Drax today announced plans to buy Opus Energy together with four Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) development projects. The announcement came in a trading update that also said Drax expects full year earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)…
News
Uniper plans upgrade at Grain and Enfield CCGTs
by New Power •
Two existing UK combined cycle gas-fired power stations are to be upgraded. The plants at Enfield (400MW) and Grain (1200MW) are owned by Uniper, the company formed to hold E.On’s traditional generating assets. The upgrade will add around 4% to…
News
Centrica announces £19m programme to trial local energy market in Cornwall
by Annabel Andrews •
Centrica is to run a £19m programme in Cornwall to trial a local energy market. The project will test the use of flexible demand, generation and storage, and reward local people and businesses for being more flexible with their energy. Over the…
News
WPD seeks to offer cost-sharing on reinforcement costs for new generation
by New Power •
New generation connecting to the distribution network in WPD’s service areas could avoid a charging lottery over the cost of upgrading the network, if the regulator Ofgem agrees to a trial. Instead, costs may be shared out pro-rata between a…
Perspective
Opinion: What’s all the fuss about embedded benefits?
by New Power •
Filippo Gaddo (Head of energy economics, Arup) and Marina Charalambous (Economist, Arup) discuss why embedded benefits are important and how the relevant decision bodies should address them The concern that has brought embedded benefits into the spotlight stems from…
News
Ofgem gives go ahead to six innovative network projects
by Annabel Andrews •
Six new projects have been allowed funding through Ofgem’s Network Innovation Competition (NIC), including testing how ‘greener’ gas can be used on a university’s gas grid in Staffordshire, and examining how advanced software can help make more efficient use of locally-connected…
News
Scottish government grants consent to pumped storage hydro at Glenmuckloch
by Annabel Andrews •
A plan to create an energy park at the former Glenmuckloch open cast coal mine in Dumfries and Galloway took a significant step forward today when the Scottish government gave consent for a pumped storage hydro scheme of up to 400MW…
News
Get your views in on energy strategy for the north of England
by Annabel Andrews •
The Northern Energy Taskforce is seeking views on how to develop the low carbon energy sector in the north of England. The energy sector in the north generates £3.644 billion in GVA and supports around 28,000 jobs, with a…
Longread
From the archive: testing the limits of the gas network
by New Power •
Fast-changing combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) and more gas plant connecting at the distribution level could threaten the gas network’s ability to supply, system operator National Grid Gas (NGG) said, announcing plans to develop a forward-looking “System Operability Framework” in parallel…