Energy secretary Chris Huhne has tendered his resignation after learning that he is set to face criminal charges following a driving offence he allegedly attempted to cover up. 

The allegations relate to a 2003 speeding charge which saw Huhne’s former wife allegedly take the blame for an offence which he is said to have committed. His ex-wife Vicky Pryce will also face prosecution over her involvement which lead to her accepting penalty points for the speeding offence.

Although the energy secretary continues to protest his innocence, following the news this morning that the Crown Prosecution Service intends to lay charges for perverting the course of justice, Huhne made the decision to step down from his post. He has since issued a short statement, in which he described the decision to charge him as ”deeply regrettable.”

“Whatever the terms of his departure, few can deny that Chris Huhne has really shaken up the energy debate over the last 2 years. He has certainly been successful in driving that agenda forward,” commented Juliet Davenport, CEO and Founder of Good Energy.

While Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director, Andy Atkins commended the energy secretary for championing the environment despite being part of an administration that’s been less than enthusiastic about being the greenest ever Government.

However Atkins added that his the way his department has incompetently handled the solar cuts fiasco has put almost 30,000 jobs in jeopardy, not to mention leaving energy consumers to compare energy tariffs to fight the problem of soaring fuel bills cannot be overlooked.

“What we really need is decisive Government action to get us off the hook of expensive fossil fuels and invest in clean British energy instead,” said Atkins.

It remains to be seen what effect Huhne’s resignation will have on the renewable energy sector. The news has be received with mixed reaction from the renewables industry, but by and large most seem to welcome the news.

Liberal Democrat Ed Davey has been announced as the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

The case against Mr Huhne and Ms Pryce is scheduled to be heard in court on 16 February.

The University of Leeds has completed a two-year study into the potential benefits of creating a low carbon area in the region around the city of Leeds.

Researchers at the university have calculated how a region-wide implementation of energy-saving measures such as installing solar photovoltaic panels and establishing park-and-ride schemes might benefit the city. According to the findings of the study, substantial savings on energy bills – both domestic and commercial – could be made if sufficient investment is provided by government.

Professor Andy Gouldson of Leeds University’s Centre for Low Carbon Futures, claimed that the region of Leeds, Barnsley, York, Wakefield, Calderdale, Bradford, Craven, Kirklees, Harrogate and Selby, which has an approximate population of three million, would be able to shave £1.2 billion off its annual energy bill of £5.4 billion by implementing basic energy-saving measures, however, any such initiative would require £4.9 billion of public funding or private investment.

A more ambitious strategy to cut carbon emissions in the area was examined by the university. Costing £13.03 billion, the measures would save the region £1.71 billion in annual energy bills.

Professor Gouldson wrote: “The business case for major scale investments in energy and carbon management is very strong.

“If local government can underwrite early stage investments, as is happening in some places, then major flows of private sector investment can be secured. Investments can come from institutional investors such as pension funds, or in the near future through the Green Deal”.

The professor further noted that, despite the high levels of investment required, there were compelling “economic, social and environmental” reasons for implementing energy-saving measures at region level.

Responding to the study, Tom Riordan, the Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, wrote: “What this report demonstrates very clearly is that rather than being a ‘nice to do’, this is a ‘must do’ for an economy which wants to become more competitive”.

Implementing conventional energy-saving measures such as solar panels, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation is arguably essential at every level of society if the UK hopes to meet its obligations to cut carbon emissions. As highlighted by the University of Leeds, investing in green technology can pay off in the long-term, whilst providing hope of a better future for subsequent generations.

The British Government’s attempt to halve solar subsidies has been ruled unlawful by the High Court following a request by three organisations for leave of judicial review, which was granted by the same court earlier just weeks earlier.

The decision, which was reached on 21 December 2011, comes after Friends of the Earth, HomeSun and Solarcentury took the decision to reduce solar subsidies from 43.3p kWh to 21p kWh to court. Following an analysis of the decision, the High Court took the view that the Government’s proposals were legally flawed. Solicitors acting on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) immediately sought to appeal the ruling.

Although not against the proposal to reduce solar subsidies, Friends of the Earth is opposed to the way in which the matter has been handled by the Government, which chose to halve subsidies with very little notice and mid-way through a consultation on the subject.

Andy Atkins, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, said: “These botched and illegal plans have cast a huge shadow over the solar industry, jeopardising thousands of jobs. Solar payments should fall in line with falling installation costs but the speed of the Government’s proposals threatened to devastate the entire industry”.

By ruling in favour of the solar industry challenge, anyone who registers for the feed-in tariff (FiTs) between now and and the end of March is legally entitled to receive the current 43.3 subsidy rate for the full 25 year length of the scheme. However, the Government is set to appeal the decision. The December deadline could be reinstated if their appeal is successful, meaning anyone registered after 12 December 2011 would only be entitled to the higher rate until 31 March 2012.

The Government has also been criticised for proposing a further change that would threaten community projects to install solar photovoltaic panels, which harness energy from the sun before converting it into electricity. According to reports, the UK’s “greenest ever” Government is planning to lower the new tariff of 21p by as much as 80 per cent for renewable generates who register more than one unit for FiTs.

Following a consultation, MPs said: “This could have a disproportionate impact on disadvantaged and poorer communities for whom such schemes are a good way of accessing the benefits of renewable energy and reducing electricity costs”.

Meanwhile, Tim Yeo, who chairs the energy and climate change committee, reiterated the need for a reduction in solar subsidies. Mr Yeo said: “There is no question that solar subsidies needed to be urgently reduced, but the Government has handled this clumsily. Ministers should have spotted the solar gold rush much earlier. That way, subsidy levels could have been reduced in a more orderly way”.

There’s no denying that the High Court blocking solar subsidy cuts is some much needed good news for the UK solar industry. But at what cost?

Figures published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have shown that investment in renewable energy in the UK remains low despite a small improvement over the year.

In 2010, around £2.1 billion was invested in green energy by companies operating in the UK. According to the DECC, investment rose to £2.5 billion in 2011 (April to December), which represents little progress in terms of the country becoming less reliant on fossil fuels.

The figure of £2.5 billion, although larger than the previous year, is disappointing in so far as it represents a huge fall on previous spending. In 2009, for instance, £7.1 billion was invested in renewable energy in the UK – 65 per cent more than last year.

Of course, economic constraints were always expected to limit investment in the renewable energy sector, but the extent to which funds have decreased ought to raise serious doubts over the UK’s ability to meet carbon emission targets; without investing heavily in green technology, the UK is unlikely to be able to honour its environmental obligations.

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, believes that £2.5 billion represents a reasonably good level of investment considering the circumstances. Mr Huhne said: “Renewable energy is not just helping us increase our energy security and reduce our emissions. It is supporting jobs and growth across the country and giving traditional industrial heartlands the opportunity to thrive again”.

Although a complete move from fossil fuels to renewable energy is highly desirable for obvious reasons, current wind, tidal and solar photovoltaic installations account for very little of the UK’s total energy consumption. According to the DECC, just 3.3 per cent (or 54TWh) of total energy used was derived from renewable sources in 2010 – a 27 per cent increase on the previous year. Conversely, investment in oil and gas central heating remains strong in the UK, where 46 new licences have been granted for energy firms to prospect for gas and oil in the North Sea.

Mr Huhne added: “Our renewable target is less demanding than other EU member states, but… I do not want the UK to be left behind by turning our back on the green economy”.

In a move that affords Friends of the Earth and two renewable energy companies the opportunity to go head-to-head with the Government, the High Court has granted leave for a judicial review of the Coalition’s decision to halve solar subsidies.

This week, the organisations will be able to argue in court that the ministerial decision to cut the amount paid to producers of solar electricity under FITs (Feed-in Tariffs) was inequitable or unlawful. Regardless of the outcome of the judicial review, the Government is unlikely to be comfortable with being dragged through court on an accusation of reneging on renewable commitments.

Andy Atkins, the Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, said: “We’re delighted the High Court has given the go-ahead to our legal challenge.

“We believe government plans to abruptly slash solar subsidies are not only unfair, but illegal. These proposals have already had a disastrous impact on the solar industry – fledgling clean businesses have had the rug pulled from under their feet and a shadow hangs over thousands of jobs”.

HomeSun is one of the three organisations to challenge the Government’s decision to cut the tariff paid to producers of solar electricity from 43.3p kWh to just 21p kWh. Daniel Green, who founded the firm, said: “The Feed-in Tariff to solar was hugely popular with homeowners, would help keep energy bills down and divorce consumers from deeper reliance on the ‘big six’ energy companies.

“The only downside is the Government decision brought the sector to a virtual standstill on December 12th when it cut support in the middle of a consultation period”.

Feed-in Tariffs had provided the perfect opportunity for households to make money by generating electricity from solar energy. Under the scheme, producers are paid a fixed amount of cash for green electricity exported to the National Grid. Coupled with the savings made by using renewable energy in the home, solar PV installations are estimated to make substantial savings for households over the 25-year-period applicable to FITs. By cutting subsidies, the Government has threatened to ruin one of the few viable green industries in Britain.

Friends of the Earth and HomeSun are joined by SolarCentury in taking action against the Government.

Fears continue to surround the link between green energy measures and an ‘astronomical’ rise in household energy bills. However, according to a new report from the Government’s climate advisers, renewable energy will not be responsible for adding the huge amounts people seem to think.

In a report out today, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has revealed that by the end of the decade household energy bills will increase by £190. But the report has rejected continuing fears that green measures – set to be implemented as part of an overhaul of the UK’s energy system – will see bills sky rocket by astronomical proportions.

According to the analysis by the Government’s official climate change advisers, charges set to be made on future energy bills for energy efficiency schemes and renewable energy generation will contribute around £110 of the increase. However, if would be even less if home owners were to implement a range of energy efficiency home improvements, such as fitting cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. So much so, the Committee has calculated that the rise could be reduced to just £25.

With various reports doing the rounds claiming that financing low carbon investments will cause energy bills to rise by shocking figures - up to £3,000 by 2020; a huge increase up from £1,060 for an average home’s gas and electricity usage in 2010.

“There have been claims that there will be astronomical bill rises in the next decade due to low-carbon policies,” commented chief executive of the CCC, David Kennedy. ”Our analysis disproves this.”

Adding weight to the report, the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change said some campaign groups had made a “concerted effort to completely mislead the public into believing that green taxes have been the main cause of rises in fuel bills.”

Commenting on the report, a spokesperson for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) agreed that the CCC’s analysis was correct in terms of past bill increases being primarily due to a rise in the costs of wholesale gas. The CCC found that between 2004 and 2010, electricity and gas bills rose by £455, and that a whopping 84% of this rise was down to the sky rocketing cost of gas on international markets.

An independent body, the Committee on Climate Change advises the Government on issues relating to setting and meeting carbon budgets.

To read the report in full, visit www.theccc.org.uk

At roughly the same time as Prime Minister David Cameron vetoed an EU initiative to control the finance sectors of EC member states, a report published by Adam Smith Institute and Scientific Alliance has questioned the British Government’s reliance on renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar.

That the UK Government relies so heavily on renewables will come as a surprise to many people in the country, especially those who are aware of the Coalition’s recent decision to halve the rate paid under FITs (Feed-in Tariffs). Surely no responsible government that is evidently reliant on renewable sources of energy would limit support for solar subsidies on grounds of cost whilst agreeing a £30 billion bail-out package for an economic zone from which it has been left so desperately isolated?

According to Martin Livermore, a staunch global warming sceptic who co-authored the report, the UK’s desire to convert to renewables is costing energy consumers dearly. Mr Livermore said: “For too long, we have been told that heavy investment in uneconomic renewable energy was not only necessary but would provide a secure future electricity supply.

“The facts actually show that current renewable technologies are incapable of making a major contribution to energy security and have only limited potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions”.

Energy security is an interesting topic in so far as no single source of energy is more secure than the sun, which shines constantly on planet Earth, but not always on the UK. Short of developing a technology to harness solar energy above the cloud cover, the UK would probably need to look to North Africa for a permanent source of solar electricity – and would buying solar energy from Morocco prove any more secure than buying oil from the Middle East? Mr Livermore is doubtful.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has responded to the report, claiming it “completely misses the point”. A DECC spokesperson added: “Our policies are aimed at developing a mix of energy sources here in the UK rather than relying so much on expensive fossil fuel imports”.

Households can avail of solar PV technology by installing panels on suitable rooftops – a move that can significantly reduce domestic energy bills.

To help cut escalating fuel bills, a prestigious golf club has undergone an energy efficiency overhaul, including the installation of a solar photovoltaic panel system.

While most golf clubs are heavily steeped in tradition, Coventry Golf Club has managed to combine old fashioned values with a very modern approach to energy efficiency, which has seen the club turn to renewable energy technology to help achieve cuts to both its energy bills and its carbon footprint.

After undertaking a thorough audit of their energy consumption, a survey was carried out to identify which energy saving measures would be most appropriate for the club. Most notably, a 16 panel solar PV installation was chosen to help save on electricity costs, and so far the club has been able to achieve a 25% reduction in its electricity bills, which in turn has resulted in a saving of 5 tonnes of CO2.

Thanks to the Government’s feed-in tariff (Fit) scheme, over the course of just 12 months, the golf club has been able to generate £1,500, with the system projected to generate in the region of £56,000 over the next 25 years.

The club has also invested in energy saving LED lighting and was advised of the energy saving benefits of using ‘A’ rated energy efficient appliances, as well as implementing certain behavioural changes to help reduce their energy bills even further.

“Understandably, in these economically challenging times, golf clubs nationwide are focusing on reducing costs across the board – Coventry Golf Club included,” explained course manager Phil Weaver.

“From our perspective the technology makes sound fiscal sense. Helping to save the planet while saving money is an absolute no-brainer,” he added.

Local community green schemes have been given an extra boost today, with the Government’s announcement that an extra £10 million of funding will be made available to boost energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. 

The Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) scheme – which will be administered by the Energy Saving Trust – will give local community groups and organisations the opportunity to win up to £50,000 until the competition closes its doors at the end of March. Projects in England and Wales that are designed to encourage the uptake of energy efficiency and renewable energy generation are eligible to apply.

“We need to get green energy generation and energy efficiency into our communities. That’s why we are making £10million available for communities to help spur an energy revolution at a local level,” said energy secretary Chris Huhne.

That energy revolution will see the Government making massive changes to the country’s energy system, and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) recognises how important it is to make sure local communities have the necessary funding available to help make that happen.

In addition to the LEAF scheme, another £20 million of extra funding has been set aside to increase the existing public sector energy efficiency loan scheme. The loans will cover the cost of energy efficiency projects, such as cavity wall and loft insulation, and will help to reduce the sector’s energy bills and emissions.

Community groups interested in applying for financial assistance through the LEAF scheme can find out more by ringing the advice line on 02920 467 015 or by visiting www.greencommunitiescc.org.uk

A new report has highlighted the enormous task the UK faces, if the country stands any chance of meeting its carbon emissions reduction targets through a massive ‘get Britain retrofit’ scheme. 

From now until 2050, one green makeover will need to be given every minute, otherwise the country will fail to meet its targets, reveals the Centre for Low carbon Futures report, which was compiled in conjunction with the Energy Saving Trust.

Given that around 45% of emissions come from existing buildings, of which 70% will still be standing come 2050, there’s no escaping the fact that getting Britain’s buildings retrofit is of the utmost importance.

According to the report, schemes like the Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) and the Green Deal have gone some way to encouraging people to make improvements to the energy efficiency of their properties. However, in order to achieve an 80% cut in carbon emissions, more still needs to be done – and the urgency to do more and the challenge facing the built environment should not be overlooked

“Despite the best efforts to encourage households and industry to adopt low carbon solutions through regulation and incentive schemes, they are not achieving the step changes required,” explained Jon Price, director of the Centre for Low Carbon Futures.

Mr Price explained that a lack of knowledge and understanding of energy performance, coupled with the diversity of the country’s buildings would hinder the extensive retrofit plans because one size cannot fit all, as it were.

Government schemes like the Green Deal and the RHI are designed to encourage Britain’s home owners and businesses to become more energy efficient by implementing energy saving measures, such as installing energy efficient new boilers, cavity wall insulation, double glazing and green heating technologies like heat pumps and solar water heating. The Green Deal in particular should, in theory, totally revolutionise the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock.