CES

Cellspace Forms Fuel Cell Joint Venture

Fuel Cell Service Solutions Ltd (FCSS) was recently formed as a joint venture between Cellspace Energy Systems Ltd and Fuel Cell Services Ltd, a subsidiary of the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI). Seed funding is in place from the NE Finance ‘Three Pillars Fund’. The company aims to promote new market opportunities in the sale and service of fuel cell systems.

FCSS specialise in the supply and service of fuel cell power packs. In addition to the commercialisation of existing fuel cell systems, FCSS also develop new technology and components. Leveraging its close links with the CPI’s Fuel Cells Application Facility (FCAF), FCSS has significant experience and technical expertise available.

Off-grid, lower power applications: including monitoring systems, message signs, leisure applications and CCTV.
Supply of single large fuel cells from 250kW to 400kW: including the HotModule range of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells from German manufacturer MTU Onsite Energy.
Obligation Order 2009.

For further information regarding FCSS and its activities, please call us on 01642 454875.

Clean Energy Cashback

The Government has recently announced detailed proposals for the new feed-in tariffs (FITs), or Clean Energy Cashback scheme. FITs are fixed payments made to the owners of small generating stations, including wind turbines, solar photovoltaics and biomass combustion, for the electricity that they produce. These payments will promote renewable energy production and help to transform the UK into a low-carbon nation.

This is great news for small wind turbine operators who are set to receive 30.5p/kWh (for installations up to 1.5kW) or 23p/kWh (for installations 1.5kW to 15kW) for all electricity generated, plus an additional 5p/kWh for anything exported to the grid. The FITs are planned to be effective from 1st April 2010, although all systems commissioned from now on will qualify.

For more detail see the Department of Energy and Climate Change website.

Microgeneration Incentives Double

From April 2009, all microgeneration technologies are to earn double ROCs (Renewable Obligation Certificates), giving all current and future microgeneration installations significantly greater revenue and reduced payback periods.

ROCs are designed to incentivise renewable generation in the electricity generation market, and the market price for a ROC is currently around £50. At the moment, small wind and PV generators receive one ROC per MWh of electricity produced - from April 2009 they will receive two ROCs per MWh. This means that microgenerators can now earn approx £100 per MWh generated from ROC income alone.

In June 2008 the Government published a statutory consultation on the introduction of banding of the Renewables Obligation. The Government Response to the consultation was published on 2 December 2008, alongside a draft Renewables Obligation Order 2009.

See the BERR website for further details.

CES Introduces Intelligent Fast-Charge System

CES are pleased to announce the latest addition to their product range – the PosiCharge battery fast-charge system.

Offering significant productivity enhancements, PosiCharge fast charge systems maximise operator uptime and throughput by eliminating the need for complicated charge schedules. Additionally, PosiCharge fast charging technology eliminates the need for battery changing rooms and manual handling of batteries, which in turn reduces the chances of lead acid spillage and other environmental and safety hazards. An extended life cycle of batteries combined with a company's reduced battery inventory also equates to less batteries heading to landfills.

For further details of the PosiCharge system see the CES product pages or call CES on 01642 454875.

Boston Turns to Turbines

Wind turbines — 20 of them — stretch regally across the parapet of the roof of the three-story Logan Office Centre in a demonstration project expected to provide about 2 percent of the building’s monthly energy use.

"It’s about producing some renewable energy and being environmentally responsible and starting to make some difference in our sustainability at Massport." — Sam Sleiman, director of capital programs and environmental affairs, Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport).

Read full article here.

SolarDock Chosen for 720kW System in Spain

The SolarDock system for PV arrays is the mounting system of choice for the Otis Elevator Company at it’s manufacturing facility in Madrid. Otis Elevators have recently installed a 720kW system on the roof of their factory building in central Spain. The patented, flat-roof mounting frames offer an exclusive non-penetrating roof installation method, eliminating the possibility of leaks and cancellation of roof warranties. This method also dramatically reduces installation time resulting in lower overall system costs.

Otis Elevators has operations in over 200 countries and territories, and has Spanish factories in Madrid and San Sebastian. For more info please click here.

For further details on the SolarDock PV module mounting system please see our product pages or call CES on 01642 454875.

Architectural Wind at Boston Logan Airport

Aerovironment has installed a system of 20 Architectural Wind turbines at Boston's Logan International Airport in the U.S. The turbines have been installed as part of a project commissioned by Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport).

"At Massport, we are continually striving to improve our facilities – making them more energy efficient as well as environmentally and user friendly," said Project Manager Terry Civic. "The installation of the Architectural Wind turbines at Logan Airport is one of the many initiatives underway designed to exceed national standards for energy efficiency, and we look forward to significant energy-saving results." Logan International is home to the nation’s first airport terminal awarded Gold Level certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) by the U.S. Green Building Council.

See full press release

CES at All Energy ’08: 21-22 May

CES will be showcasing the AVX1000 wind turbine at the UK's largest renewable energy event - the All Energy exhibition and conference in Aberdeen on 21st and 22nd May 2008. Attendance at this years show is expected to exceed the successful 2007 exhibition with 4,000 attendees from all over the world, 350 exhibiting companies from home and overseas, and 200+ speakers. One of the highlights of this year’s conference is the UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks delivering a keynote address on opening morning.

For more information or to register free to attend the exhibition please click here

Tesco Take Roof-mounted Turbines

CES have a number of projects underway with retail giant Tesco across England and Scotland. Tesco have committed to reducing their energy use by 50% by 2010 and have set up a Sustainable Technology Fund to support the advancement of renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar power. Tesco plan to install the roof-mounted AVX1000 Architectural Wind systems on selected stores as part of a wider series of environmental initiatives. The AVX1000 is ideally suited to such urban/suburban environments.

Manchester Airport undergoing AVX1000 trial

Manchester Airport is on its way to achieving its objective to become carbon neutral by 2015 for its energy and vehicle use. As part of a series of environmental initiatives, the airport is trialling the generation of its own energy using wind turbines. The trial forms part of a commitment to generate 20% of its own energy by 2020. CES has supplied and installed the AVX1000 Architectural Wind turbine on the roof of the Terminal 2 building where it is undergoing RADAR Electromagnetic Interference testing.

Wind Turbine Wins Prestigious Design Awards

AeroVironment's AVX Series Wind Turbine has won two prestigious honors: the Red Dot International Design award and the 2007 Annual Design Review award from I.D., The International Design Magazine.

See press release and article “AeroVironment's AVX Series Wind Turbine Wins Awards”.

Pleasure Beach Leverage Recent Strong Winds

Blackpool has always been known for its sea breezes but even the CES installation team weren’t expecting so much wind when they went to install 6 Architectural Wind turbines last month. The AVX1000 turbines were mounted on the roof of the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Education Academy just prior to the strong winds experienced across the country in early March. Watch this space for further details.

Architectural Wind Showcase: Up Close and Personal

You can now see the Architectural Wind turbine in the Eco Zone of The Building Centre in central London. The Eco Zone is a gallery that is devoted to sustainable building products and materials and houses a AVX400 turbine for public viewing. The Building Centre is open Monday to Saturday and is located on Store Street, London WC1E.

See www.buildingcentre.co.uk for more details.

Team CES Run Like The Wind

The CES team don’t forget about environmental issues when they leave the office each evening. Two of the office members cycle to work on a regular basis and all of them are keen walkers and runners. This was demonstrated last month when the three-man strong team competed in the Wilmslow Half Marathon on Sunday March 30th. Taking his athleticism to extremes, CES Finance Director, Jamie Obank, is a regular tri-athlete and will be competing in his second Iron Man competition later this year.

AeroVironment Implements Wind Turbine System at Staples Distribution Centre

Aerovironment has installed a modular wind turbine system at a Staples distribution centre in Ontario, California. The building-integrated installation is a beta test of AV’s Architectural Wind, representing a new concept in wind energy systems in which the turbines are actually tied in with the structure’s utility grid.

See press release.

First Installation of New Model Turbines in USA

AeroVironment announces the first technology demonstration of its building-integrated Architectural Wind system and new AVX400 wind turbine. The wind-turbine system is installed on the Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey. The system comprises 12 individual AVX400 wind turbines (400 watts each) for a total of 4.8 kilowatts peak power.