"Overview of Renewable Technologies" Laurie Tennant, Engenius
1. Profit from Renewable Energy
Sustainable Business Network
Chewton Glen Hotel, 20 January 2011
Laurie Tennant, Engenius Limited
2. Since 01 April 2010 it has been possible to achieve good returns on
investment in generation of electricity from renewable resources,
thanks to Feed-in Tariffs which started on that date.
Qualifying Technologies:
•Wind
•Solar-electric
•Hydro-electric
•Biomass for electricity production
•Anaerobic Digestion for electricity production
•CHP and micro-CHP (the electricity content of Combined Heat
and Power) – including NG-fuelled
Non-qualifying Technologies:
•Tidal
•Wave
•Anything else eg landfill & sewage gas for generation, fuel cells
Feed-in Tariff
8. On 01 June 2011 HMG will introduce a similar scheme in respect of
renewably-generated heat energy, called the Renewable Heat
Incentive. Details are not yet known but qualifying technologies are
expected to include:
• Bio-mass for heat generation
• Bio-fuels (for heat generation; probably not for traction)
• Anaerobic Digestion (gas for on-site heating and export as
bio-methane to the gas grid)
•Ground- and Air-source Heat Pumps
• Solar-thermal
• CHP and micro-CHP
(the heat content of Combined Heat and Power)
In almost every case the appropriate technology will be dictated by
local conditions (site, environment, commercial, ethical).
The Renewable Heat Incentive
13. Grants for not-for-profit may be available through funds such as CSEP
and electricity companies, but LCBP funds will cease when the relevant
tariffs come into effect, or before if funding is exhausted.
For farmers, see: www.seeda.co.uk/rdpe
Soft loans are available in some circumstances from Carbon Trust;
private financiers have also entered the market eg Triodos Bank and
Bridgegreen. Commercial loans will be secured on revenue streams
arising from the tariffs. Many mortgage lenders are happy to add the cost
of microgeneration equipment to the loan.
Enhanced Capital Allowances do not apply unless equipment is on the
ECA list – electricity generation isn’t at present:
http://www.eca.gov.uk/
Funding