Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 23/06/25.
Press release: Powering Britain’s future: Electricity bills to be slashed for over 7,000 businesses in major industry shake-up – Department for Business and Trade, Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street, HM Treasury, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Industrial Strategy Advisory Council
22 June 2025. Industrial Strategy sets out a ten-year plan to boost investment, create good skilled jobs and make Britain the best place to do business:
News: Government admits fossil fuels use is cheaper than net zero technology – City AM
19 June 2025, Mauricio Alencar. The UK government has quietly admitted that using low-carbon technologies essential to the rapid drive to net zero are more expensive than when fossil fuels are used an energy source, City AM can reveal:
News: Firms stumped up extra £29bn for ‘astronomical’ energy costs – City AM
19 June 2025, Ali Lyon. British industry has had to fork out an additional £29bn to fund rising energy costs over the past four years, a fresh analysis has shown, adding further weight to calls for government bring down energy prices for British firms when it publishes its industrial strategy:
Link: https://www.cityam.com/firms-stumped-up-extra-29bn-for-astronomical-energy-costs/
News: Banks significantly increased fossil fuel financing in 2024, analysis finds – PA News in Yahoo News
17 June 2025, Rebecca Speare-Cole. The world’s biggest banks significantly increased their fossil fuel finance in 2024, according to an analysis:
Link: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/banks-significantly-increased-fossil-fuel-040000939.html
Research briefing: Debate on the future of the gas grid – House of Commons Library
16 June 2025. A Westminster Hall debate on the future of the gas grid has been scheduled for 18 June 2025. The debate was proposed by Josh Newbury MP:
Link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2025-0128/
News: £500m boost for hydrogen to create thousands of British jobs – WiredGov.net
13 June 2025. Thousands of clean energy jobs will be created in Britain’s industrial heartlands as the government confirms over £500 million for hydrogen infrastructure today, as part of the Plan for Change to invest in Britain’s future as a clean energy superpower:
News: Rolls-Royce SMR selected to build small modular nuclear reactors – Energy-pedia
13 June 2025. Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected as the preferred bidder to partner with Great British Energy – Nuclear to develop small modular reactors, subject to final government approvals and contract signature – marking a new golden age of nuclear in the UK:
News story: Major funding milestone for world-first prototype fusion plant – UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, UK Atomic Energy Authority and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
12 June 2025. The record funding for fusion research announced this week shows the UK government’s firm commitment to clean, sustainable energy:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/25-billion-for-world-first-prototype-fusion-energy-plant
Article: Sizewell C power station to be built as part of UK’s £14bn nuclear investment – The Guardian Online
10 June 2025, Jessica Elgot. Ed Miliband promises to ‘get Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster’ with new plant expected to create 10,000 jobs. Sizewell C is needed – but critical cost numbers are still missing:
Press release: Rolls-Royce SMR selected to build small modular nuclear reactors – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Great British Energy – Nuclear, The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP and The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP
10 June 2025. Rolls-Royce SMR selected as preferred bidder to build country’s first small modular reactors:
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rolls-royce-smr-selected-to-build-small-modular-nuclear-reactors