In the olden days (the 1990s), when I worked on Nuclear Engineering International magazine, I couldn’t see why a European utility would go to the trouble and capital outlay of building a nuclear plant. A gas turbine would go up…
News
Octopus Energy chief: auto-switching is no way to build industry trust
by New Power •
New market players aimed at encouraging switching are doing nothing to help build trust between the energy industry and consumers, according to Greg Jackson, founder of supplier Octopus Energy. “The current crop of auto switchers are just arbitraging loss-leading deals…
News
Capacity auction will seek 46.3GW for 2022/23, 4.6GW for 2019/20
by New Power •
The Capacity Market auction this year will source 46,300MW of capacity for delivery in 2022/23, energy minister Claire Perry has decided. National Grid’s analysis resulted in a total capacity target for the delivery year of 46,700MW. The minister set aside 400MW. The T-1 auction this…
News
NextEnergy Solar Fund makes more acquisitions
by New Power •
Next Energy Solar Fund (NESF), a specialist investment company for UK solar power plants, has acquired ten operating solar plants with a total installed capacity of 66.8MWp. All ten assets were connected to grid between 2012 and 2014 with subsidies,…
News
Consumer views sought on plans publicly-owned energy company in Scotland
by New Power •
The public and other stakeholders have been invited by Holyrood’s Economy, Jobs and Fair Work committee to give their views on the feasibility of a not-for-profit, publicly owned energy company. Issues being considered include whether such a company will reduce costs for…
News
‘Road to zero’ electric vehicle strategy: the industry responds
by New Power •
The government’s “Road to zero”, says that by 2030 at least half of new cars and 40% of new vans sold in the UK must be ultra low emission — defined as emitting less than 50g of carbon per kilometre…
Perspective
OPINION: The UK faces a bleak energy future outside the EU’s internal market
by New Power •
Speaking at the end of a House of Lords debate on energy and Brexit, Lord Teverson warned that the UK would not be ‘at the table’ on energy discussions after it leaves the EU. He warns that the EU’s interest…
News
System stability fears will require changes at 50,000 distributed generation plants
by New Power •
Up to 50,000 distributed generators, who operate small plant less than 5MW in capacity, will have to make changes to plant operation to stop faults propagating across the electricity system and causing local blackouts. A consultation on how to implement…
News
Funding sought for fast-charging ‘petrol stations’ for electric vehicles
by New Power •
Gridserve has announced plans to roll out a UK-wide network of ‘electric forecourts’. It wants to “offer significantly more high-power charging points than are currently available at most UK petrol stations”. It is currently raising capital from investors in its first round of…