Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 08/04/25.
Collection: UK carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
8 April 2025. How the government supports the development and deployment of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) in the UK and internationally:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-carbon-capture-usage-and-storage-ccus
Article: Shell halves green spending as boss Wael Sawan eyes ‘obscene’ £15m pay bonanza – This is Money
8 April 2025, Jessica Clark. Shell’s chief executive was paid £8.6million in 2024 – and could scoop as much as £15m this year. Wael Sawan saw his take-home pay rise 9 per cent last year from £7.9million in 2023:
News: Ofgem super-charges UK clean power storage – ReNews.biz
8 April 2025. A new era for renewable energy in the UK begins today as Ofgem launches a scheme to accelerate the development of long-duration electricity storage (LDES) projects for the first time in 40 years:
Link: https://renews.biz/99899/ofgem-super-charges-uk-clean-power-storage/
News: Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism, warns top insurer – Guardian Online
3 April 2025, Damian Carrington. Action urgently needed to save the conditions under which markets – and civilisation itself – can operate, says senior Allianz figure:
News: Ofgem approves regional energy plans across Britain from 2027 – Current News
2 April 2025, Kit Million Ross. The UK’s energy regulator Ofgem has published final plans allowing the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to draw up regional plans for the future of the UK energy network:
Link: https://www.current-news.co.uk/ofgem-approves-regional-energy-plans-across-britain-from-2027/
Decision: Final Forward Work Programme for 2025 to 2026 – Ofgem
31 March 2025. Views were sought on Ofgem’s proposed programme of work for 2025 and 2026. The consultation set out Ofgem’s main reform projects under three of their five strategic priorities. It also set out how they plan to deliver towards the cross-government Clean Power 2030 programme:
Link: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/decision/final-forward-work-programme-2025-2026?
Open call for evidence: Innovative hydrogen-to-power projects – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
31 March 2025. Views sought on the potential for innovative hydrogen to power projects to accelerate deployment readiness and support technical demonstration. This call for evidence closes at 11:59pm on 12 May 2025:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/innovative-hydrogen-to-power-projects
Independent report: Greenhouse gas removals (GGRs): independent review – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
31 March 2025. Terms of reference for an independent review to consider how options for greenhouse gas removals (GGRs) can assist the UK in meeting its net zero targets out to 2050:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-removals-ggrs-independent-review
News: See-through solar panels could turn skyscrapers into power stations – The Independent Online
26 March 2025, Anthony Cuthbertson. See-through solar cells could turn entire skyscrapers into renewable energy power stations:
Link: https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/solar-panel-transparent-window-efficiency-record-b2721698.html
Latest: EDF reduces stake in Sizewell C as boss sacked – New Civil Engineer
25 March 2025, Tom Pashby. EDF’s ownership of Sizewell C has decreased to 16.2% and the UK government’s stake increased to 83.8%. Meanwhile, the French company’s chief executive has been axed and its financial stability has been called into question:
Link: https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/edf-reduces-stake-in-sizewell-c-as-boss-sacked-25-03-2025/
Share Chat: Rolls-Royce warns UK risks losing out in small nuclear reactor race – London South East
25 March 2025. The head of Rolls-Royce has warned that the UK government runs the risk that critical supply chains to support the development of small nuclear reactors will be built elsewhere if it fails to select the companies to build them by the end of June:
News: France strikes Hydrogen gold: World’s largest Hydrogen reserve worth $92 billion could make it a global leader in clean energy revolution – The Economic Times
24 March 2025. France has uncovered a massive 46 million-ton reserve of natural hydrogen valued at $92 billion in Moselle, potentially revolutionizing the clean energy industry. Unlike polluting gray hydrogen, this carbon-free fuel can be accessed without emissions. The discovery could reduce dependency on fossil fuels, boost France’s energy security, and create thousands of jobs, according to scientists:
News: Elexon releases handover plan for transition to market facilitator – Current News
24 March 2025, Kit Million Ross. Elexon has published a provisional plan for the handover of flexibility market rule development as its role in the UK market continues to evolve:
Link: https://www.current-news.co.uk/elexon-releases-handover-plan-for-transition-to-market-facilitator/
News: Hospitality bosses demand investigation into “extortionate” energy bills – The Standard in Yahoo News
24 March 2025, Jonathan Prynn. Britain’s huge hospitality sector has called for a full scale investigation into the “unscrupulous” way the energy industry sets gas and electricity bills for restaurants, pubs and hotels:
News: Battle lines drawn on zonal pricing – Energy Voice
24 March 2025, Michael Behr. The debate over whether the UK should adopt zonal pricing has heated up, with utilities Octopus Energy and Ecotricity making statements for and against the initiative:
Article: Three things we learnt from the CCC’s 7th Carbon Budget about Labour’s decarbonisation challenges – Politics Home
7 March 2025, OFTEC: The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has an important role in providing independent, evidence based advice to governments. However, its recommendations have historically been more ambitious than what successive governments have been willing or able to implement. While the CCC’s bold proposals often set the direction, they are not always fully embraced due to financial, practical, and political constraints:
News: Reeves backs Jackdaw and Rosebank developments in North Sea – Energy Voice
March 2025.
Factsheet: Fuel Poverty – England, 2024 – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
March 2025. This factsheet summarises the headline estimates of fuel poverty in England in 2024 using the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) metric. These figures are based on modelled English Housing Survey data:
Link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e3d2ebd4a1b0665b8ee2c3/Factsheet_2025.pdf