GreenWise top 10 green business stories of 2014

Major solar farms to built on three former Nottinghamshire colliery sites was our most popular story of the year, though in terms of volume of stories, the Green Deal pre-occupied our readers the most throughout the here.

Here is a run-down of our top 10 green business stories of 2014:

1. 30MW of solar to be built on former Nottinghamshire colliery sites
Three formers collieries are set to witness what is being billed as “major regeneration” as a 30 megawatt solar array is installed across brownfield sites in the East Midlands.

2. UK’s biggest coastal flood management scheme
An ambitious and controversial coastal realignment scheme – billed as the largest in the UK in modern times – has been completed, with sea water pouring on to the Steart peninsula in Somerset for the first time in centuries.

3. Queen’s speech: zero carbon homes plans “worst row-backs on green policy”
The green building and renewable energy sectors have reacted angrily to new legislation introduced today in the Queen’s Speech that effectively waters-down a previous pledge that all new homes will need to be zero carbon by 2016.

4. £10m tide and wave simulator opens in Edinburgh
A £10.5 million marine research centre has opened in Edinburgh, featuring the world’s most sophisticated tide and wave simulator.

5. RBS launches energy efficiency loan fund for SMEs
UK small businesses can now access energy efficiency loans and energy saving advice from one of Britain’s biggest banks.

6. Small businesses hit by ongoing Green Deal payment delays
Small businesses say they continue to be left out of pocket and are facing job losses in the debacle following the sudden closure of a multi-million pound cashback scheme to drive take up of the Green Deal, the Government’s beleaguered energy efficiency programme.

7. Crowdfunding platform Abundance targets £4m renewable energy projects
Abundance Generation, the crowd-funding platform that allows direct investment in UK renewable energy, is looking to extend its portfolio to bigger budget projects in 2014 in a bid to get more people investing in renewables.

8. Green Deal cashbacks see surge in applications in first week
Recent changes to the Green Deal are showing early signs of success, with an estimated £2.61 million issued to households in cashbacks during the renovated scheme’s first week.

9. Green Investment Bank and Societe Generale launch £50m energy efficiency fund
The Green Investment Bank (GIB) has teamed up with France’s Societe Generale to create a £50 million fund to help unlock non-domestic energy efficiency projects in the UK.

10. Green Deal hit by concerns over unclaimed cashback vouchers
The Green Deal is under fire again following the sudden closure of a cashback scheme to boost take up of the Government’s flagship energy efficiency programme, with fears that large sums snatched up in the final days will go unclaimed.