Industry News Roundup November 2016
Wednesday 30/11 - The European Commission launches its Winter Package of reforms, intended to maintain the EU’s competitiveness during the low-carbon transition. The Scottish government approves the construction of the 400MW Glenmuckloch pumped storage hydro facility in Dumfries and Galloway. National Grid confirms that the IFA interconnector with France will operate at a maximum capacity of 1,000MW until 28 February 2017 after cable damage.
Tuesday 29/11 - A poll by supplier E.ON UK has found that two-thirds (67%) of senior managers at medium and large businesses have no understanding of how their business buys its energy. Ofgem chooses Co-operative Energy to take on GB Energy Supply’s customers following a competitive process. Citizens Advice finds disruptive technologies in the energy market are likely to bring benefits to consumers. Office for National Statistics’ figures show the UK’s low-carbon and renewable energy industries generated £83.4bn in turnover in 2014.
Monday 28/11 - Barclays research finds that over a quarter of manufacturers regard energy supply as more of a concern to their businesses now than they did at the start of the year. BP confirms that it has acquired interests in two North Sea exploration prospects––Jock Scott and Craster.
Friday 25/11 - A new report by Cornwall says that nearly 7GW of coal capacity could be successful in next January’s early capacity market auction. Pennon confirms it will invest £252mn in a 33MW energy recovery facility in Avonmouth.
Friday 25/11 - A new report by Cornwall says that nearly 7GW of coal capacity could be successful in next January’s early capacity market auction. Pennon confirms it will invest £252mn in a 33MW energy recovery facility in Avonmouth.
Thursday 24/11 - The Renewable Energy Association praises the government’s announcement of further funding to support the reduction of emissions in the transport sector. Water supplier Severn Trent has says it remains “committed” to its goal of meeting 50% of its energy needs through renewables by 2020. Figures from the government reveal that coal contributed a record low of 4.3% of the electricity generation from major power producers between July-September.
Wednesday 23/11 - Chancellor Phillip Hammond delivers the Autumn Statement, deferring key energy decisions including the future pathways of the UK’s carbon price ( the Carbon Price Floor) and limits on renewables spending (the Levy Control Framework). EDF Energy launches the second stage of public consultation for the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk.
Tuesday 22/11 - Confidence in the government’s management of policy falls to its lowest ever level among energy efficiency suppliers in the business sector, according to EEVS’s quarterly survey. A league table released by the Green Alliance shows Gwynedd and Mid Glamorgan are the most improved counties across England and Wales for solar and wind power. Electricity is generated for the first time at DONG Energy’s Burbo Bank Extension offshore windfarm. The Scottish government refuses consent for RES’s 17-turbine windfarm in East Ayrshire.
Monday 21/11 - A survey for Scottish Power finds only one in 10 SMEs believe they have reduced their energy consumption in the last 12 months. Formal legal proceedings are issued at the High Court against the government’s decision to permit fracking in Lancashire. A survey by city analysts Lazarus finds consumers are taking an increasing interest in switching energy suppliers. Media sources report that business supplier ENGIE is set to enter the household supply market early next year.
Friday 18/11 - Policy Exchange argues there is a strong rationale for retaining the UK’s unilateral carbon tax—the Carbon Price Support—into the early 2020s to aid the closure of coal plants, but that it should then be removed in the mid-2020s. Energy efficiency investments delivered a £1.7bn improvement in the productivity of the UK economy between 2010-15, according to research from the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE).
Thursday 17/11 - The environmental audit select committee raises fresh concerns that the Treasury is failing to encourage progress towards the UK’s carbon budget targets. Shadow business and energy secretary Clive Lewis announces that the next Labour government would ensure that at least 60% of the country’s energy came from low-carbon or renewable sources by 2030.
Wednesday 16/11 - The government sets out its plans for implementing emissions controls on small local generators in order to improve air quality. The government also opens a public consultation on proposals to amend how the Standard Assessment Procedure assesses the energy performance of homes.
Tuesday 15/11 - An E3G study finds deploying a large volume of renewables remains the cheapest approach to decarbonisation, even when accounting for system integration costs. Nottinghamshire County Council grants approval to a bid by IGas to drill up to two exploratory shale gas wells in Mission, in north Nottinghamshire, and to develop a hydrocarbon well-site. The International Energy Agency warns that the climate ambition enshrined within the Paris Agreement has increased the need for carbon capture and storage. Energy supplier Good Energy launches its “Selectricty” platform, which allows businesses to choose from where they source their renewable power.
Monday 14/11 - An investigation by The Sun claims that the Big Six are making profits several times higher than previously reported. But trade organisation Energy UK says the figures have been misrepresented. The SNP calls on the UK government to use the Autumn Statement to provide further backing for the North Sea oil and gas industry.
Friday 11/11 - The vice-president of the European Commission says that a fully functioning internal electricity market will increase competition and help ease the burden of high energy prices. The International Energy Agency holds its outlook for global oil demand growth at 1.2mb/d in 2016 and 2017. Labour’s shadow minister for international climate change Barry Gardiner warns Brexit will mean several years of uncertainty in the UK energy sector.
Thursday 10/11 - A report by European regulators ACER and CEER finds that the downward trend in wholesale prices over the last few years is finally being reflected in the energy bills of industrial customers. The government and Ofgem open a call for evidence on developing a more flexible energy system, covering a range of issues including the removal of policy and regulatory barriers for storage, the roles of different parties in system and network operation, and providing price signals for flexibility. National Grid confirms that its operating profits reached £1.9bn in the first half of the year––up by 1% year-on-year. The government slightly reduces its estimate of the net economic benefits of the smart meter roll-out.
Wednesday 09/11 - The government publishes details of the next contracts for difference round, with applications opening in April 2017 for support for less established renewable technologies. The government also issues a consultation exploring options to regulate unabated coal-fired power stations off the system by 2025. Energy UK figures show that 577,810 customers switched electricity supplier in October. Scottish Renewables criticises the UK government’s move to delay a decision on whether renewables on the Scottish Islands should be offered contracts for difference support.
Tuesday 08/11 - A parliamentary committee launches an investigation into the Levy Control Framework, the mechanism by which the government limits the impacts of renewables spending on bills. The Energy Technologies Institute finds there are no technical barriers to successfully combining bioenergy with carbon capture and storage in the UK. A series of research reports commissioned by the Scottish government shows a Scottish fracking industry could deliver significant economic benefits, but its safety cannot be guaranteed.
Monday 07/11 - Analysis from think tank Policy Exchange shows creating a smarter and more flexible power system could save £8bn by 2030. Oil and Gas UK calls on chancellor Phillip Hammond to boost investor confidence in the North Sea. Industry group the CBI hails the government’s decision to re-focus energy efficiency spending on the fuel poor, but has said that further consideration must be given to the future able-to-pay market. National Grid publishes its second Capacity Market Notice of the year, warning of an insufficient buffer between supply and demand.
Friday 04/11 - A CBI survey finds more than four-fifths (83%) of businesses lack confidence in the UK’s ability to meet the requirements of the Paris climate agreement. The Scottish Labour Party confirms that it will introduce a bill at Holyrood that seeks to ban fracking. The UN Environment Programme warns that global emissions in 2030 will, without further policy action, be around 25% too high to meet long-term emissions goals.
Thursday 03/11 - Industry group Energy UK calls on Chancellor Phillip Hammond to use this month’s Autumn Statement to clarify the future of the UK’s carbon price. A coalition of energy industry stakeholders has said the EU’s market design initiative should aim to ensure that no coal is in the bloc’s electricity mix by 2030.
Wednesday 02/11 - Smart Energy GB announces that 86% of senior UK business leaders consider the smart meter roll-out important for the UK economy. The Scottish government warns that at least £1.3bn of investment in renewables on the Scottish Islands is being put at risk by indecision over the contracts for difference regime. uSwitch finds nearly 2.5mn households will head into the winter in debt to their energy suppliers. A partnership is announced between E.ON UK’s energy efficiency business and Edinburgh City Council to reduce on-site energy costs by 24% at nine public buildings, as part of the city's aim to reduce carbon emissions by more than 40% by 2020.
Tuesday 01/11 - New PwC research shows that the UK remains among the world’s leaders on progress towards decarbonising the economy. BP announces that its profits fell by nearly 50% in the third quarter of 2016. Analysis by the Energy Technologies Institute warns that the UK’s network infrastructure will need to be upgraded in order to cater for the changing energy supply. Solar Media statistics show the UK deployed only 82MW of solar PV in the third quarter of 2016.
Written By Graham Paul
