Industry News Roundup May 2012
Friday 11/05––DECC publishes a report looking at the options for reducing the costs of carbon capture and storage technology that finds costs will fall substantially as the technology matures. A new report by the UK Energy Research Centre calls for an international demonstration of a smart grid to boost the deployment of smart technologies.
Thursday 10/05––The energy and climate change select committee launches an inquiry to examine the draft Energy Bill with a view to reporting soon after the summer recess on 17 July to aid preparations for the introduction of the bill in the autumn. Chair of the Office of Renewable Energy Deployment Bernie Bulkin tells an audience in London that the UK’s 2020 target of 15% renewable energy is achievable and that his team will help drive down costs. A new survey by the Forum of Private Business finds energy costs and access to effective telecommunications are the most important infrastructure issues faced by small businesses.
Wednesday 09/05––The Queen delivers her speech at the State Opening of Parliament. The speech confirms an Energy Bill will be tabled in the next parliamentary session to bring forward the government’s Electricity Market Reform proposals that will “keep the lights on and emissions down”. The speech also confirms the government’s intention to establish the Green Investment Bank as part of an Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. CBI director general John Cridland says the test for the government’s legislation will be whether it helps UK businesses to grow.
Tuesday 08/05––DECC opens a consultation on proposals to simplify the legal requirements for participants in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The UK intends to offer smaller emitters and hospitals the chance to “opt out” from 2013 into an alternative scheme. Environment Agency chair Lord Smith offers support for nuclear energy and says shale gas will be a “useful addition” to the UK’s energy mix, provided it is done safely and with carbon capture and storage. In a letter to the deputy prime minister Nick Clegg the Aldersgate Group calls on the government to ensure large companies report annual information on their greenhouse gas emissions.
Monday 07/05––Writing for the Guardian deputy prime minister Nick Clegg outlines how lowering energy bills must be a key part of the coalition’s agenda for the coming year. A new report by DECC and RenewableUK finds in 2011 onshore wind was worth £548mn to the UK and forecasts that if onshore wind is deployed at the scale suggested in the UK’s Renewable Energy Road-map, the economy could benefit to the tune of £0.78bn by 2020.
Friday 04/05––DECC announces climate change minister Greg Barker will lead a UK business trade mission to three southern states in the US to strengthen corporate ties and build the business case for moving to a low-carbon economy. A joint DECC/ industry report shows the UK’s onshore wind industry provides economic benefits at “all levels”. Ahead of the upcoming Rio+20 Earth Summit in June UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon calls on businesses to increase their commitment to sustainability.
Thursday 03/05––At a UK Energy Summit chairman of the energy and climate change select committee Tim Yeo says there can be no further delays in decision-making to build new electricity generation capacity in the UK to prevent “the lights going out” at times we do not want them to. Business leaders party to the Prince of Wales’s EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change call on the European Commission to redouble green growth efforts and strengthen the EU emissions trading scheme.
Wednesday 02/05––DECC launches a call for evidence on the new gas generation strategy to ensure energy security in the UK and to achieve carbon reduction targets. The BBC reports the government is putting the Electricity Market Reform (EMR) legislation on hold to make room for the House of Lords reform. But DECC is quick to deny any delays and says it is committed to legislating for EMR in the forthcoming parliamentary session.
Tuesday 01/05––Shadow energy and climate change secretary Caroline Flint warns the UK is set to miss its solar power deployment target by more than 160 years. DECC announces the chief executive of the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Association Jeff Chapman is to become the new chair of the government’s CCS Cost Reduction Task Force to make the technology cost competitive with other low-carbon alternatives.
