Industry News Roundup July 2017
Monday 31/07 – JP Morgan Chase announces plans to facilitate $200bn in clean energy financing through to 2025. National Grid issues notice of gas transmission charges to apply from 1 October. The Business Energy Efficiency programme in Cambridgeshire announces it has already supported 36 SMEs to help cut their carbon and identified over £200,000 in savings. Ofgem commits to continued engagement on European issues whilst the UK remains in the European Union in its annual National Report to the European Commission.
Friday 28/07 – EDF’s half year results show UK profits were down 34.4% in H1 2017, due to lower prices earned by its nuclear fleet and reduced demand on warmer weather. Engineering consultancy Amec Foster Wheeler announces that it has been appointed by BEIS to lead a £2.9mn nuclear research programme.
Thursday 27/07 – The government publishes the annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics, confirming a steep fall in coal generation in 2016 – more than halving from 76TWh to 31TWh. Lightsource and BlackRock Real Assets finalise a strategic partnership aimed at targeting the acquisition and ownership of UK solar power generation assets. Communities and Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid refuses planning permission for Good Energy’s planned 38.5MW Big Field windfarm in Cornwall. An ENGIE survey finds just 1% of the population is on a green tariff.
Wednesday 26/07 – The government announces that sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be banned by 2040. A survey by consultancy Engine shows that the utilities industry has done more than any other sector to improve the customer experience. Andrea Coscelli is announced as the new CEO of the Competition and Markets Authority. Ofgem data shows that the number of accreditations made under the non-domestic renewable heat incentive fell significantly in 2016-17.
Tuesday 25/07 – The Carbon Trust confirms it will be running the government’s £9.2mn Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator to lower energy costs and improve the global competitiveness of British industry. A consultation on the review of the Secure and Promote wholesale electricity liquidity requirements on larger suppliers is opened by Ofgem. The European Commission approves EPH’s acquisition of two UK gas-fired plants from Centrica.
Monday 24/07 – The government and Ofgem unveil their plans to promote a smart and flexible energy future. Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark also announces the launch of a £45mn Battery Institute competition, which aims to establish a centre for research to make the technology more accessible and affordable. Ofgem launches its Significant Code Review on electricity settlement reform, meaning ultimately all customers could see their energy bills based on their actual consumption.
Friday 21/07 – Foresight Group announces the acquisition of the Nevendon 10MW battery storage project from GRIDSERVE and Aura Power. The Sustainable Gas Institute at Imperial College London assesses options for greener gas grids, suggesting decarbonisation standards will be needed if decarbonised gas networks are pursued. A letter from leading companies and investors – including The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group, IEMA, UK Green Building Council and techUK – has urged the Prime Minister to raise the government’s ambition towards a zero-carbon economy.
Thursday 20/07 – RWE launches the planning process to construct a 2.5GW CCGT power station at Tilbury in Essex. SSE confirms that its total energy customer accounts fell from 8.0mn at 30 March 2017 to 7.77mn at 30 June 2017, while on the wholesale side, its seven new windfarms remain on track to commission in 2017-18.
Wednesday 19/07 – BEIS confirms it will implement an exemption for energy-intensive industries from the costs of the Renewables Obligation, increasing bills for other energy users. The Scottish Court of Session refuses the RSPB’s application to appeal to the Supreme Court its earlier decision reinstating planning permission for the £2bn 450MW Neart na Gaoithe offshore windfarm, clearing the way for its CfD to be reinstated.
Tuesday 18/07 – Government Major Projects Portfolio Data reveals that whole life cost estimates for Hinkley Point C have increased from £14bn in 2015 to £50bn. Analysis by Friends of the Earth concludes that there is no scope for any new coal, oil or gas exploration if climate change goals are to be met, including no fracking developments in the UK.
Monday 17/07 – Labour Shadow Energy Minister Alan Whitehead warns time is running out to make up on lost ground to meet the Fourth Carbon Budget. Figures from the Go Ultra Low campaign confirm that electric and plug-in hybrid car registrations have continued to rise this year. Centrica says its European oil and gas exploration and production business is to merge with Bayerngas Norge AS.
Friday 14/07 – The Royal Academy of Engineering reports that biofuels have a role to play in meeting the UK’s commitments to climate change mitigation, especially so-called second generation biofuels made from wastes and by-products of other sectors. New Nuclear Watch Europe warns that if the 14.5GW of new nuclear capacity envisaged by 2035 in the Two Degrees scenario of National Grid’s Future Energy Scenarios is to be achieved then urgent action is required.
Thursday 13/07 – National Grid releases its 2017 Future Energy Scenarios, finding that new technologies and evolving business models are rapidly transforming the sector. EDF Energy Renewables announces that it has bought 11 wind farm sites from Partnerships for Renewables. The Oil and Gas Authority confirms it has awarded 12 licences to 10 companies in the 2016 Supplementary Offshore Licensing Round.
Wednesday 12/07 – Citizens Advice research finds that consumers are overpaying for energy networks by £7.5bn over the course of the current eight-year price control. Media reports indicate economist Dieter Helm has been selected to carry out the government’s review into the cost of energy in the UK. Labour’s Rachel Reeves is elected as the Chair of the Commons business, energy and industrial strategy select committee. Innovate UK invites businesses to apply for a share of £35mn for projects which support the development of both low-carbon transportation and a UK supply chain.
Tuesday 11/07 – The governments sets out its decision for implementing emissions controls on small generators in order to improve air quality. The House of Lords EU energy and environment sub-committee launches a new inquiry into post-Brexit energy security. Former Energy Minister Charles Hendry states that he is hopeful of a definitive answer soon on support for the Swansea Bay tidal scheme.
Monday 10/07 – The Climate Group’s RE100 initiative welcomes its hundredth member, with AkzoNobel N.V., AXA, Burberry and the Carlsberg Group all committing to move to sourcing 100% of their electricity from renewable sources. Centrica begins construction on a new 50MW back-up power plant in Peterborough.
Friday 07/07 – In a letter to National Grid, Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark confirms the volume of capacity to be secured in the upcoming capacity auctions for 2021-22 and 2018-19. In a joint statement, the leaders of the G20 countries – while noting the US announcement to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement – state that the accord is “irreversible”.
Thursday 06/07 – Business group the CBI calls on the government to stay in the single market and customs union until a final Brexit deal is in force, allowing continuity for business operations. Supplier SSE urges the Scottish and UK governments to provide support for continued onshore wind development. Ofgem opens an investigation into British Gas over potential licence breaches regarding switching terms for microbusinesses.
Wednesday 05/07 – The Association for Decentralised Energy argues that the capacity market is undermining the UK’s industrial strategy and resulting in hundreds of millions in extra costs to decarbonise the energy system. The Department for Transport launches its transport investment plan for Britain, reaffirming its backing for an early transition to ultra-low emission vehicles. New research finds members of the Better Buildings Partnership have increased the energy efficiency of their portfolios by 25% since 2011.
Tuesday 04/07 – Junior energy minister Richard Harrington confirms that the government will support the development of onshore wind in the remote islands of Scotland. The Solar Trade Association celebrates Solar Independence Day, highlighting official figures showing solar power in the UK had grown to a record 12.3GW capacity. A statutory consultation is opened by Ofgem to implement its recent decisions on network price controls, aiming to cut costs on energy bills.
Monday 03/07 – Ofgem confirms it will investigate how it can help microbusinesses in the energy market, including potentially extending existing domestic protections. Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark says he stands prepared to legislate should Ofgem’s proposals not go far enough in eradicating the detriment to consumers identified in the CMA’s energy market investigation. EDF confirms that the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is facing a £1.5bn cost overrun.
Written By Graham Paul
