The Met Police Service goes green

29/07/2010 - Out of the frying pan into the Met’s tyres; in a slick operation the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) are recycling waste vegetable oil to power the vehicles which deliver their groceries. The move is part of a drive by the MPS with energy company Convert2Green and 3663 First for Foodservice - which provides the food and catering supplies - to cut emissions of harmful greenhouse gases.Click here for full story

Industry reaction to DECC announcements

29/07/2010 - The renewable energy industry in the UK is positive overall, to the announcements from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Includes comments from RenewableUK’s CEO Maria McCaffery, David Symons, Director at global environmental consultancy WSP Environment & Energy, Roman Webber, Head of Deloitte’s UK Renewable Energy Team, Tim Levy, Chief Executive at Future Capital Partners, Alan John, Head of Renewable Energy at law firm Osborne Clarke, Peter Dickson, Technical Director at BNP Paribas Clean Energy Partners, Energy Networks Association (ENA) CEO David Smith, and Adrian Palmer, Senior Manager at Redpoint Energy.

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Energy-saving technology must be promoted

29/07/2010 - The government must be more proactive over schemes to encourage take-up of energy-saving renewable technology on a national level. This is the view of therenewableenergycentre.co.uk, which has voiced concerns that a lack of progress in the UK on implementing microgeneration and other green technology will cause the country to miss its 2020 carbon reduction targets. A spokesperson for the energy-saving website pointed to the fact that the UK is currently ranked among the bottom few European countries in terms of renewable energy generation, which could ultimately lead to a "hefty fine" from the EU.Click here for full story

Investment in refuelling/recharging stations

28/07/2010 - Six successful bidders will share £660,000 match funding from the Department of Business for gas refuelling or electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects. A private business in Essex, three councils across Yorkshire and the West Midlands, a public body co-ordinating transport in Merseyside and a community group on the Isle of Lewis are all winners in the latest round of support from the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Grant Programme.Click here for full story

Reducing UK's reliance on fossil fuels

28/07/2010 - Moves to boost investment in renewable energy and nuclear power stations were set out by the coalition Government yesterday (27 July) as it promised to reduce Britain's dependency on fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions. Chris Huhne, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, pledged the "lights are not going to go out on my watch" as he announced 32 measures to make the country less reliant on imported oil and gas. He said the crisis in the Gulf of Mexico showed the importance of moving "further and faster" towards greater energy independence and a "low-carbon economy".Click here for full story

DECC's carbon calculator

28/07/2010 - Electricity generation in the UK will double. Cars, hot water and the heating of buildings will be electrified. A new nuclear renaissance on a par with France's rush to nuclear in the 1970s will have taken place and fossil fuel power stations will capture 90% of their carbon emissions. This is just one picture of how Britain could hit its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, as painted by a new calculator launched by the government today (27 July).Click here for full story

The Smart Energy Show has now closed...

A big thank you to all our speakers, exhibitors and visitors

• Click here to download the 8-page Show Preview 
• Click here to see the first-rate conference programme, masterminded by the REA. The actual presentations are available to view here 
• The exhibition featured many companies active in this fast-developing field. Click here for the exhibitor list

Headline sponsors ...

Smart Energy is delighted to have two high profile headline sponsors: RES is one of the world's leading renewable energy developers, working across the globe to develop, construct and operate projects that contribute to the goal of a sustainable future. And "Partnerships for Renewables (PfR), a Carbon Trust Enterprise, works with the public sector to develop and manage onsite renewable energy projects and is currently working with over 100 Public Sector Bodies with a significant number of lead projects,” explains Tom Brinicombe, Head of Marketing and Communications, PfR. “Therefore we are pleased to encourage and support Smart Energy ’09 which has been set up to encourage both the public and private sector to look seriously at the range of advantages accrued by onsite renewable energy projects.    "The public sector is increasingly recognised as having a significant role to play in reducing carbon emissions and providing leadership at a local level. With a large renewables potential, public sector projects could make a significant contribution towards meetings the UK’s renewable energy targets, and Smart Energy will certainly help awareness of this challenge and of the opportunities. Smart Energy will be equally valuable to the private sector, and this is to be applauded. Our chief executive, Stephen Ainger will be speaking at Smart Energy ’09 and we are greatly looking forward to this new event, which we believe is set to grow in size and stature in future years."

 A view from The Eden Project: