFO wind turbine incident

Swaffham turbine with a view nears 14 years of green power

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Tue, 28 May 2013 12:24:11 +0000

The wind turbine at Swaffham’s Green Britain Centre, the only one in the world with a viewing platform the public can access, has so far produced enough green electricity to brew more than two billion cups of tea.

The 67-metre high turbine has had more than 150,000 visitors climb the steps to its viewing platform, which was designed by Sir Norman Foster, since it was installed by Ecotricity in August, 1999.

As can be seen in our picture, the platform offers 360-degree views of the surrounding Norfolk countryside, as well as a bird’s eye view of Swaffham. The turbine, with its 1.5 megawatt capacity, has produced more than 43 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

Source: Swaffham turbine with a view nears 14 years of green power

Ecotricity supplies green electricity and gas and reinvests in new sources of green energy

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Tue, 28 May 2013 12:20:52 +0000

Ecotricity, the world’s first green energy company, has linked up with wildlife charity RSPB to inspire people to take action against the threat of climate change and deepen the link between green energy and nature. Dr Simon Pickering, Ecotricity’s in-house ecologist, explains why the company’s partnership with the RSPB is a big step forward.

Can you explain more about what Ecotricity does?

Ecotricity is a green energy company that supplies green electricity and gas, but we have a really unique business model: we take the money that our customers spend on their energy bills and use it to build new sources of green energy. We power over 70,000 homes and businesses with electricity harnessed from the power of the wind, the sun and the sea – but we do a lot more than that, from building a nationwide charging network for electric cars to planting 20,000 trees at our first EcoPark in Gloucestershire. It’s an exciting place to be.

How does the ethos of Ecotricity fit in with that of The Big Issue Cymru?

Just like The Big Issue, we look to make a difference to the lives of people, as well as wanting to help create a more self-sufficient world with a sustainable future. We have a radical business model where ethical business is the norm and people and planet come before profit.

Why did Ecotricity start a partnership with the RSPB?

Ecotricity and the RSPB both believe that climate change poses the single greatest long-term threat to birds and other wildlife – and we believe that by working together we can develop new ways of addressing the problem and encourage others to think more closely about their own carbon emissions. It’s that simple.

What will the partnership entail?

Renewable energy is essential in the fight against climate change and this partnership aims to make even closer links between green energy and nature. The RSPB will use their expertise to help Ecotricity create Britain’s first energy and nature projects that will integrate wildlife habitats into wind, wave, solar, and green gas generation projects. That’s a very exciting prospect – we’ve already planted a wildflower meadow around our solar park in Lincolnshire, but there are much bigger projects to come. We work very closely with the RSPB on all renewable energy projects, but this new partnership will mean we have their expert help and advice at a much earlier stage, as well as looking for opportunities to provide new habitats for wildlife.

How will Ecotricity help the RSPB?

The RSPB want 15% of their energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. So we will use our expertise to help them get there, helping to improve their energy efficiency, and also to help them install electric vehicle charging points at wildlife reserve visitor centres. Ecotricity are expanding our own Electric Highway – an electric car charging network at motorway services where people can charge up with green energy for free – and it will be great to see the RSPB become part of that electric revolution. It really is a win-win situation for both of us.

Up to £60 donated to the Big Issue when you join Ecotricity

Call us on 08000 302 302 or visit www.ecotricity.co.uk/thebigissue

For full terms and conditions, please go to www.ecotricity.co.uk/thebigissue

Source: Ecotricity supplies green electricity and gas and reinvests in new sources of green energy

RSPB and Ecotricity team up to create renewable energy nature reserves

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:00:04 +0000

Major new partnership aims to improve wind farm site selection and maximise the habitat benefits associated with renewables projects

Wind farms have long been characterised as being harmful to wildlife, but thanks to a pioneering new partnership between the RSPB and one of the UK's leading wind farm developers they could soon become established as valuable wild life habitats.

The charity has this week officially launched a partnership with Ecotricity that will see the two organisations work together on selecting new wind farm locations, establishing new wildlife habitats at renewable energy projects, and reducing the environmental impact of RSPB offices and visitor centres.

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Specifically, the two organisations will work together to create what Ecotricity describes as "Britain's first energy and nature projects that will integrate wildlife habitats into wind, wave, solar, and green gas generation projects".

Meanwhile, the energy company will also build on its plans to install a wind turbine at RSPB's headquarters in Bedfordshire with work to improve the energy efficiency at visitor centres and install electric car charging points across the charity's estate.

"We're already making green energy to cut the carbon emissions that cause climate change, which in turn impacts habitats and wildlife," said Ecotricity founder Dale Vince in a statement. "This partnership takes that one step further, making closer links between nature and green energy.

"This is a long-term strategic partnership that will not only protect wildlife, but develop new habitat creation, and make the RSPB a more integral part of the process of our green energy projects."

The RSPB has in the past opposed a number of proposed wind farm developments, but Harry Huyton, head of energy and climate at the group, reiterated that it remained fully supportive of well-located renewable energy projects.

"Switching to a low carbon economy is one of the defining challenges of our generation," he said. "Failure would mean devastation for the world's wildlife - but equally we must ensure that when we develop renewable energy projects we do our best to ensure they do not harm wild species in our countryside. That's why the RSPB has committed to working with Ecotricity in a partnership that will unite us behind our common mission of a renewables revolution in harmony with nature."

A spokesman for Ecotricity told BusinessGreen that the company already worked closely with the RSPB when considering planning applications, but would now consult with the group even earlier in the project development process in order to ensure the most appropriate locations are selected.

He also confirmed that the company was on track to lodge a planning application for the RSPB's new turbine next month and revealed that meetings were scheduled between the organisations to explore how new habitats could be created alongside renewable energy projects.

A number of studies have suggested renewable energy projects could provide effective habitats for a range of species, given that they tend to be located in remote sites away from human settlements. For example, some scientists have predicted that offshore wind farms could provide valuable artificial reefs and protection from over-fishing that would benefit some species.

Source: RSPB and Ecotricity team up to create renewable energy nature reserves

Ecotricity breezes into Northern Ireland with wind park

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:52:29 +0000

Two turbine facility at Michelin factory in Ballymena follows similar sized development at company's Dundee plant

Green energy provider Ecotricity has this week opened its first "wind park" in Northern Ireland, after completing the installation of two wind turbines at Michelin's trye factory in Ballymena, County Antrim.

The new 4.6MW facility is now successfully generating electricity and is expected to provide power to the factory equivalent to that used by up to 3,500 homes. Any excess power not used by the manufacturing plant will be fed into the local grid.

The project marks the second time Ecotricity has installed wind turbines for Michelin, following the successful installation of two turbines at the company's factory in Dundee in 2006.

It also represents a boost to the company's strategy of working with companies to erect onsite large scale turbines that are then capable of providing energy to industrial or business facilities.

"Building wind power on-site and supplying it directly to a factory not only cuts carbon emissions, but because you don't need to transport the electricity via the grid - it cuts energy costs too," said Ecotricity chief executive Dale Vince in a statement. "This is a way to make businesses more competitive and more environmentally sustainable at the same time."

His comments were echoed by Wilton Crawford, Factory Manager at Michelin Ballymena, who predicted the two 79 metre tall turbines would "help alleviate the challenge of increased energy costs, particularly as energy prices in Northern Ireland far surpass those in Europe".

The project represents another encouraging milestone for Ecotricity, which earlier this month secured planning permission for its largest wind farm to date - the proposed 22 turbine development at Heckington Fen in Lincolnshire.

Source: Ecotricity breezes into Northern Ireland with 4.6MW wind park

Large onshore windfarm approved for Lincolnshire

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:29:48 +0000

Energy secretary Ed Davey gives green light for Heckington Fen turbines, just north of energy minister John Hayes's constituency

Ed Davey, the energy and climate change secretary, has given the green light to a huge windfarm right next door to the constituency of his turbine-phobic colleague, John Hayes.

Up to 22 turbines are to be erected at Heckington Fen in Lincolnshire, just north of Hayes' constituency, making it the fourth largest onshore windfarm in England, according to developer, Ecotricity.

Davey, a Lib Dem MP who has always been supportive of renewable energy, has consistently been embarrassed by Hayes, the new energy minister and Conservative MP for South Holland, and a growing anti-wind power movement in some parts of the coalition.

It is already difficult to win planning permission for onshore windfarms, particularly in Lincolnshire, where the Conservative-run county council has introduced tough hurdles for turbine schemes.

Hayes, who took the energy portfolio last autumn, has complained that too many wind turbines have been "peppered" across the UK without enough consideration for the countryside and people's homes, adding that "enough is enough".

"We can no longer have wind turbines imposed on communities. I can't single-handedly build a new Jerusalem but I can protect our green and pleasant land," he said in an interview.

Lincolnshire county council explained on its website why new guidelines for windfarms were needed, saying "although supportive of alternative energy, councillors questioned the efficiency of turbines and their impact on the county's residents, landscapes and tourism industry".

More than 100 Conservative backbenchers wrote to David Cameron earlier this year, calling on him to scale back subsidies to onshore windfarms, on the grounds they were an eyesore and economically inefficient.

Their letter was followed up by a rash of comments from the chancellor, George Osborne, about the dangers of Britain moving faster on "green" energy than competitors in Europe, resulting in the UK industry facing higher costs.

A Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) spokesman declined to comment on Hayes's thoughts about the Heckington Fen project, saying simply that it was not a decision for him to take.

"Onshore wind has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix. This development will enhance our energy security and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," the spokesman added.

Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity, said: "We're grateful to the secretary of state for his decision in the face of considerable political hot air right now on the subject of windmills, and we'd also like to thank the many people in the local community that wrote letters of support for the project.

"Heck Fen will make a significant contribution to Britain's energy supply, powering the equivalent of almost 40,000 homes for the next 25 years and will reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels, which are the primary source of the Britain's carbon emissions."

Earlier this week, the DECC showed its determination to plough ahead with wind schemes when it invested £50m in a fund buying equity stakes in six projects, both onshore and offshore.

Hayes's supporters pointed out that although the energy minister was concerned about onshore windfarms, his comments about there being enough took into account those already in the planning process such as the Ecotricity scheme.

Source: Large onshore windfarm approved for Lincolnshire

Ecotricity to move into small wind turbine market

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:26:41 +0000

Renewable electricity utility company Ecotricity is to move into the micro wind sector, and is testing its own designed turbine, which it claims could be up to 40% more efficient than similar sized windmills on the market.

Ecotricity's founder Dale Vince said that after 20 years of working in wind power he has decided to moving to the market because the poor design quality of most windmills made for domestic use risked undermining the credibility of wind energy.

“Most micro windmills on the market are simply scaled down versions of large wind turbines, and that is a mistake," he said. "We don’t want people getting disillusioned and becoming sceptical about renewable energy because they buy a small windmill and it doesn’t work as well as it could."

Their new design is a vertical axis machine called the Urbine. This type of machine operates better in urban situations, because it can take power from the wind whatever direction it is coming from, without having to turn to face it.

Horizontal axis machines have to turn to face the wind before they can harvest it, and this takes time and makes them inefficient under turbulent conditions.

The vertical-axis 6kW Urbine will undergo six months testing near the company's headquarters in Stroud, Gloucestershire, next to Ecotricity’s existing large wind turbine, before undergoing official performance certification at Myres Hill wind turbine test site in Scotland.

“It’s super-efficient and has great potential for the export market and the creation of new green jobs,” continued Vince.

After six months, a second Urbine will be installed at the Myres Hill Wind Turbine Test Site in Scotland which offers high average wind speeds and complex terrain. It will go through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme for the UK market, which all wind machines have to do, then making it eligible for feed-in tariff scheme support.

A recent Renewable UK study of 80 British companies involved in the supply chain for the wind energy sector (such as manufacturing, infrastructure and support services) found the sector provided over 12,000 full-time jobs.

Further analysis of those companies found most companies had only entered wind sector supply chain in the last 5-10 years:

Only 24% of companies were in the wind sector supply chain over 10 years ago;
76% of the companies entered the wind sector supply chain in the last 10 years;
39% entered the wind sector supply chain in the last 5 years.

Vince said: “Britain’s green energy sector is a part of the next industrial revolution which is being created now. It’s a really exciting time and the world is about to see a range of new green innovations emerge – machines that harness wind, wave and tidal power – and will once again have ‘Made in Britain’ stamped on them.”

Source: Ecotricity to move into small wind turbine market

Wind turbine at Green Britain Centre powers ahead

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Max Lawrence) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:36:09 +0000

The wind turbine at the Green Britain Centre is approaching its 14^thyear near Swaffham and has so far produced enough green electricity to brew over 2 billion cups of tea or keep an iPad going for over three and a half million years.

It’s no ordinary turbine either – it is the only one in the world with a publicly accessible viewing platform, 67 metres up and offering 360 degree views of the Norfolk countryside.

The viewing platform was also designed by Sir Norman Foster, architect of the Gherkin and New Wembley Stadium in London.

The turbine is one of the big attractions at the newly opened Green Britain Centre: the centre has evolved from the popular EcoTech Centre, which attracted over a quarter of a million visitors since opening in 1999.

Alex Fuller, Business Development Manager at the Green Britain Centre, said: “The wind turbine is a huge draw for visitors coming to the Green Britain Centre. Not only is it an enthralling experience to climb up the windmill, but these figures show that it’s a very successful generating turbine as well,creating a significant amount of clean green electricity. We have seen well over 150,000 visitors climb to the summit of the turbine so far, and we are looking forward to many more visitors thanks to the launch of the Green Britain Centre here.”

The turbine – installed in August 1999 – has so far produced over 43 million units (kWh) since construction: that’s enough to drive an electric car(Nissan LEAF) around the equator over six thousand times or power a light bulb for over 400,000 years.

The Green Britain Centre, an initiative owned and run by green energy company Ecotricity, offers tours for schools as well as conferencing facilities, and more.

Other attractions at the Green Britain Centre include:

the Greenbird, the world’s fastest wind powered vehicle
one of Britain’s largest solar trackers
a wind turbine blade famously reported to have been detached by a ‘UFO’
heirloom orchard and organic gardens
a Café, serving delicious homemade local and organic vegetarian food

Visitors can check out www.greenbritaincentre.co.uk/whats-on or call 01760 726100 for more details.

Vital Statistics of the Green Britain Centre wind turbine:

Site address: The Green Britain Centre, Swaffham

Running Since: August 1999

Number of turbines: 1

Rotor diameter: 66m

Hub height: 67m

Capacity: 1.5MW

About Ecotricity

Britain’s first green energy company, Ecotricity was founded in 1996 with a single windmill and went on to create the green electricity market. Now powering over 70,000 homes and businesses from 55 windmills and a solar-farm, Ecotricity is a ‘not-for-dividend’ enterprise that on average invests more per customer in building new sources of green electricity than any other energy company in Britain.

For more information, please contact:

Stuart Brennan or Nicholas Osbourne, Ecotricity

press.office@ecotricity.co.uk or (01453) 761318

RSPB sparks up partnership with Ecotricity

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Michelle Baldwin) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:38:32 +0000

The RSPB is joining forces with Ecotricity, Britain’s first green energy company, in a new partnership that will help the conservation charity continue its fight to protect wildlife in the face of habitat loss and climate change.

The partnership will also see the RSPB become a more integral part of Ecotricity’s site selection process for renewable energy projects, consulted for their wildlife expertise at a much earlier stage in the process.

The two organisations say the partnership will deepen the link between green energy and nature by focusing on two strands:

Wildlife Partnership – the RSPB will use their expertise to help Ecotricity create Britain’s first energy and nature projects that will integrate wildlife habitats into wind, wave, solar, and green gas generation projects
Energy Partnership – Ecotricity will use their expertise to help the RSPB with their ambitious plans for green energy, improved energy efficiency and electric vehicle charging points at wildlife reserve visitor centres

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said: “Protecting wildlife and creating habitats is not just close to our hearts, it is central to what we do.

“We’re already making green energy to cut the carbon emissions that cause climate change, which in turn impacts habitats and wildlife. This partnership takes that one step further, making closer links between nature and green energy.

“This is a long-term strategic partnership that will not only protect wildlife, but develop new habitat creation, and make the RSPB a more integral part of the process of our green energy projects.”

Harry Huyton, RSPB head of energy and climate, said: "Switching to a low carbon economy is one of the defining challenges of our generation. Failure would mean devastation for the world's wildlife - but equally we must ensure that when we develop renewable energy projects we do our best to ensure they do not harm wild species in our countryside.

"That's why the RSPB has committed to working with Ecotricity in a partnership that will unite us behind our common mission of a renewables revolution in harmony with nature"

"We hope that other energy companies will follow suit and put nature conservation at the heart of their businesses too"

Ecotricity recently surpassed 70,000 energy customers and has, on average, invested more per customer in building renewable energy sources than any other energy company in Britain¹.

Almost HALF want green energy, so why have only 2% switched?

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Owen Wassell) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:11:06 +0000

New research unveiled today for Climate Week reveals 46%^[1] of Brits say they would switch to a green electricity supply if it cost them no more than they currently pay – yet the reality is less than 2% of British households have actually made the switch.

Only around 400,000 (less than 2%) of Britain’s 26 million households currently have an electricity tariff that is predominantly sourced from renewable energy.

Yet when researchers asked people whether they would “switch to a new electricity company if they could get energy that was more environmentally friendly at a comparable price”– 46% agreed they would switch, compared with only 11% who said they would not. While 43% couldn’t decide either way.

Green energy company Ecotricity do offer that exact deal – a green electricity tariff that price matches the Big Six energy companies standard tariff, which is the current tariff of choice for three-quarters^[2] of British households – so most people could switch to a more environmentally friendly tariff and not a pay a penny more.

Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, said: “The biggest single thing that a person can do to cut their carbon emissions is switch to a green electricity supply. “This new research shows that 46% of people would switch to a green energy supplier if it didn’t cost them any more than they currently pay.

“And the reality is, that exact deal does exist^[3], yet less than 2% of British households have switched. The question is why?

“Well the main reason people haven’t switched is simple inertia – most people have never switched^[4] energy supplier.

“So for Climate Week, maybe it’s time for those 46% of people to find five minutes and switch to green electricity and they will not pay a penny more.”

Ecotricity is a partner of Climate Week (4th–10th March), is Britain’s biggest climate change campaign, inspiring a new wave of action to create a sustainable future. It showcases practical solutions from every sector of society, culminating in a week of activities with half a million people attending 3,000 events around Britain.

[1] Ipsos Mori Survey of 1017 people aged 16-75 (8th – 11th February, 2013)

[2] 75% of households are on the default standard tariff of the Big Six energy companies; Which (2012)

[3] Ecotricity price match the standard tariff of your Big Six regional supplier

[4] 60% of households have never switched energy supplier; Which (2012)

Ecotricity moves into Northern Ireland with new wind park for Michelin

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Owen Wassell) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:58:12 +0000

Ecotricity this week celebrated the completion of its first wind park in Northern Ireland, two windmills now generating electricity for Michelin at their tyre factory in Ballymena, Co. Antrim.

The project – which has a capacity of 4.6MW – is Ecotricity’s second wind park for Michelin following the installation of two windmills at the company’s Dundee tyre factory in 2006.

The Ballymena windmills will generate enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of about three and a half thousand homes every year.

Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said: “Building wind power on-site and supplying it directly to a factory not only cuts carbon emissions, but because you don’t need to transport the electricity via the grid – it cuts energy costs too.

“This is a way to make businesses more competitive and more environmentally sustainable at the same time.”

Onsite Wind Energy – pioneered by Ecotricity and known as ‘Merchant Wind’ – ensures that electricity is channelled direct to the end user, while any excess energy not used on site goes into the local Grid.

Wilton Crawford, Factory Manager at Michelin Ballymena, said: “The wind turbines are a welcome asset for Michelin in Ballymena, and will help alleviate the challenge of increased energy costs, particularly as energy prices in Northern Ireland far surpass those in Europe.”

Ecotricity’s two turbines at Michelin’s Dundee site have already produced well over 43 million units (kWh) of energy since being commissioned in 2006: that’s enough electricity to power over ten and a half thousand average homes, keep an iPad going for over 3 and a half million years, or drive an electric car (Nissan LEAF) around the equator over six thousand times.

The new Ballymena wind park follows hot on the heels of other good news for Ecotricity, who recently secured permission for a 22 turbine site in Heckington Fen in Lincolnshire, England, and announced that they had reached 70,000 green energy customers.

Vital Statics of the Ballymena wind park

Site address: Raceview Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim

Number of turbines: 2

Rotor diameter: 82m

Hub height: 79m

Capacity: 4.6MW

Green electricity per year: 11.17 million units

Homes powered (equiv): 3,385

Tonnes of CO2 saved p.a.: 4,146

Over-reliance on gas is culprit in energy bill price rise

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Owen Wassell) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:56:31 +0000

Dale Vince, founder of green energy company Ecotricity, said Ofgem’s warning that an over-reliance on imported gas will push up energy bills in British homes, proves that we need to invest more in renewables.

Ofgem’s outgoing chief executive Alistair Buchanan said the combination of UK power plants closing, foreign gas supplies shrinking, and demand rising, has made British energy reserves “uncomfortably tight”.

With the Government struggling to make nuclear power financially viable, Buchanan says Britain’s reliance on gas will increase from 30% to 60% of generation capacity, just as demand on the international gas market is forcing prices skyward.

Ecotricity founder, Dale Vince, who earlier this month won approval to build England’s 4th largest onshore wind farm to power nearly 40,000 homes, said: “This sets the record straight, the increasing cost of imported gas has been overwhelmingly responsible for rising energy bills in British homes.

“Yet Britain is set to become more reliant on the international gas market.

“The quickest and best way to reduce our dependence on imported gas and plug this generation gap is through renewable energy. This is an investment, not just in clean energy, but in energy security.

“In the last full of figures, in the 12 month leading up to March 2012, the average UK energy bill increased by £150 and around £100 of that was simply due to the higher wholesale cost of gas^[1].

“In contrast, support for building onshore wind cost each household less than £10 last year.

“That situation is only going to get worse if we don’t invest in renewables now, pushing more families into fuel poverty in the UK.

“We have 40% of Europe’s wind resource. Let's use our free inexhaustible wind resource, to create jobs, industries, clean energy and independence from global energy markets.”

[1] http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/newsdesk/energy/data/infographic-what-puts-your-energy-bill NOTE: The £100 disappears into the market to pay for the gas and doesn’t build new generation, unlike the <£10 for the Renewables Obligation that helps fund building new onshore wind generation (total RO for all renewable was £25).

Chewton Mendip wind turbine has mammoth windy year

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Owen Wassell) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:11:42 +0000

Ecotricity’s wind turbine at Chewton Mendip had another great year in 2012, producing enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of 1,250 average homes or brew almost 260 million cups of tea.

The single turbine produced over 5 million units (kWh) of electricity last year, with the wind resource down only marginally on 2011’s bumper total.

Since being commissioned in June 2008, the turbine has produced over 23 million units (kWh) of energy: that’s enough electricity to keep an iPad going for nearly two million years, or drive an electric car (Nissan LEAF) around the equator over three thousand times.

Nick Osbourne, Ecotricity spokesperson, said: “Last year was another really successful 12 months of producing clean green renewable energy for the Shooter’s Bottom windmill near Chewton Mendip. January and December in particular were very windy months with high energy generation. The turbine has now been producing green electricity for almost five years and these figures continue to show what a feather in the cap it is for the county’s renewable credentials.”

Ecotricity, the first green energy company in the UK, last week also secured permission for a 22 turbine wind park in Heckington Fen, Lincolnshire, and also recently announced that they had reached 70,000 green gas and electricity customers.

Osbourne continued: “What’s important is that we continue trying to change the way electricity is generated in the UK. Investing in new green energy infrastructure is not only a necessity for the climate, but it is also important in order to lower household fuel bills in the long term, reducing our reliance on costly, imported fossil fuels”.

This year the Shooter’s Bottom wind turbine near Chewton Mendip produced enough electricity to:

Power 1,250 average UK homes
Drive a Nissan Leaf electric car around the equator 749 times
Brew 259,570,755 cups of tea
Power an energy saving light bulb for 53,875 years
Keep an iPad going for 432,618 years

Vital Statistics of the Chewton Mendip wind turbine:

Site address: Shooters Bottom Farm, Chewton Mendip

Running Since: June 2008

Number of turbines: 1

Rotor diameter: 70m

Hub height: 65m

Capacity: 2MW

Homes powered annually (equiv): 1,269

Tonnes of CO2 saved p.a.: 2,265

England’s 4th largest onshore wind farm approved

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Owen Wassell) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:35:40 +0000

Plans for up to 22 windmills at Heckington Fen in Lincolnshire have been approved by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Britain’s first green energy company, Ecotricity, has spent four years of research, planning and consultation to gain approval for their largest wind park to date, which will produce enough green electricity each year to power almost 40,000 homes.

With a generating capacity above 66MW, the proposal is considered to be infrastructure of national importance, with such planning applications determined by central government under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said: “Heckington Fen is a superb location for a wind park, probably the best we've ever seen.

“The planning department from North Kesteven District Council recommended the application for approval and we had no objections from any of the statutory consultee’s such as English Heritage, RSPB or Natural England. That’s quite rare and a sign of what a strong project this is.

“Heck Fen will make a significant contribution to Britain’s energy supply, powering the equivalent of almost 40,000 homes for the next 25 years and will reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels, which are the primary source of the Britain’s carbon emissions.

“Harnessing Britain’s wind energy is the only way that we, as a nation, can break the cycle of endlessly increasing energy bills – where price rises are driven by the global energy markets.

“It need not be this way, Britain has enough of its own renewable energy sources, the wind, the sun and the sea, to become energy independent once more.

“We’re grateful to the Secretary of State for his decision in the face of considerable political hot air right now on the subject of windmills, and we’d also like to thank the many people in the local community that wrote letters of support for the project.”

Heckington Fen Wind Park will generate 66MW of clean energy from the local wind resource, saving almost 60,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere each year¹ – a significant step in helping to cut carbon emissions.

On the 16 December 2009, Ecotricity’s submitted a planning application to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.
Ecotricity then carried out three public exhibitions about the proposal while finalising in-depth environmental studies about the site.
On 29 July 2011, Ecotricity submitted a 1,000 page Environmental Statement on the proposal.
On 31st July 2012, following an objection from North Kesteven District Council the proposal was debated at a Public Inquiry at Boston West Golf Club, where an independent Planning Inspector scrutinised the details of the application before making their recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey.

Ends

Note to Editors

¹Calculated using carbon offset ratio of 430g carbon dioxide per kWh of wind generation. This figure may change over time.

Top British-designed windmills will bolster wind power credibility

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Owen Wassell) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:07:04 +0000

Britain’s first green energy company Ecotricity are set to carry out final tests on a British-designed-and-made micro wind turbine – called the Urbine – which could be up to 40% more efficient than similar sized windmills on the market.

The vertical-axis windmill will undergo 6 months testing in Stroud, Gloucestershire next to Ecotricity’s existing large wind turbine, before undergoing official performance certification at Myres Hill wind turbine test site in Scotland.

Dale Vince said after 20 years of working in wind power he had decided to step into the micro wind sector because the poor design quality of windmills risked undermining the credibility of wind energy.

“Most micro windmills on the market are simply scaled down versions of large wind turbines and that is a mistake.

“Large windmills rotate on a horizontal axis and do a great job because they turn themselves to track the prevailing winds, but our 20 years of experience have shown us that closer to the ground and in more built up areas, you get completely different conditions with the wind constantly changing direction.

“Micro windmills with that horizontal design spend too much time searching for the wind. A vertical-axis turbine, such as the Urbine, doesn’t care which direction the wind comes from, so is perfect for the more challenging wind conditions where micro windmills get installed.

“We don’t want people getting disillusioned and becoming sceptical about renewable energy because they buy a micro windmill and it doesn’t work as well as it could.
“So we’ve created a British-designed, British-made small windmill that is an excellent piece of engineering; it’s super-efficient and has great potential for the export market and the creation of new green jobs.”

A recent Renewable UK study of 80 British companies involved in the supply chain for the wind energy sector (such as: manufacturing, infrastructure and support services) found the sector provided over 12,000 full-time jobs – most created in the last 5-10 years. Further analysis of those companies found:

Only 24% of companies were in the wind sector supply chain over 10 years ago;
76% of the companies entered the wind sector supply chain in the last 10 years;
39% entered the wind sector supply chain in the last 5 years.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said: “Britain’s green energy sector is a part of the next industrial revolution which is being created now.

“It’s a really exciting time and the world is about to see a range of new green innovations emerge – machines that harness wind, wave and tidal power – and will once again have ‘Made in Britain’ stamped on them.”

After six months, a second Urbine will be installed at the Myres Hill Wind Turbine Test Site in Scotland which offers high average wind speeds and complex terrain. It will go through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme for the UK market – making the Urbine available, Probably by Q1 2014, under the Feed-in-Tariff scheme currently used for solar panels.

Notes to Editors: Microgeneration Certification Scheme will test for: Power performance, safety and function, acoustics, component strength, fatigue and durability, design file and load calculation.

Nu Jerusalem

rob@bluetelsolutions.com (Owen Wassell) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:59:31 +0000

One of Britain’s best-loved songs, Jerusalem, has been reworked by Nick Laird-Clowes and a mystery group of artists into a single – Nu Jerusalem.

Econauts v The Big Six - Nu Jerusalem (YouTube)

Released under the artist name – Econauts v The Big Six – the Nu Jerusalem music video animates the enduring words of William Blake’s poem as a call to arms to protect our ‘green and pleasant land’ from climate change – substituting the “dark Satanic Mills” of the industrial revolution for today’s dirty fossil fuel power plants and comparing them with Britain’s clean, green energy supply, such as solar and wind power.

‘Nu Jerusalem’ was the idea of environmentalist Christina Robert, Ecotricity founder Dale Vince and producer Nick Laird -Clowes with help from animators, Rodney Matthews and Sean Naden.

Laird-Clowes said: “I wanted the different voices who make up society to sing the song. I know there's a huge concern for what's going on in the environment and a certain powerlessness about how to help. The band is drawn from the rock world to new folk and beyond, with a choir made up of everyday people”.

Proceeds from the single will go to the Green Britain Foundation, an environmental charity launched by green energy company Ecotricity, and its purpose is quite simply to bring about a Green Britain.

Vince said: “this is the soundtrack of Green Britain and a call to arms. Britain is at a cross roads and choices to be made by the Government this autumn will decide where our energy will come from for the next 30 years, and whether we will have a Green Britain with renewable energy or a Brown Britain with another dash for gas taking us back to the 70s and 80s."

The single, which will be released in electronic format, will be available from all major outlets including iTunes, Amazon, Google Play as well as Ecotricity partner, Fairshare music.