Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 27/05/20
News: UKPN introduces ‘green’ transformers to aid decarbonisation – Current News
22 May 2020, Alice Grundy. UK Power Networks (UKPN) is installing new steel core transformers at substations that are set to help support decarbonisation:
UKPN introduces ‘green’ transformers to aid decarbonisation
News: Energy inequality rises as some households pay £507 more a year for same use – Yahoo Finance
24 May 2020, Lily Canter. The research by Youtility reveals that some consumers are paying 74% more than others due to varying tariffs:
Energy inequality rises as some households pay £507 more a year for same use
News: UK approval for biggest gas power station in Europe ruled legal – Guardian Online
22 May 2020, Damian Carrington. The UK government’s approval of a large new gas-fired power plant has been ruled legal by the high court. A legal challenge was brought after ministers overruled climate change objections from planning authorities:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/22/uk-approval-for-biggest-gas-power-station-europe-ruled-legal-high-court-climate-planning
Press release: £60 million savings on new Hinkley Point C grid link – Ofgem
22 May 2020. Energy regulator Ofgem has confirmed its decision to cut the proposed cost of the Hinkley-Seabank project by £60m, saving consumers money on their bills:
£60 million savings on new Hinkley Point C grid link
News: Barriers for storage and DSR removed from the Capacity Market – Current News
21 May 2020, Molly Lempriere. The government has confirmed changes to the Capacity Market which are designed to remove barriers for demand side response (DSR) and energy storage, making it easier for clean technologies to compete:
Barriers for storage and DSR removed from the Capacity Market
News: ‘Much more’ wind capacity needed as RenewableUK outlines 2050 net zero vision – Current News
21 May 2020, Alice Grundy. The UK will need “much more” wind capacity to meet net zero, alongside a number of wide ranging measures including support for floating wind, solar and flexibility:
‘Much more’ wind capacity needed as RenewableUK outlines 2050 net zero vision
News: BEIS unveils £40m investment fund to ‘supercharge’ green startups – Current News
21 May 2020, Molly Lempriere. The UK government has announced a £40 million fund for green startups, designed to help “supercharge the development of next generation clean, low-carbon technologies”:
BEIS unveils £40m investment fund to ‘supercharge’ green startups
News: Battery storage trialled to provide upward and downward flexibility to UK’s National Grid – Energy Storage News
20 May 2020, Molly Lempriere. Battery software company Arenko has teamed up with the Electricity System Operator (ESO) arm of National Grid in the UK to provide upward and downward reserve flexibility in a “first of its kind trial”:
Battery storage trialled to provide upward and downward flexibility to UK’s National Grid
Consultation Outcome: Capacity Market: proposals for future improvements – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
20 May 2020. Views sought on changes to the Capacity Market’s design following the European Commission’s 2019 decision granting State aid approval for the scheme. The response outlines how the government intends to implement the majority of proposals outlined in the future improvements consultation:
Capacity Market: proposals for future improvements
News: UK Government publishes Capacity Market response – ReNews
20 May 2020. The UK Government has published its Capacity Market response, setting out changes it plans to introduce to improve the market’s design. The document, titled Capacity Market consultation response: future improvements, emission limits and coronavirus easements, follows on from three separate consultations:
UK Government publishes Capacity Market response
News: Renewable energy investors increasingly look to UK, says report – Guardian Online
19 May 2020, Jillian Ambrose. Decision to lift blocks on wind and solar projects has boosted ‘attractiveness’ ranking:
Renewable energy investors increasingly look to UK, says report
Paper: Powering the Nation: How clean energy can support the economic recovery – Energy UK
19 May 2020. Energy UK has published a new paper on energy and the economic recovery, urging the Government to harness the potential of clean energy to deliver benefits for jobs, the economy and the environment.
‘Powering the Nation: How clean energy can support the economic recovery‘
Formal Opinion: Electricity System Operator (ESO) Forward Plan 2020-21 – Ofgem
13 May 2020. As part of the Electricity System Operator (ESO) regulatory and incentives framework, the ESO is required to engage with its stakeholders to produce a Forward Plan before the start of each regulatory year. The ESO published its final Forward Plan on 30 March 2020 following consultation with stakeholders:
Ofgem’s Formal Opinion on the Electricity System Operator (ESO) Forward Plan 2020-21
News: Flexibility for Great Britain project set to drive down net zero transitions costs – Current News
13 May 2020, Molly Lempriere. The Carbon Trust, along with Imperial College London and a cross-sector consortium have launched a new project looking at how a flexible energy system could help the UK reach net zero:
Flexibility for Great Britain project set to drive down net zero transitions costs
Closed Consultation: Contracts for Difference: proposed changes to the Electricity Supplier Obligation Regulations in response to COVID-19 – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
12 May 2020. Views sought on the proposal to defer to 2021 quarter 1 part of the amount of the increase in electricity suppliers’ obligations for 2020 quarter 2 which would otherwise be collected in July by the Low Carbon Contracts Company:
Contracts for Difference: proposed changes to the Electricity Supplier Obligation Regulations in response to COVID-19
News: The Local Electricity Bill: A solution to the local energy dilemma? – Current News
11 May 2020, Stephen Cirell. Independent energy consultant Stephen Cirell takes a look at Power for People’s Local Electricity Bill, asking whether it could make a real difference to the sector:
The Local Electricity Bill: A solution to the local energy dilemma?