Industry News Roundup April 2021
Friday 30/04 – The Commons Environmental Audit Committee tells the government that community energy is “stalling” in the UK because of a lack of government strategy, as well as regulatory barriers. Chris Grigg is appointed as the Chair of the new UK Infrastructure Bank, which is due to launch in an interim role later in the spring.
Thursday 29/04 – New government statistics show that the share of households in fuel poverty in England is projected to fall from 13.4% of households (3.18mn) in 2019 to 12.5% (3mn) in 2021. A new report from research consultancy Public First recommends that energy policy costs be moved onto government expenditure.
Wednesday 28/04 – The Public Accounts Committee publishes a new report concluding that the Treasury has yet to set out how the tax system can help government achieve the UK’s net zero target.
Tuesday 27/04 – A new survey of MPs by SavantaComRes finds that one in five (21%) fear losing votes to the Green Party if more green policies are not pursued. The Commons approves the Draft Warm Home Discount (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2021.
Monday 26/04 – Think tank Green Alliance says findings in its new report support the claim that the tax system could be a powerful government tool to deliver a net zero economy. Ahead of the Scottish election, Energy Networks Association sets out networks' priorities for supporting the new Scottish government in combating the climate crisis in a new manifesto.
Friday 23/04 – Ofgem grants urgent status to the BSUoS error proposal, CMP373.
Thursday 22/04 – MPs on the Treasury Committee call for Net Zero Strategy to be published urgently. The final month of the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme – March – saw the second highest number of applications, according to BEIS statistics.
Wednesday 21/04 – MPs hear that the cost of heat decarbonisation without improving energy efficiency would be £6.2bn higher per year until 2050, according to analysis by E3G. Ofgem publishes the results from its annual consumer engagement survey for 2020, finding a rise in consumer engagement.
Tuesday 20/04 – The government confirms it will be enshrining a new target into law to cut emissions by 78% (based on 1990 levels) by 2035. BEIS launches a call for evidence on the role of biomass in achieving net zero, saying that the context in which the UK uses biomass has changed. Ofgem confirms its approach to introducing Market Wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS).
Monday 19/04 – The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee publishes a new report saying that there has been “little detail on what the government wants to achieve” in regards to COP26. Amazon announces a new project for a 350MW offshore windfarm off the coast of Scotland as part of nine new utility-scale wind and solar energy projects in the US, Canada, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
Friday 16/04 – Ørsted announces it has entered an agreement with Brookfield Renewable to acquire a 100% equity interest in its existing Ireland and UK onshore wind business, Brookfield Renewable Ireland. EDF Renewables and ESB announced on that a contract has been signed for Harland & Wolff to carry out the fabrication and load-out of eight of the Neart na Gaoithe offshore windfarm’s turbine generator foundation jackets.
Thursday 15/04 – The SNP publishes its manifesto, ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on 6 May. 175MW of solar PV capacity was installed across the UK from January – March 2021, according to new figures by Solar Energy UK and Solar Media Ltd.
Wednesday 14/04 – Over 40 industry bodies write to the government and the EU, urging the two to link their Emissions Trading Schemes together ahead of COP26. Climate Change Committee Chair Lord Deben says the government should learn from the success of the UK’s vaccine rollout in its implementation of energy efficiency rollouts. Small businesses want to play a key role in the UK’s journey to net zero, but do not know where to turn when it comes to cutting carbon emissions, according to a new report from a coalition of top business groups, energy networks and expert bodies.
Tuesday 13/04 – Ebico and Octopus Energy enter a new strategic energy partnership. EDF Energy confirms that Hunterston B Power Station has been granted permission for final period of generation.
Monday 12/04 – The consenting process for Vattenfall’s 1,800MW Norfolk Boreas offshore windfarm is paused by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, the National Planning Inspectorate announces. The Institute for Public Policy Research calls on the government to set a goal of all new onshore renewables to be under community ownership.
Friday 09/04 – The 38MW Gordonbush Extension onshore windfarm generates its first power, SSE Renewables announces.
Thursday 08/04 – National Grid Electricity System Operator’s (ESO) summer outlook predicts higher demand at both minimum and peak levels compared with last summer, but lower than summer 2019. Ofgem gives notice of its intention impose a financial penalty on the ESO for failing to provide accurate and unbiased seven day ahead electricity demand forecasts between April and July 2017 and again in October 2017.
Wednesday 07/04 – Nigel Pocklington, former Chief Commercial Officer of Moneysupermarket Group plc, is announced to succeed Juliet Davenport as CEO at Good Energy.
Tuesday 06/04 –The Chancellor chairs a meeting with G7 counterparts where they agreed a green agenda ahead of COP26. The majority of new homes in England are in the most energy efficient bands, according to recent figures published by government.
Monday 05/04 – National Grid Electricity System Operator reports that electricity generated was “the greenest it’s ever been” at 1pm on Monday 5 April.
Written By Graham Paul