Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 23/12/22.
News: UK government pledges up to £4.5bn to fund Bulb takeover by Octopus – Guardian Online
21 December 2022, Alex Lawson. Support comes on top of £1.1bn paid to handle collapsed energy firm’s administration costs:
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/21/uk-government-fund-bulb-takeover-octopus
Research Briefing: Longer duration energy storage – House of Commons Library
20 December 2022. The UK’s energy system relies on the storage of fossil fuels to manage variations in supply and demand over varying timescales. As these are replaced to meet the net zero emissions target, new types of low-carbon, longer duration energy storage will be needed to provide secure energy supplies. This POSTnote examines different low-carbon storage technologies, their role in addressing future system needs, issues relating to scaling-up the technologies and Government strategy:
Link: https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0688/
Open consultation: Contracts for Difference: contract changes for Allocation Round 5 – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
19 December 2022. Views sought on the proposed contract changes for the fifth allocation round of the Contracts for Difference scheme. This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 5 February 2023:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cfd-contract-changes-for-allocation-round-5
News: Mother ‘shocked’ after energy company installs prepayment meter while she’s out – Channel 4 News
18 December 2022, Anja Popp. As the energy crisis bites – there’s been a surge in suppliers moving customers on to prepayment meters. But charities and some MPs have warned that this puts vulnerable people at further risk during the cold spell because they have to pay for energy upfront:
News: Rishi Sunak to extend energy bill support for all businesses – City AM
18 December 2022, Stefan Boscia. All British businesses are set to benefit from an extension of the government’s energy support package for up to 12 months:
Link: https://www.cityam.com/rishi-sunak-to-extend-energy-bill-support-for-all-businesses/
News: Rishi Sunak scraps energy supply taskforce set up by Liz Truss – Guardian Online
17 December 2022, Cash Boyle. Government shelves plan to secure long-term contracts because ‘locking in while gas prices are this high doesn’t make sense’:
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/dec/17/rishi-sunak-liz-truss-energy-supply-taskforce
Consultation: Ofgem’s draft Forward Work Programme for 2023/24 – Ofgem
15 December 2022. This consultation document sets out Ofgem’s proposed programme of work for the 2023/34 financial year. Views sought on their developing consumer interest framework, their short and longer-term strategic priorities, and their proposed regulatory projects and programmes for the year ahead:
Link: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/consultation-ofgems-draft-forward-work-programme-202324
Commons debate: Prepayment Meters: Self-Disconnection – They Work For You
15 December 2022. Text of Commons debate on Prepayment Meters: Self-Disconnection
Link: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2022-12-15a.1268.1&s=speaker%3A25268#g1281.3
News: HSBC to end funding for new oil and gas fields – BBC News Online
15 December 2022, Esme Stallard. HSBC has announced it will stop financing new oil and gas fields, as part of its efforts to drive down global greenhouse gas emissions:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63975173
News: Breakthrough in nuclear fusion energy announced – BBC News Online
14 December 2022, Esme Stallard. A major breakthrough has been announced by US scientists in the race to recreate nuclear fusion. Physicists have pursued the technology for decades as it promises a potential source of near-limitless clean energy:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63950962
Research briefing: Self-Disconnection of pre-payment meters – House of Commons Library
14 December 2022. A debate is scheduled in the Commons Chamber for Thursday 15 December on self-disconnection of pre-payment meters:
Link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2022-0236/
Open consultation: Considerations for future Contracts for Difference (CfD) rounds – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
14 December 2022. Views sought on potential amendments to future rounds of the Contracts for Difference scheme, which supports renewable electricity generators. This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 7 February 2023:
News: Energy bosses laughing all the way to the bank as Brits face record energy bills amid cold weather – City AM
13 December 2022, Michiel Willems. Millions of British households are expected to rake up record energy bills as have been warned their energy bills may skyrocket over the next few days as the cold weather continues to dominate the UK:
Open consultation: Improving boiler standards and efficiency – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
13 December 2022. Views sought in response to our proposals on domestic gas boiler efficiency, hydrogen-ready boilers and hybrid heating systems. This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 21 March 2023:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-boiler-standards-and-efficiency
News: Coal plants put on standby to supply electricity – BBC News Online
12 December 2022, Michael Race & Dearbail Jordan. National Grid has stood down two coal plants that it had put on standby to generate electricity in case supplies were disrupted because of cold weather: