encraft news

Interim results of Warwick Wind Trials published

The findings of the first nine months of the Warwick Wind Trials were published today (see www.warwickwindtrials.org.uk). This project, initiated and led by Encraft, is the largest independent trial of urban wind turbines in the UK. The results include comprehensive experience of the planning processes, technical performance and wind data.

Encraft move into larger offices

As of 1 January 2007, our main office address is 6b Park Street, Leamington, CV32 4QN. All phone and emails remain unchanged.

Encraft awarded 16 month regional contract

Encraft have been selected from a highly competitive field to lead a 16 month project to help develop a competitive low carbon technology supply chain for building technologies in the West Midlands. The Sustainable Public Buildings Project will work with eight building projects across the region. Encraft and our project partners will provide expertise to show how the projects can be made more sustainable and work with supply businesses to develop supply chains for the necessary technologies.

Encraft launch rooftop wind trial project

Encraft are working with Pilkington Energy Efficiency Trust, Warwick District Council, Action21 and other partners to install and monitor a number of microwind turbines in the Midlands.

The project will evaluate the technical performance of the systems over 12 months, and also explore planning and installation issues. The idea is to create an objective and rounded knowledge base to support customer and political decision-making and to help the market and industry to develop effectively.

The project has its own website at www.warwickwindtrials.org.uk.

Encraft finalists in national award for climate change innovation

Encraft have been shortlisted for a Shell Springboard award for small businesses with innovative projects to combat climate change.

The Encrafthome project was chosen as one of 25 projects from over 250 applicants, and is the only purely IT-based project to make the shortlist for the Central region.

Encraft present to SERA parliamentary subgroup on energy issues

Encraft provided a technical briefing for MPs on the potential for microgeneration to contribute to tackling climate change - our analysis shows how microgeneration and energy efficiency could in theory reduce UK carbon emissions by at least 8%.

Factors under political control can account for more than 60% of microgeneration costs to homeowners.

This briefing can be provided as a seminar with more technical or financial material on request. Please contact Matthew Rhodes for details.

Encraft submission to DTI on microgeneration strategy

Encraft set out our views on the best ways government can support faster growth of microgeneration to the benefit of customers and the economy in a comprehensive response to their consultation.

Energy minister launches consultation on microgeneration

Malcom Wicks, the Minister of State for Energy, launched a formal consultation process on the government's microgeneration strategy at a series of events this week.

The strategy will include announcement of the shape of future grant and incentive schemes for small scale projects, and efforts the government will make to eliminate market distortions in the regulation system and distribution system that tend to favour centralised energy supply in the UK.

Green Alliance publish analysis of electrical generation costs

Green Alliance, a respected think tank and lobby group, today published a report on the comparative costs of nuclear and microgeneration.

Encraft's work was quoted extensively in the report, titled "Small or Atomic". We are the only organisation who've provided comprehensive, market-independent information on the comparative costs of different microgeneration options for the past two years.

A key message of our work is that there is no such thing as a fixed cost of generating electricity from any source - the cost is always context dependent and dynamic. This creates headaches for policymakers, but opportunities for informed customers and entrepreneurs, provided artificial market rules aren't introduced to make things easy for economists.

It's also important to compare full costs of supply. Simplistic approaches tend to compare the costs of generating electricity at source - this introduces a bias in favour of centralised generation: more than half the cost of power for consumers lies in the distribution and supply charges. MIcrogeneration eliminates these.

Encraft contribute to Times debate

Matthew Rhodes, Managing Director of Encraft, published a letter in the Times today highlighting how arguments about energy and microgeneration should be debated in an informed way.

The way we generate and use energy shapes our society. The more people who understand the issues so we can have an informed debate, the better for all of us.