Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 08/07/22
News: UK energy bills to drop next year thanks to record-breaking investment in renewables – Euronews
7 July 2022, Lottie Limb. It’s been eclipsed by the Prime Minister’s resignation, but the UK government made a significant green energy announcement on the 7th July:
News: Floating wind farms at sea to create 29,000 jobs – Crown Estate – BBC News Online
6 July 2022, Sarah Dickins. Plans to generate electricity through floating wind farms off the south Wales coast could create thousands of new jobs, according to the Crown Estate:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62037754
News: Climate change: ‘Sand battery’ could solve green energy’s big problem – BBC News Online
5 July 2022, Matt McGrath. Finnish researchers have installed the world’s first fully working “sand battery” which can store green power for months at a time:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61996520
Article: Drax agrees to extend life of coal-fired power units over winter – Guardian Online
6 July 2022, Alex Lawson. Operator of Yorkshire plant reaches deal as part of government’s push to shore up UK’s energy supplies:
News: Nick Winser appointed as UK’s first Electricity Networks Commissioner – Current News
6 July 2022, Molly Lempriere. The government has appointed Nick Winser CBE as the UK’s first Electricity Networks Commissioner:
Factsheets: Energy Security Bill – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
6 July 2022. Factsheets relating to the introduction of the Energy Security Bill introduced to Parliament on 6 July 2022:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-security-bill-factsheets
Press release: Plans to bolster UK energy security set to become law – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP
6 July 2022. The landmark Energy Security Bill, announced as part of the Queen’s Speech, will be introduced into Parliament today by Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-to-bolster-uk-energy-security-set-to-become-law
Commons Debate: Energy Security Strategy – Parallel Parliament
5 July 2022. Text of Westminster Hall debate on the Energy Security Strategy:
News: UK to miss 2035 net zero electricity system target without market reform – Current News
5 July 2022, Molly Lempriere. Without reform of the market, the UK will miss its 2035 electricity decarbonisation target according to a new report from centre-right think tank Onward:
Inquiry: Energy pricing and the future of the Energy Market – Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee
July 2022. Transcripts of Oral and Written Evidence submitted to the BEIS inquiry on: Energy pricing and the future of the Energy Market:
News: Rolls-Royce: Six sites shortlisted for nuclear reactor factory – BBC News Online
5 July 2022. Engineering firm Rolls-Royce has shortlisted six sites for a major new factory building nuclear reactors:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-62038190
News: Poor households face having to help foot bill for building Sizewell C – Guardian Online
3 July 2022, Alex Lawson. Funding model also criticised for letting factories ‘off the hook’ with planning decision due this week:
News: Domestic electricity prices jump 17% y-o-y in Q1, says BEIS – Current News
1 July 2022, Molly Lempriere. Domestic electricity prices increased by 17% in the first three months of 2022 in comparison with the same period in 2021, according to new statistics from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS):
Link: https://www.current-news.co.uk/news/domestic-electricity-prices-jump-17-y-o-y-in-q1-says-beis
News: Businesses exposed to deepening energy crisis warns Cornwall Insight – City AM
3 July 2022, Nicolas Earl. The “cost of living crisis” could escalate to a “cost of doing business” crisis this winter, warned energy specialist Cornwall Insight, as companies struggle to absorb rising wholesale costs:
Link: https://www.cityam.com/businesses-remain-exposed-to-deepening-energy-crisis-warns-cornwall-insight/
Report: The Creation of the UK Infrastructure Bank – National Audit Office
1 July 2022. This report covers the Bank’s set-up, including HM Treasury’s planning before launch. It examines the Bank’s progress in implementing HM Treasury’s vision for the Bank, in terms of establishing structures and processes to pursue its objectives. It also looks forward to the main challenges facing the Bank, and how the Bank is preparing for them:
Link: https://www.nao.org.uk/report/the-creation-of-the-uk-infrastructure-bank/
News: Energy networks stress the work remaining for RIIO-ED2 after ‘tough and stretching’ draft determinations – Current News
30 June 2022, Alice Grundy. Ofgem yesterday (29 June) published its draft determinations for RIIO-ED2, covering the period between 2023-2028:
News: Ofgem pledges not to raise energy bills with £20bn-plus grid upgrade – Current News
29 June 2022, Nicholas Earl. Ofgem has unveiled a five-year plan to ramp-up local grid capacity across the country to meet people’s energy needs for decades to come:
Link: https://www.cityam.com/ofgem-pledges-not-to-raising-energy-bills-with-20bn-plus-grid-upgrade/
News: Government policies will not get UK to net zero, warns damning report – Guardian Online
29 June 2022, Fiona Harvey. Progress report from the Climate Change Committee suggests ministers could renege on greenhouse gas emissions commitment:
News: CCC progress report: What sectors (if any) are on course to reach net-zero emissions? Edie.net
29 June 2022, Matt Mace. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has unveiled a detailed new report tracking the progress of the UK’s major sectors and whether they are decarbonising at the required levels to reach net-zero by 2050. Here, edie summarises the sector-by-sector findings:
Research briefing: British Energy Security Strategy – House of Commons Library
5 July 2022. A Westminster Hall debate on the British Energy Security Strategy is scheduled for Tuesday 5 July 2022, from 2:30-4:00pm. The debate will be led by Mick Whitley MP:
Link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2022-0128/
Research briefing: Energy efficiency of homes in the north of England – House of Commons Library
28 June 2022. A Westminster Hall debate on the energy efficiency of homes in the north of England is scheduled for Wednesday 6 July 2022, from 2:30-4:00pm. The debate will be led by Peter Gibson MP:
Link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2022-0129/
Report: The CCC’s annual assessment of UK progress in reducing emissions – Climate Change Committee
29 June 2022. This statutory report provides a comprehensive overview of the UK Government’s progress to date in reducing emissions. It is accompanied by a new Monitoring Framework which details the CCC’s updated approach to tracking real-world progress through a host of new indicators:
Link: https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/2022-progress-report-to-parliament/
News: Boris Johnson doesn’t rule out cutting VAT on energy bills to ease cost-of-living crisis – Daily Echo on Yahoo News:
25 June 2022, Carlo Simone. Boris Johnson has said that he will not “rule out” cutting VAT on energy bills to help ease the financial burden imposed by the cost-of-living crisis:
Link: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/boris-johnson-doesnt-rule-cutting-101828797.html
News: Fracking could restart in weeks as crunch report into reopening drill sites due in days – The Sun Online
23 June 2022, Natasha Clark. Fracking could restart in weeks as a crunch report into reopening drill sites is due in days. A British Geological Survey paper examining the safety of drilling for energy is expected on Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng’s desk:
Link: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18986256/fracking-greenlight-kwasi-kwarteng/
News: UK chemicals plant ready to start carbon capture rollout – The Guardian Online
24 June 2022, Jasper Jolly. Tata Chemicals Europe hopes the process will reduce the greenhouse gas’ emissions by 10% annually and supply high-purity C02 for industry:
Article: Net Zero: mission impossible? – Politics Home
22 June 2022, Dr Joshua Wells, Environmental Policy Consultant at Dods Political Intelligence. No one said achieving net zero would be easy, but it’s clear the financial, technological, and industrial challenges are immense:
Link: https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/net-zero-mission-impossible