A guest Blog from Barry Nutley, Director of Viridis Energy
Let’s be honest. Historically renewable energytechnologies such as solar,wind, biomass and heat pumps, have been deemed as a“luxury” item and only just for “Greenies”?!
Why?
Comments such as “it’s too expensive, you never get yourmoney back, payback takes forever” tellus some of the reasons why.
This seems to contradict many opinion polls that claimthat most people would be prepared to pay more for environmentalproducts/services!
So in reality, we can conclude that, in most cases, themoney speaks louder than the environment (especially in these trying times.)
Greenwash
The other problem is that we seem to get it rammed downour throats, that it is the only way we can reduce our carbon emissions, andsave the planet. Often referred to as ‘Greenwash’. This starts putting manyenvironmentally concerned people off the concept, and narrows the market to,said, Greenies, who will do anything to reduce their carbon emissionsregardless of cost (lucky devils!).
Government Schemes
We then come to another problem. the Governmment! Manypeople say that the Government are not doing enough, and that the grants arenot enough. Well let’s be fair to them (a hard concept to grasp I know, butbear with me!).
Who’s heard of the Feed in tariff (FIT), or the RenewableHeat Incentive (RHI)? I’m guessing that many of you may well have, but by thesame token, many of you won’t? And if the Government is failing, then it isbecause they haven’t done enough to promote them.
Without going into too much detail. These 2 schemes makerenewable energy technologies much more financially attractive, whilst stillgiving the same environmental benefits! For example, the FIT, started 1st April2010.
In Summary
A well designed solar PV (for electricity) system shouldgive you a return on your investment of around 8% (tax free, I might add!),with a wind turbine giving much greater returns. All backed by the Government. Now where else can you get that sort of return? Answers on a post card please!?
The plan for the RHI (being introduced in 2011) is togive greater returns (around 12%) for the heat providing technologies (for mostof us that would be either, solar thermal for hot water, heat pumps orbiomass)!
Taking this into consideration. Is renewable energy for“Greenies” now?
@Greenenergychap
Barry Nutley also known as @Greenenargychap on Twitter isdirector of Viridis Energy.
