Utilita Energy, one of the UK’s fastest growing energy firms, will hold a series of energy saving workshops at Citizens Advice Scotland’s Leith centre throughout November and December. Continue reading Utilita to hold energy saving workshops in Leith
Coal stock towers at Longannet, Scotland’s last coal-fired power station, were successfully brought down in a controlled explosion last week. Continue reading Longannet towers demolished
The Scottish Affairs Committee resumes its inquiry into the oil and gas industry on Wednesday (10 October) with a session focusing on the environmental impact of the sector. Witnesses will include the UK Energy Research Centre, Friends of the Earth Scotland and Scottish Carbon Capture Association. Continue reading Scottish Affairs Committee focus on environmental impact in oil and gas inquiry
By banning plastic bottles from the workplace outright, the UK would save 3.9 billion bottles from being produced by 2020 – a saving of 156,000 tonnes of plastic a year. These are the findings of office provider Desk.co.uk who is spearheading a campaign to have all single use plastic bottles outlawed by 2020. Continue reading Call to ban ALL plastic bottles in the workplace
New figures released today by the Energy Switch Guarantee reveal that Yorkshire is home to the savviest energy customers in the UK. The figures show the number of households in each UK Parliamentary constituency that have switched electricity supplier between September 2016 and August 2017. Continue reading UK’s leading energy switchers revealed
It takes 32kWh of energy to prepare a ‘St Andrew’s Day feast’, the equivalent of powering an LCD TV for six weeks
St Andrew’s Day is an occasion to celebrate everything Scottish, with music, dancing and (most importantly) food at the heart of all festivities.
New analysis carried out by Scottish Gas has discovered that it would take 32kWh of energy to cook a ‘St Andrew’s Day feast’, including firm favourites such as haggis, stovies, cock-a-leekie soup and cullen skink.
In fact, the energy used to prepare the celebratory spread could power an LCD TV for six weeks, a games console for two weeks and an energy saving light bulb for three months.
National dish haggis was revealed as the item that uses most power to cook of all the dishes analysed, needing 7.8 kWh of energy, closely followed by favourite accompaniment ‘neeps and tatties’, which uses 6.3kWh.
Those with a sweet tooth will be happy to know that desserts use the least amount of energy to prepare, with shortbread and cranachan needing just 1.5kWh and 0.3kWh respectively.
The energy profile of a St Andrew’s Day feast:
| Dish | Energy needed to prepare (kWh) | The equivalent to |
| Haggis | 7.8 | Running a laptop (plugged in) for more than 5 days |
| Neeps and tatties | 6.3 | Powering a freezer for more than a day |
| Stovies | 6 | Running a washing machine for half a day |
| Scotch broth | 5 | Using a microwave for 4 hours |
| Cock-a-leekie soup | 3.6 | Using an iron for 3 hours |
| Cullen skink | 1.6 | Powering a Wi-Fi router for more than 11 days |
| Shortbread | 1.5 | Powering an alarm clock radio for more than 30 days |
| Cranachan | 0.3 | Powering a cordless phone for over 5 days |
Smart Energy Expert, Stephen Cosgrove, who installs smart meters around Edinburgh for Scottish Gas, said: “St Andrew’s Day sees Scots and Scots-at-heart come together to celebrate our national day. A big part of that is enjoying food that showcases the very best of Scottish culture, so it’s interesting to see how much energy traditional dishes use to prepare.
“Monitoring your energy use may be the last thing you’re thinking about during the festivities, but having an understanding of how much power you’re using when cooking can help to reduce your energy use.
“Having smart meters installed for free can help, too. They automatically send meter readings to your energy supplier so you don’t have to. And they come with a smart energy monitor that shows you how much energy is being used, in pounds and pence, in near real time.”
Scottish Gas has installed more than 415,000 smart meters across Scotland.
Join the millions of people across Britain enjoying the benefits of smart meters. To find out more visit: www.scottishgas.co.uk/smart
Households given expert advice in bid to be energy smart
Scores of residents in and around Edinburgh are set to benefit from free insight and advice on their energy use, as part of a smart technology research initiative.
Sensor technology that helps consumers to use less gas and electricity – and potentially save on energy bills – has already been successfully installed in 100 homes under the research initiative from the University of Edinburgh and Changeworks.
Organisers are now seeking a further 150 households from Edinburgh and the Lothians to take part in the scheme, known as IDEAL – Intelligent Domestic Energy Advice Loop.
Participants have discreet sensors fitted throughout their homes, which track how much gas or electricity is used, as well as, room by room, the temperature and humidity.
The system gives feedback to help households find convenient ways to save energy, and participants are provided with a tablet to track their usage.
Scientists will use powerful computers to analyse large volumes of data from the study, to inform the development of sophisticated smart meters. These could track energy use in detail, offering personalised insights into how electricity and gas use might be reduced.
To participate, volunteers should live in Edinburgh or the Lothians in postcode areas EH1-EH55. They must have broadband, a combi boiler and mains gas supply.
Helen and Mark, from Leith, took part in an early trial of the project. Mark said: “We had a hand-sized sensor fitted in each room and soon forgot they were there. We were surprised by some of the findings. It was really interesting to see what pushed up our bills.”
Drew Murphy, IDEAL project manager from Changeworks, said: “Smart technology allows participating households to see, in pounds and pence, how much gas and electricity they are using. Project findings will inform how we can use technologies, such as smart meters, to enable households to make changes in how they use gas and electricity to lower their energy use and bills.”
Dr Martin Pullinger, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics, said: “With support from volunteers across Edinburgh, we hope to inform the design of smart meters that could offer personalised, itemised details of gas and electricity use, helping to lower consumption, reduce household bills and cut carbon emissions.”
To find out more and become a participant, see changeworks.org.uk/projects/
Latest Government figures, published by BEIS and National Grid, have shown that the price paid for electricity from offshore wind farms has dropped by more than 50% in just two years. Surpassing all expectations, Offshore wind is now the lowest cost option for large-scale, low-carbon power.
The UK’s offshore wind sector has transformed over the last decade. Government support, huge strides in home-grown innovation and increases in both turbine efficiency and blade sizes, have placed the UK as number one, globally, for installed capacity.
Wind turbines have more than doubled their power capacity since 2007. The current generation of 8MW turbines have 260 foot blades, spanning an area the size of the London Eye. With a single rotation, these blades generate enough energy to power a home for 24 hours. By the mid-2020s turbine capacities are set to double again, reaching 15MW. These advances in turbine technology are a big part of what has driven recent reductions in costs per megawatt hour.
Offshore wind farms can be built in just two or three years, minimising the risk of cost overruns and ensuring that technological advances are adopted quickly.
The sector is already delivering thousands of jobs in regions of the UK with some of the highest unemployment figures. UK offshore wind is also attracting billions in foreign investment, and securing hundreds of international contracts for British companies. Future growth potential is enormous as the global market is set to boom over the next decade.
The UK needs a growing supply of affordable and secure energy. At this record low price, offshore wind power is a great deal for UK energy.
Footage of actress Emma Thomson explaining the significance of this moment is available at https://we.tl/LPF4xnJ5zw
Matthew Wright, Managing Director for DONG Energy UK, said: “This is a breakthrough moment for offshore wind in the UK and a massive step forward for the industry. Not only will Hornsea Project Two provide low cost, clean energy to the UK, it will also deliver high quality jobs and another huge boost to the UK supply chain.
“Successive governments deserve great credit for providing the certainty for continued investment in offshore wind, enabling it to become the thriving renewable industry it is today. Costs are falling rapidly, long-term and highly-skilled jobs are being created across the North of England and the UK supply chain is going from strength to strength. We’re now really seeing the benefits of this commitment to offshore wind and there is still so much more to come. Indeed, it has the potential to play a key part in the realisation of the UK’s industrial strategy.”
Jonathan Cole, Managing Director for Offshore Wind at ScottishPower Renewables, said: “These ongoing cost reductions show that offshore wind is in pole position to be the foremost low carbon power source, with the UK as the global market leader. A strong offshore wind sector powers our economy with reliable and affordable clean power. It is creating highly-skilled jobs in industrial and coastal communities that will really benefit from such significant investments.”
Paul Cooley, SSE’s Director of Generation Development, said: “As a UK-based energy company, SSE is proud to be investing in much needed energy infrastructure that contributes to UK growth. With offshore wind becoming an affordable form of large-scale, low-carbon energy, we believe that the UK as a whole will benefit from these cost reductions.
“Investment in offshore wind creates opportunities to develop the wider UK supply chain and brings value to local economies and local communities. Already Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited has helped foster UK and Scottish supply chains for the offshore sector and has had a positive impact on local lives and livelihoods. We aim to deliver the same again through both the Dogger Bank and Seagreen offshore wind projects and hope that similar economic benefits will be replicated across the UK offshore wind industry.”
Piers Guy, UK Country Manager, Vattenfall, said: “We believe offshore wind has a big role to play in delivering low cost, competitive, fossil-fuel free power as the UK transitions to the smart, clean, cheap energy system of the future. Today’s auction result sees offshore wind continue on its dramatic cost reduction pathway, whilst providing great prospects for the tens of thousands of British workers in the industry. Vattenfall is investing in UK offshore wind for the long term and we are confident that our Norfolk Vanguard, Norfolk Boreas and Thanet Extension projects will be even more competitive than today’s successful projects.”
Hannah Martin, Head of Energy at Greenpeace UK, said: “This record breaking price drop from offshore wind marks a huge moment for the UK energy sector. The price of offshore wind power is 50% cheaper than just two years ago, this means we are witnessing a revolution in UK energy.
“Offshore wind already powers 4 million homes in the UK, and will power more than 8 million by 2020. It has also created jobs, regional development and export opportunities. And official polls show that 80% of people are in favour of offshore wind. The government needs to seize the opportunities of this great deal, which they themselves have helped to create.”
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe closed its doors on Saturday having had the most popular run in the event’s 70-year history. Today, new research has revealed the power of the Fringe’s laughter levels. The analysis, carried out by Scottish Gas, discovered that the energy generated from laughter at this year’s festival would power the average home in Edinburgh for nearly six days!
Statistically, the average person burns 100 calories if they laugh for an hour, and this year the Fringe featured 21,292 performances focused solely on comedy. Using data from smart meters, Scottish Gas has also worked out that 2017 Fringe laughter would produce enough energy to power:
Scottish Gas also calculated that the laughter would power:
A lifetime of LOLs
With the Fringe marking its 70th birthday this year, Scottish Gas analysed the power of a Lifetime of LOL (Laughing out Loud). They found that if the current population of Edinburgh laughed for an hour a day for 70 years, it would produce enough energy to power a home in Edinburgh for nearly two years.
Scottish Smart Energy Expert, Stephen Cosgrove, who installs smart meters across Edinburgh for Scottish Gas, said: “Everyone enjoys a good laugh, but it’s interesting to imagine how our chuckles and chortles could power a home!
“I’m sure monitoring your energy use will be the last thing on your mind when you’re out having fun. But simple steps – such as switching appliances off at the wall rather leaving them on stand-by before you go out – can help keep energy use in check.
“Having smart meters installed for free can help too. They automatically send meter readings to your energy supplier so you don’t have to. And they come with a smart energy monitor that shows you how much energy is being used and how much is being spent, in pounds and pence, in near real time.”
Scottish Gas has installed more than 30,000 smart meters in homes across Edinburgh. To find out more visit www.scottishgas.co.uk/smart
