Industry News Roundup August 2021
Tuesday 31/08 – The government invites views on proposals for the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme regulations in relation to the modified capacity of shared ground loops. The Social Market Foundation thinktank recommends in a new report that energy companies should be awarded gold, silver or bronze ratings for their green deals to improve transparency.
Friday 20/08 – The Scottish government announces that it has agreed to work with the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group over the next five years, in order to respond to the climate change emergency.
Thursday 19/08 – Nationwide Building Society along with 13 others from across the financial services, housing, energy and construction sectors joins forces to call on the government to urgently develop a national retrofit strategy for UK homes, in order to meet the Net Zero 2050 targets. Energy UK’s electricity switching figures for July 2021 show that over 452,000 customers have moved to a new supplier, an increase on the five-year monthly average of 449,000 but a 13% decrease numbers compared to last July.
Wednesday 18/08 – The World Nuclear Association publishes an open letter to COP26 President, Alok Sharma, calling for nuclear energy to have fair representation at the upcoming UN Climate Summit. Electric vehicle batteries with a range similar to internal combustion engines and which can charge in as little as 12 minutes are among projects awarded £91mn of government and industry funding.
Tuesday 17/08 – The government publishes the Hydrogen Strategy. EDF Energy announces that it will be increasing the prices for customers on default tariffs from 1 October, when the price cap rise is due to come in.
Monday 16/08 – The government launches a call for evidence on how third party intermediaries currently operate in the retail market. BEIS launches a consultation to explore the extent of “greenwashing” in the retail energy sector.
Friday 13/08 – Environmental charity Friends of the calls on the government to do more to enable councils to play their part in achieving net zero. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution is inviting stakeholders to an upcoming webinar on 24 August on its recently released Digital Strategy and Action Plan.
Thursday 12/08 – Ofgem appointed E.ON Next as the Supplier of Last Resort for Hub Energy’s 6,000 domestic customers and 9,000 non-domestic customers, following a competitive process. Ofgem confirms it is beginning the process of submitting its modification proposals for the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement Significant Code Review.
Wednesday11/08 – Ofgem approves Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement implementation and governance arrangements. The Competition and Markets Authority issues a summary of its provisional determination on appeals by nine energy companies against elements of Ofgem’s RIIO-2 price control determinations.
Tuesday 10/08 – Citing concerns over supplier payment default and how it affects suppliers which have complied with the scheme, the government and Ofgem consult on new approaches to the Renewables Obligation which could see either the government or regulator taking the lead. National Grid Electricity System Operator and consultancy the Smith Institute are collaborating on a new Network Innovation Allowance-funded project to develop an approach to forecasting day-ahead reserve requirements.
Monday 09/08 – Speaking to Radio 4’s Today programme, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng says he is “keen” for a Green Homes Grant replacement. The government responds to the latest report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change by calling for urgent global action.
Friday 06/08 – Ofgem announces that it is increasing the level of the default tariff price cap by £139 to £1,277 for a typical default tariff customer paying by direct debit and by £153 to £1,309 for a typical prepayment customer. The key dates and shortest and longest timelines for the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 4 are published by the Low Carbon Contracts Company. The CfD is the main government scheme for supporting the growth of low carbon power generation.
Thursday 05/08 – Nuclear Industry Association analysis of Gridwatch data shows that GB’s electricity imports reached their highest ever monthly level in July accounting for 15% of all of GB’s electricity – a 20% increase in the year-to-date average compared to last year.
Wednesday 04/08 – Labour Leader Keir Starmer announced that his party would, in government, implement a £30bn Green New Deal. Octopus Energy announces that it is entering the Spanish market through the acquisition of green energy start-up Umeme.
Tuesday 03/08 – The government consults on new proposals to introduce competition into onshore electricity networks, something it promised to do in the 2020 Energy White Paper. BEIS publishes the June 2021 update to its Renewable Energy Planning Database, providing an overview of operational and planned renewable energy projects across the UK.
Monday 02/08 – The government publishes a new consultation on its proposals to assign Ofgem the role of economic regulator for CO₂ transport and storage.
Written By Graham Paul
