The fifth carbon budget should be set at 1,765 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), the Energy and Climate Change Committee has told the government. In November 2015, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) published its advice on the…
Flash update
RWE to reduce operating hours at Aberthaw coal-fired power station
by Annabel Andrews •
RWE has changed its operating regime at Aberthaw and from April next year will focus on providing capacity only when needed. It will also install technology to allow Aberthaw’s three 500MW units to expand the range of coal they can…
Longread
Energy industry fears over Brexit: freeze on decision-making; financial risk
by New Power •
Energy companies fear a black hole for decision-making if the Brexit referendum on 23 June results in a vote to leave the EU.
News
ScottishPower to pay out £18M for billing and service failings
by New Power •
ScottishPower has agreed to pay £18m in redress after an Ofgem investigation into the supplier’s complaint resolution, call handling and billing processes. Up to £15m will be paid in customer compensation and the rest will go to charity. Ofgem said ScottishPower…
News
Pension Infrastructure Platform closes first £125m investment fund
by Annabel Andrews •
The Pension Infrastructure Platform (PIP) has closed the first tranche of its Multi-Strategy Infrastructure Fund, having raised £125m. Over the fund’s five-year investment period, it will buy and build a diversified portfolio of 15 to 20 UK infrastructure assets, including renewable energy…
News
Licence application submitted for Norway-Scotland interconnector
by New Power •
NorthConnect has applied for a licence to build an interconnector between Peterhead in Scotland and Simadalen in western Norway. The interconnector is planned to be a 500kV 1400MW HVDC subsea cable, 650km long. It is planned to go into operation…
Perspective
Give the public a voice in long-term decisions
by New Power •
Sustainability First’s New Energy and Water Public Interest Network (‘New-Pin’) is seeking to ensure long-term decisions have the public interest at their heart. Associate Sharon Darcy explains why the Network was set up Energy and water service providers and regulators…
Flash update
Barn Energy builds Yorkshire’s largest-ever river hydro project on River Calder
by Annabel Andrews •
A new low head hydro project is being built on the River Calder at Kirkthorpe, four miles east of Wakefield in West Yorkshire. Work on the project has started after Wakefield Council granted permission to Kirkthorpe Hydropower Ltd, a subsidiary…
News
Centrica to acquire Neas Energy
by New Power •
Centrica is to acquire Neas Energy for £170 million. Neas provides customers in six countries in Europe with a route to market and short-term trading optimisation services. The customers together have 2,500 windfarms, solar plants and combined heat and power…