The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has proposed changes to the way transmission losses are charged among its recommendations to improve competition in the energy industry. The energy lost in transporting power from centralised generating plants to customers has been…
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MPs and French unions seek answers on Hinkley Point C from secretary of state
by New Power •
The chair of the Commons Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change (ECCC) has written to secretary of state Amber Rudd to raise concerns about the delays in taking a Final Investment Decision on a new nuclear plant at Hinkley…
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Tidal power firm Atlantis returns seabed leases to The Crown Estate
by Annabel Andrews •
Tidal power firm Atlantis Resources has returned its ‘Agreements for Lease’ (AFLs) for the Anglesey Skerries site in Wales and the Kyle Rhea site in Scotland to The Crown Estate. Atlantis Resources said it decided to hand back the AFLs after an…
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Coal generation: Longannet closes, Uskmouth re-opens
by New Power •
Coal-fired power generation ends today in Scotland with the closure of Longannet power station, which is due to finish producing power at 3pm. At 2400MW, the plant – now owned by Scottish Power and ultimately Iberdrola – was Scotland’s biggest…
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National Grid pays out £3 million after failing to meet gas network repair targets
by Annabel Andrews •
National Grid has agreed with Ofgem to pay out £3 million to fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) after failing to meet the target for repairing non-urgent gas escapes on its gas distribution networks. Ofgem has also cut the…
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Fund carbon capture and storage to keep heavy industry in Britain, Goverment told
by Annabel Andrews •
If the UK Government wants to retain industry, it must develop funding mechanisms for CCS as a top-up to the carbon price, according to a new report from Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS). Currently, industrial emitters can decarbonise at a low…
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Scottish landlords offered interest free loans to insulate homes
by Annabel Andrews •
The Scottish government has offered a new £14 million interest-free loan fund to boost the energy efficiency of rented homes. For the first time, housing associations will be able to apply for loans from the government’s Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland…
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Nuclear regulator complains of delays and quality concerns as progress slows on Cumbria reactor plans
by New Power •
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) held a crunch meeting in January with senior management at Westinghouse, the company behind the nuclear reactor planned for Moorside in Cumbria, to address “delays and quality concerns” in its submissions to the reactor…
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Statoil launches Batwind battery storage for offshore wind
by Annabel Andrews •
Statoil today announced a new battery storage solution for offshore wind energy, dubbed Batwind. The concept will be piloted by the world’s first floating wind farm, the Hywind pilot park off the coast of Aberdeenshire, to help develop the technology…