Can High Wycombe power itself?
The Energy Group runs
the following promotional activities for Transition Town High Wycombe:
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Energy Efficiency & waste awareness,
ie, exhibition attendance
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Community Power Generation
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Gizmo Roadshow for schools
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Microgeneration & Home Renewable
Energy buying group - Wycombe Home Power
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High Wycombe Post-Carbon Homes Initiative
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Home & Business Insulation
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Financing
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Biomass projects in WDC Smoke Control
Zone/Conservation Areas
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Local Energy distribution & Energy
Services Company (ESCO)
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Purchase of Equipment for loan by lending
libraries, ie, home energy monitors
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Thermal imaging surveys and "street
parties"
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Generating Factsheets
The current Energy Group consists of:
Would you like to help with these ideas? Do
you have further ideas or would you like to join this group? Then please
contact us by clicking
Meeting Topics & Notes
Energy Monitors for Loan
We have been granted £500 to pull together a
project for the Wycombe Strategic Partnership. This is to follow
up our proposal to get the local lending libraries to stock a
small number of energy monitor kits for loan. TTHW's Chairman
Mark Brown and Vice-Chairman Julian Ilett will head up the task
force working on this. The money will be spent thus:
The news of the grant only came on Friday 19th March
2010 so the matter has only been discussed. If you would like to join
this project task force please let us know. Initially we have to choose
the devices and create the brochures. Once we are happy with the loan
package then we will see if the price fits our budget. The numbers need
juggling to fit what is available. The other main thrust of the project
is to engage with the local library services so that we are going
through the right official channels. This will ensure that the project
is properly supported by everyone involved. Given that a large number of
such schemes are now well established we see no reason why this should
not be well supported and relatively easy to implement. Hopefully the
library services will throw their weight behind the scheme and assist
with publicity.
Beyond Solar500 - Home Power is born
News: from April 2010 our new "Wycombe
Home Power" scheme replaces the original "Solar500" scheme that
run from January 2010 to March 2010. Solar500 promoted a single
vendor/single technology scheme. This has been broaded out to
become a multi-vendor & multi-technology referral scheme backed
by the skills and experience of TTHW team members. The original
Solar500 scheme is now a sub-set of the new whole. This gives us
a greater flexibility and independence to get everyone the deal
that is right for them.
MAKE MONEY FROM THE SUN & MORE:
Wycombe Home Power is a buying club for renewable energy systems. This means
it is a friendly local knowledge-resource. It is powered by the energy and expertise of those nice Transition
Town folks. It is all about getting a great deal with a great choice.
Wycombe Home Power is working with multiple suppliers & multiple technologies
to get you the best possible options & prices. Initially we will focus on
Solar Panels. Transition Town volunteers work for free and this is a
not-for-profit scheme. We will work with a pool of tried & tested installers
WE recommend. We refer you to them. They come round and give YOU multiple
quotes. You then choose the one that suits you and your pocket best. All this
and free hot water & electricity from the Sun.
To learn more before signing up please click here.
Sign me up now!
What's going on today:
MONEY FOR YOUR SUNSHINE
 From
NOW (April 1st 2010) the
new "Feed in Tariffs" ("FIT" or "Clean Energy Cashback") for domestic renewable energy
are in effect. You will earn 41.3p/kWh for Photovoltaics ("PV") - the
solar panels that generate electricity. This is in addition to the
electricity you save and in addition to the money you earn from
exporting your electricity to the National Grid. What is more this rate is
linked to inflation and is Tax-FREE! You will earn £hundreds every
year for 25 years with payback in 15 years. All the money you earn
after that is pure profit.
A rough illustration:
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Install 1.5kWp Photovoltaic system
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Cost = £9000
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System yields between 1200 and
1400kWh/year (kWh = 1 "unit")
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FIT = 41.3p/kWh in the first 2 years then
37.8p/kWh in the next 23 years
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You earn £495/year in years 1 and 2, then
£453/year for 23 years
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You export electricity to the grid and
earn an extra £30/year
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You save electricity worth £100/year
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You save 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per
year
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Total earnings + savings over 25 years =
£14700
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Payback in 15 to 16 years
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You profit by £5600!!!
Don't believe it? Confirm it for yourself with the
Clean Energy Cashback calculator at the EST:
As the price of oil, gas, coal and electricity rise your payback is reduced and
your gross profit increases. The rate of return is expected to be between 5
and 8%. Guideline base prices (fully installed, commissioned and
operational, before any discount but including VAT) for Photovoltaic are
£7000 for 1kWp and £11,000 for 2kWp. If you are prepared to shop around and
haggle you can get a 3kWp PV system for under £13,000! These are the deals!
Such systems are normally grid-linked and by law they are isolated
automatically in case of a power cut. They are maintenance free but you may
want to give them a clean once a year to make them perform at their best.
Lifetime of panels are greater than 25 years. The roof should be unshaded.
You can install BOTH Photovoltaics and Solar Thermal if you have roof space.
To read more about the Feed-in Tariffs download the Government's Consultation
paper here.
TWADDLE-BUSTER: "There are no Solar Panels in the world that have lasted
25 years!": A member of the Wycombe public told us this in April
2010. He is mistaken. See
here
for the evidence. A company that reuses old panels reports that it has
tested 330 panels made in 1984. 90% of these units can still generate 80% or
more of their initial output. The industry expects that products made today
will be even more durable than those made in the 1980s. The backing
materials used to create the solar panels should be less susceptible to
discolouration. So typical lives of thirty or more years can probably be
assumed. Many soldier on for 40 or 50 years.
NOTE: the Feed-in Tariff also includes micro-hydro, anaerobic digestion,
micro-combined heat power and wind power. We have chosen solar as the launch
technology as it is the most commonly applicable technology.
What's happening in 2011: Solar Thermal
 From April 2011 you will earn money from your Solar Thermal ("ST") panels that make
hot water. This will be priced at 18p/kWh for 20 years. A typical ST system
is rated at 2000kWh/year. This is in addition to the savings you make
in heating your water, ie, with Gas. The system will payback in under 10
years so all the money after that is pure profit. Panels are sized based
upon your household hot water needs. They yield about 100% of your needs in
Summer. Average over the years is around 60% of your Hot Water. They do not
contribute to home heating. Note that the illustration below excludes
a possible Low Carbon Building Program grant of £400.
A rough illustration:
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Install Solar Thermal Panels for a four
bed house with four adults resident
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Cost = £3800
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System yields 2000kWh/year
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RHI = 18p/kWh for 20 years (from April
2011!!)
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You earn £360/year
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You save £120/year off the Gas bill
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You save 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per
year
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Total earnings + savings = £9600
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Payback in 8 years
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You profit by at least £5800!!!
To learn more about the Renewable Heat
Incentive download the Government's Consultation paper
here.
NOTE: The Renewable Heat Incentive also
covers solid biomass, biodiesel, ground source heat pumps and
air source heat pumps. We have chosen solar in his example as it is the most commonly applicable technology.
How do I pay for this?
Social Finance: Transition Town High
Wycombe has looked into bringing an arm of the Aylesbury Credit
Uniion to the town but until volunteers can be found to run it
then this remains in the pipeline. However, there remains other,
alternative, social saving & lending schemes we can recommend.
Once such is
Zopa. They are not a bank. Their loans are actually funded
by people who save with them. They are based in London. If you
took out a 5 year loan for 2.5kWp PV system it may cost around
£12,000. Assuming a rate of 8% annual repayments are approx
£3000. This exceeds your income/savings from the microgeneration
system in the short-term but AFTER 5 years you quickly return to
a profit of around £1000 per year for another 20 years. Do your
own illustration using the Zopa online calculator
here.
Mortgage: Alternatively you could add
the amount to your mortgage. Assuming a rate of 4% on £250,000
then, for the above mentioned 2.5kWp system, the increase in
payments will be £70/month. However you are still making
£1000/yr from the Feed-in Tariff leaving you a couple of hundred
pounds a year in profit. Contact your mortage provider to see
what they can offer.
Other loan: An interest-free loan
system could be set up by the Government in the manner of the
Student Loans system. The loaning agency could be named as
direct benefactor of the Feed-In Tariff or RHI payments. We
await to see if such an initiative happen but such a "Green
Investment Bank" was promised in the Queen's speech in May
2010. We also expect/hope that some commercial lenders will join
the market with niche products. Until any of these become
available we await developments with interest (pun intended).
"Free" Solar Panels: Google "free
solar panels" and see what you get. Companies such as
A
Shade Greener offer free installations but then they get all
of your Feed-in Tariff for the next 25 years. You do save on
electricity so that is your saving to keep. Obviously this is
not as profitable. Expect other traders to wade into this market
over the next few years. Please read the following advice from
the Energy Saving Trust
here before considering such "to-good-to-be-true" offers.
Our thanks to
Good Energy,
YouGen and
Soak Up The Sun for the
illustrations and inspiration.
Demonstration Home
 In
April 2010 High Wycombe saw the completion of its first post-carbon
retrofit to a home in Totteridge. Although not the first (nor last) home
to be fitted with solar panels in High Wycombe it remains unique in
having the largest Photovoltaic array (3kWp) combined with a Solar
Thermal evacuated tube system. This is backed up with a 15kW wood pellet
boiler for heating and hot water.
In addition there are also three demo
homes in Marlow with
Solar Panels fitted by Free Source Energy. All homes use Mitsubishi
Photovoltaic panels but some are using flat panels for the Solar
Hot Water. Your are able to visit the home
nearest to you and look at the panels.
You can ask questions about the
installation, costs, duration, hassle-factor and anything else you can
think of. The householders will put your mind at ease! Even if you don't take up this offer don't forget
that Solar Panels are now relatively commonplace. The technology used is
all much the same.
FAQ
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Question 1: What happened to
"Solar500"?
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Answer 1: During 2010 we opened up the
High Wycombe renewable energy options to more than just
Solar Energy. We wanted to include Ground Source Heat Pumps,
Air Source Heat Pumps, Biomass, micro-Combined Heat power,
Biofuels and Wind. So we rebranded to "Wycombe Home Power &
Warmth". We also wanted to employ recommended industry best
practice when advising buyers - and this means getting
multiple quotes from multiple suppliers. Hence we adopted an
upgraded model using a panel of suppliers rather than the
original sole supplier.
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Question 2: Do you still use
Transition Town Marlow's SP100 vendor "Free Source Energy"?
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Answer 2: Yes. Their contract
covers Marlow and surrounding areas including High Wycombe.
This option may be the best deal price-wise in the longer
term. However you will need additional vendors for the
extended range of options and technologies that we wish to
provide in future. Different vendors use different
manufacturer's products so if you are fitting two
technologies at once (ie, Solar Thermal and PV) some
combinations, by some installers, may work better for your
home than other's may. If in doubt talk to TTHW.
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Question 3: Do I get a discount?
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Answer 3: That's what we hope for!
Our aim is to get as much renewable energy up and running as
possible. We will try to haggle with the vendors for a
discount. The alternative is to use Free Source in which
case you have to wait for a rebate which is based upon the
number of customers who install with them.
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Question 4: I heard that the discounts
are lower than the rebates?
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Answer 4: These are different
vendors offering different schemes. You are free to choose.
By getting multiple quotes you can let free market
competition get your price down for you. You can choose
between a bigger rebate later or a smaller discount now. It
depends on your personal situation and ability to pay. Which
ever scheme you choose don't get carried away by the size of
the discount/rebate, look at the bottom-line price. Is it
right for you? Sometimes a big discount on a big price will
cost you more than a small discount on a small price. If in
doubt talk to TTHW.
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Question 6: When will I know what
discount I get?
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Answer 6: If using Free Source
Energy then you are in the rebate scheme hence the quote you get will
have NO Discount applied. Discounts are applied later as
Rebates. If using another vendor then your discount should
be on the quote.
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Question 7: If I am happy do I pay
a deposit?
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Answer 7: Yes, the amount depends
upon the vendor & technology you choose. For example it is 25%
if using Free Source for Solar Panels. You then get you installation date.
All monies are paid directly to your chosen installer. TTHW
handles no money for either party.
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Question 8: When is the next
payment due and how much for?
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Answer 8: This depends upon the
vendor but if you choose Free Source then you will need to pay another 25%
upon delivery of equipment. Most others require payment of
the balance upon commissioning of the installation, ie, when
it is all working.
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Question 9: Can I get the install
date when I want it?
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Answer 9: Within reason. If you
choose Free Source then they install in batches of five
homes. You will
be grouped into five sets of installs all done in the same
period. Hence you will be given a 'window' of time within
which can get the install done. There is some flexibility
but not too much. Other vendors will offer greater
flexibility as they do each home as a one off - but you
might pay more for that privilege.
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Question 10: When do I pay the
balance?
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Answer 10: When the Solar Panels
(or other technology) are installed, commissioned (ie,
working) and you are happy then you will pay the remaining
balance direct to the installing company.
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Question 11: I chose the Free
Source Rebate scheme. When do I get my
rebate?
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Answer 11: On the 1st October 2010
the first rebates are paid based upon how many deposits have
been paid. For example, if this is 15 then we get 12%
cash-back. The rebates are then calculated again 6 months
later. So, on 1st April 2011 there may be another rebate. So
if, by then, another 5 households have paid their deposits
then the Rebate is 15%, ie, another 3%. This 3% then gets
paid back to all the original 15 homes whilst the 5 new ones
get the 15% Rebate. And so on...
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Question 12: Sounds great, when
should I register myself?
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Answer 12: NOW! Why wait? There is
no time limit and no limit to the number of
households who can take part.
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Question 13: How do I trust that
the Government will still pay up in 25 years or even
introduce the RHI in April 2011?
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Answer 13: The Department of
Energy and Climate Change has the power to introduce both
FIT and RHI because of the new Energy Act passed in 2008.
Basically: its the law. The Government has worked hard to
ensure that the RHI and FIT make renewable energy a positive
investment decision. To maintain faith in this system the
payments are guaranteed by this and all future Governments.
No future Government can reverse the policy without offering
compensation of equivalent worth. The FIT and RHI schemes
are self-funding because they cross-charge fossil fuel
users, ie, the money does not come from the general Tax
Payer. Hence it is not in the interests of any Government to
change the Energy Act 2008. It won't save them any money and
there is no political mileage in it. Rest assured - you will
get your money!
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Question 14: Which electricity
supplier do I have to use to get the FIT?
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Answer 14: Any one you wish - they
all have to pay it. It is a free market so you can choose
one based upon whatever criteria you wish. (Note here that
the RHI is paid by Ofgem.)
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Question 15: Who is on your panel
of installers?
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Answer 15: This is flexible and
can change depending upon experience. As of the Summer 2010
we would forward your details to up to four suppliers: Free
Source, SolaSave Ltd, British Eco and Ardenham Energy. The
scheme is popular and we are being contacted by new
installers all the time.
Learn more about Feed In Tariffs (aka "Clean Energy Cashback)
 The
Feed In Tariff is modelled upon a scheme operating successfully in Germany
for many years. It has been introduced by the UK Government after the
passing of the Climate Change Act 2008. Its intention is to boost the use of
domestic renewable energy, hence it will boost the sector, 'kick-start' the
industry in the UK and create green jobs.
From 1st April 2011 householders and communities who install low carbon
electricity technology such as solar photovoltaic (pv) panels and wind
turbines up to 5 megawatts will be paid for the electricity they generate,
even if they use it themselves. The level of payment depends on the
technology and is linked to inflation. It is tax free too. They will get a
further payment for any electricity they feed into the grid. These payments
will be in addition to benefiting from reduced bills as they reduce the need
to buy electricity.
The scheme will also apply to installations commissioned since July 2008 when
the policy was announced.
A typical 2.5kW well sited solar pv installation could offer a homeowner a
reward of up to £900 and save them £140 a year on their electricity bill.
Ofgem will administer the feed-in tariff scheme and suppliers will be
responsible to paying the reward to their customers. The electricity
supplier pays the Feed-in Tariffs (and bills users for the electricity
imported in the normal way). Suppliers may choose to 'net these amounts off'
and just pay a cheque or submit a bill for the difference. Claimants can
appoint an agent to collect the tariffs on their behalf.
Meters will be needed to measure each of the three energy flows (generation,
import and export). You will already have an import meter, and the others
may be similar - though the whole country is changing over to Smart Meters
in the next few years, and they will be able to cope with all this.
The UK currently gets around 5.5% of electricity from renewable sources and
that will need to increase to around 30% to meet the 15% 2020 target for all
energy.
Modelling show that small scale renewable installations could meet 2% of
electricity demand in 2020. The UK currently gets less than 1% of heat from
renewable sources. This this will need to rise to around 12% in order to
meet the 15% 2020 target for all energy.
There are a couple of good web sites you can check out if you wish for further
information. These are:
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www.fitariffs.co.uk
-
www.ownergy.co.uk
To estimate your payback and profits with the
Clean Energy Cashback please go to:
Learn more about the Renewable Heat Incentive
 When
the Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband announced the feed-in
tariff (FITs) levels on February 1st 2010 his department also published a
blueprint for a similar scheme to be introduced in April 2011 to incentivise
low carbon heating technologies. The renewable heat incentive (RHI) will be
a world first.
The FIT & RHI schemes are designed to bring about a significant increase in the
amount of locally produced green energy, as a contribution to the wider
shift of the energy mix to low carbon.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change RHI scheme is to incentivise
renewable heat generation at all scales. This will guarantee payments for
those who install technologies such as ground source heat pumps, biomass
boilers and air source heat pumps.
Under the proposed tariffs the installation of a ground source heat pump in an
average semi-detached house with adequate insulation levels could be
rewarded with £1,000 a year and lead to savings of £200 per year if used
instead of heating oil.
The heat incentive could help thousands of consumers who are off the gas
network lower their fuel bills and gain a cash reward for greening their
heating supply. Details of funding for the scheme will be published in the
Budget 2010.
The money comes from a levy administered by the official regulator Ofgem on
sales of fossil heating fuels and is collected by the suppliers of these
fuels. Therefore if you install a renewable energy system you get a double
benefit: a) Your income from the Renewable Heat Incentive b) Because you are
producing some of your own heat, you will buy less gas or fuel and therefore
pay less for it (and so less levy)
There are a couple of good web sites you can check out if you wish for further
information. These are:
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www.rhincentive.co.uk
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www.ownergy.co.uk
Some small print
Please note that all illustrations
of domestic renewable energy using Solar Panels are very
approximate and based upon roof-mounting. How much energy you yield depends upon the size
and placing of the panels upon your roof. Listed buildings and Conservation Areas require Planning
Permission. Otherwise all Solar Panels are 'permitted
development' and do not need Planning Permission. We would not
advise you to install on north-facing roofs. Typical
installations will be on South, South-West or South-East facing
roofs. Panels may also be mounted at ground-level if desired.
They can also be mounted flat but if not angled at the sun they
will not perform at their optimum.
In terms of CO2 saved in relation to money
invested the 'greener' choice is Solar Thermal. Both
technologies save more CO2 in their lifetimes than was emitted
by their manufacture. Solar Thermal installations normally
require a different type of domestic hot water cylinder to be
used. The quotes are always inclusive of all such fixtures,
fittings, labour, VAT and so on. There will be no hidden extras.
It may not be possible for you to benefit from Solar Thermal if
the new cylinder cannot be fitted or if you have certain kinds
of 'combi-boiler'. No such restrictions apply to Photovoltaics
but these systems are normally 'grid-tied' via your main
household fuse box. Occasionally older style fuse boxes have to be
replaced to allow this. The installer will advise you as to
what is required. Your utility supplier may also wish to
fit a new meter for a Photovoltaics installation. They normally
do this themselves.
'Standalone' (not grid-tied) PV does qualify for FIT if you wish
for this.
TTHW is the promoter of the project and accepts
no liability for problems with the supplier. We will endeavour
to get all households the best possible deal and will monitor
the prices for this purpose. Householders are recommended to obtain
multiple quotes and we would like to know if you can get a
better deal like-for-like. The contractual relationship for the
product and their installation is between your installer and
you. The installers and the manufacturer
supply the Product Warranties. In case of problem please contact
the installer who will be happy to rectify any defect. TTHW
cannot be held liable for the performance of products in use nor
are we liable for changes in the weather or Government Policy.
We can take no responsibility for the subsequent FIT and RHI
payment process with your utilities supplier. Our published
illustrations are for guidance only and we cannot guarantee such
financial rewards. Savings assume householder responsibility for
their own energy use. If you start using more energy then you
will gain less financially. Your savings increase if you take
other sensible measures to reduce consumption, ie, showers
versus bath, energy saving light bulbs versus incandescents, and
so on. We are happy to advise you about further energy saving
measure if you wish.
Participation in the Wycombe Home Power scheme is free.
There is no membership or sign-up criteria. You do not need to join Transition Town High
Wycombe and you need not hear from the Transition Town again if
you do not wish to. However we hope that you will find your
microgeneration system to be of great value and we respectfully ask that
your Transition Town be allowed to
use photo's of your installation for publicity purposes. We are
always seeking positive stories about renewable energy so if you are
pleased with the work tell us. We may contact you after
installation to ensure that you are happy. Please feel free to
tell us of anything you were unhappy with so that we can feed
this back to the supplier and improve other householder's
experience of the scheme. We also would like more volunteers to
make time for other householders to come and visit a domestic
renewable energy
installation and ask questions. If you would be happy to help
others in this way please let us know.
Boiler Scrappage Scheme
 In
the 2009 Budget the Government introduced new inventives to get
everyone to replace their old innefficient Boilers and replace
them with modern efficient ones. This effects up to 125,000
households in England with a G Rated Boiler. These households
can now apply for a £400 voucher off the price of a new A rated
boiler or renewable heating system such as a biomass boiler or
heat pump. For example, that's around 20% off the cost of a new
gas boiler fully installed, inclusive of VAT!
According to the Department for Energy and
Climate Change this is good news for 130,000 installers of this
equipment. The UK also has over 25 boiler manufacturers who will
benefit too. The measure should cut household energy bills by
£200 to £235 per year and save some 140,000 tonnes of CO2. This
is the same as taking 45,000 cars off the road. Vouchers have
been issued since the 18th January on a first come first served
basis. Householders must register by telephone on 0800 512 012
or on the Energy Saving Trust's web site at
www.est.org.uk. Learn more
by following
this link. Note that you can apply for BOTH a grant
from the Low Carbon Buildings Program and the £400 voucher.
Factsheets
In July 2009 we launched our first two
Factsheets to follow on from the "Oil & Food Factsheet"
generated for the FOOD Group. The Energy Group are no promoting
our work on local biomass for heating with a Survey of local
Firewood suppliers and a general factsheet of how to buy
firewood:
Promoting Biomass Boilers in High Wycombe's
Smoke Control Zone
Have you ever considered switching to a Carbon
Neutral heating source for your home? The High Wycombe area is
rich in managed woodlands that produce hundreds of tonnes of
'waste' wood every year. Smoke Control Zones cover the town. Wood can be burned in a smokeless zone if the appliance (i.e. the stove or
boiler) has an Exemption Certificate. Companies which manufacture stoves with
Exemption Certificates include Clearview, Vermont Castings, Dovre, Dunsley
Yorkshire Stoves, Morso and Jotul. A full list can be found at
http://www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk/appliances.php?country=e.
Very little smoke is produced from a modern woodchip boiler, you might get a
very small plume of smoke on the initial boiler ignition, but after that
boilers are practically smokeless with
little or no smell. All over the
country modern highly efficient woodfuel boilers are been installed in
smoke-free zones. It is normal. Thus it is possible for Local
Environmental Health Officers to satisfy themselves that a particular boiler is
suitable for installation in a Smoke Control Zone, even though it may not be
formally exempted. Under the Clean Air Act 1993 - Part VI - section 45 - Local
Authorities have the right to grant exemptions (within Smoke Controled Areas etc.) for "the
purpose of enabling investigations or research relevant to the problem of the
pollution of the air" - if Climate Change is not an "relevant to
the problem of the pollution of the air" - what is? Local Authorities may themselves make formal amendments to local smoke control orders to allow particular models / ranges /
classes of boiler to be installed within a particular smoke control zone.
This
is important because the current exemption procedure relies upon test protocols
which are rather out of date and which are not compatible with the test
protocols of the modern European standard for wood boilers, EN303-5.
There
are pellet burning stoves & boilers that are not on the exempt
appliance list, although they have been tested to a higher standard in their country of
origin.
It can therefore be very time-consuming and expensive to have a boiler range
exempted, even though, as is the case with modern boiler ranges, the emissions
are about one fifth of the level to qualify for exemption. It is often the case
that only older, rather out of date boilers are exempted while
some new modern European boilers are not - due to the cost.
Boilers that are exempt therefore fetch a price premium putting
them out of the price range of the average High Wycombe family
(or pensioner for that matter). Thus, unless the Council
intervenes in the market the demand for wood powered boilers and
stoves in High Wycombe will remain suppressed.
In 2005 the Biomass Taskforce produced a
Report to Government recommending the scrapping of the Clean Air
Act for biomass. Even the Government’s own
Planning Policy Statement 22 states that “Emissions
from biomass fuel combustion include limited quantities of gaseous nitrogen and
sulphurous oxides and carbon dioxide. Emissions of nitrogen and sulphurous
oxides are significantly less than those
from comparable fossil fuel stations. Flue gas is discharged from
the plant via a chimney. Under certain conditions (particularly in cold weather)
a steam plume may emanate from the chimney. This is non-polluting, the
only consideration being the visual effect.”
This suggests the Government wishes
for Local Authorities to grant local exemptions on the basis
that the Clean Air Act covers wood fuel by mistake. In fact
there was a recent petition to Number 10 Downing Street on this
very topic imploring the Government to change the Act. However,
this should not really be necessary as outlined above. The Act
was only designed to cover fossil fuels such as coal. Yet the
Envionmental Health office at WDC refuses to grant a single
exemption despite multiple queries. When the above points were
put to the Wycombe District Council we had the following reply:
"The reason for this policy is that the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 (now in
the Clean Air Act 1993) were introduced to deal with the smogs of the 1950s and
1960s which were caused by the widespread burning of coal for domestic heating
and by industry. These smogs were blamed for the premature deaths of hundreds of
people in the UK. The Acts gave local authorities powers to control emissions of
dark smoke, grit, dust and fumes from industrial premises and furnaces and to
declare "smoke control areas" in which emissions of smoke from domestic
properties are banned. Since then, smoke control areas have been introduced in
many of our large towns and cities in the UK. The implementation of smoke
control areas, the increased popularity of natural gas and the changes in the
industrial and economic structure of the UK lead to a substantial reduction in
concentrations of smoke and associated levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2) between
the 1950s and the present day. It is for this reason that we need to be cautious
and ensure we do not make any retrograde steps with regard to air quality and
compromise the gains we have made over the years. There is a substantial amount
of research that shows that wood smoke in urban areas can have damaging effects
on health. The smoke control areas in High Wycombe are a small proportion of the
district and we don't think that exemptions are the answer to increasing demand
for wood fuel."
We believe that the concept of the Council
defending High Wycombe against Smog cannot withstand scrutiny.
(Studies concerning the dangers of smoke have been
perpetuated by a North American lobby organisation "Burning
Issues" founded by a member of the Sierra Club. However these
studies often prove to relate only to the use of open fires
in Third World conditions and have little relevance to the
modern Biomass Boiler complying to EN303-5....) The Clean
Air Act is now so widely ignored in the metropolitan areas that
at least one Wood Boiler installer (we spoke to) had never heard
of the Clean Air Act. Three others treated exemption as
automatic.
We propose that WDC abandons automatic
appliance of the Clean Air Act
for wood fuels. Instead we suggest they should allow at least one appliance
(tested to EN303-5) to be installed by any householder as a
one-off at no additional cost - as a trial. The local EHO can then check the
Boiler or Stove in operation. If it meets his/her satisfaction
then the appliance can be formally listed as being allowed in
High Wycombe. If,
for any reason, it does not meet the EHO criteria then no
further installations of that appliance will be allowed.
This is our proposal and we hope to work on
this over the coming years with both BCC and WDC.
High Wycombe's Energy in Transition
 All
the evidence we have proves to us that the last 200 years of
cheap and abundant fossil fuels have supplied the energy for the
generation of a highly mobile, complex, well-fed,
inter-connected and inter-dependent industrialised societies. It
has lead to amazing economic growth, an explosion in population
and damage to our atmosphere. That period is about to come to an
end. It is not sustainable. We have over-shot. Everything is
about to change. High complexity equals high fragility. ‘Big’
and distant will break down. Small and local will last. Hence we
need to rebuild resilience into our Business Community through a
process of ‘relocalisation’.
The only alternative is to
collapse. The Business Community is the solution. The future is bright
for those who accept this paradigm change. We
have just 20 years to bring about this dramatic shift. In this
future energy and food will be highly priced and highly prized.
Everyone will be trying to generate as much of their own as
possible and rely upon the ingenuity of the Business community for
their basic economic needs & security. This is a step-change
from where we are today. Few Businessmen or women even think
beyond the next Financial Year
let alone know build a sustainable local Business less reliant
upon long distance transport or high energy product systems. We have a lot of work ahead. You cannot wait for
someone else to do it for you because it is US who have to
change. It cannot be imposed and there are no acceptable
alternatives. Accept it. Join.
This page is dedicated to the Businesses of High Wycombe.
The visionaries, the entrepreneurs, the shop keep, the farmer,
the technologist, the financier, the recycler, the biofuel
specialist... we need you all. Are you a Business in Transition?
What are you doing to change? Are you expanding into Renewable
Energy or Local Food? Do you install condensing boilers, biomass
systems, solar panels, Photovoltaics, wind turbines or ground
heat pumps? Do you invest in low energy solutions? Do you work
in permaculture, preserving legacy seeds for future sale,
provide organic growing solutions, grow biomass products or
supply allotment owners? Are you a Business cutting your energy
usage, reducing your transport needs, investing in local
infrastructure or persuading employees to use local transport? |
