Renewables’ share of UK electricity generation increased by more than 2 per cent in the third quarter of 2012. Renewable electricity generation was 9.5 TWh in the third quarter of 2012, an increase of 25.2 per cent on the 7.6 TWh in the third quarter of 2011. 

According to the latest UK Energy statistics, offshore wind generation rose by 54.2 per cent, while onshore wind generation rose by 38.2 per cent, due to increased capacity. 

Generation from hydro fell by 16.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier, due to lower rainfall in North Scotland. 

Renewable electricity capacity was 14.9 GW at the end of the third quarter of 2012, a rise of 42.1 per cent (4.4 GW) on a year earlier, and 4.4 per cent (0.6 GW) on the previous quarter. 

Due to high gas prices, gas’s share of generation in 2011 in each of England, Scotland and Wales fell in 2011, to a record low for each country in the 2004 to 2011 period covered. 

Nuclear’s share of generation in 2011 increased in England, Scotland and Wales, due to increased availability, after extensive outages in 2010. 

The share of renewables increased in all four countries in 2011, as a result of increased capacity and higher rainfall and wind speeds. 

Scotland’s renewable electricity target (for renewable electricity generation to reach 31 per cent of gross consumption by 2011) was passed, with 36.3 per cent of gross electricity consumption from renewable electricity generation in 2011. 

Indigenous production of fuels in the UK fell by 7.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier. Production of oil fell by 12.1 per cent whilst gas fell by 11.3 as a result of maintenance work and slowdowns on a number of fields. 

Of electricity generated in the third quarter of 2012, gas accounted for 28.2 per cent (it’s lowest third quarter share for 14 years) due to high prices, whilst coal accounted for 35.4 per cent (it’s highest third quarter share for 14 years). 

Nuclear generation accounted for 22.3 per cent, whilst renewables share of electricity generation increased by 2.6 percentage points to 11.7 per cent in the third quarter of 2012. Overall low carbon fuels accounted for a record share of 34.0 per cent of generation. 

Offshore wind increased by 54 per cent, with onshore wind up by 38 per cent due to increased capacity, whilst hydro output fell by 16 per cent as a result of lower rainfall in North Scotland. 

The share of liquid biofuels of petrol and diesel consumed in road transport fell from 3.9 per cent to 2.7 per cent, due to a 63 per cent fall in biodiesel consumption as a result of the ending of duty relief on cooking oil used for biodiesel on 31 March 2012.

Provisional figures for the third quarter of 2012 show that coal production (including an estimate for slurry) was down 12.5 per cent on the third quarter of 2011 at 4.1 million tonnes. There was a decrease of 21.6 per cent (-0.4 million tonnes) in deep-mined production due to operational problems at several sites and of 4.7 per cent (-0.1 million tonnes) in surface- mined production.

Imports of coal in the third quarter of 2012 were 33.4 per cent higher than in the third quarter of 2011 at 10.9 million tonnes, with Russia the largest source accounting for 40 per cent. 

Total demand for coal in the third quarter of 2012, at 13.4 million tonnes, was 35.6 per cent higher than in the third quarter of 2011. Consumption by electricity generators was up by 49.6 per cent to 11.2 million tonnes, reflecting the switch from gas to coal for electricity generation. Coal consumption by generators over the three quarters of 2012 is already at 93 per cent of the level seen in 2011.

Commenting on the news that for the first three quarters of 2012, Scotland’s renewable electricity output was on track for the best year ever, Dr Sam Gardner, Senior Climate Change Policy Officer at WWF Scotland said: "It is great news that Scotland generated over 36 per cent of our electricity demand from renewables in 2011 and this year looks set to overtake that record breaking output. 

"By combining Scotland's superb renewable energy resource with greater energy efficiency and investment in the grid Scotland, can avoid the need for new fossil fuel power stations.

"Scotland continues to make encouraging progress on renewables and has tripled the amount of electricity it generates from clean green sources since 2000. Building a low carbon economy of the future will require an equally ambitious approach to boost the energy efficiency of our buildings and tackle emissions from transport.”

Source: Click Green

In December 2010 the European Commission issued a new guideline which no longer sees waste as an unnecessary burden but rather as a valuable resource. The waste hierarchy distinguishes five stages: waste prevention, reuse, recycling, other types of recovery such as energy production and finally landfill. The international VDI conference “Energy and Materials from Waste” to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, on 14 and 15 May 2013 will tackle this subject and discuss the recovery of materials and energy from waste.

The conference's technical directors are Jan Manders, deputy president of the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP) and Dr.-Ing. Ragnar Warnecke, Managing Director of Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Schweinfurt. The event is organized by the VDI Wissensforum with the support of its European partners CEWEP, ESWET (the European Suppliers of Waste to Energy Technology), Prewin (the Performance, Reliability and Emissions Reduction in Waste Incinerators Network) and also ISWA (the International Solid Waste Association) and Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Schweinfurt.

Since the introduction of the guideline, European plant operators have been faced with new challenges and issues. At this two-day conference, experts from the industry will give an overview of European waste management, recycling, market developments and resource efficiency in European countries and also the recovery of minerals, metals and energy in waste-to-energy plants. Speakers will present best-practice examples covering three of the largest European WtE-plants: Manchester, Amsterdam and Malmö.

The European waste markets are assessed by speakers from MVV Umwelt, E.on Energy and Martin für Umwelt- und Energietechnik with regard to their growth potential, entry opportunities and technical aspects. The focus here will be on existing markets in western and northern Europe and on growing markets in the United Kingdom, southern and eastern Europe as well as China. The subject of recycling metals after incineration will be covered by, among others, experts from Inashco Technology. Various technologies will be presented and methods of recovering materials will be discussed. Experts from SITA Northern Waste Services and leading researchers will compare recycling and energy production, giving case examples. Further interesting papers are contributed by CNIM, Sysav AB, Statkraft Vame AS, Keppel Seghers, Babcock & Wilcoy Vøl A/S and LAB amongst others.

For registration and the program, please go to www.vdi.de/wastetoenergy or contact VDI Wissensforum Customer Service, PO Box 10 11 39, D-40002 Düsseldorf, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Tel.: +49 211 6214-201, Fax: -154.

About the VDI

The VDI (Association of German Engineers) has its seat in Duesseldorf, Germany and represents the engineering and technology branch. It is the largest technical-scientific association in Germany with almost 150,000 members and is both a developer and disseminator of technological expertise.

Thanks to the vast network of experts and the know-how of the VDI, engineers and specialists and leading executives in the field of technology may choose from 1,000 further training courses each year. The hosting organisation, the VDI Wissensforum offers seminars, technology forums, training courses, symposia and congresses in all relevant branches. The focus is always on latest developments in technological expertise.

The world's first inter-continental link of emission trading systems has been announced by the European Union and Australia. The Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, and the European Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard confirmed details of the link-up yesterday.

A full two-way link, by means of the mutual recognition of carbon units between the two cap and trade systems, is to commence no later than 1 July 2018. Under this arrangement, businesses will be allowed to use carbon units from the Australian emissions trading scheme or the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for compliance under either system. 

“Linking the Australian and European Union systems reaffirms that carbon markets are the prime vehicle for tackling climate change and the most efficient means of achieving emissions reductions” Mr Combet said.

“The European Union is the first regional emissions trading system and spans the largest part of the European continent. We now look forward to the first full inter-continental linking of emission trading systems,” Ms Hedegaard said. 

“This would be a significant achievement for both Europe and Australia. It is further evidence of strong international cooperation on climate change and will build further momentum towards establishing a robust international carbon market." 

To facilitate linking, the Australian Government will make two changes to the design of the Australian carbon price. These are that:

* the price floor will not be implemented.

* new sub-limit will apply to the use of eligible Kyoto units. While liable entities in Australia will still be able to meet up to 50 per cent of their liabilities through purchasing eligible international units, only 12.5 per cent of their liabilities will be able to be met by Kyoto units.

In recognition of these changes and while formal negotiations proceed towards a full two-way link, an interim link will be established, whereby Australian businesses will be able to use EU allowances to help meet liabilities under the Australian emissions trading scheme from 1 July 2015 until a full link is established no later than 1 July 2018.

“Starting today, Australian liable entities can purchase EU allowances for future compliance in Australia,” Mr Combet said. 

“These arrangements provide Australian businesses with access to a larger market for cost-effective emission reductions and provide European market participants with enhanced business opportunities” Mr Combet said.

Mr Combet also said the arrangements would provide flexibility to businesses with operations in both Australia and Europe, which could reduce compliance costs. 

“I welcome the changes agreed to by the Australian Government which will allow the interim arrangements to proceed. The step-wise linking of the European and Australian market will ease full linking in 2018,” Ms Hedegaard said.

The European Commission and Australia said it will work to agree registry arrangements for the interim link by mid 2013. The Australian Government has agreed to enter into negotiations on a full-linking agreement, and the European Commission will seek a mandate to do so in coming months.

Source: ClickGreen