Rooftop solar could cut global warming and provide 65% of the world’s electricity, new study finds

Covering the whole world’s rooftops with solar panels could provide the majority of global electricity, and even lower temperatures by 0.13 degrees according to some recent research by the University of Sussex.

Rooftops cover approximately 286,000 km² of the world, an area similar in size to Italy or New Zealand. If every suitable roof was used, the study found photovoltaic solar (rooftop PV) could generate 19,500 TWh of electricity per year. 

This would cover 65% of current global consumption and almost completely replace fossil fuel-based electricity, if coupled with load shifting and battery-electric storage.

The researchers used climate modelling techniques to simulate the impact of widespread solar deployment by 2050. 

When it comes to global warming 0.13 degrees Celsius is a significant fraction. A 2023 Nature study estimated that for every 0.1 degree of warming above current levels, another 140 million people will be exposed to dangerous heat levels.

Urging policymakers to prioritise this technology, the researchers argue that solar power offers taxpayers better value for money than nuclear. University of Sussex climate and policy researcher Prof Felix Creutzig said: “Solar is now outcompeting nuclear power in cost, deployment speed and environmental risks. 

"Given its immediate carbon reduction benefits governments should consider shifting incentives toward rooftop PV instead of nuclear. This goes for cooler countries like the UK as well as those with more obvious solar potential.”

Solar power costs have declined dramatically over the past decade. Data from the International Renewable Energy Agency suggests the levelised cost of electricity for solar is now in the range of £30 to £50 per MWh, while new nuclear projects such as Small Modular Reactors are estimated at between £100 and £150 per MWh.

Dr Creutzig adds: “Beyond carbon savings, reducing fossil fuel dependence also means cleaner air and better energy security. With so much untapped potential in solar it’s hard to see how governments can justify investing in nuclear, or as yet unproven carbon capture projects.”

Today’s paper advocates for global cooperation to deploy solar panels where they can be most powerfully used. 

Despite being the continent with the world’s highest solar energy resources, Africa accounts for only 1% of rooftop PV installations, highlighting the need for investment. High carbon intensity and large building stocks mean that East Asia has the highest potential in rooftop PV for climate change mitigation. Meanwhile, North America and Europe, despite lower solar intensity, have a high combined installation potential of over 4,300 GW or 25% of global capacity based on their high building stock.

https://www.sussex.ac.uk

Appeal to keep the Banks of Loch Lomond Looking Bonnie

Everyone loves Loch Lomond. Its principal access, the A82, is under huge pressure simply because the loch is so beautiful and because it's so accessible from Scotland’s Central belt. Annually, carrying six million vehicles, it's also the gateway to the country’s first and foremost National Park as well as to Argyll and the West Highlands.

In the spring of 2021, with the help of Green Recovery funding, the Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs co-ordinated a hugely successful visitor management project on a partnership basis with local community and tourism business groups and with the support of landowners and agencies. This project to promote more responsible tourism comprised of a seasonal village warden service covering Arrochar and Tarbet, temporary toilets at Duck Bay and Arrochar (supplied by Honeywagon Co) and the siting of 20 bins in laybys along the busy 13-mile tourist corridor between Arden and Tarbet. 

In May 2022 the “Adopt a Bonnie Banks Bin Scheme” was launched and this innovative scheme has continued throughout 2023, making a huge difference to the overall appearance of the busy stretch of the A82 with circa 20 tons of litter uplifted each year and the result being that people now treat the area with more respect.

The Friends would like to thank the National Park Authority, Luss Estates, and local businesses, specifically The Lodge on Loch Lomond, Duck Bay Hotel & Restaurant, Cruise Loch Lomond, Forest Holidays, Lochs & Glens Hotels, Sweeney’s Cruises and The Slanj Bar & Restaurant for sponsoring the Bonnie Banks Bin scheme this year.

The Friends are looking to assemble a funding package to continue the scheme during 2024 and are delighted that several of this year’s sponsors have already pledged support again. The cost to run the bin scheme is anticipated to be £35,000 - £40,000 and more sponsors are needed in order to reach this funding goal. 

The Friends would like to appeal to individuals and businesses who are interested in participating in the scheme by sponsoring a bin to contact them at info@lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk or by calling Jennifer, their Project Support Officer on 07496 433134. The Friends would be delighted to have your support in helping to keep the banks of Loch Lomond looking bonnie!

Green Metro-Campus in Zurich enters next stage of construction. Data centre will heat local homes

Construction work has commenced on two additional Green data centres on the Metro-Campus Zurich. Waste heat from the data centres will be used by Energie 360° for cooperative energy solutions. Construction is already underway on the heating centre and district heating network in Dielsdorf.

Leading Swiss data centre provider Green announces the next phase of the project. In Dielsdorf, building work on data centres N and O has commenced on the Metro-Campus Zurich. The two new high-performance data centres will provide room for around 4,000 server racks for up to 160,000 IT systems on an area of 11,600 m2.

Demand is high

With the Metro-Campus Zurich Green is increasing its data centre capacities by 35 megawatts for the operation of customer systems. The campus in Dielsdorf covers an area of 46,000 m2 and comprises high-performance and energy-efficient data centres, as well as a business park with office building. The first data centre was completed in December 2022. The modern office building is currently under construction and will be ready for occupation in the summer of 2024. Expansion phase three involving the addition of data centres N and O started earlier than planned as a result of the strong increase in demand for secure and high-performance data centres.

Data growth and digitalisation as drivers

As data growth increases, so too does the demand for computing power. However, fewer and fewer companies are sticking with their own server rooms or data centres; this is due to the high investment costs associated with modernization and sustainability. Instead, they are moving their systems to secure, efficient and more sustainable data centres or to the cloud. Given the fact that Green is a data centre provider both for companies and for leading cloud providers, demand is increasing extremely quickly. “Our growth reflects the rapid technology and digitalisation push,” explains Roger Süess, CEO of Green, adding: “Modern data centres are needed to ensure that this transformation can be realized in Switzerland quickly, securely and sustainably.”

Waste heat utilisation at data centres reduces CO2 emissions

The two new data centres will also feature waste heat extraction so that surrounding municipalities can benefit from CO2-neutral heating. Green is investing millions in waste heat extraction and working closely with Energie 360°, which is currently planning and implementing several cooperative district heating projects in the region. 

Thanks to the extraction process, data centre M will supply up to 3,500 households, as well as industry and commerce. The first district heating centre will be opened in the Metro-Campus area in 2024 and will supply up to 3,500 households in Dielsdorf. With the waste heat of the two new data centres, further households and industry will be supplied with district heating in the region. 

“We’re doing our bit for the circular economy and supporting the energy transition through the use of waste heat as well as a number of other measures. We are convinced that future-oriented digitalization can only be achieved through sustainable data centres,” explains Roger Süess.

Further information: www.green.ch

Conrad Energy kicks off new partnership with Harlequins

Harlequins are thrilled  to announce a new partnership with Conrad Energy which has today been unveiled as the Club’s Official Power Partner and Sleeve Sponsor.

In an exciting new partnership, the Conrad Energy logo will feature on the sleeves of the Harlequins Women’s and Men’s shirts for the 2023/24 season, commencing this weekend with matches against Gloucester-Hartpury and Exeter Chiefs. 

The partnership will also feature significant Conrad Energy branding throughout The Stoop, alongside a range of key initiatives, supporting the Club’s commitment to driving sustainable energy growth.

Formed in 2016, Conrad Energy are a leading energy producer with more than 70 sites throughout the UK. As an Independent Power Producer (IPP), Conrad Energy are at the forefront of the energy transition, helping the UK move towards a sustainable, net zero carbon electricity system by balancing the grid when renewables can’t meet demand.

Conrad Energy also work closely with businesses to help drive down their energy costs and carbon footprints through a variety of innovative products and services. With a pipeline of more than 1GW of their own projects and a growing base of business customers, Conrad Energy are powering a changing world.

Commenting on the new partnership, Conrad Energy’s CEO Steven Hardman said: “We’re delighted to partner with a world-famous club like Harlequins. The values they hold dear such as teamwork, commitment, performance and creativity are similar to our own, so it feels like a really great match. We look forward to a strong and successful relationship”.

Harlequins CEO Laurie Dalrymple added: “We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Conrad Energy. Conrad Energy are leading the power transformation in the UK and their determination to improve efficiency aligns completely with the Club’s commitment to drive smarter and sustainable power solutions.

“We’re excited to form this new relationship with Conrad Energy and we’re looking forward to having their logo proudly displayed on our Harlequins Women’s and Men’s shirt for the season ahead.”

Both parties would like to thank Very Media for their support in developing this relationship.

To learn more about Conrad Energy visit: www.conradenergy.co.uk

LONGi Solar Modules Power Charging Hub for 180 Electric Vehicles at UK’s National Exhibition Centre

The charging hub of UK’s National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham is being powered by an 80 kWp solar carport.

The Gigahub can charge 180 electric vehicles simultaneously and is an example of producing clean energy for clean energy. 

The 80 kWp photovoltaic installation was accomplished by sustainable energy solutions expert Ineco Energy PV with modules from LONGi Solar, the world's largest manufacturer of PV modules and solar wafers. SolarEdge provided the smart energy solutions and Bluetop Solar Parking the solar carport installations for the charging hub.

“We're proud to support a project like this new Gigahub at the heart of the UK motorway grid at the NEC in Birmingham. At LONGi we follow the concept of “solar for solar”, meaning to produce clean energy with clean energy. Charging electric vehicles with solar energy thus corresponds to our DNA at LONGi", said Sean McSorley, Sales Manager UK at LONGi.

“With transport accounting for over 24% of total UK emissions, EV Infrastructure is an essential part of the UK's transition towards Net Zero. The NEC Gigahub is a flagship site that will showcase some of its 7m annual visitors and 60m traffic count what the forecourt of the future looks like, today. Powered by renewables including from the on-site solar canopy in the day and light up by LEDs at night, the charging hub provides clean and convenient EV charging infrastructure. LONGi Solar has been a reliable partner for us providing highly reliable and efficient modules,” said Angus Rose, Director of Ineco Energy.

www.longi.com

Who’s the Greenest of Them All? Green NCAP Launches New Life Cycle Assessment Award

Today, Green NCAP has launched the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) award to highlight five-star cars with the lowest impact on the climate over their complete vehicle life.  This is the first time that the organisation rewards cars based on their Life Cycle Assessment results.  

Four cars have been given the LCA Award: the Dacia Spring, the ORA Funky Cat, Renault’s electric Megane E-Tech, and the Tesla Model 3.  With this award, Green NCAP encourages consumers to make a ‘greener choice’ and consider a car’s entire life cycle, not just its powertrain.  A visual stamp is introduced to create a clear recognition of the environmental value that the award represents.

"Since 2019, Green NCAP’s star ratings have provided consumers with an easy way to compare the on-road environmental performance of new cars under identical driving conditions.  LCA information complements the rating as it assesses the vehicle’s complete environmental impact, taking into account factors like production, energy supply, and end-of-life.  We believe that this award helps consumers to make an informed and greener choice about the true sustainability of their cars – it will be a true differentiator for the wide choice of electric cars currently on offer on the forecourt.  Moreover, it is hoped that the award will act as a catalyst for the industry to innovate and accelerate its development of more sustainable cars," said Dr. Aleksandar Damyanov, Green NCAP Technical Manager

The LCA Award is given only to those five-star vehicles, tested since 2022, that are amongst the best performers for LCA.  Currently, these are vehicles with total life cycle greenhouse gas emissions equal to or less than 120 g CO2‑eq./km, based on the Green NCAP LCA methodology and set European average values.

Since 2022, Green NCAP has been conducting Life Cycle Assessment for each car tested, analysing its impact from ‘cradle to grave’ i.e., from when it was manufactured, through its lifetime of usage, and, finally, its destruction and end-of-life treatment, including some degree of recycling.  Lower emissions from production and maintenance, together with minimal output of climate-damaging emissions during use, significantly reduce the negative impact on the environment.  Past analyses by Green NCAP have shown that lighter vehicles with smaller batteries have a clear advantage in minimising environmental damage.

Green NCAP strongly encourages manufacturers to recognise the life cycle as a critical part of vehicle development and to share detailed information relating to their own vehicle production.

To see if your car has been assessed for its LCA performance, please visit here https://www.greenncap.com/european-lca-results

(Image courtesy of Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

Brighton Sustainable Fashion Week - Ecommunity in Style!

Sustainable Fashion Week is more than just an event; it's a movement towards conscious consumption and more responsible fashion choices.

Sustainable Fashion Week (SFW) is coming to Brighton for the first time ever, taking place on Monday 25th September to Sunday 1st October 2023. With free events across the week, leading up to a two-day showcase at Brighton Dome, everyone is invited to celebrate sustainable style and join ‘The ReWear Revolution’!

The SFW hub in Brighton, organised by Brighton Peace and Environment Centre in collaboration with local community interest company Sew Fabulous Brighton and a network of passionate sustainable fashion advocates, is poised to revolutionise the way we perceive and engage with fashion. This committed team are working for free to make this event happen. With the support of The EcoSystem Incubator, Discarded Spirits, and Peper Harow, the week aims to invite everyone to enjoy conscious fashion, no matter their style.

"Brighton Peace and Environment Centre has been championing sustainability and combating climate change for over 25 years. We believe Sustainable Fashion Week is a genuinely fantastic event to be bringing for the first time to our city, it perfectly aligns with Brighton's trend setting attitude and the community's long-standing commitment to a more sustainable future. We can't believe that this is the first ever!" said Becca Freeman Centre Manager of Brighton Peace and Environment Centre.

The theme for this year is ‘The ReWear Revolution’, inviting anyone who wears clothes to consider how they can buy less and wear more, weaving together a passion for fashion with the fair treatment of people and planet. With a diverse line-up of free events including fashion film screenings, a sustainable fashion marketplace, flashmob catwalks, topical panel discussions, interesting creative workshops, and more, the SFW hub in Brighton promises to put style and sustainability on everybody’s radar.

Join us at The Brighton Dome on Saturday 30th Sep and Sunday 1st Oct for: Sustainable Fashion Marketplace: Discover an array of sustainably-made clothes and accessories from local makers, designers and brands at their free indoor marketplace.

Flashmob Catwalks: Get ready to experience the future of fashion with four themed catwalks taking place in and amongst the goings on at Brighton Dome, showcasing the vision of local designers, stylists, and fashion students.

Empowering Panel Discussions: Engage with thought-provoking discussions on the intersection of fashion, ethics, and innovation at our free panel talks. Industry experts, Remake Ambassadors, activists and entrepreneurs will be given a platform to discuss the issues of fast fashion, feminism, Brightonian style, and circularity.

Creative Workshops & Repair Café by Sew Fabulous Brighton: Dive into the world of sustainable fashion through interactive workshops that will give you the tools to upcycle, repair, and make more ethical fashion choices. The Repair Café, sponsored by the Accenture Sustainable Community Challenge, offers an opportunity to mend and breathe new life into your favourite pieces.

Fashion Film Screenings: Put yourself in the shoes of renowned sustainable fashion designer, Amy Powney, in a free film screening of Fashion Reimagined (2023), or get into fashion’s dirty secrets at the free screening of The True Cost (2015).

Sustainable Fashion Week is much more than a mere event; it's a movement towards conscious consumption and responsible fashion choices. As part of its commitment to accessibility, all SFW events are open to the public free of charge, with the aim to inspire a community of changemakers that look good and do good!

Follow @sfwhub.brighton for the latest updates and event announcements: https://www.instagram.com/sfwhub.brighton

Find out more about SFW Hub in Brighton: https://www.sustainablefashionweek.uk/brighton-hub

Main Event Details:

Date: September 30th - October 1st 2023

Location: The Brighton Dome

Tickets: https://bit.ly/sfwhubbrightontickets

Follow us on social media:

@sfwhub.brighton

@sustainablefashionweek_uk

@bpecfairplanet

@sewfabulousbrighton

To participate and/or host an activity, please get in touch via: hello@sustainablefashionweek.uk

About the Sustainable Fashion Week hub in Brighton:

Sustainable Fashion Week Brighton is a pioneering event that celebrates and promotes sustainable practices in the fashion industry. Through engaging events, discussions, and showcases, the event aims to inspire conscious fashion choices and contribute to a more ethical and eco-friendly fashion landscape.

Young people take action to tackle coastal environmental issues

Coastlines, estuaries and rivers. They are all facing challenges from pollution, loss of biodiversity and climate change.

Now a new scheme has been launched to create a national community of young people to help improve coastal, river and estuary environments, for their benefit and for the benefit of the people who live there.

The Blue Influencers Scheme is a ground-breaking project from UK outdoor education charity The Ernest Cook Trust, to support young people living in areas of deprivation in coastal and estuary locations, by empowering them to tackle environmental and climate issues.

The £2.25 million scheme is being co-funded by The Ernest Cook Trust and the #iwill Fund, and will run for three years. Its ambition is to engage over 4,000 young people as ‘Blue Influencers’, plus over 15,000 community volunteers across England.

The #iwill Fund is made possible thanks to £66 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities. The Ernest Cook Trust is acting as a match funder and awarding grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund.

“Coastlines and waterways are often badly impacted by pollution and other environmental harms, and are vulnerable to climate change, increasing the risk of floods, raised sea levels and erosion. 

These threats to nature and the environment in turn create challenges for people, coastal economies and local industry,” said Dr Ian Gambles, Interim Chief Executive of The Ernest Cook Trust.

“At the same time, evidence suggests, despite living in proximity to water, many deprived coastal communities do not feel welcome in these blue spaces or feel connected to their immediate environments.

“The Blue Influencers Scheme aims to tackle both these issues, by empowering young people to take action to help their communities and at the same time become more connected to the environment where they live.”

The search is now on for 22 registered charities to become host organisations and receive funding that will enable them to each employ a Blue Mentor.

It’s the Blue Mentors’ task to enlist young people, targeting ten to 14-year-olds, to become Blue Influencers and create projects that improve their environment. The Blue Mentors will enable young people to gain skills and confidence to identify environmental issues in their communities and develop a social action project to tackle these. Extra funds will also be available to help the young people put their ideas into action.

The Blue Influencers Scheme is a successor to the Green Influencers Scheme, which was also a match funded project between The Ernest Cook Trust and the #iwill Fund and which finished delivery in July 2023.

Through the Green Influencers Scheme, some 7,000 Green Influencers were involved in activities, reaching more than 35,500 of their peers, families and communities. The young people took part in a whole range of initiatives, including seed swaps, hedgerow mapping, plastic reduction and litter clearance, with one group even building an eco-classroom using repurposed plastic bottles.

“Learning from the Green Influencers Scheme, this new scheme takes an even more ambitious youth-led approach to decision-making and will support and empower young people to develop skills, discover new career opportunities and engage communities through youth social action to address key environmental issues,” said Dr Gambles.

“We are really so excited to learn what the young Blue Influencers will decide to do. The role of the Blue Mentors is to guide them, but the activities are very much completely in their hands.”

What is The Ernest Cook Trust? It's a UK-wide educational charity, which creates Outdoor Learning experiences for children, youngsters and their families, on its own estates and with partner estates across the country. It also gives out some £2m in grants every year, to support Outdoor Learning activities.

The National Lottery Community Fund awards grants to strengthen society and improve lives across the UK. Thanks to National Lottery players, it will distribute at least £4 billion by 2030, supporting activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

For more information about the Blue Influencers Scheme you can visit https://ernestcooktrust.org.uk/ or if you'd rather, you can email them at blueinfluencers@ernestcooktrust.org.uk.

Jackery Reveals New Solar Power Stations at IFA Berlin

Jackery, world leading provider of portable and eco-friendly friendly power solutions, is expanding its flagship series.

To coincide with IFA 2023, Jackery is expanding its flagship series with two new power stations: the smallest, lightest member of the Plus family, the Explorer 300 Plus, including a mini-solar module, which is a handy solar generator for the bag. 

Also, its bigger brother, the Explorer 1000 Plus with modular expandable battery packs, completes the new product family of LiFePO4 power stations from Jackery. The official launch is at the consumer electronics fair (Hall 3.2, Stand 307), also the the sale date.

Explorer 300 Plus with SolarSaga 40 Mini

The solar generator for your backpack is ultra-portable, sustainable, and very safe. Smaller and, at 3.75 kg, lighter than devices with comparable capacity, the mini power station with 288 Wh and 300-Watt continuous power reliably supplies electrical consumers with electricity. Carried easily in a backpack, it really is the perfect companion for picnics, camping or for hill walking expeditions.

The smart rounded casing which has a retractable carrying handle measures just 23 x 15.5 x 16.7 cm and offers five connections on the front in addition to the clear display and LED light: two USB-C with 100 watts/ 15watts each, one USB-A with 15 watts, a 12-volt connection and an earthed socket. The innovative 40-watt mini solar module provides a free, environmentally friendly energy supply. 

Folded up, the 1.25 kg light photovoltaic pad measures only 25 x 30 cm, which when unfolded takes up 97 x 30 cm of solar radiation. As a waterproof module (IP68), it comes with IEC certification from TÜV-Rheinland and a 5-year guarantee.

Explorer 1000 Plus flexibly expandable thanks to battery packs

The new Explorer 1000 power station covers more energy needs with 1.26 kWh in a compact format. The capacity can be flexibly expanded to 5 kWh with up to three handy battery packs. The lithium iron phosphate battery with an output power of 2000 watts supplies electrical devices with power safely and reliably via a total of seven connections on the front - from sockets via USB-C and A to 12 volts. 

And it does so whisper-quietly with ≤30 decibels as well as enduringly, with 4,000 complete charge/discharge cycles (at 70 %), the power station has a service life of over 10 years with daily use. As a solar generator, the portable power station with dimensions of 35.6 x 26 x 28.3 cm and a weight of 14.5 kg comes with two efficient 100-watt solar modules, SolarSaga 100 W.

Transparent, safe, and sustainable

The new Plus series offers multiple protection mechanisms including 12 BMS algorithms and protection against overcurrent, short circuit, deep discharge, overload, overvoltage, and overheating.

Jackery's proprietary "ChargeShield" fast-charging technology not only ensures full batteries in the shortest possible time, even at higher temperatures up to 45 ℃ - but also protects the battery, too.

Staged charging algorithms with variable speed increase safety and help extend service life by up to 50%. Users can always keep an eye on the live status of the devices via the very handy and helpful app.

Availability and prices

Both new products are available for purchase now. 

RRP is £319 for the Explorer 300 Plus and £399 for the set up with mini solar panel. The Explorer 1000 Plus is available for £1,149, a Battery Pack 1000 Plus for £739 and the solar generator with power station plus two SolarSaga 100-Watt solar modules for £1,599.

Jackery has a pre-promotion: the Explorer 300 Plus is available in the Amazon shop at a reduced price of £279 with £40 off until 11 September 2023, while the solar generator can be added to the shopping basket for only £349. During the same period, the Jackery online shop is offering an 80-watt solar panel free of charge with the Explorer 1000 Plus, while the solar generator set also comes with a small Explorer 240 power station. For more information, please visit Jackery UK https://uk.jackery.com or Jackery’s Amazon presence. 

Jackery presents new solar generators at IFA 2023: New flagship for more freedom and energy independence

Jackery, a global leader in innovative portable power and green energy solutions, is presenting new solar generators and power stations at IFA 2023. From 1 to 5 September, the renowned expert for environmentally friendly outdoor energy solutions will showcase its new flagship series in Hall 3.2, Stand 307.

The new Solar Generator 300 Plus, a compact and handy LiFePO4 power station with a foldable 40-watt mini solar module, will be on display for the first time ever. Also, another highlight will be unveiled on the Friday of the fair, showcasing advances in portable power solutions.

"We're obviously very thrilled and excited to showcase our latest innovation at this year's IFA in Berlin. At Jackery, we strive to explore new territory in a sustainable way with users all over the world. Our ongoing technological innovations lay a solid foundation for this," said Lara Luo, who is the Head of Brand at Jackery.

Jackery is committed to empowering users to take control of their energy requirements on the go also, which is highlighted once again by the company's latest offerings, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus. 

With the newly launched Solar Generator 2000 Plus, the company offers an optimised mobile power solution with first-class performance, reliability, and safety. The modular concept of the Plus series has been developed as a versatile, efficient solution for those who want more freedom and energy independence.

Jackery has a successful track record of technological innovation, launching the world's first portable lithium power station, the Explorer series, back in 2016 and the world's first portable solar panels, the SolarSaga series, two years later in 2018.

Since then, Jackery has become one of the best-selling portable power brands in the US and Japan, offering the powerful 1000 Pro and 2000 Pro solar generators since 2022. 

The SolarSaga 80W, also launched last year in 2022, became the world's first photovoltaic product to receive TUV SUD's prestigious certification. Earlier this year, Jackery completed its high-end solar generator Pro family with the launch of the 3000 Pro and the 1500 Pro at CES 2023.

At IFA 2023, the upcoming product launches will further expand the new Plus series. The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus will be on display at the show and will be launched on the official Amazon and Jackery websites in Europe as early as 1 September. The RRP is 319 GBP for the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus power station and 399 GBP for the 300 Plus 40W Mini solar generator including mobile solar panel.

https://uk.jackery.com.

Celebrating 15 Years Of Organic Lifestyle with Green People

Green People has been pioneering organic personal care products since 1997 and to celebrate their 15 year anniversary they are delighted to introduce new additions, improved formulations, handy travel sizes and stylish new packaging.

Innovation and dedication has been the backbone of Green People's success. The ongoing quest for new developments in plant ingredient research enables them to remain at the forefront of certified organic beauty and offer performance products.

2012 sees Green People's passion for natural and organic skincare continue with the introduction of 'Phyto Science' - plant performance without compromise. Maximising the power of nature whilst working in synergy with science to introduce the latest and best, certified organic, high quality products whilst also caring about environmental issues and sustainability.

New product additions to the range include; Cooling Hydrating Mist, Sun & Sports Shampoo and Conditioner with UV protection, limited edition make-up and Hydrating Firming Serum.

New handy travel sizes offer the perfect solution to travelling light and hassle free packing. Ideal travel essentials for holidays in the sun, short weekend breaks or simply taking to the gym.

Stylish NEW packaging gives the brand a 'fresh' new look and reflects the company's progression. Clear, defined labelling makes it easier to identify products according to product category and skin concern.

Green People products are packed with over 90% active ingredients to nourish, rebalance and restore optimum skin health. Key ingredients include Perilla Oil, Squalane and Jojoba Esters to repair and protect, feed the skin with fatty acids, reduce trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), restore elasticity, increase skin hydration dramatically, be soothing, softening and give a silky, smooth skin-feel.

New and improved formulations offer an enhanced range of natural and organic skincare essentials. We have reformulated the range to contain a skin-matched complex of phyto-actives. These are highly nutritive botanicals working together to balance, strengthen, soothe and protect skin. This makes the products even more suitable for those suffering with eczema, psoriasis or rosacea.

For stockist details please call 01403 740350 or visit www.greenpeople.co.uk

Britain's Busiest Regional Bus Route Goes Greener

Stagecoach has announced today that Britain's busiest regional bus route is to go greener with the introduction of a fleet of 40 hybrid electric vehicles in Manchester.

The 192 route, which carries nearly 10 million passengers a year, connects Manchester city centre with Stockport and Hazel Grove. High-frequency services run up to every 2 minutes at peak times and the Stagecoach route will be served entirely by hybrid electric buses.

The investment follows confirmation from the Department for Transport of several successful bids for part-funding of new low carbon vehicles from its Green Bus Fund.

A fleet of 19 hybrid electric vehicles will also be introduced by Stagecoach on its Sheffield 52 route. It carries around 3 million passengers a year, connecting the densely populated suburbs of Hillsborough, Crookes, Attercliffe, Darnall and Woodhouse.

Stagecoach is investing a total £12.2million in the new greener buses for Manchester and Sheffield, matched by a grant of £4.6million from the Green Bus Fund. The new vehicles are expected to go into service in early 2013.

The Perth-based transport group is already the UK's biggest investor in green hybrid electric buses, which produce 30% less carbon emissions than standard vehicles. The new fleet will increase the number of hybrid buses Stagecoach has in service or on order by more than 40%.

A total of 123 hybrid electric buses are already in operation in Stagecoach's regional bus operations in several English cities: Manchester (50), Oxford (26), Newcastle (26) and Sheffield (21). A further 19 hybrid electric buses will go into service in Stagecoach networks in Scotland this summer.

Les Warneford, MD, Stagecoach UK Bus, said: "This latest multi-million-pound investment will make the busiest bus route in Britain also the greenest. The new buses are great news for bus passengers in Manchester and in Sheffield. They will also support these two cities in the drive to get people out of their cars and improve local air quality.

"Stagecoach is leading the way in investing in buses with this state-of-the-art technology. We are also committed to providing local communities with high-quality, good value bus travel. With sky-high fuel prices and the increasing cost of running a car, it makes more sense than ever to switch to greener, smarter bus travel."

UK-based manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited will supply Stagecoach with 59 of the Enviro 400H double-decker buses, which incorporate regenerative braking technology.

The 192 route in Manchester is part of Greater Manchester's first Statutory Quality Bus Partnership Scheme (SQP). It involves a joint commitment by Stagecoach, Transport for Greater Manchester, Manchester City Council and Stockport Council to take steps to help reduce congestion, improve punctuality and deliver better air quality. The new vehicles will replace existing low emissions vehicles, bringing the number of Stagecoach hybrid electric buses in Manchester to 90.

The Stagecoach 52 service in Sheffield links the main shopping centre, Sheffield University and the Children's Hospital. The route is part of a partnership agreement with South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, Sheffield City Council and First South Yorkshire, which offers integrated ticketing and high frequency services.

Last month. Stagecoach Group announced it is investing around £60million in hundreds of new greener vehicles for local communities across the UK. The Perth-based transport group placed initial orders for 390 buses and coaches for the 2012-13 financial year for its regional bus networks outside London. The 59 new buses brings the orders for 2012-13 to 449 vehicles.

In the last five years, including today's new orders, Stagecoach has invested a total of more than £380m in new buses for its regional bus operations in Scotland, England and Wales.

Earlier this year, independent research again officially recognised Stagecoach as Britain's best value major bus operator. Transport specialists TAS found weekly travel with Stagecoach was on average 17.5% cheaper than other bus operators.

Recent research by Stagecoach also found that travelling by bus instead of commuting by car could save drivers around £150 a month1

For further information about Stagecoach bus services, visit www.stagecoachbus.com

Blue Skies Provide The Latest In Eco Water Systems In Time For The Hosepipe Ban

Leading garden irrigation company Blue Skies are advising home owners to invest in the eco Dripline Irrigation Systems which are exempt from the imminent hosepipe ban. Using the Dripper Hose allows the slow release of water through water regulated emitters inserted within the hose, ensuring every drop of water is used efficiently by placing the hose close to the stems or roots of the plants shrubs or trees, without wasting a drop on weeds and pathways.

Rainwater is far healthier for the garden, is natural, does not produce limescale and is free of chemicals. Harvesting rainwater with a Water Butt combined with the Dripline Irrigation System, rainwater is distributed on a timed system and hidden from sight .

Water Butts used to be unsightly, however, they are now in various shapes and are easy to hide. The water storage systems are raised off the ground, enabling access to the tank by a tap at the bottom of the container for easy water dispensing. Solar Powered Pumps are now installed to dispense water around the garden, and if reports are to be believed, we are in for a hot summer, these are by far the most eco savvy solutions - easy to use and hassle free, the solar panel works off the Water Butt and pumps the water around the garden. The ultimate in harnessing nature's elements and re-using them.

FACTFILE:
Buckinghamshire-based Blue Skies Water Systems are a company selling garden irrigation and rainwater harvesting equipment. Also working as landscapers, they have an extensive knowledge of gardens and landscapes and have been installing irrigation systems for many years.

For further information, please contact:
 sales@blueskieswatersystems.com

Website: www.blueskieswatersystems.com

LED Lighting Could Slash Carbon Emissions by 50% In 20 Years

Carbon emissions could be cut by 50% in two decades by switching to LED lighting, recent research suggests.

A report by management consultants McKinsey & Company reveals that the switch could be the most cost-effective way to tackle global warming, using existing technology.

The findings, featured in the New York Times, states that LEDs are more than twice as efficient as compact fluorescent bulbs, currently the standard for greener lighting.

LEDs, unlike compact fluorescents, turn on quickly and, importantly, are compatible with dimmer switches.

Indeed, separate evidence suggests that adding dimmer switches to your home could significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

While fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which requires special disposal, LED bulbs contain no toxic elements, and last much longer. This means that disposal is much less of an issue.

Colin Humphreys, a researcher at Cambridge University, quoted in the New York Times, described LED lighting as “fit-and-forget lighting that is essentially there for as long as you live”.

While the cost of LED lighting may initially be higher, savings are made in the long term because of LED longevity.

Leading retailers, such as the online store Lights2Go include a range of LED lighting suitable for indoors and outdoors. They also stock dimmer switches suitable for the whole house including bathroom lighting.

Featured Lights

Kosnic GU10 4W LED lamp cool white. Product Code: GU10 4W LED

This indoor lamp has a life of 30,000 hours. Power consumption:4 watts. Light output:35 watts.
RRP £19.95, Now £11.50 including VAT and free UK shipping

Searchlight 7205 LED outdoor wall light IP44 rated. Product Code: 7205

A contemporary outdoor wall light with a satin silver finish and a polycarbonate diffuser.
RRP £73.20, Now £58.56 including. VAT and free UK shipping.

Endon Enluce EL-10039 LED wall light. Product Code: EL-10039

A stylish chrome LED wall light with flexible arm. One LED included.
RRP £78, Now £59.28 including VAT and free UK shipping

Dar EON7946GU EON Fire Rated Downlight Satin Chrome. Product Code: EON7946GU EON Fire R.

A stylish chrome swivel downlight with 90 minute fire-rated protection. Also Building Regs Part C compliant.
RRP £24.60, Now £20.50 including VAT and free UK shipping.

Searchlight Aries 7443CC 3 light IP44 bathroom rated spot light. Product Code: 7443CC:

Another contemporary chrome design featuring a triple halogen spot light. The flush fitting is suitable for use in the bathroom.
RRP £55.23, Now £27.95 including VAT and free UK shipping.

www. lights2go.co.uk

Camping With A Conscience - Sleep Super-Soundly With The Eco-Friendly Naturalmat

Camping With Soul has teamed up with the planet–friendly Naturalmat company, to produce the ultimate, ecologically sound Naturalmat camping mattresses. Each mattress is lovingly hand-made in Britain using denim from recycled jeans and organic lambswool, all covered in a beautiful, washable, 100% natural cotton ticking.

Not only are they wonderfully comfortable but they also have a minute carbon footprint and can be used all year round. The mats are ideal for luxurious camping, as super sumptuous bed toppers at home, or as an extra roll up bed for unexpected house guests (who might end up staying the night after a party). The mattress covers are 100% cotton, fully removable and washable, ensuring that your mattress keeps its natural, good looks.

How They’re Made:
What makes the Camping With Soul Naturalmat unique is that it was designed using the same knowledge and techniques used to create traditional bedroom mattresses. With its recycled denim core, organic lambswool tufting surrounded by 100% natural cotton, the Naturalmat gives great support and insulation from the ground, making for a peaceful night’s sleep.

Eco Info:
Hand made in Devon, the Naturalmats have a core of shredded, recycled denim to create a comfy level of padded support. This is then surrounded by organic lambswool sourced from Soil Association certified organic farms in the West Country and processed in Devon.

The wool is washed clean on the edge of Dartmoor using water from the River Dart which is then filtered and returned to the river with no environmental impact. In the final wash anti-bug treatment is added to the lambswool (a solution derived from essential oils of lemon, eucalyptus and lavender) ensuring it is anti-dust mite, anti-moth AND mosquito repellent. The camping mat is then covered in a traditional, blue and white striped, quilted cotton ticking that has also been treated with a natural geraniol to make it anti-bed bug.

Clever Design:
The chocolate brown webbing straps, attached to the mat with Velcro tabs, make it easy to roll up and provide a practical handle to carry it around. The Naturalmats also have a hidden Velcro strip along one side enabling two single mattresses to be stuck together making a king-size double. There is even a covering piece to protect the Velcro from gathering unwanted pieces of fluff when the single mattress has no partner to stick to!

Naturalmats come in two sizes:
Adult 80x190cm - £159 for one, or £299 or two (to make your king-size double bed)
Child 70x140cm - £99 (up to 11 years)

For more information on the NaturalMat or other Camping With Soul Products see www.CampingWithSoul.co.uk or visit www.belltent.co.uk.

Last Chance to Take Advantage of Higher Feed-In Tariff

In recent years, solar panels have become a popular choice for homeowners. Not only because they reduce carbon footprint on the planet but also as they offer money saving opportunities. The latest news that the Feed-In Tariff will be halved in March has resulted in a ‘gold rush’ as people look to take advantage of the higher tariff. As the deadline gets closer, solar panels sites have seen a surge in sales.

It has come to light that the Feed-In Tariff will soon be cut from 43.3p per kilowatt to 21p per kilowatt. The cut will come in March but any installation which is completed before this time will benefit from the higher tariff.

Solar Panels Prices is offering customers the opportunity to compare prices from a range of installers. After filling in their details in the quote form, customers need only wait whilst the team at Solar Panels Prices scour customers’ local areas for the best deals on installation.

Each customer will receive three free, no obligation quotes on MCS registered suppliers and will be informed of the process before committing to installation. Those hoping to benefit from the higher Feed-In Tariff must act fast so that the installation can be complete before the deadline in March.

Further cuts will come in July and October so those who do miss out can still take advantage of the 21p per kilowatt tariff. For full details on installation and to save up to 75% off, visit www.SolarPanels-Prices.co.uk.

A Green Revolution! Parents, dispose of those disposables!

Reusable nappies have increased greatly in popularity over the past few years as more and more parents are becoming conscious about their many benefits.

Better for you - you can save up to £700 by using reusable nappies.
Better for baby - reusable nappies use absorbent fabric rather than chemical gels, which can in turn reduce nappy rash.
Better for the environment - reusable nappies are up to 40% better for the environment than disposables.

Each day 8 million disposable nappies are sent to landfill in the UK alone; this equates to 3 billion nappies being thrown away each year in comparison to only 48 reusable nappies needed throughout a child's nappy wearing years.

A third of parents are now using reusable nappies and even many high profile celebrity parents have opted for cloth from Elton John, Gwyneth Palthrow, Carla Bruni- Sarkozy and Julia Roberts, to name a few. Jessica Alba has also recently launched an eco-friendly parenting website which specialises in eco-friendly, healthy products for babies.

What better way to stay eco-chic than with stylish, modern cloth nappies? Even if one reusable nappy is used per day in place of a disposable it makes a significant contribution to waste reduction and one's overall environmental impact - and saves you some money too!

Bambino Mio, the reusable nappy pioneer, pride themselves on manufacturing a range of products that are stylish, affordable and environmentally friendly. Established in 1997, Bambino Mio was founded by husband and wife team Guy and Jo Schanschieff who, after the birth of their first daughter felt it was important to offer parents not only an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable nappies, but a modern, stylish reusable nappy that could easily integrate into parent's busy lives.

Guy Schanschieff comments, "When becoming a parent, you suddenly reassess the way you look at the world and your impact on the environment suddenly becomes more important as you look to the next generation."

15 years on, Bambino Mio continues to manufacture a range of products including two reusable nappy systems, swim and potty training ranges and accessories that are all designed to provide parents with flexible, reliable and affordable products that help reduce their impact on the environment and are easy to use.

www.bambino.co.uk

Rainforest Alliance's 2012 Green Guide To Valentine's Day

This Valentine’s Day spoil your loved one without spoiling the planet with the Rainforest Alliance’s green guide to gifts and activities that help to protect the environment and the rights and well-being of workers around the globe.

Breakfast in bed:

Get off to a romantic start by bringing your loved one breakfast in bed. Make sure that the coffee, tea and juice has come from a Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM farm. The little green frog on the packaging – such as on Kenco coffee, PG tips or an Innocent Smoothie – is your assurance that it was grown using methods that protect forests, soils and waterways on farms that provide decent wages, housing, education and health care to workers and their families.

Choosing a card:
Take a minute to let your loved one know how you feel by sending a romantic e-card. E-cards are environmentally friendly, saving paper, emissions and also money!

If you’re going for the paper variety, then make sure you choose a card that is made out of FSC Certified paper. John Lewis has a gorgeous range starting at £2.35. Cards made from FSC certified wood come from trees harvested in ways that protect both the land and its people.

Say it with flowers:
Roses are so last year! Send your loved one a tropical hand-tied bouquet from Interflora. This stunning bouquet comes from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, and in amongst the mass of vibrant foliage are fiery red gingers, red loufas and even mini bananas. It really evokes the spirit of the tropics and costs £37.99.

Intimate Night-In:
Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner at home while saving carbon emissions and saving money. When selecting the perfect bottle of wine to complement your meal, choose one that has a cork stopper, particularly if it’s certified by the Rainforest Alliance to meet the environmental and social standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Mediterranean cork forests provide refuge for the Iberian lynx and other endangered species and support local farmers who sustainably harvest the cork bark without damaging the trees, leaving them standing for future generations.

End your evening with a super sweet delight -- a chocolate fondue! Indulge in this decadent dessert while supporting wildlife and workers alike by buying fruit and chocolate that carries the Rainforest Alliance Certified green frog seal. Tesco’s own brand of rich plain chocolate made with cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms is ideal for melting over bananas and strawberries!

Romantic Get-Away
If you really want to push the boat out, then why not whisk your Valentine away on a romantic trip to the Caribbean or Latin America. Visit www.SustainableTrip.org to find hotels and lodges that conserve natural resources and contribute to the well-being of local communities.

Say I love you and the environment
For those that want to do away with the traditional gifts why not present your loved one with…a rainforest! Donate to Adopt-A-Rainforest through www.rainforest-alliance.org/aar to support conservation programmes run by the Rainforest Alliance’s partner organisations in Latin America.

The Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travellers. From large multinational corporations to small, community-based cooperatives, businesses and consumers worldwide are involved in the Rainforest Alliance’s efforts to bring responsibly produced goods and services to a global marketplace where the demand for sustainability is growing steadily. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.

(EDITOR: May That's Green suggest that you bookmark this page for reference later this year for selecting some very special eco-keen Christmas gifts, too?) 

A consumer guide to what The Green Deal is and how it may affect you

New research from Pilkington energiKare™ has found that three quarters of us don’t know what the Green Deal is, with nearly one in five (17 per cent) admitting we have heard of the term but don’t know how it will affect us. To help explain the Green Deal and how it can be of benefit, Tony Smith, Business Development Manager at Pilkington Building Products, shares his expert advice.
What exactly is The Green Deal?

The Green Deal is the flagship government energy efficiency initiative contained within the Energy Bill 2011, which aims to give homeowners the opportunity to reduce energy use by installing insulation improvement measures and improving heating and lighting efficiency in their homes. The Green Deal will also give tenants the right to ask their landlords for reasonable upgrades to their homes.

The Green Deal is a loan scheme allowing people to upgrade their homes without having to pay for it upfront. An assessment of the property is made by a certified assessor who will recommend measures to save energy. The government has introduced a Golden Rule that requires that the cost savings from the reduction in energy use must cover the Green Deal loan repayments making the scheme self financing. The Green Deal Finance repayments will be collected through the electricity bill.

Why is The Green Deal being introduced?
Many of us want to improve our property and help the environment but the initial financial outlay of updating a property is off-putting, and for many tenants across the country, paying for updates to their rented home out of their own pocket is simply not an option. The Green Deal aims to help by covering the upfront expenditure with a loan from a government regulated Green Deal Provider.

What sort of energy updates will be included in the Green Deal?
Pilkington Building Products has been lobbying the government to encourage inclusion of energy-efficient glazing into the Green Deal in order to help meet the UK objectives to reduce carbon emissions in future. Improvement measures that will be covered by the Green Deal scheme will include energy-efficient glazing, solid wall insulation, loft and cavity wall insulation, heating upgrades, ventilation and lighting improvements and other energy efficiency measures.

We are pleased that energy-efficient glazing will be included in the Green Deal scheme. Energy-efficient glazing can help homeowners and tenants significantly save energy and reduce bills. Pilkington energiKare™ double-glazing can help people to save up to 20 per cent on heating bills, compared to single glazing.

The right glass such as Pilkington K Glass™ plays a key role in the prevention of energy loss through windows and is a vital part of making a home sustainable. Energy saving measures are essential for homeowners, landlords and businesses to reduce CO2 output and reduce the cost and dependency on energy.

How will the installations be affected if I move to a new home?
The Green Deal loan charge is attached to the electricity meter so if the homeowner sells the property the new owner will get the benefit of the measures and continue the loan repayments through the electricity bill. People can get worried when you mention finance and loans, and immediately think of debt – but you have to think of it very differently to buying a sofa or a car on finance and paying it back over many years. The car or the sofa will diminish in value, but because the products included in the Green Deal are required to meet the governments Golden Rule, saving energy and money on your energy bills, they will be continually be working for you, so over the period of the loan the measures should have paid for themselves. No specific loan period is set for the Green Deal, but full repayment must be made within the guarantee period of the product.

Green Deal Summary
The Green Deal would consist of the following steps:
1. An independent and impartial accredited assessor will carry out an energy survey of the property showing advice on the best energy-saving solutions.
2. Green Deal funding is to be provided only through a regulated Green Deal Provider which is then paid back through savings on energy bills, making properties more energy economical immediately.
3. Homeowners then receive the energy efficiency package, safe in the knowledge that only accredited measures will be installed by qualified and accredited installers.
4. The homeowner will also have the peace of mind in knowing that the Green Deal Provider is required by government to guarantee the measures for the full life of the Green Deal loan.

In the meantime, while we wait for the Government’s Green Deal plans to be finalised, here are a few simple suggestions on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Energy-efficient light bulbs – Fitting just one energy saving light bulb can save you on average £2.50 a year - and by swapping all the light bulbs in your home for energy-efficient ones, you could save around £37 per year*. Energy-efficient bulbs will produce the same amount of light as a standard light bulb but will use a fraction of the electricity.

Turn down the thermostat – Invest in a digital room thermostat and timer, this will automatically reduce the heating while you are asleep or out at work. As much as 10 percent can be saved on heating bills by turning the thermostat back by just a few degrees.

Eliminate draughts and Insulate – Inspect your home for draughts that will let the cold air in. Particularly feel for air coming in around doors, windows and electrical sockets. If you find any draughts, seal them! Make sure your loft is well insulated, the loft is a common source of draughts and the cold air quickly finds a way to circulate through the home. Insulation is relatively easy to install and it could save you up to £150 a year.

Insulation jacket for your hot water tank – Keep your hot water cylinder warm by wrapping an insulator blanket around it as this will reduce the rate at which it loses heat. Also try adding insulation to internal exposed pipes in the airing cupboard and around the cylinder, as this will also help conserve the heat.

Turn off at the switch – don’t leave electrical appliances on standby – This means that the appliance is still using electricity and therefore wasting energy. It has been estimated that more than £740m of electricity is wasted every year in the UK by things being left on standby the equivalent of more than two power stations' output. So make sure you switch off at the main power source ensuring you save both energy and money.

Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) energy saving calculator for a mains gas, detached house www.ggf.org.uk/energy-savings-calculator

www.pilkington.co.uk/sustainability

www.pilkington.co.uk

Opus Energy signs wind power agreement with Danish energy company Nordjysk Elhandel

Opus Energy, the Northampton and Oxford-based energy supplier, has entered cooperation with Danish energy company, Nordjysk Elhandel (NEAS), specialising in renewables for the balancing and trading of wind power production from wind turbine generators in the UK. 

"Wind power generation is expanding rapidly in the UK and we at Opus Energy want to secure the best possible set-up in production management for wind power generators. The cooperation with NEAS gives us access to state-of-the-art services in scheduling and balancing of wind power, and competencies in trading of wind power. 

"This will provide UK wind power generators with the best service and maximum value for their production and associated certificates. We believe this cooperation will give us a competitive edge to enable us to expand our market for wind power generation”, explains Charlie Crossley Cooke, Managing Director, of Opus Energy.

Today there's approximately 5,970 MW installed capacity of wind power in the UK. However, this number is expected to rise dramatically to over 10,000 MW in 2015 and well over 20,000 MW in 2020, based on the figures for wind turbines presently under construction, approved and planned.

“At NEAS we have invested many resources in building up the strongest possible set-up in production management and trading of wind power. For example, we have our own meteorologists and analysts forecasting production volumes, and we have developed specialized IT systems for balancing and scheduling of wind power generation. Also, we have years of experience in trading of wind power in Denmark, Sweden and Germany. The cooperation with Opus Energy provides us with a highly competent partner to market our services for wind power generators in the UK”, says Bo Lynge Rydahl, CEO at NEAS.

Opus Energy and NEAS expect to sign the first wind power production purchase agreements (PPAs) in the UK within the first quarter of 2012. They will market their services to wind power generators on the basis of competitive and dynamic pricing structures and outstanding balance responsible party services.

FACTFILE
Opus Energy is the UK’s leading business energy supplier. With offices in Northampton and Oxford, Opus Energy employs 360 people.

Opus Energy supplies over 110,000 UK business sites across all sectors. Corporate customers include: Stagecoach, Halfords, Pizza Hut and Virgin Media.

Opus Energy's management team has a 50 per cent stake in the business, while International Power Plc (LSE:IPR.L) holds 30 per cent and Telecom Plus Plc (LSE: TEP.L) has 20 per cent.

For further information about Opus Energy, please see www.opusenergy.com.

NEAS is the market leader in trading and balancing of wind turbine operation, based on market terms, in Denmark. Representing more than 1, 200 MW installed capacity under management.