Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 08/04/22.
News: ‘Economically and environmentally illiterate’: Green economy reacts to UK Energy Security Strategy – Edie.net
8 April 2022. The UK Government has published its plans for increasing domestic energy production, to broad criticisms from the UK’s green economy. Here, edie pulls out the key inclusions and puts them into context:
News: From renewables to fossil fuels: Everything you need to know about the UK’s Energy Security Strategy – Edie.net
8 April 2022. The Energy Security Strategy was originally promised in mid-March but was finally published on Thursday (7 April). It is the first policy update of its kind in a decade and intends to deliver a response to the energy price crisis, which began last summer but has been exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine:
News: National Grid partly nationalised in energy shake up – City AM
6 April 2022, Nicholas Earl. The National Grid will no longer be responsible for keeping the country’s electricity and gas flowing – in the biggest overhaul of the UK’s energy infrastructure since the company was privatised 30 years ago:
Link: https://www.cityam.com/national-grid-partly-nationalised-in-energy-shake-up/
Press release: Major acceleration of homegrown power in Britain’s plan for greater energy independence
6 April 2022. Cleaner and more affordable energy to be made in Great Britain under bold plans to boost long-term energy independence, security and prosperity:
News: PM to put nuclear power at heart of UK’s energy strategy – Guardian Online
6 April 2022, Rob Davies and Rowena Mason. Plan will not please environmental campaigners, who say it fails to meet government’s net-zero targets:
News: Government pumps £400m into hydrogen business – Future net Zero
6 April 2022, Kiran Bose. Johnson Matthey will receive the loan, which is the largest for any hydrogen-focused UK company:
Link: https://www.futurenetzero.com/2022/04/06/government-pumps-400m-into-hydrogen-business/
Response: Consultation on Future System Operator – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Ofgem
April 2022. Future System Operator Government and Ofgem’s response to consultation:
News: What would sanctions on Russian energy mean and why is Europe reluctant to impose a ban? – Euronews
5 April 2022. Shocking pictures from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and accusations of war crimes levelled at Russia are building pressure for more sanctions against Moscow. A key potential target: Russian oil and natural gas, and the $850 million (€775 million) that European importers pay for those supplies every day. But it’s not so easy, given Europe’s dependence on Russian energy:
News: Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng orders scientific review of fracking impact – BBC News Online
6 April 2022. The government has ordered a new report on the impact of fracking, days ahead of publishing its energy supply plan:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60999026
News: Green Party to focus on lowering energy bills in election launch – BBC News Online
5 April 2022. The Green Party has said it will outline plans to ease the soaring cost of living when it launches its local election campaign in England and Wales. The party’s co-leaders are set to accuse the government of failing voters on living costs and the environment:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60994052
Press release: Window for climate action closing fast – Cabinet Office, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, and The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP
4 April 2022. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report published today (Monday 4 April) shows growth in global emissions has slowed over the past decade, but much more needs to be done, including halving global emissions by 2030, to keep the goal of 1.5C in reach and avoid the worst impacts of global warming:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/window-for-climate-action-closing-fast
News Climate change: IPCC scientists say it’s ‘now or never’ to limit warming – BBC News Online
4 April 2022, Matt McGrath. UN scientists have unveiled a plan that they believe can limit the root causes of dangerous climate change. A key UN body says in a report that there must be “rapid, deep and immediate” cuts in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60984663
News: Boris Johnson horrified at onshore wind farm delays, sources say – BBC News Online
2 April 2022, Ione Wells. Boris Johnson has a “working assumption” that onshore wind will feature in the government’s energy strategy, despite opposition within the cabinet, sources have told the BBC:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60952056
Collection: Energy trends – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
31 March 2022. Quarterly publication which presents data on the supply and demand of all the major fuels in the United Kingdom:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/energy-trends
News: Cuadrilla allowed to delay closure of Lancashire fracking wells – Guardian Online
31 March 2022, Rob Davies and Helena Horton. Regulator gives gas exploration company another year to plug wells, amid UK energy security concerns:
Announcement: NSTA withdraws requirement to decommission three Cuadrilla wells – North Sea Transition Authority
31 March 2022. Cuadrilla now have until the end of June next year to evaluate options for the Preston New Road and Elswick sites. If no credible re-use plans are in place by then, the North Sea Transition Authority expects to reimpose decommissioning requirements:
Column: Tory wars over climate change. The Conservative Environment Network v the Net Zero Scrutiny Group – Conservative Home
31 March 2022, William Atkinson. The Conservative Party does not find it easy being green. Though a few romantic Tory hearts may long for a Disraelian idyll of an unspoiled, eternal countryside, more recent times have seen the party blow both hot and cold over whether the planet is getting hot or staying cold, and what to do about it:
Article: Johnson’s energy strategy held up over nuclear funding row with Sunak – Guardian Online
28 March 2022, Rowena Mason and Heather Stewart. Strategy could require up to eight new nuclear power stations to be built, costing more than £13bn:
News: Stop treating carbon removal technologies as a silver bullet, MPs warn Government – Edie.net
29 March 2022. MPs are urging the Government to do more to ensure that big emitters reduce their emissions footprint before offsetting and investing in emerging carbon removal technologies:
News: ‘Vampire Kangaroo’ snaps up vital part of UK’s gas grid: Aussie investment bank Macquarie takes 60% stake for £5.8bn – This is Money
27 March 2022, Archie Mitchell. Macquarie takes 60% stake in National Grid’s gas transmission business. Network part operates more than 4,000 miles of gas pipes in the UK. Macquarie has questionable track record of investing in British firms:
News: Nuclear power is back in the game, but remains a distant prospect for UK – Guardian Online
27 March 2022, Rob Davies. The industry has been in steady decline but some believe the war in Ukraine makes the case for revival of energy technology:
News: Big regional divide on some energy bill charges – BBC News Online
28 March 2022, Rebecca Wearn. Sharp rises in standing charges on standard electricity bills will see customers face very different cost increases depending on where they live. Customers in South Scotland, Merseyside, North Wales and the South West of England will see the daily payments double from April:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60878314
News: Sizewell C nuclear power station: Government to take 20% stake – BBC News Online
27 March 2022, Simon Jack. The government plans to take a 20% stake in a £20bn large-scale nuclear plant at Sizewell, the BBC has learned:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60889001
Research briefing: Domestic energy prices – House of Commons Library
25 March 2022. Household energy bills are due to rise by 50% in April 2022 and are likely to rise again in October. This briefing looks at how prices have changed and why:
Link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9491/
News: Winter price cap to increase by £500 as volatility remains, predicts Cornwall Insight – Current News
24 March 2022, Alice Grundy. The latest predictions by Cornwall Insight detail how the energy price cap for winter 2022-23 is expected to be set at £2,512:
Consultation: Ofgem review of competition in the electricity distribution connections market – Ofgem
25 March 2022. This document consults on the findings of Ofgem’s assessment of the data submissions. They are now inviting views from all interested stakeholders:
Open consultation: Developing the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS)
25 March 2022. he UK ETS Authority is seeking views on the development of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/developing-the-uk-emissions-trading-scheme-uk-ets
Research and analysis: Impacts of carbon pricing on the UK aviation sector
25 March 2022. This independent economic research covers the impacts of potential aviation carbon pricing policies on carbon leakage and the competitiveness of the UK aviation sector:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/impacts-of-carbon-pricing-on-the-uk-aviation-sector
News: Industry responds to speculation about Gazprom Energy’s future – Energy Live News
24 March 2022, Dimitris Mavrokefalidis. Energy-intensive businesses are highly exposed to Gazprom, MPs heard: