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npower Teams Up With Kevin Keegan For No Power Hour

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npower has announced it will be teaming with Kevin Keegan to help fans of the beautiful game save energy in Sunderland.

Former Newcastle boss Keegan will visit the city to encourage families to spend an hour doing something fun without using electricity.

And the 60-year-old reckons a kick-about is the perfect way to get fit and help the environment at the same time.

Kevin Keegan said: “The No Power Hour is designed to get kids and parents off computers and get them out for an hour after switching everything off.

“We’re in Sunderland first then in a couple of weeks up in Leeds – it’s a fantastic set-up we’ve got.

“We’re not saying you can replace technology, it’s here forever after all. What we’re saying is sometimes you’ve got to switch it off and spend a bit of time with your kids – and you can do it together.

“You can do things that will become a lot of fun for you. What happened to making kites and things like that?

“What we’re saying is come out and just do something with your kids, the things you do that are great fun and cost nothing except the effort to get out the house and go somewhere.”

Children and parents can join Keegan’s master class at Seaburn Recreation Park where he will display football skills they can practise together in back gardens, on playing fields, at the beach, the sports centre, the park and even in the living room using no power.

Children can also get involved on the Climate cops, where they can download a mission chart, to keep track of the activities they participate in.

Via EPR Network
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npower Urges Businesses To Have Their Say On Energy Legislation

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npower, the energy firm, has announced that businesses need to make sure they make their voices heard when it comes to shaping current and future energy legislation. npower has launched its own consultation for businesses in response to the government’s Red Tape Challenge.

The ‘Red Tape Challenge’ was launched in April 2011 with the aim of engaging with different industries to gather feedback on current UK legislation, to help simplify the regulatory landscape for businesses.

npower’s ‘Red Tape Challenge – Have Your Say’ campaign is designed to give businesses the opportunity to feedback on current and future energy regulation affecting the sector. Businesses can have their say on the energy policies they think should be scrapped, merged with existing regulation, simplified or left.

Once feedback has been gathered, the energy company will submit its findings on behalf of businesses to the government’s Red Tape Challenge, ahead of the utilities and energy sector’s consultation deadline on 27 October 2011.

The campaign was launched in response to the Red Tape Challenge as well as npower’s own research that revealed strong business opinion on current and proposed energy legislation.

When asked about the proposed Electricity Market Reform (EMR) nearly half of companies surveyed believed the EMR would be complex and unwieldy for businesses. Similarly, research conducted to coincide with the first anniversary of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) found that 45% of businesses want to see the CRC scrapped.

David Cockshott, director of industrial and commercial markets at npower, said: “The UK’s business community has been given a unique opportunity on an unprecedented scale to have its say on energy legislation and we are urging them to get involved and make their voices heard.

“We know from conversations with our own customers that businesses find it difficult keeping track of the legislation or potential legislation affecting them, from the EMR to the CRC. Now businesses can tell the government exactly what policies they think should be scrapped, merged with existing regulation, simplified or left as they are.

“We understand that everyone is busy, which is why we are launching the npower Red Tape Challenge – Have Your Say campaign. It simplifies the process and is designed to provide businesses with a less time-consuming way to air their views on current energy related legislation.

“This type of opportunity to influence legislation does not come along everyday and we urge businesses of all shapes and sizes to take the time now to have their say on the energy policy of the future.”

Via EPR Network
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npower Hometeam Praised By Financial Expert Jasmine Birtles

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npower hometeam has been named by Jasmine Birtles has a good example of a company who shares its ‘no claims’ cost savings with customers.

Broadcaster, financial expert and founder of Moneymagpie.com, Jasmine Birtles, has attacked British businesses which profit from insurance, cover and care products and then fail to share the cost savings with those customers who don’t make a claim.

Birtles has called for businesses to offer a form of ‘no claims bonus’ cash back and it seems British families feeling the squeeze agree. A survey of 2,000 consumers* released shows that nearly 80 per cent believe they should receive an annual cash pay-out if they don’t call on an insurance or care product.

Her comments add to the on-going PPI debate which has seen banks come under increasing pressure over insurance products. Yet Birtles is quick to point out that the problem is wide-spread across the consumer market.

She explained: “All sorts of corporations, from banks to insurance companies and energy providers, clearly benefit from cost to serve savings when customers don’t claim against their products or policies, but where’s the reward for these customers? Good business is a two-way thing where both sides should benefit. As the cost of living continues to rise, wouldn’t it be nice to see more big businesses sharing these savings with some sort of cash back?

“npower’s hometeam 50 boiler and central heating care is a good example, as it’s priced the same as British Gas’ homecare, but offers customers 50% cash back if they don’t have an emergency call out during their 12 month care plan. Currently, npower is the only boiler care provider offering anything like this.

“npower estimates it will be pay out more than £700,000 in cash back over the next 12 months, but if all energy providers did this, there could be cash back of more than £500million in customers’ pockets from the boiler care market alone.”**

If businesses followed this advice it actually might benefit them, as 81 per cent of consumers questioned in the npower survey said they would be more likely to choose a product if it offered some sort of cash back.

Via EPR Network
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npower Reveals Brits Haven’t Lost The Urge To Splurge

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npower has revealed that even those British families might be feeling the squeeze, they haven’t lost our urge to splurge, with the average Brit expected to spend more than £70,000 on impulse buys over a lifetime.

A survey of more than 2,000 customers conducted by npower hometeam 50, which is currently giving cash back to thousands of customers, suggests that whilst half of people choose to save spare cash from their monthly income, triggers such as receiving birthday money, coming into an unexpected windfall such as cash back from a company, or a small win on the lottery, will result in a spur of the moment purchase.

More than a third of consumers treat themselves to an impulse buy at least once a week spending on average £21.34. That’s £1,114.56 a year and an incredible£70,217.28 forked out during the average adult lifetime. Surprisingly, men spend more on impulse buys than women frittering away £25.67 per week compared to a more frugal £18.89.

Items such as food, clothes, magazines and wine prove irresistible for girls when passing through the high street or supermarket, whilst books, shoes and toiletries also top the list for compulsive female shoppers. Predictably, food, beer and DVDs are the most common treats for their male counterparts.

Emily Stagg, from npower hometeam 50, said: “General consensus would have it that British consumers are trying to save every penny at the moment, but our research suggests that when we come into a small windfall, such as a small win on the lottery or cash back, we’re still more likely to treat ourselves or our loved ones.

“£20 a week might not seem a lot, but can add up to a huge amount over a lifetime. For £70,000 you could easily put a large deposit on a house, pay off all your debits or buy a sports car.”

70 per cent admit they are more likely to give in to temptation if there is a sale on. But 61 per cent of women firmly cite retail therapy as a reason for shopping on impulse, and often spend more money if they are feeling a bit down or depressed compared to just 38 per cent of men.

When it comes to confessing all to a partner, 33 per cent of girls admit they don’t bother telling him about their recent purchases. A fifth of couples argue regularly as a direct result of overspending each week, and 67 per cent of women admit they are definitely the worst for impulse buys.

Emily Stagg continued: “As part of our hometeam 50 product, we’ll be giving cashback to thousands of hometeam 50 customers over the next 12 months – that’s an awful lot of impulse buys.”

The cashback campaign will see hometeam 50 customers who signed up to the boiler care and central heating care product 12 months ago and who haven’t had to call out npower’s hometeam, receive 50% of the amount they paid npower, back.

Via EPR Network
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npower Announces its Manager of the Month Award Winners for April

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npower has announced the winners of the Manager of the Month awards for the npower Football League in April.

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has been named npower League 1 Manager of the Month for April.

Adkins’ side stand on the brink of promotion thanks to wins against Milton Keynes Dons, Charlton Athletic, Leyton Orient, Bristol Rovers, Brighton & Hove Albion, Hartlepool United and Brentford.

Former Charlton Athletic boss Alan Curbishley chairs the npower Football League Manager of the Month judging panel. He said: “Southampton maintained their fine form throughout April with seven wins from their eight games.

“Nigel Adkins has done a great job since his appointment and his side have all but secured promotion back to the npower Championship.”

In League 2, Bury caretaker manager Richie Barker has been named npower League 2 Manager of the Month for April.

Barker took charge in March, and went on to lead his side through a six-game unbeaten run to ensure automatic promotion to npower League 1.

npower head of sponsorship Emma Collins added: “For the club to do so well with a managerial change late in the season is very impressive.

“Barker has hit the ground running, and fully deserves the award.”

Finally, in the Championship Norwich City striker Simeon Jackson has been named npower Championship Player of the Month for April.

Jackson netted eight times during the month to help the Canaries secure automatic promotion.

Via EPR Network
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npower Announces Its Player of the Month Award Winners for April

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npower has announced the winners of the players of the month awards for the npower Football League in April.

Sheffield Wednesday striker Neil Mellor has been named npower League 1 Player of the Month for April.

Mellor, who is on loan from Preston North End, fired in six goals during the month, including vital strikes against Colchester United, Walsall and Swindon Town.

Sky Sports’ Football League expert Peter Beagrie sits on the npower Football League Player of the Month judging panel. He said: “At the beginning of the month, Wednesday were hovering just above the relegation zone in 17th position.

“But Mellor’s six goal contribution has helped navigate the Owls up the table – a safe distance 11 points from the drop-zone.”

Over in League 2, Bury striker Ryan Lowe has been named npower League 2 Player of the Month for April.

The veteran skipper netted four times during the month, leading his team to an automatic promotion place in League 2.

npower head of sponsorship Emma Collins said: “Lowe’s experience and quality has been a huge part of Bury’s success this season.

“His performances have been of the highest order in recent weeks, and he fully deserves the League 2 award.”

Finally, in the Championship Norwich City striker Simeon Jackson has been named npower Championship Player of the Month for April.

Jackson netted eight times during the month to help the Canaries secure automatic promotion.

His impressive goal haul included hat-tricks against Scunthorpe United and Derby County.

Peter Beagrie added: “After going more than 20 games without a goal, Jackson produced a show of true marksmanship in April.

Via EPR Network
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npower Reveals Birmingham Teens Spend More Time Inside Than Outside

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npower has revealed that over two thirds (67%) of Birmingham teens are spending more time inside than outside, with seventy per cent preferring computer games over an outdoor activity, according to the research commissioned by the energy supplier.

In stark contrast, their parents admit to spending most of their time in the garden whilst growing up (63%) and over three quarters (76%) of the parents questioned felt children who spend time outside have a better awareness the environment.

The findings come as npower’s ambassador Ben Fogle visits Birmingham’s Think Tank to act as a judge for its Climate Cops SOS Finale, an initiative designed to encourage young people to make a real green change in their area, and to urge the young people of Birmingham to get active and get green by signing up for 2011’s Climate Cops SOS where they could win a week of adventure with Ben himself this November, with entry closing on 30th June 2011.

At the event, Ben will be discussing the importance of preserving the great outdoors and presenting the winning school with a green make over, plus ten brand new Netbooks for the students.

Clare McDougall, npower’s head of education and community, said: “Growing up for me was all about being outside with nature, playing in the garden and camping in the countryside, but after npower’s recent research it seems that Birmingham kids could be turning into ‘generation x-box’.

“We want Birmingham teens to show us their green credentials and adventurous side by entering this year’s Climate Cops SOS so that next year we can hopefully crown them as 2011’s ‘green-agers’ and present them with a fantastic week of adventure alongside a real life explorer.”

Via EPR Network
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npower Launches ‘Every Shirt Has A Story’

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Npower, the title sponsor of The Football League, has launched a new campaign for fans called ‘Every Shirt Has A Story’.

npower is asking fans from across the 72 Football League clubs to reveal the memories behind their team’s seasonal colours and share their shirt stories with other fans via www.everyshirt.co.uk.

Sharing stories that talk about both the highs and lows of the sport, as well as personal tales surrounding the beautiful game, entrants will have the chance to win several competition prizes. These include the chance to be one of six ‘face of the finals’ winners who will see huge images of themselves displayed at either Wembley or Old Trafford – two of the world’s most iconic football stadia. The football fans will be honoured with 16 by 24 metre facia boards as well as seeing their name emblazened on a giant football shirt that will cover the pitch as their team prepare to contest the play off final. Season tickets and signed shirts can also be won.

‘Every Shirt Has A Story’ is fronted by football legend Dion Dublin. Dion and a whole host of other footballing heroes and celebrity fans will be revealing the stories behind their most cherished football strips .

The initiative supports npower’s Football Saver tariff which rewards Football League fans when they switch energy suppliers. Along with offering a discounted tariff designed for fans who want value from their energy prices, npower is also giving away a £45 voucher to spend at any official npower Championship, npower League One or npower League Two club shops. The Football saver tariff uniquely offers discounted energy, which is a reward for fans but also supports the clubs with the money from the vouchers going straight back to the clubs.

Via EPR Network
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Paul Denison Jacob Joins Free Flow Power Corporation

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Free Flow Power Corporation, a developer of clean renewable energy, welcomes the addition of Mr. Paul Denison Jacob to the company as an Executive Vice President of Marketing and Trading.

Mr. Jacob brings 20 years of energy market experience to the company with a track record of driving growth in the asset management, sales, marketing and proprietary trading. Mr. Jacob was most recently, President of Edison Mission Marketing and Trading, a subsidiary of Edison Mission Energy, a leading Independent Power Producer.

Mr. Jacob also brings deep experience in identifying new business opportunities, and building commercial capabilities in energy and related product markets, including the establishment of one of the first independent electricity marketing and trading organizations in the US.

Dan Irvin, CEO of Free Flow Power, commented, “Paul has tremendous experience in critical sectors and the entrepreneurialspirit we value. He will be an important member of our management team focusing ondeveloping our role and offerings in power markets. We are enthusiastic about the immediate impact Paul will make and delightedhe decided to join us.

Mr. Jacob remarked, “I am excited to be a part of the team, and looking forward to contributing to the continued growth of the dynamic platform at Free Flow Power Corporation.

Via EPR Network
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New Laws Make It Easier To See How Warm New Windows Will Keep The Family

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Anyone looking to buy energy-efficient double glazed windows can now quickly and easily compare the ability of different windows to keep in the heat in their homes, by checking the window’s ‘U’ rating.

‘U’ ratings are used in all kinds of building components. They measure how effective that component, for example a window or roof, is at retaining heat.

The new law stipulates that all replacement UPVC double glazing windows must now meet three minimum standards for energy efficiency. The factors which govern this are the efficiency of the glass in the window itself, and that of the sealed units which encase them.

The rule to remember is that the lower the ‘U’ rating, the more efficient the window, and therefore the lower the heat loss.

In many cases, having a double-glazed window containing glass with a low ‘U’ rating installed will be at least as good as opting for a window fitted with triple glazing – but of course, the window units will be no heavier than those with standard double glazing.

“Looking out for the ‘U’ ratings when setting out to buy energy-saving windows is something that everyone should try to do,” said Les Yates of home improvement comparison website Local Quoter. “When anyone is looking to buy energy-efficient windows, it will be one of the key ways of distinguishing between the various window types available.

“It will always be best to choose windows with a lower ‘U’ rating, because they will be proven to be among the best when it comes to keeping the house warm in cold weather.

“As we at Local Quoter only work with reputable and knowledgeable window installers, they will be able to explain the ins and outs of ‘U’ ratings to you. So not only will they use the best quality products available, they will also be able to help you make long-term savings on your energy bills.”

Via EPR Network
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npower Reveals Nearly Half Of Businesses Want The Carbon Reduction Commitment Scrapped

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Npower has conducted new research revealing that, on the first anniversary of its implementation, UK businesses want the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) scrapped.

The research reveals that companies not only want to see an end to the scheme, but over a quarter (29%) also said they do not think the Carbon Reduction Commitment will help the UK meet its carbon reduction targets – one of its key aims.

The government proposed several changes to the scheme as part of its Comprehensive Spending Review and as such, financial incentives which were originally included in the scheme were removed. Nearly half of businesses (43%) said they want financial incentives reintroduced and 40% of organisations said that now the CRC is effectively a tax, there is no incentive for businesses to reduce their carbon emissions – another important reason why the scheme was introduced in the first place.

Dave Lewis, head of business energy services at npower, said: “The results of our latest research reflect much of the feedback we receive on a daily basis from our customers. It is concerning that the changes to the CRC have resulted in businesses putting less priority on reducing emissions, which was one of its key aims. We feel it is important that organisations focus on the best practice behaviour the CRC sets out to encourage, as energy efficiency and effective energy management make sound commercial sense, with or without the scheme.”

Over half of businesses (54%) feel the CRC places unnecessary financial burden on businesses and 41% feel the CRC should be postponed until the UK economy’s financial recovery is more secure.

Dave Lewis continues: “It is also worth noting that nearly half of businesses (48%) said they felt the scheme’s first league table, due to be published in October 2011, will not carry any real meaning. When the scheme was first launched, this was an important element of its financial and reputational incentives, so these results seem to suggest that organisations are viewing the scheme differently, and many of our customers have told us they see it purely as another tax.

“The next milestone in the CRC calendar is submission of the first footprint report, which details an organisation’s carbon emissions from April 2010. This is due by 29 July and our research reveals that not only are over one in ten businesses concerned their company will miss the deadline but that 10% of them are not confident the data their company will submit is correct. This is a real concern as accurate data is the first point of any effective energy management strategy and only by truly knowing how and where energy is being consumed can efficiency measures be put in place.”

Via EPR Network
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npower Encourages Homeowners To Find Out More About Climate Week

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npower encouraged homeowners to pay a visit to its stand at the Ideal Home Show during Climate Week to find out how to make their homes more energy efficient and better manage their impact on the environment.

Exhibiting at the show for a third year, npower showcased the latest eco-friendly home technology developments including electric vehicle technology, solar energy panels and the company’s green energy tariff.

Centre of the stand was a Tesla, the fastest electric vehicle in existence, along with home and city charging points for electric vehicles.

Nicola Hadcroft, creative services manager at npower, commented: “Climate Week is all about highlighting the innovative technology that is coming to the market to help make homeowners’ lives easier. The Ideal Home Show was the perfect place to showcase what npower is doing to make a difference.

“By encouraging people to become more engaged with their energy usage and as a supplier helping them to achieve this, we can work towards a more sustainable future and help homeowners tread more lightly on the planet.

“Even by making small improvements such as using an electricity monitor, energy efficient light bulbs fitting or fitting a smart meter, can make a difference, while bigger innovations, such as installing solar panels are a viable investment for the future.”

Homeowners who are not looking to install new products in their home, but still want to play their part can also sign up to npower’s green energy tariffs including npower Juice and npower’s National Trust Green Energy.

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Shock and Ore – Tarnished Earth Street Gallery in Birmingham

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Tarnished Earth, a dramatic street gallery of photographs telling the story of one of the world’s biggest ecological disasters, is set to remain in Centenary Way, Birmingham, until 13 February before continuing on its tour of the UK.

The free outdoor exhibition by Jiri Rezac is being staged by The Co-operative in conjunction with WWF-UK and Greenpeace to show how Canada’s magnificent Boreal Forest is being destroyed and polluted by the rush to extract oil from the tar sands just below the surface to supply the oil market.

More than one million people are estimated to have seen the striking images – which contrast the destruction caused by oil extraction with the area’s pristine wilderness and the traditional way of life of the indigenous First Nation Cree – since its unveiling in London’s Southbank in September.

Paul Monaghan, Head of Social Goals and Sustainability at The Co-operative, said:“It is really important that people see for themselves the scale of the environmental destruction which is being done in order to extract oil from tar sands.

“The greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands oil are far greater than those of conventional oil, and its exploitation alone would be sufficient to take the world to the brink of runaway climate change.

“Tarnished Earth vividly portrays the impact tar sands operations are having on this beautiful area of boreal forest which has been home to wildlife and the indigenous Cree nations for thousands of years.”

Via EPR Network
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Local Quoter Helps UK householders Go Green

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Local Quoter, one of the UK’s leading online price comparison websites for home improvements, has been doing its bit to help British homeowners make their properties more energy efficient for years.

The company makes sure people across the UK get the best possible prices on energy efficient windows and doors, and now Local Quoter has turned its attention to solar panels.

Being able to produce green energy at home has become a reality for thousands of people following the introduction of the government’s Feed-in Tariffs programme. Solar thermal panels are the perfect answer for anyone who wants to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and instead harness the power of the sun to help heat their home.

And with 25-year subsidies now available to homeowners who fit photovoltaic panels to their homes, this form of renewable energy has become a serious option for people across the country.

Local Quoter is in a position to help anyone who is considering installing solar panels on the roof of their property. With access to the UK’s leading building specialists, Local Quoter can help ensure householders get a solar PV panels quote that will leave them with a warm feeling!

Les Yates, Marketing Manager at Local Quoter, said: “Low carbon energy generation is the future – and homeowners up and down the country are already enjoying the benefits that installing cheap solar panels can bring.

Via EPR Network
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Concentrated Solar Power (CSP): Millions of Losses with Wrong Components

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According to calculations by DLR (German Aerospace Center) the increase in yield resulting from annealed parabolic mirrors over a period of 25 years amounts to more than seven million Euros. This is based on independent figures and on the company’s practical experience with more than seven million solar mirrors that have been installed in the field for 30 years already.

In the industry it is discussed whether CSP solar mirrors made from tempered or annealed glass achieve a better overall performance. Manufacturers of tempered mirrors advertise lower costs for mirror replacement. This calculation fails to take account however of the higher plant yield that solar mirrors made of annealed glass achieve owing to their better precision collector interception.

The key parameters for the yield of a CSP plant are the bending properties of the mirrors. The basis for assessing the bending properties of a solar mirror is the focus deviation (FDx). This measures the frequency distribution of the real focus deviation in transversal (x) direction of the reflected beam from the ideal focul line of the collector parabola. Consequently, the lower the FDx value, the higher the plant yield. According to the calculations of the DLR each millimetre of decreased scattering loss amounts to an additional plant yield of 11.25 million Euros1 over a period of 25 years.

Based on these data, FLABEG Holding GmbH, the market leader in the field of glass finishing and the leading international manufacturer of solar mirrors has made the following calculation:

Yield and cost summary for a 50 MW plant with 23,000 tubes and 200,000 mirrors

Additional yield due to better precision collector interception (FDx): Annealed + 7,875.000 €1 Tempered 0

Costs for mirror replacements due to glass breakage:
Annealed – 650,000 € Tempered – 42,500 €
Costs for absorber tube replacements due to glass breakage: – Annealed 65,000 €
Tempered 0

Total: Annealed + 7,160.000 € Tempered – 42,500 €

Additional yield of the plant with annealed solar mirrors after 25 years: 7,117,500 €

Bases of calculation:
Average mirror breakage rate: annealed 0.20 %2, tempered 0.01 %3
Average absorber tube breakage rate: annealed 0.025 %2, tempered 0 %3
Precision rate / focus deviation: annealed FDx < 8 mm4, tempered FDx < 8.7 mm3

1Mean values according to calculations by the German Aerospace Center, reference
values: plant capacity 50 MW, period of observation 25 years, nominal glass
thickness 4 mm
2Average values according to KJC/Harper Lake, period of observation 10 years,
nominal glass thickness 4 mm
3Tempered glass manufacturer’s indications
4 Current average focus deviation of FLABEG parabolic solar mirrors

The result shows that during long-term observation, the annealed solar mirrors are markedly more profitable: More than seven million Euros of additional plant yield is achieved over the period of 25 years.

Axel Buchholz, CEO of FLABEG Holding GmbH, is able to confirm this calculation based on independent figures from his own practical experience: “Competitors advertise with extrapolations. In contrast, our solar mirrors have been in the field for 30 years already and have proven their durability and constantly high performance”. Another item of practical experience to be borne in mind: “Glass breakage generally arises only at the corners or edge of a mirror. Tempered glass shatters into a thousand individual pieces in this case, which may result in considerable damage to other components in the field. Our annealed mirrors on the other hand continue to remain operational”.

FLABEG, founded in 1882, is an independent company with 13 facilities in Europe, America and Asia. FLABEG is active in the commercial sectors of automotive mirrors, solar mirrors and technical glass; specializing in all processes of glass finishing. As the pioneer of solar technology with a worldwide network, FLABEG produces mirrors for all CSP-applications – Parabolic Trough, Dishes, Tower and Linear Fresnel. Due to latest coating technologies our solar mirrors are characterized by a reflectivity of more than 95%. FLABEG sets technological standards in terms of the company’s core competencies – bending and coating.

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npower Get Kids To Switch Off And Go Green This Half-Term

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In research published by npower Climate Cops parents reported that their children will spend an additional four hours watching TV, the same time again playing games consoles, and a staggering 2.5 hours blow drying and straightening their hair, during the forthcoming half-term.

npower Get Kids To Switch Off And Go Green This Half-Term

In an effort to help kids put down the controller, Climate Cops ‘No Power Hour’ is on a mission to keep kids entertained and think green over half-term, by encouraging children to switch off, get out there and try something new and spend an hour each day using no electricity.

Kids are being encouraged to unplug the computer games, put down the TV remote and turn off the iPod speakers and take part in No Power Hour by discovering fun things to do using nothing but their own energy and imagination.

Kids and families can get green ideas by clicking onto npower’s website where they will find interactive games to teach them to save energy, along with wall charts and stickers to keep track of progress made throughout the Climate Cops. No Power Hour mission.

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npower To Launch New TV Campaign

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npower will launch a new TV campaign promoting its new easier to understand bills from the beginning of February.

The new npower energy bills have been designed incorporating feedback from both Consumer Focus (the statutory consumer champion for the UK) and Which?. The bill carries the Plain English Crystal Mark for its ‘Jargon Busting’ page.

The new 20 second TV ad, designed and produced by Aardman Animations, features ‘Penny’, npower’s customer service representative, solving a ‘Countdown-style’ conundrum.

The new TV ad will be supported by a multi-media campaign that includes sponsorship of regional quiz and crossword pages, print advertising in match-day programmes across npower Football League clubs and a competition to win an Apple Ipad on npower.com

Kevin Peake, marketing director at npower said: “Over the last year a criticism often levelled at energy suppliers is that gas and electricity bills can be complicated to understand. We decided at an early stage to take action and started to make changes to the lay-out.

“We deliberately sought feedback from some of the industry’s fiercest critics, Consumer Focus and Which? and, where possible, we have included their recommendations. We will continue to seek feedback and constantly review our bills.”

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Energy, Oil & Gas, Politics

The Co-operative Calls For Moratorium On Shale Gas Extraction In The UK

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The Government should impose an immediate moratorium on the extraction of natural gas from the UK’s shale formations until all the ecological implications are fully understood.

That is the conclusion of a carefully considered report commissioned by The Co-operative to coincide with the UK premiere of the award winning film, Gasland, which shows the astonishing implications of shale gas extraction in the United States.

The report, written by the internationally respected Tyndall Centre, part of The University of Manchester, highlights evidence from the US, where some residents of Pennsylvania can now set fire to their drinking water, which suggests shale gas extraction brings a significant risk of groundwater contamination.

Moreover, the exploitation of gas shales is bringing new greenhouse gas sources into play and even a mid-range extraction scenario could see carbon dioxide levels rise globally by some 5 parts per million by 2050. This will further reduce any slim possibility of maintaining global temperature changes at or below 2˚C and thereby increase the risk of entering a period of ‘dangerous climate change’.

The report concludes that until a sufficient evidence base is developed, a precautionary approach to development in the UK is the only responsible action to take to minimise the potential impact on global climate change.

With conventional natural gas reserves declining globally, shale gas has emerged as a potentially significant new source of “unconventional gas”. In the United States, production of shale gas expanded fivefold between 1990 and 2008 and it is predicted that production will expand further to meet a significant proportion of US gas demand in the next 20 years.

The rapid growth of shale gas production in the US has raised interest in the UK, with a number of businesses beginning activities, particularly on the Fylde coast of North West England.

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Alternative Fuels, Energy, Heating, Natural Gas, Oil & Gas, Products

ZAP Engineering And Construction Services Inc. Names Carl Soderman As New President

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ZAP Engineering and Construction Services, Inc. (ZAP ECS), a leading full service engineering and construction management company serving the gas processing, pipeline, field services, petroleum, refinery, chemical and alternative energy industries, names Carl Soderman as President to manage the firms substantial team growth experienced over the past year and lead the firm into the future.

“Carl comes to our business with the experience needed to navigate ZAP’s evolving business expansion in a full range of professional services.,” said Steve Tzap, CEO of ZAP ECS. “His strong track record in operational efficiency and growth, combined with an emphasis on quality and customer focus will be the key assets to driving the continued success of our business.”

Soderman joins ZAP Engineering and Construction Services, Inc. as a recognized leader in engineering and operations with over 30 years of experience in the natural gas industry. His responsibilities have included engineering management, operations management, project development, project management and operations engineering. In directing groups in a leadership role, responsibilities have included asset planning and development, asset optimization, acquisition and merger due diligence and integration, and project delivery.

“ZAP’s business model is built upon client representation and personal attention as the foundation to the company’s philosophy. Monitoring the investments our clients allocate to each specific project is a key element to the “partners in business” commitment at ZAP,” commented Steve. “Soderman has broad management experience in executive and leadership positions across a wide range of commercial, operational, and quality functions, as well as familiarity with the ZAP organization.”

Prior to joining ZAP ECS, Soderman was Northern US Process Manager with Enerflex Energy Systems, Ltd., a division of Toromont Industries, Inc.(TSX: TIH), an international company delivering products, services and integrated solutions to all corners of the world, focusing on the natural gas industry. After graduating from University of Texas of Austin in 1979 his exceptional career background progressed from Project Engineer with Brown and Root to Manager of Operations, Process Engineering Manager to Vice President of Engineering with DCP Midstream.

“I am excited at the opportunity to lead the ZAP ECS organization,” said Carl Soderman. “The firm’s portfolio of services has tremendous recognition in the market. The challenge ahead is to leverage that awareness and continue to develop innovative products and services that the market demands and our customers expect.”

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Electricity, Electricity Generation, Energy, Oil & Gas, Projects

Wildcat Publishing Launches The Oil & Gas Year, India 2010

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New Delhi, November 2010 – Wildcat Publishing Inc. has launched its inaugural book on India – The Oil & Gas Year, India 2010 – a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the country’s energy industry. In partnership with the Petroleum Federation of India (PETROFED) and benefiting from the assistance of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the book was produced by a team of international journalists based in the country for more than 3 months and officially launched during Petrotech 2010, in the presence of S. Sundareshan, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and R.S Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

The Oil & Gas Year, India 2010 draws together interviews, articles and resources dedicated to every segment of the country’s energy industry, including exploration and production, downstream and refining, oilfield services and banking and finance. It highlights the path of India ‘s energy industry at a time of fast development, marked by success at home and recognised international expansion. The 197-page book showcases the views and opinions of the industry’s most influential figures, including S. Sundareshan , Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Vikram Singh Mehta, Chairman Shell India, B.M. Bansal, Chairman, IndianOil, P.M.S Prasad, Executive Director, Reliance Industries, N.M Borah, Chairman and Managing Director of Oil India.

“This book comes at a turning point for the Indian energy sector,” said Gilles Valentin, Editorial Director of The Oil & Gas Year . “The country has developed its cutting edge know-how, domestic production and global reach all in parallel and in a very spectacular manner. This shows the ample potential for more success ahead.”

The Oil & Gas Year, India 2010 gives in-depth coverage on India ‘s aggressive push to reduce its dependency on hydrocarbons imports. The country’s offshore upstream successes, thanks to its New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) and the push to develop alternative sources of energy, from unconventional gas to renewable and nuclear energy are covered and explained in The Oil & Gas Year India 2010. In total, the editorial team met with nearly 100 individuals and companies featured in the book. With 197 pages of interviews, viewpoints, articles, maps, companies and project highlights, investors spotlights and other key resources, this is the most complete and up-to date book ever published on the Indian oil & gas sector.

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