Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 22/03/24.
Opinion: Our electricity system must prioritise energy security and affordability over decarbonisation – Conservative Home
20 March 2024, Clive Moffatt. The Government has finally conceded that the UK needs to encourage new investment in flexible gas generation to safeguard energy security. This is a long overdue but welcome recognition of the role that gas will have to play as a vital source of power and heat in the foreseeable future. But a great deal more will need to be done to keep the lights on and avoid escalating energy bills:
News: World’s top fossil-fuel bosses deride efforts to move away from oil and gas – Guardian Online
20 March 2024, Oliver Milman. Executives at Texas summit claim clean-energy transition is failing and say world should ‘abandon the fantasy’ of fossil-fuel phaseout:
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/20/fossil-fuels-oil-and-gas-clean-energy
News: UK energy grid needs £60bn upgrade to hit green target, plan says – BBC News Online
20 March 2024, Simon Jack. The UK’s electricity network needs almost a further £60bn of upgrades to hit government decarbonisation targets by 2035, according to a new plan:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68601354
Press release: Report on low heat pump uptake slowing progress on decarbonising home heating – National Audit Office
18 March 2024. Boiler Upgrade Scheme has achieved lower than expected uptake. Government expects to see an eleven-fold increase in heat pump installations by 2028 based on optimistic assumptions. NAO report recommends steps for DESNZ to improve heat pump rollout as well as calling for earlier clarity over the role of hydrogen in home heating:
Guidance: Hydrogen heating: overview – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
18 March 2024. An overview of hydrogen heating and the community trials being carried out by government:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hydrogen-heating-overview
Article: Methane emissions from energy sector rose in 2023: IEA – Oman Observer
13 March 2024. Planet-heating methane released by the fossil fuel industry rose to near-record highs in 2023 despite technology available to curb this pollution at virtually no cost, the International Energy Agency said:
News: Urgent action needed to build out energy storage and bolster Britain’s energy security, Lords warn – Edie.net
13 March 2024, Sarah George. Members of the House of Lords have berated the UK Government for neglecting to set out plans to drastically scale the nation’s energy storage capacity, which will be key if it is to meet its legally binding climate commitments while boosting energy security:
News: Report finds UK carbon capture strategy based on ‘outdated and unrealistic’ assumptions – Energy Voice
13 March 2024, Mathew Perry. Carbon Tracker analysis recommends UK government adopt scaled back and targeted CCUS approach focused on decarbonising cement sector and proving technologies on smaller scale projects:
News: ‘Concessions to the gas lobby’: Renewable energy sector blasts government’s gas power play – City AM
12 March 2024, Rhodri Morgan. The UK’s renewable energy sector has slammed the government’s new commitment to develop gas-fired power stations to act as a back up to support green energy projects, arguing it cancels the government’s intention to de-carbonise the electricity system by 2035:
Speech: Energy security strategy – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and The Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP
12 March 2024. Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, sets out energy security strategy at Chatham House:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/energy-security-strategy
Explainer: What does Sunak’s plan for new gas plants mean for UK climate targets? – Guardian Online
12 March 2024, Jillian Ambrose. Critics of changes to the electricity market say they over-rely on fossil fuels and won’t cut CO2 emissions quickly enough:
News: UK consults on zonal power pricing, CfD reform – Argus
12 March 2024. The UK has launched a second consultation on its review of electricity market arrangements (Rema), in which it continues to consider a shift to zonal pricing, while committing to retaining a contracts-for-difference (CfD) scheme, which it aims to future proof, it announced:
News: Industry reacts to UK government’s gas plant plans and electricity market reforms – Energy Voice
12 March 2024, Mathew Perry. UK Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho has set out plans to build new gas power stations to avoid what she described as the “genuine prospect of blackouts”:
Open consultation: Review of electricity market arrangements (REMA): second consultation -Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
12 March 2024. This second consultation is an opportunity to provide feedback to government on the ongoing review of electricity market arrangements (REMA). This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 7 May 2024:
Call for input: Affordability and debt in the domestic retail market – a Call for Input – Ofgem
11 March 2024. Ofgem is concerned about the impacts on consumers, and potential impacts on the wider energy market now and in the future. To further examine issues around affordability and debt, Ofgem is issuing this Call for Input by Monday 13 May 2024:
Link: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/affordability-and-debt-domestic-retail-market-call-input