Two Week Countdown to All-Energy

In just two weeks the EcoSearch team will be heading off to Aberdeen to exhibit at their third All-Energy show.

The team reflect on why it’s such a great events and so valuable to our business.

Clare Buxton: 

“All-Energy is a great opportunity to learn more about the latest developments and projects in the UK Wind Energy space. I'm hoping to catch some of the seminars focused on the Offshore Wind sector. As well, of course, as meet up with some familiar faces!”

Martin Grady:

“I am looking forward to being able to launch EcoSearch Interim and Contracting Limited. I would like to talk to any potential clients and contractors who may be interested in our services in the future.”

Debby Lloyd:

“As always All-Energy affords a chance to catch up with businesses operating across the whole spectrum of the renewable space and their operating challenges, especially given the current climate - and a chance to assess the future contenders from a ‘whose ripe for M&A activity’".

Mark Sawyer:

“Wow - All Energy 09 looks to be a belter, bigger and better than before, more technologies, more companies, better opportunities to network. I really am excited about this year's show. Having sent out invitations to a number of key industry figures/leaders who have/are seeking Ecosearch's expertise and who have responded positively, we really are going to be busy. I just hope we have time to meet new faces and contacts.”

Katharine Robinson:

“This year, I am running All-Energy’s presence on the social network Twitter. I am excited about talking to the conference goers about the service and find out who is ‘following’ the show online. I am also looking forward to using the medium to raise awareness of the conference and the exciting world of Renewable Energy.”

Steven Rogers:

“All Energy offers the opportunity for us to raise our heads, get out hands on technology and understand what the trends are in our industry. I'm looking forward to finding out what is happening within built environment and what is next for increasing energy efficiency. Also, there is a lot a noise around Carbon Capture and Storage - I'm keen to learn what is going on and if this is a viable solution for our carbon emissions. I'll be at stand E15 and always keen to talk - please feel free to come and say hello”

What are you looking forward to at All-Energy this year?

15 Online News Sources For Renewable Energy And The Carbon Markets

Our work requires us to stay ahead of the game when it comes to news in the Renewable Energy Space.

As I was putting together a list of essential news services for new employees, I thought the resource was too good not to share with everyone.

So here, in alphabetical order, are EcoSearch’s top 15 online sources for green news.

Alternative Energy – Alternative energy news and information resources about renewable energy technologies. RSS. Twitter

All-Energy – The Renewables Show, held annually in Aberdeen, aggregates all of the top new stories on its website.

BBC Science & Environment - Get the latest BBC Science and Environment News: breaking news, analysis and debate on science and nature in the UK and around the world.RSS. Twitter

Carbon Finance - A a monthly newsletter and e-mail update service providing in-depth coverage of the global markets in greenhouse gas emissions. RSS

Edie - Officially Europe's biggest environmental website, Edie combines an unparalleled directory of products and services from thousands of specialised companies with an online news service reporting on the latest environmental stories as they break. RSS. Twitter

Financial Times Energy Source Blog - The FT’s specialist writers offer their insight into energy markets, companies and policy, plus commentary on the latest market-moving news. RSS. Twitter

GreenTechMedia – A fully integrated online-media company comprised of cutting-edge news, in-depth market research, and focused industry events. RSS. Twitter

Guardian Energy - The Guardian newspaper, of which guardian.co.uk is its online presence, was founded in 1821 and has a long history of editorial and political independence. RSS.

McKinsey Quarterly (Energy, Resources and Materials) - The McKinsey Quarterly is the business journal of McKinsey & Company.RSS. Twitter

New Energy Focus - A daily news service for the UK energy sector, dedicated to the professionals working towards sustainable energy in the UK. RSS

Point Carbon - A world-leading provider of independent news, analysis and consulting services for European and global power, gas and carbon markets. Point Carbon provides market-moving information through monitoring fundamental information, key market players and business and policy developments. RSS

Renewable Energy World - RenewableEnergyWorld.com was started in 1998 by a group of Renewable Energy professionals who wanted their work to relate to their passion for renewable energy. RSS

Reuters Environment – Reuters is a world leading source of intelligent information for business and professionals. RSS. Twitter

Telegraph Earth - Earth is your source for environmental and green news, with information on global warming, pollution, green living and recycling, as well as tips on how to cut your contribution to climate change. RSS.

TreeHugger - TreeHugger is a fast-growing web magazine, dedicated to everything that has a modern aesthetic yet is environmentally responsible. Check out the latest news, reviews and recommendations for modern yet green products and services. RSS. Twitter

Do you have another source of online green news that you would recommend?

By Katharine Robinson
Research Associate, EcoSearch

Wikipedia Links: Learn more about RSS feeds and Twitter

RSPB changes sides!

The Wind Energy sector gained another supporter today, and one that had previously been protesting against it.

I was surprised to read this morning on the BBC news and then the Times (just to reassure myself it was true!) that the RSPB have significantly changed their tune with regards to their attitude to Wind Farms, and are now calling on the government to set firm targets for developing wind energy and saying that it would be “disastrous” if wind power in the UK was wasted. The RSPB commissioned a report from the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), which found the UK lagging far behind in the drive for wind power.

The ornithologists, who previously campaigned against Wind Farms because they believed they could interfere with migration routes and be dangerous, have been obstructive to Wind Farms (the RSPB led the campaign to prevent the construction of a wind farm on the Isle of Lewis). They now believe that the UK is behind its targets and that wind energy projects should be pushed. They still want areas to be mapped out to avoid certain habitats, but now recognise that climate change is a more dangerous threat to many species – the rising temperatures will drive many birds, and other wildlife, away from their current homes.

It looks like wind energy may have earned itself a significant ally.

By Clare Buxton
Sector Lead for Wind Energy, EcoSearch

The Titans of Wind

Last week saw the announcement of some very exciting plans for future offshore wind farms in the UK: Two consortiums of colossal size and power have been created with the aim of winning rights to develop large scale wind power generation farms in alignment with the Crown Estate’s proposed high potential zones off the coast of the UK.

Where there is nothing stopping an individual company bidding on its own for a zone, there has been much talk in the industry over the last 6 months or so about the sensitive process of forming partnerships, JVs and consortiums. However, the weight and power of those consortiums was really hammered home this week, with the announcement of two of the newly created consortiums bringing together giant European players in the energy industry: Airtricity (recently acquired by SSE) will join RWE npower renewables (the UK subsidiary of RWE Innogy), Statkraft and StatoilHydro to prepare a joint bid under the consortium name of Forewind, project managed by Peter Raftery, a well respected heavy weight and long-term employee of Airtricity. To compete with them, DONG Energy, E.ON and Fred. Olsen Renewables has also announced that they have formed a consortium to bid for a piece of the offshore wind action.

I don’t know why it surprised me so much, but the brute force of these players all working together really hammered home to me the sheer volume and seriousness which this next round of offshore wind farm development will bring to the UK’s renewable energy capacity. Developing renewable energy projects is very expensive and requires a great deal of initial capital. The application process alone, to gain consent for a multi-MW wind farm can cost up to £200,000 and the current acceptance rate is only one out of three applications, so it is no surprise really that it will be the larger and richer organisations who are leading the bids. With giants like these joining forces how can the smaller, less cash rich, specialists even try to compete?

The 10 Scottish offshore zones (with a combined potential capacity of nearly 6.5GW) that were released in February, have also been dominated by the European Utility giants – Airtricity (SSE), Dong, E.ON, Npower and Scottish Renewables all being awarded zones. It is good to see that Fluor (working with Airtricity), SeaEnergy (working with Airtricity and with Npower) and Mainstream – ex-Airtricity boss O’Connor’s new baby – have also seen a share of the action. Mind you, Fluor may not be such a big name in Wind Energy, but as a Fortune 500 company with 60 office locations in 6 continents, it is hardly an SME! Will the second tier players (in terms of size, not speciality) also get a share of the English offshore action, or will it be dominated by the titans of energy generation? And does it really matter? It might be nice to see more variation of asset owners, but given the expense that is obviously going to be needed (just look at the quoted prices for DONG/E.ON/Masdar’s London Array project) it’s hardly any surprise that it will be the companies with the deepest pockets (and the proven track records) who will be footing the bills!

The round 3 projects are going to be high value, high visibility and high importance projects that will be absolutely crucial to helping the UK deliver its 2020 renewable energy targets.

By Clare Buxton
Sector Lead for Wind Energy

Urgent! If you have a Monster Profile - change your password

We have just been made aware of this breaking news story on the BBC website.

It is suspected that log-in details of Monster users could have been accessed by hackers.

You are advised to change your password and be wary of suspicious looking emails claiming to be from Monster.