Industry News Roundup October 2019

Friday 11/10 – The National Infrastructure Commission releases a report concluding that the UK will fail to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 if regulators are not given new powers to ensure utility companies invest in sustainable infrastructure. The Renewable Energy Association publishes ElectraLink data showing that battery storage exports to GB distribution networks increases 600% between 2017and 2018.

Thursday 10/10 – The government launches a consultation on finalising the design of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (to help businesses with high energy bills increase their energy efficiency). The Scottish government launches a consultation on local energy systems. Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn talks about the party’s net zero plans in a speech, highlighting a Green New Deal and a five-fold increase in the UK’s offshore wind capacity. The Environment Agency announces its intention to become net zero by 2030.

Wednesday 09/10 – National Grid ESO publishes the 2019-20 Winter Outlook Report, reporting that winter energy demand will be met. Scottish government launches green investment programme. ClientEarth reveals that it is considering legal action against the government’s decision to greenlight Drax’s application to convert its Selby coal-fired station to gas.

Tuesday 08/10 – Utility Week reports that a new survey commissioned by npower showed that only 18% of energy managers say reaching sustainability goals is their top business priority. The government extends the Hornsea Three offshore wind farm application decision deadline to March 2020.

Monday 07/10 – The government launches Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund. Scotland’s Climate Week begins. The Energy Consortium announces an aggregated power purchase agreement worth £50mn, delivering renewable power to twenty universities across the UK.

Written By Graham Paul

Friday 04/10 – BEIS publishes the Energy Emergencies Executive Committee (E3C) interim report on the 9 August power disruption, making a series of recommendations. The World Energy Council (WEC) publishes a ranking of countries by their energy trilemma score, with the UK (81.5) ranking fourth behind Denmark (84.7), Sweden (85.2) and Switzerland (85.8).

Thursday 03/10 – Ofgem releases its 2019 State of the Market Report, which finds that SMEs and microbusinesses also continue to pay higher prices than larger businesses. Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom announces the government’s plans to commit £220mn to the conceptual design of a fusion power station, the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), with the aim to turn this into a commercial technology to support global energy demand.

Wednesday 02/10 – The Energy Networks Association responds to BEIS and Ofgem’s open letter on the Open Networks Project. Ofgem appoints Jonathan Brearley as its new Chief Executive. Current Chief Executive Dermot Nolan will remain in the post until the end of February.

Tuesday 01/10 – Utility Week reports that Ombudsman Services has called for powers to assist more smaller businesses with complaints about their utility services. Ofgem orders four energy suppliers to pay £14mn in renewables support costs.

Written By Graham Paul