Industry News Roundup October 2018
Wednesday 31/10 – Cuadrilla urges the UK government to look again at the warning system for earthquakes and fracking. However, Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry confirms the rules will not be reviewed until the sector is commercially operational.
Tuesday 30/10 – The Committee on Climate Change calls for evidence to help it provide advice on the UK’s transition to a net-zero carbon economy. UK Energy Research Centre analysis of electricity prices finds UK policy costs are the lowest amongst the European study countries. EDF Energy partners with Nuvve to install up to 1,500 vehicle-to-grid chargers in the UK.
Monday 29/10 – Chancellor Philip Hammond delivers the Budget, confirming that, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK will impose an additional carbon tax to replace the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and freeze carbon price support for 2020-21. Business groups welcome the £315mn of funding earmarked for a low-carbon transition to replace Enhanced Capital Allowances, but green groups condemn the lack of support for low-carbon technologies. A study from the Crown Estate Scotland finds floating offshore wind could deliver up to 17,000 jobs and £33.6bn of value by 2050.
Friday 19/10 – The Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee calls for the government’s 2040 target for the end of petrol and diesel car sales to be brought forward to 2032. A new poll finds that 66% of rural Scotland supports the use of onshore wind energy.
Thursday 18/10 – Foresight Solar Fund raises £58mn through a share placement to fund the purchase of a portfolio of operational photovoltaic assets in the UK with an installed capacity of over 80MW. Global professional services firm PwC joins the RE100 initiative, committing to 100% renewable electricity.
Wednesday 17/10 – BEIS announces it will publish a Green Finance Strategy in the spring. Three of the UK’s largest generators write to the Chancellor to urge him to maintain a strong and stable carbon price in the upcoming Budget. The Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee announces investigation into gas security of supply.
Tuesday 16/10 – At Energy UK’s annual conference, Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry launches an energy data taskforce. The BEIS Heat Network Investment Project Main Scheme is launched. 30 of the UK’s largest companies commit to fresh action to address climate change, including HSBC pledging a £250mn investment in solar parks and windfarms and Amazon deploying up to 20MW of large-scale rooftop solar. The government and Ofgem publish a progress report on the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, with about half the actions completed so far. EDF Energy and Upside Energy announce deal to enable businesses to sell excess power through a cloud-based demand side response platform.
Monday 15/10 – The government’s Green GB Week launches, celebrating 10 years of the Climate Change Act 2008. The government publishes a request to the Committee on Climate Change seeking advice on the best way to meet a net zero emissions goal. BEIS also publishes its response to the Committee on Climate Change 2018 Progress Report to Parliament confirming it will launch a consultation ahead of the fourth Contracts for Difference allocation round in 2021 to further “refine” renewables policy. British Gas owner Centrica publishes a report claiming that new energy technology could meet more than half of the 20% emissions reduction target by 2030 for the healthcare, industry and hospitality sectors.
Friday 12/10 – The government releases its latest tranche of papers, confirming that in the event of no Brexit deal being reached the UK would immediately leave the EU Emissions Trading System and the Internal Energy Market. North Beck Energy secures planning approval for a £220mn waste to energy facility which will generate nearly 50MW. Research firm the Energy Technologies Institute says that the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy would only cost 1% of GDP.
Thursday 11/10 – The Committee on Climate Change warns that the Road to Zero Strategy is insufficient to deliver the transport emissions reduction required for the Fifth Carbon Budget. The government also removes incentives to buy the least efficient plug-in hybrid cars. Ofgem publishes its second annual State of the Energy Market Report, confirming a falling number of customers on default tariffs, as well as finding that smaller businesses are paying more for energy than larger businesses. National Grid publishes its Winter Outlook 2018-19, announcing that it is confident that winter energy demand will be met.
Wednesday 10/10 – The Competition and Markets Authority delivers its final report into the SSE-npower merger, approving the deal without conditions. Businesses and NGOs, as organised by Climate Action Network Europe, press the EU to focus next budget on climate action.
Tuesday 09/10 – The SNP’s annual conference in Glasgow, which started over the weekend, ends with Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands Paul Wheelhouse predicting renewables capacity in Scotland could double.
Monday 08/10 – A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that limiting global warming to 1.5C would require “rapid and far-reaching transitions” in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. The Business in the Community network calls for adherence to the recommendations made by a report by the International Panel on Climate Change on limiting global warming to a rise of 1.5C. The UK Atomic Energy Authority consults on a new £40mn thermal hydraulic research and testing facility proposed for North Wales. Centrica announces that it has completed construction of two new 50MW fast response gas power plants in Lincolnshire and Peterborough.
Written By Graham Paul
