Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 08/06/22.
News: Climate activists vow to fight as new gasfield gets go-ahead in North Sea – Guardian Online
2 June 2022. Environmentalists threaten legal action over UK permit for Shell to develop Jackdaw field:
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/02/jackdaw-uk-new-gas-field-shell-north-sea-climate
News: BEIS calls on ESO to explore ways to boost non-gas-fired capacity including coal – Current News
30 May 2022, Molly Lempriere. Secretary of state Kwasi Kwarteng has called on National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) to explore options for bolstering energy security ahead of the winter, including utilising more coal:
Oral evidence transcripts: Energy pricing and the future of the Energy Market – BEIS Committee
24 May 2022. Oral evidence scripts from 10 February and 24 May 2022 available online:
News: Union Jack gets NSTA approval for Wressle field development – OGV Energy
31 May 2022. UK-based oil and gas company Union Jack Oil has received the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) Field Development Plan (FDP) approval for its Wressle oilfield:
Link: https://www.ogv.energy/news-item/union-jack-gets-nsta-approval-for-wressle-field-development
News: Government’s net zero strategy only speaking to ‘energy elite’ warns Utilita boss Bill Bullen – City AM
31 May 2022, Nicholas Earl. The government’s net zero strategy is only resonating with the UK’s “energy elite”, with lower-income households lacking information and the resources to make their homes more energy efficient, argued Utilita Energy (Utilita) chief executive Bill Bullen:
Research briefing: Taxation of North Sea oil and gas – House of Commons Library
30 May 2022. This Library briefing gives an overview of the way that the profits from North Sea oil and gas production are taxed, and how the fiscal regime that applies to North Sea oil and gas production has been reformed in recent years, including the Government’s announcement in May 2022 of the Energy Profits Levy:
Link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn00341/
News: Hinkley Point B owner says it will not extend life of nuclear plant – Guardian Online
30 May 2022, Jasper Jolly and Rowena Mason. EDF Energy tells staff reactors will be shut down in summer despite concerns of blackouts later this year:
Paper and Podcast: How To Pay For Energy – Prof. Sir Dieter Helm Writes
27 May 2022, Sir Dieter Helm is Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford and Fellow in Economics at New College, Oxford. Faced with soaring gas and electricity prices and 8%+ inflation, how do we pay for energy while transitioning to net zero electricity within 13 years?
Consultation: Price cap – Statutory consultation on changes to the wholesale methodology – Ofgem
16 May 2022. This is a statutory consultation on proposed changes to the price cap wholesale methodology. The consultation addresses the price cap index, including the length of the notice period. It also contains a proposal to update the wholesale methodology to include backwardation. The deadline for responses is Tuesday 14th June 2022:
Link: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/price-cap-statutory-consultation-changes-wholesale-methodology
News: Limits on renewables ‘will keep UK energy bills higher this winter’ – Guardian Online
24 May 2022, Fiona Harvey. Government limit on contracts for new renewable energy generation is ‘outdated thinking’, says Greenpeace UK:
News: Which countries are doing the most to tackle energy bills? – BBC News Online
26 May 2022, Nicholas Barrett & Daniele Palumbo. Energy prices have been rising for households across Europe in the past few months – in the UK, the price cap for households rose to £1,971 last month, and is expected to reach £2,800 in October. Different countries are tackling the crisis in very different ways:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/61522123
News: Energy price cap to rise to £2,800 in October – BBC News Online
24 May 2022, Michael Race. The typical household energy bill is set to rise by about £800 a year in October, the energy regulator warns:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61562657
News: Government appoints Offshore Wind Champion to spearhead wind expansion – Current News
23 May 2022, Alice Grundy. The government has appointed Tim Pick as the UK’s first Offshore Wind Champion as it calls for information on how to invest the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS):
News: Sizewell C ‘may cost double government estimates and take five years longer to build’ – Guardian Online
22 May 2022, Alex Lawson. Research into costs of proposed Suffolk power station could further inflame debate over UK nuclear power:
News: UK should expect high fuel bills for at least 18 months, E.ON boss says – Guardian Online
22 May 2022, Gwyn Topham. Michael Lewis calls for substantial government intervention to help people deal with costs:
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/22/uk-high-fuel-bills-eon-boss-michael-lewis-says