Industry News Roundup July 2020
Friday 31/07 – The government publishes the outcomes of the consultation on the Climate Change Agreements scheme extension and reforms for any future scheme. This scheme enables energy intensive businesses to receive a discount on the Climate Change Levy.
Thursday 30/07 – The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) publishes the results of its Sixth Carbon Budget Call for Evidence, sharing stakeholder thoughts on policy actions and budget levels. Renewables’ share of the UK’s total electricity generation reached a record 37.1% in 2019, up from 33.1% in 2018, according to the government’s Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2020.
Wednesday 29/07 – Ofgem proposes a suite of additional protections for microbusinesses, including new rules for the brokers that suppliers work with. Ofgem publishes its RIIO-ED2 methodology, setting out proposals for the next price control period for electricity distribution networks.
Tuesday 28/07 – Business Secretary Alok Sharma grants Drax’s request to extend the commencement date for the building of its Progress Power rapid response gas plant, due to disruption caused by COVID-19.
Monday 27/07 – The West Yorkshire Combined Authority publishes its plan for achieving net zero by 2038. ScottishPower Renewables announces the completion of the East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm.
Friday 24/07 – BEIS opens a consultation on amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment regime for offshore oil and gas projects. Centrica enters into an agreement to sell its North America energy business Direct Energy for $3.6bn (£3.3bn).
Thursday 23/07 – There was a 12% increase in the number of Energy Company Obligation energy efficiency installations in May over April. OVO announces it is partnering with European energy supplier Eni gas e luce.
Wednesday 22/07 – UK industry will receive around £350mn to reduce carbon emissions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces. A new Heat Commission, convened by the CBI and University of Birmingham, urges the government to ban the installation of conventional gas boilers in homes from 2025.
Tuesday 21/07 – The Chancellor launches the Comprehensive Spending Review, with the report due to be published in the autumn. The Net Zero All-Party Parliamentary Group writes to the government, urging action to ensure a green recovery.
Monday 20/07 – Business Secretary Alok Sharma announces funding for new aerospace research and technology to help reduce emissions from the sector. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks outlines a principle of universal provision of electric vehicle infrastructure in its Accelerating a Green Recovery plan.
Friday 17/07 – BEIS announces that Sarah Munby will start in the role of Permanent Secretary from Monday 20 July, replacing Acting BEIS Permanent Secretary Sam Beckett. Manufacturer Britishvolt announces that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Welsh government to develop a commercially viable 30GWh battery manufacturing plant.
Thursday 16/07 – BEIS’s latest statistics indicate 8.2GW of renewables capacity is currently under construction in UK.
Wednesday 15/07 – The government announces a review into the existing offshore transmission regime to address the barriers it presents to further significant deployment of offshore wind, with a view to achieving net zero. Smart meter installations increased 25% in June compared with May, totaling 69,000, but are still 67% below June 2019, according to ElectraLink statistics.
Tuesday 14/07 – The government announces it is to relax planning laws for large-scale battery storage projects. Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng tells National Grid Electricity System Operator a total target capacity of 41.6GW has been set for the T-1 Capacity Market auction for 2021-22 and the T-4 auction for 2024-25. The Capacity Market guarantees GB’s security of supply.
Monday 13/07 – Energy UK’s latest monthly electricity switching figures, reveal that 450,000 customers switched supplier in June – up 1% on June 2019. The construction of the Viking Link interconnector between the UK and Denmark begins.
Friday 10/07 – Government updates post-Brexit electricity trading guidance. The government publishes the details of its Advanced Modular Reactor competition: phase 2 projects, announcing £40mn for them.
Thursday 09/07 – Some network companies will be allowed much less base revenue than they asked for over the RIIO-2 price control period, according to Ofgem’s draft determinations. BEIS Secretary and COP26 President Alok Sharma speaks at the International Energy Agency summit on clean energy transitions
Wednesday 08/07 – Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivers his summer statement. With a focus on economic recovery from COVID-19, he announces vouchers worth up to £5,000 to be invested in energy efficiency measures in the home
Tuesday 07/07 – Media reports say that the Chancellor is expected to announce a £2bn grant for home energy efficiency improvements. Statistics from RenewableUK’s report Recommendations for a Green Economic Recovery claim that next year’s Contract for Difference auction could lead to £20bn of investment and create 12,000 jobs.
Monday 06/07 – Emma Pinchbeck starts work as the new CEO of Energy UK.
Friday 03/07 –In her first major speech as Shadow Chancellor, Labour’s Anneliese Dodds called on the government to commit to a “Back to Work Budget”. She said every single project emerging from the COVID-19 crisis must be consistent with the drive to net zero so that the country can build the green jobs of the future. Think tank The Social Market Foundation warns that promises of a “green recovery” should be handled with “great care” or risk losing public support for climate action.
Thursday 02/07 – Low Carbon Contracts Company announces on that the East Anglia One offshore wind farm has started to receive payments under the Contracts for Difference scheme.
Wednesday 01/07 – Vattenfall announces it has been granted planning permission to build the 1.8GW Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind farm by the Business Secretary. E.ON and RWE announces the closure of their asset swap deal on Wednesday 1 July, resulting in RWE taking over innogy’s renewables and gas storage businesses.
Written By Graham Paul
