Archive for May, 2010

National Grid announces major investment plan

26 May 2010
The National Grid has announced a significant programme of investment.

The National Grid has announced a significant programme of investment.

The National Grid has announced a £22billion investment plan for the next five years, along with a rights issue to raise £3.2 billion.

Capital raised through the rights issue will be divided between linking new offshore wind farms and nuclear power plants to the grid, updating of wiring in London and Birmingham and the development of new gas interconectors.

The infrastructure investment will raise bills for domestic and business electricity customers, although the National Grid is quick to claim that it will transform the system into one capable of operating in a new decarbonised energy future – therefore representing value for money.

The National Grid also aims to maintain discussions with Ofgem about the electricity regulatory system in the UK and will continue to work with the regulator on Project Discovery, which is exploring how much the current energy market can support climate change targets while keeping household and business electricity prices affordable.

Read the full story at Energy Efficiency News.

Picture credit – CCA: Electricity Pylon by hydroxi

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Cow power! HP to generate business electricity from manure

25 May 2010
HP are powering a data centre with cow manure.

HP are powering a data centre with cow manure.

HP, the computing and electronics giant, have created a system for generating business electricity from cow manure.

The system uses the waste of 10,000 dairy cows to power a 1MW data centre; using the heat generated from the data centre to increase the efficiency of anaerobic digestion of the dung. This creates methane, which can be used to power the data centre.

Researchers for HP Labs discovered a herd of 10,000 cows can generate about 200,000 metric tons of manure in a year.

This is not a new idea, more of an ancient practice being used to power modern technology. Heat for warmth and cooking in remote locations across the world comes from manure.

While this might not be a viable option for small businesses at present, there will be an increase in this kind of business energy generation in the future.

For tips on eco-friendly business electricity and gas options, and to find the best deal for your business, contact Energy Advice Line.

Read the full story in Energy Efficiency News

Picture credit – Cows by Thomas Hitchcock

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Government departments to slash business energy consumption

24 May 2010
Government departments will be saving business energy.

Government departments will be saving business energy.

On the day when Chancellor George Osborne announced a freeze on civil service recruitment as part of measures to cut public sector spending, it is interesting to read a report from the Carbon Trust that claims £3 billion of public sector money could be saved by more efficient business energy usage.

Speaking to the BBC this morning, Mr Osborne outlined the first wave of public sector spending cuts in an attempt to reduce the budget deficit – which is the highest in the EU. As well as a recruitment freeze, this included removing first class travel for civil servants and slashing spending on advertising and quangos.

Central government’s business energy expenditure is currently in the region of £500m, making it an obvious target for cuts.

Prime Minister David Cameron has set tough targets of cutting carbon emissions by 10% in the next 12 months and with efficient use of business electricity and gas significant savings in spending can be made too.

Among the first departments to take part in the scheme are The Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Justice, Department of Health and Department of Energy & Climate Change.

Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, said:

“Making the public sector energy efficient makes perfect business sense. It is a golden opportunity to deliver rapid cost savings while cutting carbon emissions. It is encouraging to see leadership from central government through its own commitment to cut carbon and energy use across its own estate.”

For advice on how to save money on your business electricity and gas bills and tips on how to conserve energy so your business is more carbon efficient, contact Energy Advice Line.

You can read the full story at the Carbon Trust.

Read George Osborne’s interview with the BBC.

Picture credit – Houses of Parliament at night by Bert Ogg

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Feeling hot, hot, hot – but be cool about your business electricity this summer

24 May 2010
Using ceiling fans instead of air conditioning saves business electricity.

Using ceiling fans instead of air conditioning saves business electricity.

Summer has finally arrived and as Britain basked in the glory of the hottest day of the year on Sunday for many business owners’ thoughts would turn to the implications for business electricity costs.

Air conditioning units can be big consumers of business electricity. Now that the weather is getting warmer, it’s the perfect time to have your air conditioning units checked out to make sure they are running efficiently.

For office based businesses, opening windows and using ceiling fans are more energy efficient than air conditioning systems, while in restaurants, pubs and shops opening the doors and windows will help keep your staff comfortable.

All this seems obvious when you think about it, but many businesses still reach for the air conditioning switch as soon as the weather hots up.

For more tips and advice on how you can save money on your business electricity and gas this summer, contact Energy Advice Line.

Picture credit – CCA: Ceiling Fan by jeffk

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Britain’s offshore renewable energy potential good news for business electricity customers

20 May 2010
The potential for wind energy is massive - but investment is needed.

The potential for wind energy is massive - but investment is needed.

The same amount of domestic and commercial electricity as is generated by 1billion barrels of oil could come from offshore renewable energy sources by 2050 – using less than one third of the available space. That’s the findings of a new study by the Offshore Valuation Group published today.

For business electricity customers concerned about the stability of the UK’s supply in years to come, this will come as welcome news.

There have been many scare stories that the UK could find itself at the mercy of other countries for its gas and electricity in the all too close future. Business electricity and gas in particular could come under threat because of many businesses being on interruptable contracts.

The report found that harnessing the full potential of offshore renewable energy sources would mean the UK generated six times as much energy as it needed based on current levels of demand.

By harnessing even just 29 per cent of the renewable resources available (wind, wave and tidal energy), this would match the electricity generated from North Sea oil and gas. This would also save 1.1billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 40 years, and the estimated cost of this scheme would be £443billion.

Like their small business counterparts, the industry investors needed to embrace this potential are wary about making investments because of the current economic climate. However, the returns on investment are potentially massive, and the implications for business electricity customers potentially very positive.

Read the full story in The Independent.

Picture credit – CCA: Indiana Wind Farm 05 by Hammer51012

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The nuclear energy debate

20 May 2010

Energy giant Scottish and Southern Energy, met with new Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Huhne on Tuesday to discuss renewable energy options. The domestic and business electricity and gas supplier is the UK’s largest generator of renewable energy.

Huhne is known for his scepticism over nuclear energy, and as reported on Monday he revealed soon after his appointment that there would be no government funding for the building of nuclear power plants.

SSE is currently debating whether to build a new nuclear power plant near Sellafield. No decision will be made for at least two years while the company undertakes research into the viability and economics of nuclear.

Meanwhile, the focus remains on renewable energy schemes including wind farms and wave power projects.

According to a report in The Guardian, the company is putting a two year stop on plans to begin operating a gas fired power station in South Wales, partly because of a downturn in demand for commercial electricity caused by the recession.

For advice on all types of business energy contract, contact Energy Advice Line today.

Read the full story in The Guardian.

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Saving business electricity by utilising the power of the ocean

18 May 2010

The power of the ocean is being harnessed to save money on business electricity bills.

The power of the ocean is being harnessed to save money on business electricity bills.

Business electricity customers will be well aware that the power of the ocean is being increasingly utilised to generate renewable energy.

But for one organisation in Southampton, they are using seawater in a rather different way to reduce their commercial electricity costs.

The National Oceanography Centre is reducing its carbon emissions and conserving energy with a new seawater cooling system. This makes the best of the centre’s dockside positioning to reduce electricity consumption and support the air conditioning system inside the building. The building itself contains 1,500 rooms including laboratories, cold stores and research aquaria – all of which have particular temperature requirements.

Funded by the National Oceanography Centre’s owners the Natural Environment Research Council, the sea water project is one of several initiatives designed to reduce business energy consumption at the centre.

While using sea water to reduce air conditioning costs is probably a little ambitious for most small and medium sized businesses, there are many ways that you can save money on business energy costs.

We’d like to know your business energy saving tips. Leave us a comment and let us know what you do to conserve business energy.

Contact Energy Advice Line today for advice on how you can save money on business electricity and gas.

Picture credit – Wave – Golspie North Beach by foxypar4.

Read the full story at Physorg.com

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Business energy bills to rise to fund nuclear power

17 May 2010

Nuclear power plants will be paid for by business energy customers.

Nuclear power plants will be paid for by business energy customers.

Business energy bills are set to rise under the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition as plans are set in motion to subsidise the construction of new nuclear power plants.

The Sunday Times reported yesterday that details within the coalition agreement revealed the intention of setting a floor under the carbon price, which will raise household and business electricity prices while at the same time encouraging the building of nuclear power stations to help meet the country’s energy needs.

Nuclear energy is one of the more controversial topics between the partners of this new alliance. Chris Huhne, Lib Dem and Energy and Climate Change Secretary, has previously been a vociferous opponent of nuclear power. After his appointment last week, he reiterated that there would be now government subsidies for the building of nuclear power plants.

However, industry experts believe fixing the carbon price was a subsidy by stealth. Companies must buy carbon allowances for every tonne of polluting gasses they emitted, rewarding those businesses whose energy comes from cleaner, greener sources and penalising heavy industry polluters.

Nuclear power stations have zero carbon emissions, making them a more attractive method of domestic and business energy generation. But it takes a long time to build a nuclear power plant, and in the meantime electricity will still be generated from the high carbon producing method of coal burning.

This cost will be met by domestic and commercial electricity bill payers.

To compare business electricity prices and for advice on the best deals, contact Energy Advice Line today.

Read the full story in The Sunday Times.

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Solar power good news for business energy customers

13 May 2010

Solar power should be embraced by the business community as a real solution to business energy needs, according to an independent solar expert.

Michael Pitcher, managing director of BFC Solutions, recommends that the UK follows the example of Belgium and Germany in embracing solar energy’s potential.

Speaking to ClickPress, Mr Pitcher was also quick to point out that it was not just domestic energy customers who would benefit from a more widespread adoption of solar energy: business energy customers would also reap the rewards.

Through investment in solar or photovoltaic (PV) energy, business electricity prices could be brought down dramatically.

“Whilst the benefits of solar PV are well-documented, the opportunity extends far beyond the market for household systems. Our experience tells us that PV entrepreneurs will take advantage of the new FiTs,” Mr Pitcher commented.

Under the FiTs scheme, business electricity customers will be paid 29.3p for every unit of electricity generated between 100kWp and 5MW.

For advice on any business electricity or business gas queries, contact Energy Advice Line today.

Read the full report at ClickPress.

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Belvoir Lettings (Hereford)

12 May 2010

Belvoir Lettings, the chain of lettings specialists across the UK utilised the Energy Advice Line’s FREE email switch management update service to affect a smooth and seamless transition from one business electricity supplier to another – keeping them informed at every step of the way with email bulletins. The service provides useful updates and also prompts the customer for the very important first meter reading when they have successfully transferred to their new business energy supplier.

Mr Terry Curthoys from Belvoir Lettings (Hereford) comments: “They’ve (Energy Advice Line) always been on hand to help when we have any questions about the supply company, always prompt and efficient – need I say more…that’s why we continue to value their service and attention to detail.”

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