Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 09/02/23.
News: UK creates Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – Energy Live News
7 February 2023, Dimitris Mavrokefalidis. The Prime Minister creates a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero during reshuffle:
Link: https://www.energylivenews.com/2023/02/07/uk-launches-department-for-energy-security-and-net-zero/
Notice: Apply for the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) Round 1 – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
7 February 2023. The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme supports performance improvements to existing district heating or communal heating projects:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heat-network-efficiency-scheme-hnes
News: Science Minister George Freeman has announced the creation of a new delivery body for the UK’s fusion programme, named UK Industrial Fusion Solutions
6 February 2023. Science Minister George Freeman has announced the creation of a new delivery body for the UK’s fusion programme, named UK Industrial Fusion Solutions:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-takes-major-step-towards-near-limitless-low-carbon-energy
News: Grant Shapps tells Ofgem to toughen up over prepayment meter scandal – Guardian Online
5 February 2023. Business secretary accuses energy market regulator of ‘having the wool pulled over their eyes’ by suppliers: Link:
News: Poor electricity market design ‘landed Brits with £7bn in additional energy costs during 2021-2022′ – Edie.net
2 February 2023, Sarah George. The fact that the UK links all of its electricity prices to wholesale gas prices – including electricity generated by renewables and nuclear – resulted in £7.2bn of extra costs for homes and businesses in 2021 and 2022, making the cost-of-living crisis worse:
News: Energy firms asked to suspend prepayment meter install – BBC News Online
3 February 2023, Michael Race. Energy companies have been asked by the industry regulator Ofgem to suspend the forced installation of prepayment meters:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64504609
News: Energy bills pushed up by electricity charge, research shows – BBC News Online
1 February 2023, Andy Verity & Tom Espiner. The way electricity prices are set has pushed UK household bills up by £7.2bn over two years, analysis suggests:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64471262
News: ENA members set ambitious targets in the 2023 Open Networks plan – Energy Networks Association
31 January 2023. The new work plan for ENA’s Open Networks programme has revealed 11 tangible goals that will be key to increasing the participation in, and the size of, the UK’s local flexibility markets for energy:
Policy paper: EM on memorandum of understanding on offshore energy cooperation – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
30 January 2023. The government’s summary of a memorandum of understanding on offshore renewable energy cooperation between the UK and the North Seas Energy Cooperation:
News: Government green heating scheme off to slow start – BBC News Online
26 January 2023, Esme Stallard. A major new grant scheme to replace gas boilers in England and Wales has got off to a slow start, government figures released on Thursday show:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64414493
News: Minister dismisses Ofgem net-zero goal as unnecessary – Edie.net
26 January 2023. An energy minister has dismissed as unnecessary a House of Lords bid to give Ofgem a new net-zero objective, which was also a key ask of the government-commissioned Skidmore review:
Link: https://www.edie.net/minister-dismisses-ofgem-net-zero-goal-as-unnecessary/
News: Britons who sat in dark during National Grid switch off scheme ‘offered as little as 6p back’ – The Independent Online
26 January 2023, Emily Atkinson. Despite being promised a rebate of up to £20 by the National Grid, some of those who took part say they were offered just a few pence:
Commons Debate: Energy Bills: Self-disconnection – Hansard
Volume 726: debated on Wednesday 25 January 2023:
News: Pub body slams energy firms over sky-high bills amid calls for Ofgem investigation – City AM
25 January 2023, James Silver, Jack Mendel and Nicholas Earl. The British Beer and Pub Association said that it had received “countless examples” of “price hikes and poor practice” which have negated government efforts to put in place financial support for struggling businesses:
News: National Grid puts coal plants on emergency standby – Future Net Zero
23 January 2023, Dimitris Mavrokefalidis. Standby coal power units have been asked to warm up amid cold snap:
Link: https://www.futurenetzero.com/2023/01/23/national-grid-puts-coal-plants-on-emergency-standby/
Explainer: The case for a social energy tariff – City AM
23 January 2023, Elena Siniscalco. As a cold snap hits the UK, people are being paid conserve energy in case we (say it quietly) face blackouts. But it has also reignited a debate on social tariffs, with gas prices set to stay high for years to come:
Link: https://www.cityam.com/explainer-the-case-for-a-social-energy-tariff/