Industry News Roundup September 2020
Wednesday 30/09 – Green Homes Grant opens for applications. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) launches consultation on a suite of policy proposals towards upgrading as many private rented sector homes as possible to EPC Band C by 2030 in England and Wales.
Tuesday 29/09 – A poll carried out by YouGov on behalf of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit finds that 62% of homeowners in England are interested in the government’s Green Homes Grant – the government’s proposed new scheme to help decarbonise homes.
Monday 28/09 – During a debate in the Lords, the government says the Energy White Paper will consider the role of technologies such as hydrogen and nuclear in the energy transition. Ofgem issues three decisions approving the use of National Grid Electricity System Operator’s (ESO) new Dynamic Containment product – this is a new way for the ESO to maintain the grid’s frequency.
Friday 25/09 – The government’s Jet Zero Council is launched with the aim of delivering sustainable aviation fuel and ultimately zero emission aviation. Current reports that renewables, green hydrogen and CCUS key to “Herculean” task of hitting Paris Climate Agreement, according to a new report from global energy consultants Wood Mackenzie.
Thursday 24/09 – Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls on nations to announce “transformational net zero targets and bold climate finance pledges” on 12 December, when the UK is set to co-host an event with the UN to mark the five-year anniversary of the landmark Paris Agreement.
Wednesday 23/09 – The government launches a new Green Homes Grant skills training competition, which will aim to bring forward investment in domestic energy performance and low carbon heating through subsidies. RenewableUK publishes its Renewable Hydrogen - Seizing the UK Opportunity study, urging the government to support the rapid development of green hydrogen production.
Tuesday 22/09 – The government launches an open consultation seeking views on policy design options for a new Green Gas Levy on gas suppliers to fund support for green gas injection into the grid. The government calculated that the impact on annual gas bills will “peak at around £6.90”. Introducing a new hydrogen target and mixing more hydrogen into gas would reduce carbon emissions by 6mn tonnes a year, according to a new report from the Energy Networks Association.
Monday 21/09 – The government announces a series of new climate commitments at the launch of Climate Week NYC, which runs alongside the UN General Assembly. The Zero Carbon Campaign publishes How Carbon Pricing Can Help Britain Achieve Net Zero by 2050, which outlines how the government can introduce carbon pricing across several sectors to help achieve net zero.
Friday 18/09 – Food supplier Tate & Lyle PLC announced that its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2030 have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with levels required to meet the climate action goals of the Paris Agreement. Smaller providers can more easily access GB’s Balancing Mechanism following National Grid Electricity System Operator’s roll-out of a new IT interface.
Thursday 17/09 – Labour writes to the government, urging it to end the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans by 2030. The latest Energy UK statistics show that nearly half a million (471,441) customers switched supplier last month.
Wednesday 16/09 – Hitachi announces that it will be ending business operations on the Horizon nuclear project at Wylfa Newydd in Anglesey, north west Wales.
Tuesday 15/09 – Statkraft signs a 15-year contract with distributed energy company AMP Clean Energy to optimise and trade its Urban Reserve portfolio of flexible natural gas peaking plants. NatWest acquires 64.2MW Bluefield Solar portfolio.
Monday 14/09 – Media reports say that Boris Johnson is planning a major speech on the UK’s 2050 net zero strategy. The government announces that grants from £50k to £5mn are now available to help the nation build back greener from COVID-19. CBI launches its Green Recovery Roadmap calling on the government to take ambitious steps nationally and use the rest of the year to reignite global efforts to achieve net zero by 2050.
Friday 11/09 – Energy and Clean Growth Minister Kwasi Kwarteng tells the Commons Environmental Audit Committee that the government’s proposals for future Contracts for Difference auction round pot structures will be published “later this year”. This scheme supports the expansion of low carbon generation.
Thursday 10/09 – Future technologies, such as high-performance batteries for electric vehicles will receive further funding through the government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. Ofgem confirms that a total 115.9mn Renewable Obligation Certificates were submitted for the 2019-20 compliance period. The regulator has “still been too generous” to the networks with its RIIO-2 price control draft determinations, according to Citizens Advice. RIIO-2 will determine how much revenue energy network companies will be able to make.
Wednesday 09/09 – Local authorities (LAs) and LA-led consortia will be able to bid for funding under the government’s new Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator. Ofgem’s Consumer Perceptions of the Energy Market for Q220 is released – compared to the previous seven quarters, consumer satisfaction with their supplier was at its highest at 77% and rose from 73% in the previous quarter.
Tuesday 08/09 – The government announces accreditation deadline extensions for the Feed-in Tariff – this now closed scheme enabled premises with solar panels to earn revenue from exporting electricity to the grid. Bristol City Council-owned energy supplier, Bristol Energy, announces it has sold its residential customer base to Together Energy for £14mn.
Monday 07/09 – Think tank the Institute for Government warns that the UK has not yet confronted the scale of the task to reach net zero by 2050, claiming the country is “well off track to meet its target”.
Friday 04/09 – The Scottish government confirms plans to provide up to £1.6bn to directly support up to 5,000 jobs and tackle fuel poverty as part of Scotland’s green recovery. Nottingham City Council announces the sale of Robin Hood Energy’s customers to British Gas.
Thursday 03/09 – BEIS announces plans to review its policy on the future UK offshore oil and gas licensing regime as part of its wider aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Ofgem announces that it has fined SSE £2.06mn for failing to publish inside information about the wholesale market in an “effective and timely” manner.
Wednesday 02/09 – BEIS publishes new guidance on the reporting and verification mechanism for carbon emissions in the Capacity Market – the scheme which guarantees GB’s security of supply. The nuclear industry publishes a framework to cut the cost of constructing new power stations in the UK.
Tuesday 01/09 – A government survey shows that there is strong public support found for heat decarbonisation policies. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) issues a review of evidence from high-income countries on the relationships between heat, energy efficiency, smart technology and health.
Written By Graham Paul
