Industry News Roundup September 2018
Friday 28/09 – The UK, Canada, Denmark and Spain are the latest countries to join a global coalition, which aims to deliver net zero emissions. Elexon raises the Credit Assessment Price (CAP) value from £59/MWh to £75/MWh. Citizens Advice lodge a super-complaint with the Competition and Markets Authority, warning that customers who stay loyal to their providers are losing out on over £4bn a year savings.
Thursday 27/09 – Government figures show the share of renewables in the UK’s electricity generation mix hit a record high of 31.7% in Q2 2018, while coal dropped to an all-time low of 1.6%. Ofgem orders all 11 of the UK's biggest suppliers to improve the way they deal with customer complaints. The New Nuclear Watch Institute releases analysis warning that opting for a build out of gas-fired generation to support renewables deployment would impose unnecessary costs and render it impossible to meet climate goals.
Wednesday 26/09 – Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn pledges to significantly expand the number of green jobs in the economy, backed by fresh investment. UK peer-to-peer platform Abundance launches a £2.9mn crowdfunding scheme to refinance a portfolio of operational medium wind turbines owned by E2 Energy.
Tuesday 25/09 – Shadow Business and Energy Secretary Rebecca Long Bailey commits Labour to a net zero emissions target by 2050, with plans including 52GW of offshore wind. EU Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete says that electricity could meet almost half of EU energy demand by 2050. SSE confirms it is to double its share in Seagreen Wind Energy by buying the remaining 50% stake.
Monday 24/09 – The government publishes “no deal” Brexit guidance on low-carbon electricity generation. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell announces that the Labour Party is launching a large-scale consultation on democracy in public services, including utilities. Total announces a “major gas discovery” on the Glendronach prospect, west of Shetland. The Committee on Climate Change publishes a report which finds that Scotland is outperforming the rest of the UK in reducing emissions.
Friday 21/09 – Martin Cave is confirmed as Chair of energy regulator Ofgem.
Thursday 20/09 – BEIS data shows that non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive deployment during the month was “much lower than the average” for the prior 12 months. Business consortium the PaddingtonNow Business Improvement District and hospitality firm Considerate Hoteliers announce that they are working together to reduce resource consumption, carbon emissions and air pollution in Paddington, central London. Policy Exchange recommends reforms to encourage the uptake of the hydrogen economy. Gore Street acquires two battery storage projects from Origami Energy, taking its portfolio to 29MW across four projects.
Wednesday 19/09 – The Treasury awards £36mn to a consortium led by Swansea University to develop building materials that generate energy. Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry gives Hydraulic Fracturing Consent to shale gas operator Cuadrilla for its second well at its Preston New Road site in Lancashire.
Tuesday 18/09 – Chinese nuclear energy company CNG says that “political sensitivities” could lead to it giving up the chance to operate its planned Bradwell power station in Essex. A 50% stake in the Hornsea 1 offshore windfarm is sold by Ørsted to Global Infrastructure Partners for £4.46bn.
Monday 17/09 – A new report from Imperial College London and Drax warns that the UK’s ability to hit its emissions targets is being threatened by a recent increase in the use of coal. RenewableUK celebrates the UK surpassing 20GW of wind generation capacity.
Friday 14/09 – Foreign Office Minister Mark Field attends the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco reiterating UK climate commitments. A further 10 states and cities join up to the Powering Past Coal Alliance, committing to phasing out coal by 2030.
Thursday 13/09 – The government publishes a series of “no deal” Brexit guidance papers on subjects including the Industrial Emissions Directive, oil and gas licensing and Projects of Common Interest, including interconnectors. Imperial College London launches £7mn project to provide the UK with evidence and data needed to ensure the country can build a low-carbon future.
Wednesday 12/09 – Demand-side response specialists Flexitricity secures almost £500,000 from the government for a project that allows small to medium-sized enterprises to participate in balancing supply and demand. Welsh Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford announces £10.3mn of new funding for the country’s marine technology sector. A report by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society outlines the actions needed for the UK to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Tuesday 11/09 – Prime Minister Theresa May announces £106mn in funding for projects developing innovative battery, vehicle and refuelling technology at the first Zero Emission Vehicle Summit. A letter signed by a cross-party group of 133 MPs and 51 peers is delivered to the Prime Minister calling for the UK to adopt a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target before 2050. Ofgem seeks views on whether the Capacity Market rules meet their objectives. Carbon Tracker research predicts that global demand for fossil fuels will peak in the 2020s due to rapid global growth in clean energy technologies.
Monday 10/09 – The Green New Deal Group, an organisation backed by MPs and industry associations, launches a report calling for a programme of investment in green infrastructure to strengthen the economy. Oil and Gas UK warns that a no-deal Brexit risks production shutdowns in the North Sea. Community energy consultancy Pixie Energy publishes its response to the government’s Feed-in Tariff call for evidence, recommending a Transitional Offtake Tariff to support continued deployment of small low-carbon generators from April 2019.
Friday 07/09 – Nicola Sturgeon officially opens the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre in Aberdeen Bay. National Grid submits its application to the Planning Inspectorate for a second connection for Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station. A group of 16 of the UK’s largest van fleet operators pledge an initial £40mn investment over the next two years to begin switching their diesel vans to electric models. Sun Investment Group predicts that a reduction in the price of solar modules will make solar the most competitive energy source in Europe by 2020.
Thursday 06/09 – Danish energy company Ørsted officially opens the Walney Extension, making it the world’s largest operational offshore windfarm. Analysts at EY reveals that power and utility investment deals around the world reached a record half-year high of $180bn (£139bn) during H1 2018. The Global Impact Investing Network announced that investors need to allocate $5-7trn (£3.7-5.4trn) to companies and projects that support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if 2030 targets are to be met.
Wednesday 05/09 – The government confirms it will invest up to £44mn in its Advanced Modular Reactor Feasibility and Development project on nuclear power. Appearing before a Commons committee, former BP boss Trevor Garlick warns that without a sector deal, the UK oil and gas industry could miss out compared to other countries. Green investment could add $26trn (£20.1trn) to the world economy by 2030, according to a report published by research organisation The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate.
Tuesday 04/09 – Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces that this year the Scottish government will invest £15mn to add an additional 1,500 electric vehicle charging points across the country. A £20mn pilot project to trial hydrogen supply is launched by the UK government. Spirit Energy confirms it will invest in oil exploration and appraisal west of Shetland for the first time early next year.
Monday 03/09 – An alliance of businesses and energy groups raise concerns that failure to agree a comprehensive post-Brexit energy and climate deal could see energy bills rise. Industry body the Energy Networks Association (ENA) launches a Call for Ideas for the £90mn Network Innovation Competition.
Written By Graham Paul
