Industry News Roundup May 2021
Friday 21/05 – Ofgem announces that new research has found that 24% of consumers plan to buy an electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid EV in the next five years.
Thursday 20/05 – Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announces that the government has an “ongoing commitment to increasing, not decreasing, capacity in nuclear power” in the UK, and will bring forward legislation in this Parliament to further commit the UK to creating more nuclear power.
Wednesday 19/05 – An open letter, signed by a coalition of UK energy organisations sets out six policies for the government to implement to decarbonise heat and buildings, secure future-proof green jobs and support small businesses. A new study from POWERful Women, a professional initiative to advance gender diversity within the energy sector, and PwC, highlights that the UK energy sector has an under-representation of women at the top.
Tuesday 18/05 – The International Energy Agency publishes a report showing a “viable roadmap” to net zero for the world. The growth of renewables is the public’s top priority when it comes to green policies, according to new polling from YouGov.
Monday 17/05 – The government is considering “robust contingency plans” for COP26 concerning the range of COVID-19 scenarios to enable it to rapidly adapt, if it were to prove necessary.
Friday 14/05 – In a speech outside Glasgow, COP26 President Alok Sharma stresses the need for the world to end its use of coal-fired power and that the upcoming COP26 conference in November is the “best chance” to slow the rise of global emissions.
Thursday 13/05 – The government’s response to a report by the Environmental Audit Committee’s sees it announcing it will “shortly publish” a call for evidence on affordability and fairness concerning how energy policy costs are paid for. The government’s latest Public Attitudes Tracker survey finds that 40% of the public worried about paying for energy bills.
Wednesday 12/05 – The government launches a new Energy Digitalisation Taskforce, in partnership with Ofgem and Innovate UK. The government says this parliamentary session will see a draft Downstream Oil Resilience Bill published to support a secure transition away from fossil fuels to renewables.
Tuesday 11/05 – The Queen’s Speech on 11 May sees the government setting out its net zero and green agenda for the coming few months, with the Environment Bill a focus, as well as the various net zero strategy documents due out this year. SSE Thermal and Equinor reveal plans to work together on the development of a new low carbon power station at Peterhead, which they say could become one of the UK’s first power stations equipped with carbon capture technology.
Monday 10/05 – Ofgem consults on Transmission Demand Residual charges. National Grid Electricity System Operator is looking for a consultancy to carry out a technical feasibility assessment on how energy storage could help manage constraints on the electricity transmission network between 2022-2030.
Friday 07/05 – The government announces that the Fourth Allocation Round for the Contracts for Difference scheme will open in December of this year. The scheme tops up payments for low carbon generation projects. The government also publishes details on the Carbon Capture Storage Infrastructure Fund.
Thursday 06/05 – Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, stressing that “the stakes are too high for COP26 to become some kind of last-minute dash to the line”. Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) announces that six offshore wind projects have now passed their Milestone Requirement (MR) for the Contracts for Difference scheme.
Wednesday 05/05 – Ofgem confirms its decision to impose a financial penalty of £100,000 on Symbio Energy for four late payments into government renewables schemes. Energy UK appoints Steve Crabb as the independent Chair of the Vulnerability Commitment.
Tuesday 04/05 – National Grid Electricity System Operator issues a five-year forecast of transmission network use of system tariffs covering 2022-23 to 2026-27.
Monday 03/05 – Net zero business organisation UK100 and Quantum publish a report examining the power local authorities have and need as part of the government’s legally binding target for net zero emissions by 2050.
Written By Graham Paul
