BRYSON ENERGY
Laurence Arbuckle
Senior Manager
9th February 2012
Bryson Energy
• Northern Ireland’s regional energy agency
• Aim: “to secure the support and active engagement of NI’s
energy users, particularly householders, in implementing
strategies, programmes and measures to combat climate
change”
• Bryson Energy replaced the three former energy agencies set
up in the 1990s including the Foyle Regional Energy Agency,
established by Derry City Council
• Offices in Clarendon Street, Derry (four staff), Belfast &
Enniskillen
• Council representation on Bryson Energy board
Activities
1. Impartial Energy Advice (funded by Dept. of Energy & Climate
Change through Energy Saving Trust)
2. Scheme Management (e.g. Warm Homes, NISEP, EU projects)
3. Grant Administration (e.g. Cosy Homes, Insulation Cashback)
4. Bryson Education (e.g. Rethink Waste, Bryson Energy
Efficiency Programme)
5. Home Visits (e.g. Heatsmart & Firmus Care)
6. Benefit Entitlement & Maximisation Checks (For Your Benefit
& Maximising Access)
7. Providing & Installing Measures (Bryson Energy Services
through subcontractors)
Energy Advice
• In 2010-11, free and impartial advice to 39,000+
householders on energy saving, renewable energy,
green transport, reducing waste and water
• Referred 19,543 callers to grant schemes
• Freephone 0800 512 012
Scheme Management
Bryson Energy is one of two Scheme Managers for
the DSD’s Warm Homes Scheme – the Assembly’s
main tool for tackling fuel poverty in NI.
Outputs for 2011/12 include:
• Total homes helped to date (insulation and/or
heating) = 3,837
Grant Administration
Insulation Cashback Scheme & the Cosy Homes
Scheme
Outputs for 2010/2011:
• Insulation Cashback: 1,564 CWI/LI installations
• Cosy Homes: 500 heating installations
• Cosy Homes Insulation: 380 CWI/LI installations
EU Projects
• Funded by EU Intelligent Energy Programme – 3 years
• Minus 3% - working with 6 European partners to promote energy
savings with local authorities
• Partner with Derry City Council
• Promotion 3E
• New EU standards for electrical goods from 2011
• Worked with 8 European partners to promote awareness of new EU
labelling for white goods among staff of small retailers
• Washing machines & Dishwashers - EU rolling out A+++, A++ and A+ in
2011-12
Bryson Education
Bryson Education provides visits to primary and
secondary schools.
1. Energy efficiency – NIHE Schools Programme – 260
schools – Key Stage 2
2. Waste reduction, reuse and recycling – Rethink Waste
– 42 schools (50% from highest 30% of socially
deprived wards) – leading to Eco-schools award.
Home Visits
Bryson Energy provides advice and information on the energy
efficient use of heating systems to householders.
1.
2.
NIHE Tenants - Heatsmart Programme
FirmusCare – homeowners & NIHE gas users
Outputs for 2011/12:
• 8,300 homes visited
Benefit Assessments
Bryson Energy provides benefit assessments to householders.
1. Warm Homes
2. For Your Benefit (Power NI Scheme)
3. Firmuscare +
Outputs for 2010/11 include:
• 5,671 benefit checks completed
• £32.71 average increase per week per household
Bryson Energy Services
• Bryson Energy works with accredited sub-contractors to
carry out installations.
• In 2010/11, Bryson put £4M directly back into the local
economy through payments to sub contractors and approx
£1.8M indirectly through grants.
Services include:
• Loft and cavity insulation
• Heating and solar panel installation
Microgeneration
• Provide support and guidance to householders interested in
installing domestic microgeneration
• The Technical Manager works to build up and support the
installer base and to encourage registration for
Microgeneration Certified Supplier register
(MCS)
Curryfree Community Wind Fund
• Curryfree Wind Farm, Co Derry
• ESB Energy International
• Bryson Energy manages grants to local
community groups - £15k per annum
Microgen- financial support
• No grants at present
• No feed-in tariffs in NI
NIROCs (Northern Ireland Renewable Obligation Certificates)
• 4 NIROCs for electricity generating technologies - 17.2p/kWh - (need
generation meter)
• On site use – offsets cost of grid electricity at 17.83p/kWh
• Export Tariff – NIE pays 6.39p/kWh for renewable export
(need import/export meter)
Potential NI RHI (Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive)
• Proposed support for heat generating technologies - yet to be confirmed
Support for Heat Generating Technologies
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
• UK
UK Government financial incentive for renewable heat
• UK
£860m from 2011-12 to 2014-15 directly funded by Government
• UK
Starting in June 2011 – ON HOLD
• NI
£25m offered by UK Treasury for NI RHI from 2011-12 to 2014-15
• NI DETI Minister has indicated that NI RHI will be implemented, if
economically viable – scoping study underway
• NI
Systems installed from Sept 2010 will be eligible
• NI An NI RHI will stimulate the local market for solar thermal panels,
biomass boilers and heat pumps
Issues & Concerns
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No local funding for independent advice
EST funding to end in March 2012
Higher fuel, lower income, more fuel poverty
Warm Homes grant cut £20m - £13m
No Green Deal here
Green Rates rebate closure by NI govt
Fear of Renewable Heat Incentive stalling in NI
Protectionism – govt departments pulling contracts
in-house
Fuel Poverty Concerns
• Average NI household pays £2,114 a year for heating and
electricity - more than double the highest energy bill in
Britain (General Consumer Council)
• 44% in fuel poverty as opposed to 16% in England
• Highest in NIHE sector, private rented
• Also older dwellings and among elderly
• Much of it due to price of fuel especially oil
• Oil not regulated as gas/ electricity
• If paid for up front - prices vary • 1,000 litres - £590 in Derry on Friday
• 1,000 litres in containers costs £650 – extra £60.
Plans
• Launch of new energy efficiency helpline for
Northern Ireland
• One stop shop for householders
• To research energy brokering pilot in Derry
City Council area
• Home visits
• EU and cross border projects
• Support to Council
• Schools
Thank you for your continuing support
Laurence Arbuckle
02871 273074
larbuckle@brysonenergy.org