Caplor Energy marked the occasion by presenting the company’s most recent customer – and the man who purchased the PV system that reached the 1MW milestone – with a bottle of champagne. David Kueglar from Orcop Hill was delighted with the present, although David’s 6-year-old Welsh Border collie – Audrey – would have preferred some doggie treats!

“It was a nice surprise to hear that my installation was the one that hit the mark. There were a couple of issues with the project early on that the installers resolved. I think it’s great, and I’m already looking forward to having another system installed,” said Mr. Kueglar.

Business Development Manager, Jamie Baldwin explained that hitting the 1MW milestone has been a real achievement for the company after a record-breaking 2011. “In the last 12 months, Caplor Energy has installed over 200 PV systems in the County, demonstrating just how popular solar PV has become in Herefordshire.

“What’s even more satisfying is that we’ve reached this landmark far quicker than we had anticipated. It goes to show that despite the current uncertainty around the incentives designed to promote small-scale renewable energy systems, there is still huge interest in generating your own energy from solar technologies.”

 
From February onwards we are offering a ‘Community PV Fund Scheme’ designed to help all communities embrace renewable technologies. The ‘Community PV Fund’ is aimed directly at helping Community groups and those responsible for Community buildings by giving access to low-cost funding in order to facilitate the purchase of Solar PV systems.
The Fund allows community groups to access extended payment terms on the installed PV system so that no upfront capital is required. The extended payment terms scheme means that small payments are made every three months and are based purely on the revenue received from the Feed-in Tariff.

Interest on the loan will be applied on a quarterly basis and payments from the income received from the FIT will reduce the balance owed. Once the full balance of the loan has been repaid all income received from the Feed-in Tariff will be retained by the Community building as well as all of the electricity generated by the PV system, used in the building free of charge.

Our ‘Community PV Fund’ is designed to be an alternative to the ‘Rent-a-Roof’ schemes which many Community buildings have chosen to utilise. These schemes return no Feed-in Tariff benefit to the building so the only legacy is the ‘free’ electricity. Whilst this undoubtedly helps with the running costs of the building it does not contribute any other income and may in time be detrimental to the building due to the contractual obligations.

The Caplor Energy scheme differs in that the PV system is owned by the Community building and the only contractual obligation is the repayment of the installation cost and accrued interest. The option to pay some of the installation cost upfront or to make lump sum payments at any time provides the flexibility to reduce the interest costs and secure even better returns for the building. In addition to this the figures we quote for generation are on the conservative side and it is highly likely that revenue from the Feed-in Tariff will be greater than stated, leading to a shorter repayment period.
To find out more about how our ‘Community PV Fund’ can work for your community, call us on 01432 860 844.

The court judgement means all those who have installed solar since December 12, and those who intend to install systems before the March 3 cut-off point, will receive the higher feed-in tariff rates for the full 25 years, subject to a possible direct appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has now confirmed that it will be seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.  It is extremely difficult to see on what grounds DECC could do so.

It is possible that DECC is appealing in order to ensure demand for new solar installations remains low in the run up to March 3 – the new cut off date for the higher rate of feed-in tariff incentives.

It’s important to remember that once your system is installed and commissioned the FIT rate you receive for your system doesn’t change, even if the rate for new systems goes down. The FIT rate follows the Retail Price Index, benefits from a reduced income tax rate and is guaranteed by primary legislation for 25 years.

DECC is laying before Parliament some draft licence modifications which, subject to the Parliamentary process set out in the Energy Act 2008,  make provision for  the new rates to go through from April 1, 2012 with an eligibility date on or after 3 March. DECC are proposing that the rates will be the same as those proposed on 31^st October – see table above. Our models show that customers will still get returns of around 7-10% each year, significantly better than other types of investment in today’s climate. Furthermore the cost of installations has dropped by between 10-15% as wholesale panel prices have dropped.

Further Information

Court of Appeal ruling:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2012/jan/25/court-judgement-solar-subsidies-appeal

The key paragraphs are p.52 and p.54. which state:

P52.: In those circumstances, I conclude that there was no power contained within s.41 to introduce a modification which reduced a rate fixed by reference to an installation becoming eligible prior to the modification. To do so would be to take away an existing entitlement without statutory authority.

P54: “It will be apparent that the basis upon which I reject the Secretary of State’s assertion of power to make the modification he proposes is different from that on which Mitting J relied. I do not base my decision on the basis that changes by reference to a date earlier than 1 April 2012 are not calculated to further the statutory purpose. It is unnecessary to expand on my reasons for rejecting that approach. As I have already indicated, I can well understand why the Secretary of State would seek to prevent a surge in small solar PV systems prior to the introduction of a modification which reduces the Tariff rate. I am not sure it would be open to a court to say that that is not calculated to further the statutory purpose. But that is not the question. The question is whether the Secretary of State has power to do so. In my view, he plainly has no such power.  Mitting J’s second reason was expressed as follows:-“The whole tenor of the Scheme is prospective. I cannot discern in it a clear Parliamentary intention to permit theSecretary of State to make a modification which has asignificant adverse impact on those proposing to install small-scale assistance before the date on which the modification is made and comes into effect.”

Further reading:

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2141157/breaking-government-loses-crucial-solar-appeal

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jan/25/solar-subsidies-government-loses-court-appeal?intcmp=122

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/breaking_decc_is_denied_feed-in_tariff_appeal_5478/

The County’s first commercial solar photovoltaic system on a Herefordshire Business Park has today been completed on the warehouse roof of the UK’s biggest independent carpet buying group, Greendale Carpets & Floorings Ltd.

The 49.6kWp solar PV array, installed by leading renewable energy specialists Caplor Energy, will occupy nearly two-thirds of Greendale’s 25,000 sqft warehouse situated at Whitestone Business Park, Whitestone. Comprising of 260 monocrystalline PV panels, the installation will generate nearly 42,000 units of renewable electricity and save over 23 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

Greendale is expecting to generate over half of their total electricity needs from the renewable energy system. Andrew Bailey, Finance Director at Greendale Carpets & Flooring, says: “It makes great business sense for us to make this investment. With the solar PV array, we will be able to significantly reduce our electricity bill and our reliance on the increasingly volatile energy market, as well as adding an additional revenue stream to the business that is guaranteed for 25 years through the Feed-in Tariff incentive. I hope it’s a great example of how businesses can become greener and more sustainable in ways that favourably impact on the bottom-line.”

PV systems installed for commercial businesses are particularly beneficial as these premises tend to use the vast amount of electricity during daylight hours and when the PV system is generating most.

Caplor Energy’s Business Development Manager, Jamie Baldwin explains: “Business Parks are an ideal location for solar PV systems as they often have large, modern buildings with big roof spaces, usually high enough to be unshaded by trees and often with a good electrical supply connection. Businesses are also much more likely to use all the electricity they are generating, further improving the financial benefits of installing a system. We’re delighted to have worked with Greendale on this pioneering project.”

An informal event will be held at the Greendale premises in Whitestone Business Park, Withington on Friday 28^th October between 5pm – 7pm, open to any local businesses to come and talk to both Greendale and Caplor Energy about the PV system and renewable energy opportunities. Refreshments will be provided.

But the year-long study, undertaken at 88 homes by the Energy Saving Trust, also reveals that the solar water heating systems will save most owners just £55 a year despite costing between £3,000-5,000, prompting calls from green campaigners for clarity on government subsidies for them.

Residential payment levels under the government’s £860m renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme, announced in March, are not due to be announced until 2012. But if on a par with those for large-scale solar heating systems, householders could expect payments of around £96 annually. The true figure is likely to be higher because smaller installations will probably attract bigger subsidies.

The trust also revealed that, between 1 August and 9 October this year, 707 people took out new £300 grants for solar thermal systems. The government has put aside £15m for the renewable heat premium payment (RHPP) scheme, which runs until March 2012 offering grants for a range of green heating technologies including groundsource heat pumps and biomass boilers. The separate RHI payments, similar to those made to owners of solar panels and wind turbines under the feed-in tariffs for green electricity generation, will launch after the RHPP.

Solar water heating systems work by using the sun’s energy to heat water or anti-freeze in collectors on the roof of a building. The heated water or anti-freeze is then usually pumped to a hot-water cylinder to be stored until the hot water is needed.

Overall, the trust said it was impressed by how well solar heating systems were working in the UK. The field study found the systems provided a median of 39% of households’ hot water needs, rising to 60% for the best and plummeting to 9% for the worst-installed one. The trust had previously believed around 35-40% would be a typical figure, based on laboratory tests.

Jaryn Bradford, senior technical manager for the Energy Saving Trust, and author of the report, said: “This is a technology that works, and works well in the UK.” He said the main impact on a system’s performance was how well insulated the home’s hot water tank and pipes were.

The study also showed the pumps powering the systems used between 1 and 23% of the energy generated, though would cost just £8 in electricity annually for a typical system. Some systems had pumps powered by free electricity using solar photovoltaic panels.

The market for solar water heating in the UK has continued to grow despite the economic climate – up 18.1% in 2010, compared with 13.1% for Europe overall, though the trust said that was largely because the UK was starting from such a low baseline. There are an estimated 140,000 homes with solar water heating in the UK.

Founder and CEO of Good Energy, Juliet Davenport, said: “This pioneering research demonstrates that households with solar hot water generators really can benefit, provided their generator has been correctly installed and they understand how to make the most of it. Solar thermal panels are a fantastic, cost effective way for the UK to reduce our demand on imported energy whilst cutting our bills and also our carbon emissions.”

Friends of the Earth’s energy campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said: “Unless we end the nation’s dependency on increasingly expensive fossil fuels, homes and businesses will continue to pay the price through soaring power bills. The government’s renewable heat incentive can’t be delayed any longer – ministers must provide households with real cash incentives to help families switch to clean energy to heat their homes.”

The field study follows similar trials by the trust of micro wind power andheat-pumps, both of which performed poorer than had been expected.

As I’m sure many of you know h.Energy is a week-long, county-wide exhibition to help promote a more sustainable and green way of live in Herefordshire. h.Energy week will be starting this Saturday and runs until Sunday 23^rd October.

A wide range of community focused companies and local organisations, including Caplor Energy will be coming together to provide a week of fun-filled activities and informative events around the county. The week was designed to give residents tips on how to make all areas of their life more sustainable, give expert advise about new technology and discover how other local people have ‘gone green’.

Caplor is once again playing a big part in h.Energy week. As well as being the main sponsors of h.Energy this year , on Monday 17^th October you will find us at the Courtyard where there will be a day and evening of workshops, film screenings, discussions and talks. At 6pm we will be announcing the winner of the sustainability competition in partnerships with Hereford Pedicabs

On Thursday 20^th October, we are inviting the public to come along to Caplor Farm for our energy showcase (2-5pm).  Everyone will have the opportunity to look around the farm, learn a little bit about us and see all of our renewable energy technologies in action.

On site we have a new 40kW commercial solar PV system, a solar thermal system for our shower block and a 15kW wind turbine in the field next to the farm. All are easily accessible and open to the public through our guided tours of the farm commencing at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. We will talk you through how each system works and how each has performed, and if that isn’t enough to persuade you to come, we will also have tea and cake free of charge.

The farm offices are also the base for Caplor Energy and members of the team will be on hand to provide information and answer any questions you have about renewable energy systems. Booking is not required but it would be useful to contact Caplor Energy on 01432 860644 should you want to come on a tour during the afternoon.

Finally on the Saturday 22^nd we will be at the ‘Information Market Place’ in Hereford High Town. Lots of local businesses and organisations will gather here to provide information about many sustainable things such as, local community projects, energy saving advice for householders, recycling, composting, solar panels, Feed-in-Tarrifs, and much more…

For more information you can visit the new leaf website http://www.herefordshirenewleaf.org.uk.

We hope to see you there!

‘Caplor Energy’ is delighted to have joined forces with local Community Interest group, ‘Growing Local is Going Local’. The partnership is designed to promote a greener lifestyle throughout Herefordshire and educate communities about local products – both food and energy.

Herefordshire farmers grow a huge range of fruit and vegetables and Growing Local have an innovative new scheme to deliver locally grown products to local homes. The Vegetable Bag Scheme is also delivered to schools, organisations and communities and is designed to help customers shop locally, but also easily.

Both companies share the aim of supporting local communities and making Herefordshire as self sufficient as possible. The partnership will aim to encourage a sustainable community through business awareness and educational opportunities, raise the profile of local resources and produce, reduce carbon footprints further by reducing food miles and support the local farmers of Herefordshire. We also hope that more and more households will start thinking local when it comes to producing their own electricity. We’re looking forward to working with Growing Local and hope we can both achieve some amazing things.

We’re offering Caplor Energy customers the chance to enter our new competition, ‘The Generation Game’! All you have to do is let us know how much your PV system is generating on a monthly basis.

If you’re prepared to tell us, we’ll enter your name into a prize draw and you could be in with a chance of winning a prize every month. The name will be chosen on the 28^th of each month for the previous month’s winner.

The first name will be drawn on Friday 28^th October for September’s entrants, so please get in touch as soon as you can into October. Contact Mike Simmons with your figures, at mike@caplor.co.uk or call us here at Caplor on 01432 860644.

We are interested in how much you’re generating because we like to make sure that the estimates we give our customers are as accurate as they can be. We would also like to publish real figures from real (but anonymous) customers on our web site.

Also if you have been keeping record of what you’ve been generating in past months and are prepared to let us know, we will enter you into another draw where the winner will receive a £25 book token! Again you can email Mike with the figures or give us a call.

Hereford Pedicabs are a sustainable, pedal powered, taxi service available for everyone to use for journeys within a 1kilometer distance of central Hereford. It’s easy to get caught up in problems with pollution and congestion and expensive public transport so Hereford Pedicabs have provided Hereford with a fresh and innovative solution. There’s no set charge for the pedicabs services, just a tip of what you think it is worth. So be generous as it’s worth a lot to the environment.