Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 07/10/22.
News: Blackouts possible over winter if energy imports run short, National Grid warns – Evening Standard
6 October 2022, Emily Beament. The electricity network might have to turn off in parts of the country if power plants cannot find enough gas to keep running:
News: ‘Hydrogen Accelerators’: British hydrogen industry sets out policy demands for Liz Truss’s Government – Edie.net
4 October 2022, Sarah George. The largest trade body for the UK’s growing hydrogen sector has published a series of policy recommendations for scaling technologies that enable the production, storage and end-use of low-carbon hydrogen:
News: Ofgem warns of ‘significant risk’ of gas shortages as it progresses urgent BSC modification – Current News
3 October 2022, Molly Lempriere. There is “a significant risk” of gas shortages over the coming winter according to a letter published by regulator Ofgem. It announced the progression of grid code modification P448 – dubbed Mitigating Gas Supply Emergency Risks – to Urgent status:
Response to BEIS review of the energy intensive industries exemption scheme – Ofgem
3 October 2022. This document is Ofgem’s response to the review of the energy intensive industries exemption scheme. The consultation was published by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on 12 August 2022 and details proposed changes to the future subsidy level of the EII Exemption Scheme:
News: ‘Drax: UK power station owner cuts down primary forests in Canada’ – BBC News Online
3 October 2022, Joe Crowley and Tim Robinson. A company that has received billions of pounds in green energy subsidies from UK taxpayers is cutting down environmentally-important forests, a BBC Panorama investigation has found:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63089348
News: Britons to burn their bills in weekend wave of cost of living protests – Guardian Online
1 October 2022, Robert Booth. Dozens of rallies planned from Plymouth to Aberdeen as £150bn energy price guarantee comes into effect:
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/01/cost-of-living-protests-burn-energy-bills
Press release: Market Compliance Review into customers struggling with bills – Ofgem
27 September 2022. Energy regulator Ofgem has today (Tuesday 27 September 2022) published its Market Compliance Review of how energy suppliers help customers in payment difficulties and has found issues ranging from minor through to severe weaknesses, or failings:
Link: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/market-compliance-review-customers-struggling-bills
Open consultation: Review of Net Zero: call for evidence – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
29 September 2022. Chris Skidmore MP invites evidence on the government’s approach to delivery its net zero target, as part of an Independent Review of Net Zero. This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 27 October 2022:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-net-zero-call-for-evidence
News: Big oil’s toxic emissions from flaring undeclared – BBC News Online
30 September 2022. Revealed: Huge gas flaring emissions never reported:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62917498
Open consultation: Capacity Market: new technologies 2022 – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
28 September 2022. BEIS are seeking to identify emerging generating technologies that may be eligible to participate in capacity market auctions. This consultation closes at 11pm on 1 November 2022:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/capacity-market-new-technologies-2022
News: Study contradicts Rees-Mogg over hydrogen for heating – BBC News Online
28 September 2022, Jonah Fisher. A new study has cast doubt on government claims that hydrogen could be used to heat homes and so cut greenhouse gas emissions:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63050910
News: Keir Starmer speech: Labour plans publicly owned renewable energy giant – BBC News Online
27 September 2022. Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to create a publicly owned renewable energy company if Labour wins the next general election. Great British Energy would be modelled on France’s EDF and other firms owned by foreign states operating in the UK:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63046067
Independent report: Net zero review: terms of reference – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
26 September 2022. The BEIS Secretary of State has commissioned an independent review of the government’s approach to delivering its net zero target, to ensure we are delivering net zero in a way that is pro-business and pro-growth:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-net-zero/net-zero-review-terms-of-reference
News: Hydrogen for heating homes could increase fuel bills by 90%, says Cornwall Insight – Current News
26 September 2022, George Heynes. Cornwall Insight has released a new report indicating that under the UK Government’s current plans for hydrogen, fuel bills could increase by 70% to 90% more than gas on average:
Press release: Green heating consumer protection to come under scrutiny – Competition and Markets Authority
27 September 2022. The CMA wants to hear from consumers and businesses to understand whether firms offering green heating solutions and insulation are complying with consumer protection rules:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/green-heating-consumer-protection-to-come-under-scrutiny