Funding Confirmed for Welsh Wave Power
March 14, 2006 at 10:55 am
The Welsh European Funding Office confrimed this week that they will fund the first stage of a wave farm with the capacity to supply electricity to 60,000 homes.
£5 million will be spent on the first ‘Wave Dragon’ which will be positioned off the west coast of Wales ready for the winter storms in mid 2007. By 2010, it is hoped that there will be 11 machines generating energy 10 km off the coast.
The ‘Wave Dragons’ work by channelling waves into resevoirs where their kenetic energy is used to create electricity. The electricity is then fed into the electicity grid via cables from the machines to the shore.
If this first machine survives the winter, then the rest of the project will go ahead and will be a great contribution to meeting future renewables targets.
npower Joins the Price Rise Craze
March 14, 2006 at 3:13 am
All the major energy companies have announced at least one price rise so far this year and npower is following in their footsteps with an 13.4% rise for their domestic electricity customers and a 15% rise for their gas customers.
These new prices will come into effect from the end of March, marking the second rise from npower this year. By April, customers will be paying nearly 30% more for their utilities than last year.
The reason is already known to us as ever increasing wholesale prices and npower have tried to soften the blow by assuring customers that they have waited as long as possible before implementing increases, saving them money over the winter compared with prices charged by other companies in the same period. They have not however ruled out further increases this year, as British Gas promised with their last huge increase.
Sustainable Energy for the Capital
March 8, 2006 at 11:44 am
EDF Energy have been chosen to work with London Climate Change Agency to provide more efficient and sustainable energy for London for the future.
They will work together to develop local sustainable energy solutions to heat and power the capital and will identify sites across the city where development can take place.
These sustainable developments will benefit the environment by reducing carbon and other damaging emissions and by improving energy efficiency, energy bills could be reduced too, at a time when costs are continually rising.
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, commented positively about this partnership stating that by “working in partnership with EDF Energy, we can drive forward our work to tackle climate change.”
Major Windfarm Developments for Wales
March 2, 2006 at 11:06 am
76 onshore Windfarms are currently in the planning stage for Wales. This development is great news, meaning that clean, renewable energy could potentially generate 18% of future electricity.
Renewable energy currently generates 3.6% of electricity in Wales and this development could help the UK meet their target of 10% of electricity generated from renewables by 2010.
Powergen Follows Suit with Price Rises
March 2, 2006 at 10:37 am
Powergen becomes the 6th energy company to announce substansial energy price rises. Their gas customers will see a 24.4% rise and electricity customers, a 18.4% rise.
Their reason for these price rises – soaring wholesale energy prices – echos the explanation given recently by all the other energy companies. Powergen claims to have held out as long as possible before implementing this increase and ensure that their prices will remain competitive. New rates will come into effect on March 10th.
