Category Archives: Renewable Energy

Solar Trade Association update

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The Solar Trade Association is constantly striving to improve the solar sector, for consumers and installers. Here’s an update of the bodies latest activity:

DECC Consultation on Domestic RHI

In the run up to the September 2012 consultation, STA formed a contact group for RHI and this group was involved in a number of meetings with DECC officials. Our intervention ensured that solar thermal was included in the RHI, rather than being side-lined into a grant scheme of its own (to follow the introduction of RHI), and that the consultation kept open the option of a grant above the “value for money” cap, and the idea of a cylinder grant.

The Consultation Response was prepared over several weeks with the help of the Thermal WG and with two opportunities for members to comment.

Subsequently, STA has been actively engaged with DECC, providing further information and clarification of some of the modelling that underpinned in the consultation response.

Clear call for 27p

STA has written to the Minister to ensure that the call for a tariff rate above the so-called “value for money” cap was heard directly.

Call for RHPP to be doubled

In response to the announcement of the delay to the RHI to spring 2014, STA proposed a doubling of the RHPP.  It has now coordinated a joint letter from all theUKrenewable heating trade bodies to the Minister  with this proposal.

Letter from UK Solar Manufacturers to Greg Barker

Stuart Elmes coordinated a letter from 14 companies with UK-based solar thermal manufacturing to the minister.  The letter was highlighting the large proportion of the value chain in theUK, and supporting the STA call for 27p.

Work in MCS WG to improve the energy calculation for solar thermal

If you can’t increase the tariff, then see what you can do to increase the deemed energy.  Stuart Elmes has been working within the MCS solar thermal working group to improve the energy saving estimate in the new draft of MIS3001.  The consultation draft included changes to the way the calculation will deal with occupancy, back up heater efficiency and hot water cylinder losses.  These changes double the solar energy estimate in some instances.

Work with BRE to improve the energy calculation for solar thermal

The calculation methodology for RHI is not settled, but SAP is behind all of the candidates.  Stuart Elmes has been in correspondence with BRE in relation to the treatment of solar thermal in SAP.  It is not possible to reveal details at the present time, but the STA is hopeful to achieve a significant boost to the solar thermal energy calculation.

 

For more information about Logic4training’s solar thermal courses, click here

For more information about Logic4training’s solar photovoltaic courses, click here

#Tweetforheat

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The Solar Trade Association is campaigning for the launch of a meaningful Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), one which will encourage end-users to take advantage, while boosting business for renewable installers, particularly solar thermal ones.

This Friday (26th April) the Solar Trade Association needs you to #TweetforHeat

Stuart Elmes Chair of the STA Thermal Working Group has written an article on his personal blog which clearly spells out the effect of repeated RHI delays on the market for all the domestic scale renewable heating technologies.

The article suggests steps DECC could take right now to improve the market for domestic renewable heat.  If you agree with the proposals and have a twitter account, please tweet the following text on Friday 26th April, any time after 9am:

#tweetforheat @GregBarkerMP read this article on #RHI and please consider the suggestions http://www.solarblogger.net/2013/04/you-just-couldnt-make-this-p.html Please RT

Please also let others who might want to join in know about this. In common with other MPs, Greg Barker is a big user of Twitter, and this grass roots communication could help support proposals the STA has made behind the scenes.

Job opportunities for Luton’s unemployed

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We’ve teamed up with Luton Adult Learning to deliver Access to Building Services, a pre-apprenticeship course for 19+ students which provides an excellent grounding in the breadth of building services engineering. On completion of the course candidates will be ready to go on into full employment at a junior level or start an apprenticeship programme.

If you’re aged 19+, living in the Luton area and are currently unemployed, you could benefit from free training, leading onto a career in heating, ventilating, plumbing, air conditioning and refrigeration, electrical and even renewable technology installation.

On successful completion of the course, candidates will have a City & Guilds 2000-01 Level 1 Certificate in Access to Building Services Engineering, employability and work skills and a CSCS card, necessary to work on many building sites. Logic4training, along with Luton Adult Learning, will also try and link you up with a local employer; to provide experience and hopefully a job or apprenticeship placement.

For more information, download a leaflet here: Access to Building Services Engineering.

We’re looking for employers in the Luton area to take on apprentices/employees following this course, and/or provide general support to candidates during their training. Contact us for more information.

Gas Logic Solutions?

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That’s not us! They say copying is the sincerest form of flattery but we’re not too happy about a completely unrelated company, Gas Logic Solutions, using the Gas Logic name against our wishes. We’re currently dealing with this matter in conjunction with our solicitors.

If you’re looking for high-quality, industry-leading gas and building services engineering training and consultancy then make sure you choose one of the Gas Logic brands; encompassing Logic4training, Electric Logic, Plumb Logic, Solar Logic and Logic4trade, covering the breadth of the BSE sector, plus the tools installers need to carry out their jobs. Gas Logic Solutions is nothing to do with this and has no affiliation with Gas Logic and these established brands.

Gas Logic has the solution for all your gas ACS training requirements, Gas Logic Solutions, well, we wouldn’t like to say!

Gas Logic: Gas safety training for ACS, assessment, re-assessment and new entrants courses available.

Electric Logic: City & Guilds courses for electricians, plus Part P training and AM2 assessment.

Plumb Logic: Training and assessment courses for plumbers.

Solar Logic: MCS recognised renewables training and new entrant’s courses.

Logic4trade: Your one stop shop for the tools and equipment building services engineers need to do their job.

Gas Logic Solutions: ? Nothing to do with us!

 

 

New guide for photovoltaic installers

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A new photovoltaic’s guide has been released to compliment the changes to Microgeneration Installation Standard (MIS) 3002, which refers to PV.

Published by the MCS Solar PV Working group, with support of the Electrical Contractors Association (the ECA), the new PV document is intended to improve guidance for installation companies and the general standards for photovoltaic installations across the UK. An update of the previous DTi guide, it includes a number of new sections to reflect the fast-paced change of technology in the sector.

  • The system performance estimation methodology which now takes into account shading and the use of look up tables;
  • Installation and site work updates to cover wind uplift calculations, a simplified calculation method with worked examples and guidance on calculating system fixing requirements;
  • Design/technical updates.

Installation companies will have three months (May 7th) before they must work to the new version of MIS 3002 issue 3.0.

The new PV Guide can be downloaded for free from the MCS website at: http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/mcs-standards/installer-standards

Logic4training delivers MCS recognised courses for Solar PV installers and designers. Click here for our full range of renewables training.

 

Solar Power UK Roadshows

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This February, Solar Power UK is hosting a series of roadshows designed to help solar businesses stay successful in this challenging marketplace. A series of seven, half-day events, will be taking place in locations throughout the UK, providing an accessible, educational opportunity for SME installers.

If you’re a solar installer looking for new ways to win work in 2013, or a commercial end-user wanting to save on your energy bills, then these events, with speakers from the Solar Trade Association (STA), are for you.

Key topics include:

  • DECC briefings on the latest tariffs, performance of systems, return on investment, future proofing against electricity price increases.
  • A full introduction and update to the latest MCS guide – (due to be released in January).
  • Selling solar and trying to make your business profitable in a challenging economic period with a reduced FiT.
  • Top tips on marketing, customer relationship management, business models, warranties and finance options.
  • The Green Deal evolution and what it means for your business.

Speakers will include STA PV specialist, Ray Noble; Martin Cotterell (Sundog Energy, MCS Steering Group and STA board director); Cathy Debenham (YouGen), with more to be announced.

Ticket prices are £60 + VAT with a special discounted price of £45 + VAT for MCS qualified delegates.

Find out more here

Date:  Thursday 7th February 2013  Thursday 28th February 2013

Venues: All events are from 9am to 1.30pm. To register for the events, please use the link on each location below.

7th February – Sandown Park Racecourse

8th February – Hamilton Park Racecourse

14th February – Aintree Racecourse

15th February – Thirsk Racecourse

20th February – Liberty Stadium, Swansea

27th February – Leicester Racecourse, Leicestershire

28th February – Exeter Racecourse

Logic4training delivers courses for solar thermal hot water and solar photovoltaics, for more information about all our renewables training, click here.

New DEA course – on the road to the Green Deal

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Already a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA)? Are you looking to further your career? You should consider up-skilling to become a Green Deal Assessor (GDA). There are huge employment opportunities presented by the launch of the Green Deal and it is not too late to tap into this new marketplace.

Logic4training has just updated its Domestic Energy Assessor course (City & Guilds 6361-01 Domestic Energy Assessor Course) to include four of the eight units covered by the Green Deal scheme, so candidates now only have to up-skill to qualify as a GDA*.

Green Deal Assessors hold the key to the gateway of this government scheme – no homeowner will have access to the Green Deal unless they have a qualifying assessment of building recommendations that could help improve the energy efficiency of their property.

Responsibilities include assessing the fabric of the building, reporting ways in which the owners could improve the level of energy performance certificate (EPC), as well as making an occupancy assessment to analyse and advise how the property is used.

Logic4training’s six-day DEA course includes a portfolio of evidence, which will be compiled by carrying out surveys within designated properties and the production of example certificates. Surveys of two properties are completed during the final day of the course. Candidates will also carry out a further three to five surveys independently. In addition to the building portfolio, trainees will complete three written and practical assignments.

Once the course has been successfully completed, candidates will be issued with a C&G 6361-01 Level 3 Diploma certificate, enabling them to register with one of the recognised accreditation bodies for Domestic Energy Assessors.

Entry requirements for the updated course include:

  • (preferred) knowledge of domestic building types, styles and ages
  • a reasonable knowledge of maths and basic computer skills
  • all candidates will undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check

This six-day course is available at Logic4training’s Northolt centre, costing £1,495 (ex.VAT).

*Existing Domestic Energy Assessors who wish to up-skills to become a GDA must hold the most recent version of the qualification (C&G 6361-01) unless they completed the DEA CPD course before 01/10/12.

Green Deal Cashback scheme announced

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Further details about the long awaited Green Deal scheme have been announced, providing a business opportunity for building services engineers with the right skills.

From January 28th homeowners in England and Wales can claim for Cashback on energy saving improvements like insulation, front doors, windows and boilers. Packages could be worth over £1000 - the more you do, the more you get.

Cashback will only be available to householders who get a Green Deal assessment, have work arranged through a Green Deal Provider (this could be directly with a national brand or through a local tradesperson linked with a Provider) and make a contribution to costs. Funding is limited so interested parties should get in quick before the money runs out.

If you have taken appropriate steps to become a Green Deal Provider/installer, encourage your customers to get assessments done early, as soon as the scheme opens, in order to apply and get approval for their Cashback voucher before improvement works begin.

CASHBACK ELIGIBILITY

The Cashback is open to any householder making energy saving improvements under the Green Deal, after 28th January 2013. This includes owner-occupiers, those renting  privately or in social housing. Landlords, both private and social, are also eligible where they pay installation costs, up to certain limits. In all cases, Cashback will be capped at 50% of the householder’s contribution to costs.

To qualify for the Cashback householders must:

  • Have a Green Deal assessment carried out on the property
  • Get and agree quotes from a Green Deal  Provider (this could be directly with a national brand or through a local tradesperson linked with a Provider)
  • Apply for Cashback voucher online or by phone. To make things easier some Providers will be able to apply on behalf of their customers
  • Receive voucher confirming the Cashback
  • Complete works within specified period
  • Redeem voucher, along with evidence of works completed, for Cashback.

Work must be done within a specified period – 6 months for Solid Wall Insulation, 3 months for other improvements and in all cases before 31 March 2014.

GREEN DEAL CASHBACK SCHEME: ELIGIBLE MEASURES AND CASH BACK AMOUNTS

These rates are guaranteed for the first £40m after which the rates are likely to reduce.  Up to £125m has been earmarked for the scheme as a whole.

Loft insulation (including top up) and insulating cavity walls (where appropriate) are important, basic energy saving measures.  So where a Green Deal assessment recommends these alongside other improvements, householders will only be able to get the Cashback if they do those too.

 

ENERGY SAVING MEASURE  CASHBACK LEVEL
Loft insulation (incl.top up) £100
Cavity Wall Insulation £250
Solid Wall Insulation* £650
Flat roof insulation £390
Room in roof insulation £220
Floor insulation £150
Hot water cylinder insulation (top up)** £10
Draught proofing £50
Heating controls (roomstat and/or programmer & time/temperature zone controls)** £70
Condensing oil boiler from non-condensing oil heating or other *** £310
Upgrade boiler to condensing gas boiler from non-condensing boiler or other. £270
Flue Gas heat recovery (condensing combi boiler) only alongside replacement boiler £90
New or replacement storage heaters £150
Replacement warm-air unit £60
Waste water heat recovery systems £60
Double/Triple Glazing (old single to A) £20 per m2 up to a maximum of £320
Secondary glazing £15 per m2 up to a maximum of £230
High performance replacement doors £40

FURTHER CONDITIONS OF CASH BACK

* A minimum of 50% of external walls must be insulated to qualify for a Cashback.

** Cannot be claimed at same time as boiler replacement (as this is a regulatory requirement).

***householders should consider their renewable heat options, as they could get a higher payment under RHPP now, for certain measures.

This presents opportunities for gas engineers, oil installers, plumbers and electricians who have met the Green Deal Code of Practice criteria. Make sure your training’s up to date.

For more information about this announcement, click here

If you would like to be notified when cash back becomes available, please call the Energy Savings Advice Service on: 0300 123 1234

 

 

Go green for less

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With consumers able to register for Green Deal finance from January 28th 2013 interest in renewable and energy efficient technologies is set to increase. Make sure you’re up to speed with two of the most popular technologies; solar thermal and heat pumps; by taking advantage of 20% off selected course dates at Logic4training centres.

20% off solar thermal training:

20% off heat pump training:

Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment: call 0845 845 7222, email enquires@logic4training.co.uk or use our contact us form.

 

 

The sun still shines on solar

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So, the solar market has taken yet another battering from the government with its recent reduction for the residential feed-in-tariff to 16pKw/h compared with 21p previously, plus the subsidy is now for 20 years instead of the 25 year duration formerly available.

The sun is still shining for the solar pv industry, however, and engineers looking to penetrate the market should not be put off, as solar still presents a no-brainer investment for homeowners interested in this technology.

Chief executive of the Solar Trade Association (STA), Paul Barwell, commented: “Compared to the returns you can get these days in banks and many other investments, solar provides a very solid and attractive return. That is particularly the case if you consider energy bills are rising faster than anyone expected. Solar gives people the opportunity to take control of their electricity bills and help us move away from fossil-fuel dependence.”

Figures reported by the STA state that a typical 4kw installation costing £8,000 would yield a rerun on investment of 11.8 per cent a year under the old FIT, though the same installation today would offer a 9.2 per cent investment – still impressive figures. In addition to this, the cost of producing panels has come down a great deal in recent years, as manufacturers become more competitive in the market.

Make a smart investment in your business and take up a solar pv course this summer. Logic4training provides qualifications for experienced domestic/commercial operatives wanting to add solar photovoltaics to their portfolio. T

The installation course is for experienced electricians and covers: regulations and standards, health & safety, AC & DC theory, pv cell types and benefits, pv external and internal site survey requirements, solar pv circuit design, pv system design and integration, setting to work and commissioning, and servicing and fault-finding.

For details of all our renewables training, click here.