Peter Hughes argues that the UK still needs large gas plant In the chronicles of Great Britain’s energy industry, 2017 will go down as a significant year. At a time already characterised by change and uncertainty, two events stand out.…
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Shetland link cancelled after power station pollution limits delay
by New Power •
Ofgem has rejected plans for an electricity cable between Shetland and mainland GB, because a change in environmental legislation means it is not needed urgently. The regulator said cheaper options could now be employed and would be more flexible to…
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‘Deep concern’ over renewables investment: industry responds to budget
by New Power •
No new funds will be made available for the Levy Control Framework, which funds new renewable electricity projects, until at least 2025, according to budget documents. Auctions planned to 2020 will go ahead. There was also little clarity on a…
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Hinkley Point C: government made ‘grave strategic errors’ and customers will bear the cost for decades, says Public Accounts Committee
by New Power •
MPs on the Public Accounts Committee have blasted the government for its “blinkered determination” to agree a deal on a new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point C, ”regardless of changing circumstances”. It said government should have considered the case for different financing structures where risk was shared, although it…
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Ofgem reiterates need for reliable market information as it publishes Remit data
by New Power •
Ofgem has carried out 11 investigations into behaviour in energy markets, taken forward from 677 ‘alerts’ about potentially concerning behaviour, since 2013. the regulator said. The figures came in an update on outcomes of the EU’s ‘Remit’ reporting system…
Flash update
Energy from waste: Lords committee considers export fears
by New Power •
The impact of Brexit on the UK’s trade in waste will be discussed at a round table hosted by the House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee. The UK exports 3 million tonnes of waste annually. The Committee concluded in…
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NGN and ITM team up to look at power-to-gas storage feasibility
by Annabel Andrews •
Northern Gas Networks and ITM Power are to collaborate on a power-to-gas energy storage study. Funding for the study was secured from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as part of its Energy Storage Feasibility Study Competition…
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UK enters top ten for clean energy, according to Imperial College and Drax
by Annabel Andrews •
The UK’s electricity is now amongst the cleanest in the world – having moved 13 places up the global rankings to be placed at number seven in terms of the carbon content of its electricity among large and industrialised countries. According…
Flash update
Unions call on MSPs and SSE to help resolve Beatrice subcontractor dispute threatening 1400 jobs
by New Power •
A rally at the Scottish Parliament today will call for action to find a way out of a payments dispute that has brought Scottish offshore contractor Burntisland Fabrications (Bifab) to the brink of bankruptcy. Bifab, which employs 1,400 staff largely…