Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 21/02/25.
Consultation Document: Fuel Poverty Strategy for England – HM Government
February 2025. A review of the 2021 fuel poverty strategy and consultation on a new strategy to deliver warm homes. Closing date is 4th April 2025:
Article: Energy network owners have made £3.9bn ‘excess profit’ from higher bills, says report – Guardian Online
20 February 2025, Jillian Ambrose. Citizens Advice believes Ofgem made flawed interest rate calculation for companies in Great Britain:
Article: Backlash over energy standing charges shake-up – BBC News Online
20 February 2025, Kevin Peachey. Charities and energy providers have criticised plans to change the way standing charges on bills are paid:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3vwxyq33k0o
Article: Heat pump sales in Europe fall 23% to pre-Ukraine war levels – Guardian Online
18 February 2025, Ajit Niranjan. Growth in 2022 and 2023 was driven by soaring gas prices caused by Russia’s invasion, but 2024 saw sales slump:
Article: Fossil fuel industry accused of seeking special treatment over oilfield emissions – Guardian Online
18 February 2025, Helena Horton. Lobbyists argued it was unfair for their industry to be treated the same as others as end product – oil and gas – inevitably produced emissions:
News: Debate heats up as industry weighs in on zonal pricing – Current News
17 February 2025, Molly Green. As the review of electricity market arrangement (REMA) nears close, consultancy AFRY and nonprofit Regen have weighed in on zonal pricing:
Link: https://www.current-news.co.uk/debate-heats-up-as-industry-weighs-in-on-zonal-pricing/
Open consultation: Input into the steel strategy – Department for Business and Trade
16 February 2025. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) seeks views from stakeholders to inform development of the steel strategy – The Plan for Steel. This consultation is being held on another website. This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 30 March 2025:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/input-into-the-steel-strategy
Press release: Clean power by 2030 one step closer as proposed new, fast-track grid connections system is unveiled – Ofgem
14 February 2025. Radical reform to fast-track cheaper, cleaner power plugging into the electricity grid is one step closer to becoming a reality, Ofgem has announced:
News: “Giant gasfield” discovered in Lincolnshire – reports – Drill or Drop
14 February 2025, Ruth Hayhurst. Egdon Resources has discovered a “giant gasfield” in Lincolnshire, it was reported last night:
Link: https://drillordrop.com/2025/02/14/giant-gasfield-discovered-in-lincolnshire-reports/
Open consultation: Extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme cap beyond 2030 – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
12 February 2025. Views sought on extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme beyond the end of Phase I. This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 9 April 2025:
Press release: UK gas prices are now around three times higher than they were before the gas crisis – Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit
10 February 2025, Jess Ralston. UK gas prices are now around three times higher than they were before the gas crisis:
Article: UK halves subsidies for Drax and says it must use 100% sustainable wood – Guardian Online
10 February 2025, Julia Kollewe. North Yorkshire power plant has been criticised for burning wood pellets sourced from US and Canadian forests:
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/10/uk-subsidies-for-drax-sustainable-wood-power-plant
Article: New subsidies deal for Drax wood-burning power station – BBC News Online
10 February 2025, Jonah Fisher. The government has agreed a new funding arrangement with the controversial wood-burning Drax power station that it says will cut subsidies in half:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyplj7dkw2o
News: Carbon capture: High degree of uncertainty whether risky investment by Govt will pay off – Energy-pedia News
7 February 2025. While lessons learned from past failures in introducing technology, PAC report warns Govt has not assessed likely impact on consumer energy bills of carbon capture programme:
Open consultation: Review of the Fuel Poverty Strategy – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
7 February 2025. Views sought on a new strategy to deliver warm homes. This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 4 April 2025:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-the-fuel-poverty-strategy
Article: Green campaigners fear UK to renew subsidies to Drax power station – Guardian Online
6 February 2025. Billions of pounds from energy bill payers to run out in 2027 but could be extended as soon as Monday (10 Feb):