2004 News Archive

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09 December 2004: SmartestEnergy & Energy-Link Partnership Brief CHPA Members on Gas & Power Prices Presentations Current Developments in the Power & Gas Markets and their Impact on the Future take-up of CHP (3.3Mb) by Tim Foster of SmartestEnergy & Getting the most out your existing or new CHP (170Kb) by Carlo Rossini of Energy-Link Partnership.

18 November 2004: CHPA National Conference & Dinner
View programme & presentations

1 November 2004: Minister Opens £350 Million CHP Plant
Secretary of State for the Environment Margaret Beckett, today inaugurated the largest CHP project in Europe, developed by CHPA Member ConocoPhillips, at their Immingham refinery in Humberside. Read the following press story, and also the Minister's speech

28 October 2004: University CHP Scheme Recommended for Approval
Plans for a combined heat and power plant on Aberdeen University's Bedford Roadsite are being recommended for approval. Further information here

28th October 2004: Mini Power Stations Fight Global Warming
"The next battle in London's war against climate change is set to be fought on Merton soil by harnessing the powers of renewable energy." Full story here

19 October 2004: Community Heat Networks
Following a previous workshop on CHP, CIBSE are holding a one-day a seminar covering all aspects of community heating including benefits, grants and case studies.
Full details are available on their website

12 October 2004 - Mayor Announces Key Appointment to Set Up a Climate Change Agency for London
Allan Jones of CHPA Member Woking Borough Council, has been appointed as Chief Development Officer for the London Climate Change Agency. More information on the following press release

4 October 2004: Nedalo UK Rebranding
Nedalo UK Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Cogeneration Company Ltd and a member of the CHPA, announces the rebranding of the Company to Cogenco Ltd. For full details download press release

23 September 004: Study of CHP Scheme Economics
DEFRA commissioned earlier this year a complementary study to the Cambridge Econometrics revised work (published in November 2003). The work was undertaken by Future Energy Solutions and has just become available. Downloadable from here

16 September 2004: CHP PQ Answered
View one of the latest parlimentary questions regarding CHP and the challenges to be overcome as stated in the Government's CHP strategy

15 September 2004: Terms of Reference for Review of Climate Change Programme
Defra has now announced the Terms of Reference for the review of the UK Climate Change Programme (CCP), with Margaret Beckett committing to placing "stakeholders at the centre of the programme", as well as expressing a need for policies to take the UK towards the 2010 domestic target in addition to meeting the long-term target of carbon reduction as set out in the Energy White Paper. The Consultation will take place later this Autumn and the Government aims to publish the revised CCP at the beginning of 2005. For further information, see the following

September 2004: £21m Power Generation Expansion Programme by Severn Trent
Severn Trent Water are well on their way to completing a £21m power generation expansion programme within their region.
By harnessing the gas currently flared off from the sewage treatment digestion process, the Company are installing or expanding Combined Heat and Power plant at a total of 30 sites - some 27MW of engine capacity. The total electricity that will be produced is the equivalent to supplying a town the size of Gloucester - or around 53,000 homes each year. Read more

31 August 2004 - Community Heating: £16m approved in record grant allocation
EST/Carbon Trust announcment on the latest round of the Government's Community Energy Programme. More information here

25 August 2004 - Consultation on Guidance to Power Station Developers
The DTI have today released a consultation paper on requirements to developers to show they have explored opportunities for using CHP. The paper can be downloaded here

23 August 2004: £2 million for biofuel pellet plant in Northern Ireland
Energy Minister Stephen Timms has just announced a grant from DTI of £2 million to help fund a new biofuel pellet plant at Balcas timber processing facility, which will utilise sawdust and wood chips to make 50,000 tonnes of fuel pellets per year, providing energy for 10,000 Northern Ireland homes. A CHP plant is also being developed to enable Balcas to be self-sufficient in electricity and heat. The plant will generate 2.5MW of electricity and will also be partially funded by a £1 million loan from the NIE SMART programme.
Further information can be found on the following website

16 August 2004: Powergen Nnow Offers Home Energy Services
CHPA Member Powergen has now expanded into the Home Energy Services market, offering a variety of products to domestic customers such as central heating insurance, installation and repair. In addition, Powergen have, together with the New Zealand company Whisper Tech Limited, developed WhisperGen, the world's first commercially available domestic microCHP unit, which is now on offer to their domestic customers. More detailed information can be found on the Powergen press release

4 August 2004: FT report poor progress on CHP targets
Today's Financial Times reports on the Government's poor support for the CHP industry. Read the full article here (PDF 80Kb).

3 August 2004: Government release proposals for review of Renewables Obligation
The DTI have today released the draft terms of reference for the forthcoming RO review which will take place later this year and be completed by December 2005. The Review includes the study of the exemption of exports of CHP electricity from the Renewables Obligation. Further information is available on the following DTI press release.
The terms of reference document is also available on the DTI website

August 2004: COSPP article on European cogeneration market
Cogen Europe's Peter Löffler reports on the new regulatory and market conditions that could unlock cogeneration's vast potential in the latest issue of Cogeneration and Onsite Power Production. Read here

29 July 2004: Energy Minister Visits Site of New Community Heating System in Cornwall
Energy Minister Stephen Timms today launched an energy strategy for Cornwall, with a visit to a potential new geothermal community heating system at the Penwith Housing Association, which has received a grant of £72,000 from the DTI's Clear Skies programme.

Further information can be found on the following DTI press release.
The Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership report Action Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow - The Energy Strategy for Cornwall (2004)
Details of the Clear Skies programme

29 July 2004: New Statistics on CHP Capacity Released
The DTI has just published the updated Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES). This publication include data for total CHP capacity in the UK. For further information, see chapter 6 of DUKES, downloadable from the DTI website

27 July 2004: Government Response to Report from the Sustainable Buildings Task Group
The DTI have today issued a press release concerning the Government's response to the Sustainable Buildings Task Group report, Better Buildings-better lives, which was presented to Government earlier this year, following the October 2003 Sustainable Buildings Summit. View the press release and full DTI response here http://www.dti.gov.uk/construction/sustain/sbtg.htm

23 July 2004: District Heating/CHP Study Released by World Energy Council
The World Energy Council (WEC) has released a study which examines regulatory issues related to district heating/combined heat and power (DH/CHP) and presents recommendations to the operators of DH/CHP plants and systems. The study group included representatives from fourteen countries: Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Macedonia, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Greece. Further information available here

21 July 2004: Building Regulations Consultation
ODPM have today launched a consultation document on Proposals for amending Part L of the Building Regulations and implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. A statement by Lord Rooker as well the consultation document can be downloaded from the following webpage The deadline for response is Friday 22nd October 2004.

14 July 2004: DEFRA Report on Biomass-Generated Heat
DEFRA commissioned CHPA member ILEX Energy consulting to undertake an initial scoping study looking at the issues and options for support mechanisms for the production of heat from biomass sources. The resulting scoping note Possible support mechanisms for biomass-generated heat is now available on the DEFRA website

13 July 2004: CHP PQ Activity
Tony Colman MP yesterday quizzed the Government, via a series of parliamentary questions, on how it would make up the significant shortfall in the CHP target, as highlighted in April's CHP Strategy. Some confusing answers were received, which the Association will be following up on.
The written answers can be found on www.parliament.uk webpage

7 July 2004: Conservatives Support CHP
Speaking at the CHPA/SBGI microCHP seminar today, the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment Richard Ottaway MP said that industry has the solid business and environmental credentials to take a leading role in securing Britain's energy future. Full text of speech available here

2 July 2004: OFGEM notes on Climate Change Levy Exemption for CHP
OFGEM have today issued a revised version of their Administration Procedures for CHP CCL exemption document. Additonally, an information note: CCL CHP LEC Deadline and Timetable 2004/05 has also been published. For further information on both documents, see the following webpage

July 2004: CHP PQs
View a recent CHP Parliamentary Question on CHP plants given power station consent by DTI.

July 2004: Energy Act Now Published
The DTI have published the Energy Act 2004. An electronic version of the act can be viewed at the following website

July 2004: CHP Sizer
This is the second issue of the software which assists with a preliminary evaluation of the suitability of the application of CHP to new and existing buildings within four sectors, Hospitals, Hotels, University Halls of Residences and Leisure Centres. Downloadable (once registered) from www.actionenergy.org.uk

July 2004: CIBSE CHP
The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has launched a special interest group on CHP. More details at www.cibse.org

7 July 2004: Bringing microCHP to market
Following on from the successful Domestic CHP seminars held annually for the past three years the SBGI and CHPA are once again organising a joint seminar, with the focus this year being on 'Bringing microCHP to market'. The seminar will be held at the CBI Conference Centre, London on Wednesday 7 July 2004. The seminar offers high profile speakers from product manufacturers, government & environmental agencies and the keynote speech will be given by Richard Ottaway MP, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment. To book or view the full programme click here (435 Kb).

June 2004: OFGEM CCL News
OFGEM have recently released 'Information Note 2' regarding the CCL exemption for CHP. Downloadable here

June 2004: Northern Ireland Releases Energy Strategic Framework
The Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment have published "Energy:a strategic framework for Northern Ireland". CHP is emphasised as an important and beneficial technology and specific actions towards promoting CHP schemes are detailed. For further information see the following website

June 2004: OFGEM BETTA Seminars
Presentations from the OFGEM BETTA Seminars held in London on 29 June 2004 and Scotland on 30 June 2004 are available to download OFGEM's website

22 June 2004: CEP Grant awards
The Energy Saving Trust and The Carbon Trust have recently awarded grants to a total of £885,000 for six new eco-friendly community heating schemes. Further information is available on the following news release

21 June 2004: Future Energy Solutions NER Documents
Attached below are the draft report (EnvC 128/04) issued by Future Energy Solutions which sets out methodologies for calculating the free allocation for New Entrants to the EUETS (which includes a section of the treatement of CHP), along with a spreadsheet to help operators of new plant to apply for their allocations.
FES/DTI will consider comments submitted by close of the week.Draft Report (1.8 Mb)
Spreadsheet (1.6Mb)

10 June 2004: Response to CHP Strategy
The Association have today released a response to the Government's recently published CHP Strategy. Launched at the CHPA's President's reception at the House of Lords, the response and a press release are available to download.

28 May 2004: Extension to CEP Spend
The Energy Saving Trust welcomed the announcement by HM Treasury today to extend the spending deadline for the Government-funded Community Energy Programme. The extension enables public sector heating projects in receipt of Community Energy grants a further 3 years to claim funding. Further information available here

12 May 2004: Treasury Evidence to Select Committee Covers CHP
John Healey, Economic Secretary, is questioned on the Government's support for CHP whilst giving evidence to the Environment Audit Committee. Read the transcript here

11 May 2004: Royal Commission Promote Biomass & CHP
The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) have today published their special report 'Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source' which lists a number of recommendations promoting the greater use of CHP and also biomass heat networks. Click here for RCEP press release, the RCEP's report and the CHPA' s press release welcoming its publication.

May 2004: Community Energy Set to Go On
In recognition of the Community Energy Programme's achievements, HM Treasury has just awarded the programme a spend extension to March 2007. This significant boost to the programme means that all approved schemes will have an extra year to claim grant funding. The deadline for submission of claims is February 2007. The bidding rounds for applications remain unchanged, with the last deadline being 31st January 2005. However, this encouraging news means that projects can now be viewed in light of a two year window to receive grant assistance for the work undertaken More information here

6 May 2004: DEFRA Publish EUETS Documents
The latest version of the UK's National Allocation Plan (NAP), sent to the European Commission has just been published. The documents are available to download here:Information on the consultation (26Kb)
Consultation letter (12Kb)
UK National Allocation Plan (463 KB)
List of installations (372 KB) and also at the DEFRA website

26 April 2004: Government's CHP Strategy Published
DEFRA have today issued the Government's Strategy for Combined Heat and Power to 2010. It can be downloaded here. The CHPA have issued the following press release (PDF 11Kb).

April 2004: DVLA Opt for Tri-generation
As part of the Government’s commitment to green energy the DVLA have recently signed a 15 year contract with CHPA Member ENER·G Combined Power to provide energy from a packaged tri-generation system. The site will include a 1MW CHP and 700KW absorption chiller.
More info at www.energ.co.uk

April 2004: HMCE CCL Presentation
HM Customs & Excise gave presentations at a series of CHPQA workshops ealier this year. A presentation providing information on the CHP's exemption from the Climate Change Levy can be viewed here

13 April 2004: Baxi Website launched for Dachs Mini-CHP Unit
CHPA Member Baxi Technologies UK has launched a website www.baxitech.co.uk dedicated to the DACHS mini-Combined Heat & Power (CHP) unit - a product launched in the UK in February of last year. Baxi have also issued a press release recently on the installation of a number of miniCHP units in Durham. Read it Here

1 April 2004: DEFRA Cogen Directive Briefing
Peter Barton-Wood of DEFRA, the key UK official who worked on the passage of the Cogeneration Directive, provided a briefing to Members of the Association on the Cogeneration Directive and its transposition into UK law. A copy of the Powerpoint presentation can be downloaded here (85Kb).

1 April 2004: CHP LECs Consumption Declaration 1 April 2004 - 31 March 2005
As stated in ‘CCL exemption for CHP - Ofgem’s Administration Procedures’ the operator of each CHP station is required to provide Ofgem with a Consumption Declaration on an annual basis declaring that all notified electricity represents electricity consumed or to be consumed in the UK. The Consumption Declaration is now due for the period 1 April 2004 - 31 March 2005. If you have not already done so the Consumption Declaration should be provided to Ofgem by 30 April 2004 to avoid a delay in the issue of April 2004 CHP LECs. Further detail on OFGEM's website

April 2004: New Community Energy Programme Documents Released
A number of guidance documents have just been published by the Energy Saving Trust. They include Connecting CHP in community heating to the electrical network, Getting Best Value for Electricity Generated in Community Heating, Community heating using new and renewable sources and Small scale community heating. All downloadable here

30 March 2004: Distributed Generation Coordination Group Annual Report
The second annual report of the Distributed Generation Co-ordination Group (DGCG) has just been published on OFGEM's website. Further details of the group's work can be found here

24 March 2004: Planning Permission Approved for Millbrooks's Community Heating Scheme
Southampton City Council has approved planning permission for a £40 million CHP and District Heating scheme in Redbridge that will provide residents living in Millbrook, Redbridge and Maybush with affordable heating and hot water. Read the full story here

18 March 2004: Chancellor reduces VAT rate for Micro-CHP
The Chancellor announced in today's Budget that, pending the results of current field trials, the level of VAT on domestic micro combined heat and power appliances will be reduced from 2005. Further details on the following Treasury news release and also on a joint CHPA/SBGI/Microgen press release

11 March 2004: New COGEN Europe Briefing Paper: Treatment of CHP in draft National Allocation Plans
This briefing document summarises allocation rules affecting CHP installations proposed in the draft National Allocation Plans of Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and UK. Based on this survey, the paper draws some initial conclusions on the fairness, appropriateness and practical applicability of particular allocation rules, and on the wider aspects of harmonisation within the emerging European market for emission allowances. Download "The European Emissions Trading Scheme: Allocation Methods for CHP proposed in draft National Allocation Plans" (pdf, 69 Kb) from the COGEN Website

March 2004: Heat Monitoring for Small Scale CHP Schemes
The Government's CHPQA programme have just issued guidance on heat monitoring requirements for small scale CHP schemes. Go to here for further details

March 2004: CEP Aberdeen City Council case Study
This detailed case study details how Aberdeen City Council used Community Energy as a solution to this issues when upgrading their multi-storey and low-rise housing to achieve a reduction in fuel bills and carbon emissions of 40%. Downloadable from here

27 February 2004: CIMS database
OFGEM have issued a note on how user difficulties of the OFGEM CIMS database may be resolved. CIMS Transfer announcement available here

23 Feb 2004: CHP debate in House of Lords
Longtime champion of CHP Lord Ezra asked the Government what were the prospects of achieving 10 gigawatts of combined heat and power by 2010. The debate can be read by clicking here

24 February 2004: Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Debate
A House of Commons Standing Committee debate considering the Government's 15% CHP target for Government Estate, can be read here.The actual Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Order 2003 can be downloaded from the Stationery Office's website

21 February 2004: European Cogeneration Directive in Force
After more than two years of debates and negotiations, the European Cogeneration Directive has finally come into force with its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on 21 February 2004. The Directive can be downloaded here; further information on the progress of the Directive along with information relating to the Directive can be found at the Europarliament website.

2004 CHPQA Workshops
CHP Quality Assurance certification for CHP schemes brings a number of financial benefits such as exemption from the Climate Change Levy, exception from Business Rating, and access to Enhanced Capital Allowances. There are four regional events hosted around the UK to give an update on the latest developments. Further information on the EVENTS page

3 February 2004:Community Energy Programme News
Eight projects in England, Scotland and Wales delivering community heating will get government grants, helping to reduce energy bills and combat both greenhouse gases and fuel poverty. DEFRA press release here

3 February 2004: CHP Strategy Update
DTI Minister Lord Sainsbury has today announced that the CHP Strategy will be published shortly after the Easter Recess (after April 19). Read Parliamentary answer here

February 2004: Connection Guide Published
The Distributed Generation Coordinating Group (DGCG) has recently published a useful revised version of the technical guide on the Connection of Generation to the Distribution Network. Copies are available to download here

19 January 2004: EUETS Draft NAP Released
The Government have today issued the draft UK National Allocation Plan (NAP) which is to be finalised by 31 March 2004. CHP has been specified a 'ring-fenced' area of the new allocation reserve of allowances for new entrants within Phase I (2005 - 2007) of the scheme. More info at DEFRA's website

January 2004: Financing Community Energy Schemes
A new EST guide from the Community Energy programme has just been published providing information on routes to funding a community heating scheme. Additional annexes are also available detailing Whole Life Costing issues and Community Energy Using Renewables. All reports downloadable from here

January 2004: Costs and Benefits of Community Heating Explained
A new guide from the Energy Saving Trust's Energy Efficiency Best Practice in Housing programme outlines what a community heating scheme is and the multiple advantages of implementing a scheme. The guide also details the use of whole life costing with a live example of how community heating compares to other forms of heating. Downloadable from here

January 2004: Full UK Potential CH Study Now Available
The EST have just published in full the UK Potential Study for Community Heating. A summary version of the report was only previously available. The report demonstrates the very substantial potential existing in areas across the UK. The vast majority of this is currently not realised, meaning that significant opportunity for further reduction of carbon emissions still exist. Downloadable here

7 January 2004: New DG Info Webpage
The new Electricity Networks Association have added a useful web page to its site specifically designed to provide information to Distributed Generators. Go to http://www.energynetworks.org.uk/dg01.asp

7 January 2004: DGCG Website Update
The DTI/Ofgem Distributed Generation Coordination Group website has been recently updated with a number of new reports including work on micro-generation and CHP projections. Available from the 'what's new' section at www.distributed-generation.gov.uk

6 January 2004: Parliamentary debate on MicroCHP
Jane Griffiths MP lead a debate on 'Tax & financial incentives for home CHP' in the Commons today. Click here to read the full debate