Energy News UK's blog

Chinese Wind farms Built During Renewables "Boom"

Here is a report from the Gansu provence in China where there is a mass transformation underway.  The region is fast becoming the frontline for the country's renewable energy effort.  

                  

 

How You Could Save £400 on Energy Bills

There is never a bad time to try and save some cash on your household bills.  With energy companies having recently raised their prices in the lead up to winter people across the UK will keener than ever to try and save as much money on a utility which is slowly becoming more and more expensive.

Despite energy suppliers having raised their prices in the last three months there is still a gap between the cheaper and most expensive suppliers.  And it this gap that people don’t take advantage of enough;  people don’t like the bother of having to switch electricity and gas suppliers as some see the negatives outweighing the positives.  People are put off by call centres and the added paperwork that might be involved in moving company in search of a cheaper tariff.

But there are now a number of tools which can be used to help calculate the savings and also simply the switching process such as Uswitch and there are others such as The Telegraph Energy Comparison Line and Totally Money.  These sites help you compare suppliers and if you like what has been quoted (remember they are estimates based on the information provided) you can make the switch there and then or by calling a UK call centre and they will arrange everything for you.

As a side note, many companies such as Quidco and Topcashback.com sometimes offer money back on certain tariffs which can be used to contribute towards your energy bills.

If customer service is a priority to you then there are also tables which show each supplier and what ratings they have been given in customer satisfaction surveys held by the wholly independent company Uswitch.  Their service ratings are based on complaints from energy watchdogs like Ofgem as well as call centre opening hours and what online services they can provide. 

Energy experts have always encouraged people to switch their energy supply to a fixed rate tariff so that customers can protect themselves against future price increases.  This piece of mind can often come at a premium but recently suppliers have started offering them at a lower level to get people tied into contracts so they have customers on supply for longer.

Another way to maximise your savings is to opt paying by direct debit.  Many suppliers offer a discount when customers pay this way as it means they use fewer resources chasing people that forget to pay their quarterly bill.  It also could mean that your account goes into credit during the summer months and this can be used to cover heavier usage periods during the winter.

How do you heat your home?

How do you heat your home? The majority of us in the UK use electricity for heating our homes, heating our water supply and cooking. The problem is that using electricity for these purposes can be extremely expensive especially in the current climate.

Yet a recent study has shown that propane based heating system can save you nearly 50% when compared to an equivalent electrical system. Another key bonus is the fact that in the event of a power outage the propane appliances will still work.

With propane being a gas it is well suited to being stored in tanks near homes or industrial establishments. Because of its gaseous nature propane is particularly well suited to pipe based supply – there are a number of countries who distribute propane via an underground pipe network as there are no technical issues i.e. freezing.

Gas heaters: There are a variety of applications that don’t allow for the use of fuels other than propane. It is well known that given the reliability and value for money that propane appliances offer they are well suited to just about every environment. It is actually quite amusing the number of applications propane could have as an alternative fuel..

BBQ’s: For getting a real barbeque flavor from the food under cooking on a propane gas grill you can spread out a layer of volcanic rocks. The propane flame makes these rocks very hot. This will create a good barbeque taste and cook the food mildly even when the flame is out.

Gas water heater: The advantage of using a propane water heater is that you can have a hot water shower even in the absence of electricity. Also the water is heated quickly to make sure you can have hot water the same instant you decide to have a hot bath. Pools, saunas and hot water tubs that necessarily require fast heating can all be warmed by utilizing propane. Regular fuel sources would require more time to get the water heated.

The larger systems that use propane usually have sensors fitted that can help to identify if there are any problems with the ignition process. This is necessary as carbon monoxide can be formed through incomplete combustion in the ignition process. Any leakage of these gases can be extremely dangerous.

Whilst using cooking appliances that work on propane gas, there’s you don’t need to wait for anything to heat because the flame is instant as opposed to a heating element. The flame will easily produce enough heat to start cooking immediately.

Understanding Solar Power

It's something that is being talked about more and more often yet and easy to understand explanation how it works is particularly hard to find. Well it was until I found this fantastic infographic, it gives a clear explanation and who the major players are in the solar industry.

However I have to admit it is quite lengthy so i'd set aside some time if you want to take it all in.

Source

Understanding Energy

I know this is a bit late but after some recent conversations with my friends I’ve realised that a lot of people don’t necessarily understand how energy is measured. The thing is if we want to do things properly it is essential to know the basics before we can advance to alternative energies.

Energy is a measure of light, work, or heat. The following are ways we can measure energy:
•    Kilowatt – hours of electricity
•    Therms of natural gas
•    Gallons of propane
•    Barrels of oil
•    Pounds of steam

Kilowatts and Therms will be the most common measurements that I talk about when addressing energy efficiency. How many kilowatts and therms can we save? As much as possible!

Before we can talk about saving kilowatts and therms we need to know what those are…..

What is a kilowatt? - A kilowatt is 1,000 watts
What is a watt? – A simple measurement of electricity
What is a therm? – A therm is equal to 100,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units)
What is a BTU? – It is the heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit

Then there’s the whole Ohm’s Law thing but all we need to know is that electricity is measured in kilowatts and natural gas is measured in therms.

Interesting fact: The United States comprises only 5% of the world’s population yet it consumes 25% of the world’s energy.

Is Germany's renewable gamble actually going to work?

Since the announcement of Germany’s nuclear shutdown nations around the world have been paying close attention to see if the German plan is working. The German Government decided to do away with nuclear power after the Fukishima disaster in Japan. They closed a total of 8 plants straight away and have pledged to close the remaining 9 plants by the year 2022.

The Government support of renewables in Germany has allowed them to very quickly becoming one of the world’s leading nations in renewable energy generation in an extremely short period of time.

In fact the Germans already have almost as much solar energy generation potential as the rest of the world combined.

The German idea regarding renewables has had its fair share of criticism as many experts believe that renewable energy sources are no where near consistent enough to power a large industrial nation. However the German Chancellor Angela Merkel is keen to show the world that it can be done.

And with the boost shown by recent figures I think some people will definitely be considering their position regarding how effective it can be. On Friday and Saturday of last week the German’s solar power plants generated an epic world record 22 gigawatts of electricity. That is the equivalent of 20 nuclear power stations working to full capacity.

Even though this is clearly a very short term win during that period over Friday and Saturday, the solar energy generated was able to meet more than 50% of the country’s midday energy needs.

Now whilst these facts and figures must all be taken in context it is clear that the German’s plan for renewable sustainability is off to a good start.

 

Green deal on a shaky nail....

The green deal - the government's big policy initiative for fighting climate change, is supposed to plug one of Britain's biggest sources of carbon emissions – draughty, fuel-poor homes.

When it launches this autumn, the green deal will be the most aggressive home improvement schemes since WW2. It is the centre point of the coalition's strategy. A plan to improve the nation's draughty homes at no upfront cost, not just to green our economy but to also help family's improve their homes, cut their fuel bills and in turn, reduce the UK's dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels.

However leading Tories inside and outside the cabinet believe the £14 billion Green Deal – which is  due to start in six months’ time, must be ditched because it risks leaving key already financially strained voters out of pocket by several thousands of pounds.

A lot ministers have long been sceptical of the scheme, often seen as the legacy of Chris Huhne, the Lib Dem who resigned as Energy Secretary to fight a court charge that he perverted the course of justice over a speeding case in 2003.

As a result of these mixed messages billions of pounds of investment and the potential for hundreds of thousands of green jobs hang in the balance as companies stall investment while they try to figure out what the government's policy direction might be.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change maintains that the Green Deal is vital to help the UK meet its commitment to slash carbon emissions under the Kyoto Treaty.

What are your thoughts on the green deal?

Is it a good idea at the wrong time? Or just a waste of money?

 

Ultimate guide to dual fuel...

Dual fuel is a term coined by energy suppliers that means you receive both your gas and electricity from the same energy supplier.

For example if you receive your gas from one company and electricity from another then you are not on a dual fuel tariff.

What’s the big difference?

Well as far as you and your home is concerned there is relatively little difference between having dual fuel and single fuel contracts. But the reason dual fuel contracts are so popular is that there are a number of benefits associated with them.

OK then, so what are the benefits of dual fuel?

Well depending on the supplier there are usually some decent benefits to being on a dual fuel tariff.
•    It is usually quite a bit cheaper than the other payment methods as in fact it has been shown that you could save as much as £91 a year by going dual fuel.
•    Convenience. It is far more convenient to know that the right amount of money is going to come out of your account every month, you only receive bills from one company and it can all be on the same bill.
•    You only need to deal with one company so for problems or enquiries etc you only need to deal with one company.

Is switching to dual fuel easy?

Switching to a duel fuel tariff is relatively straightforward. Firstly you shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal, then once you have established the tariff that can save you the most money you simply contact them and they will sort everything out for you.

There’s no complicated paperwork or anything and the whole thing is really simple the only thing you’ll notice about the change is that your bills will be cheaper.

Is dual fuel always the cheapest option?

Dual fuel discounts should always lower the cost of your energy bills and when you couple that with the benefits of only having to deal with one supplier it is often a great deal. However it isn’t always the cheapest option so if that’s the only factor for you then it would be worth doing some in depth shopping around.

How to reduce your gas bills....

January.... It's not a fun month, most of us are detoxing and trying to make Decembers wage last until the end of the month, not to mention the fact that the weather is still miserable.

Which only seems to compound our financial issues. However whilst I was having a snoop around videojug.com the other day I found this great video about cutting down your gas bills. Now the video itself is from 2009 but given the current energy rates i actually found it to be quite timely.

My only complaint is that it makes no mention about how you could switch electricity and gas supplier which I think is a quick and easy way to potentially save over £100.

Anyway here is the video guys, let me know what you think.

5 top energy blogs you should be reading...

Green energy blogs aren't always the most popular choice for some light reading, and it's even worse if you pick a bad one. We've compiled a list of our favourite 5.

We feel these blogs provide all the relevant information with a minimum of fuss and jargon. In short they're informative and easy to read. Sooooo in no particular order....

1. The YouGen Blog

One of the best known blogs on the list YouGen has a great selection of posts and has a treasure chest full of information from the world of renewable energy.

2. The Renewable Energy Law Blog 

NOT FOR BEGINNERS: This is a particularly technical blog that focuses on the development of renewable energy and is a fantastic resource to learn more about the ever changing laws that govern renewable energy.

3. The Green Energy Blog

This is a great blog for a quick energy catchup, it features a lot of top 10's and is always showcasing the latest energy saving gadgets. 

4. The Green Energy Net Blog

The academic of the bunch, this site is choc-full of in depth quality articles and isn't afraid to share its opinions. This is definitely best reserved for when you have a couple of hours to kill, so you can get the most from their in depth analysis and commentary.

5. Green Electricity Blog

A great blog written by energy enthusiasts lacks the polish of some of the others on the list but has some great content and often provides well thought out insights and information. Best of all it's easy to read and is updated regularly.

Hopefully we've managed to include a little something for everyone with these blogs, but chances are we've missed out some great blogs so please feel free to get in touch and lets start a top energy blogs list .