Newsletter

8 February 2011

Welcome

One of the key announcements that has come out this week is that from DECC, with the launch of a comprehensive review of the Feed in Tariffs by Energy Secretary Chris Huhne. Although this is about the electricity generating incentive rather than heat, we feel it is still of great relevance and may have a major impact on developments for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

Of particular importance from our perspective is the following statement, from the fourth paragraph of the DECC Press Notice:

"We also hope to publish next month measures to support renewable heat within the budget agreed at Spending Review."

The GSHPA is also aware that 'Construction News' have reported this story (though have not seen it in print as subscription only) and have indicated that an RHI announcement may be included on the 23rd March, budget day.

To see the DECC Press Notice published yesterday in full and read more about the FiT review please follow the links in this sentence to the DECC website.

Developments of particular relevance that follow this week's announcements will be communicated by Newsflash.

Hoping you enjoy the rest of February and to see many of you on Thursday at Ground Energy.

Best wishes

Jake

• Ground Energy 2011 - 10th February, London
• New MCS Website
• EREC 2011 - Early bird registration open
• International Standards Optimization
• Ground Source & Energy headlines - please follow links
• Events - please follow links to view events you may like to attend...

Ground Energy 2011; Funding, regulating and expanding the use of ground source energy in the UK

This event is fast approaching (this Thursday, 10th February) and further to the promotional flyer sent out yesterday, I would like to take the opportunity once again to highlight the event as well as the generous discounts that have been offered by Ground Engineering:

• Group discount code (1st place standard rate, 2nd place 1/2 price and 3rd place FREE!): DIS123X
• Individual bookings (25% discount): DISGSPH1

To find out more information about the day and book your delegate place(s) please follow the links below:

• Programme
• Delegate Booking Form

venue details: The Hatton; 51 - 53 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8HN

To find out more information about this event, please visit the Ground Energy website.

New MCS Website

As circulated in the GSHPA newsletter on the 7th December (MCS Update), this is a reminder that MCS has a new website and that links on your sites may need to be updated.

Gemserv has been undertaking background upgrade work on the MCS website platform for several months. This upgrade is to increase usability of the product/ installer search features and the quality and accessibility of the information on the site. It also enhances the design. The overall purpose of the upgrade has been to better present the information and the MCS scheme to all visitors.

The website can still be reached om the same URL: www.microgenerationcertification.org and links to the homepage will continue to work. Internal links will change and you may need to update your websites accordingly.

Useful features of the new site include:

• The ability to search for installers on a “map view” by searcher postcode cross-referenced with installer office postcode
• A new “quick links” feature is available at the bottom of every page. For regular users this allows you to go straight to your desired page
• There is a news and alerts sign up feature where users can register to receive email updates on:
• New versions of the standards
• Consultations issued
• Any significant changes to the scheme or to relevant legislation

The only action required is to update any links you might have. The MCS team hope you enjoy browsing the new site.

EREC 2011 - Early bird registration open

EREC - European Renewable Energy Council, the umbrella organisation of the European Renewable Energy Industry, trade and research associations, has the pleasure to announce Europe’s foremost Renewable Energy Conference:

Please follow the link to view the conference website, where you can book your delegate place(s).

International Standards Optimization

At the January 2011 meeting of SAG-E (the steering committee responsible for a strategic overview of standards in the field of energy) held in Pretoria, South Africa, delegates discussed whether any standardisation was needed:

Geothermal

"It was confirmed that there was no significant standardization in this area except for work on heat pumps carried out in ISO TC 86/SC 6 Factory made air-cooled air-conditioning and air to air heat pumps. The IEA had not expressed a view as to whether standards were needed for geothermal technology and the views from the SAG E members indicated that there was no current need for international standards in this area."

Ground Source & Energy Headlines

Government must invest in green energy skills - Green helpline.com

National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies gets go-ahead - SummitSkills

A fossil-free world by 2050 not an 'unattainable utopia', says WWF - The Ecologist

Carbon professionals' salaries keep on rising - Business Green

Subsidised training for renewable energy installers - Business.Wales.Gov.Uk

EU leaders back supergrid master plan - Business Green

Events

Featured Event - Ground Energy; Thursday 10th February 2011, London

Funding, regulating and expanding the use of ground source energy in the UK

The unrivalled UK event exploring the use of both shallow and deep geothermal energy for clients, building services and geo-technical engineers.

Please follow these links to find out more information about the day and book your delegate place(s).

Post-Conference Case Study Tour: Ground Source Energy in Operation at One New Change; Friday 11th February 2011 – London

Events

Intermediate Thermogeology: Ground Loop Design and Simulation

Wednesday 23rd February 2011, Coalville

Holymoor Consultancy and Carbon Zero Consulting will be repeating their 1-day hands-on training course (registered as CPD with the Geological Society) on 23rd February 2011 at Stephenson College, Coalville, Leicestershire.

For more information please email Holymoor, or see the website.

Ecobuild 2011

Tuesday 1st - Thursday 3rd March 2011; ExCel, London

Ecobuild is the future of design, construction and the built environment - the latest developments, new product launches and the people who matter

Join us next year to "Ecobuild your future".

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