David Blackman

Axing levy poses ‘existential’ threat to hydrogen sector

The UK’s nascent hydrogen industry is at an "existential moment" and its growth will be undermined if the government abandons plans to introduce a household levy to support the sector’s development, MPs have been warned. In a last-ditch submission to the House of Commons committee scrutinising the Energy Bill, Hydrogen UK chief executive Clare Jackson urges MPs to safeguard the funding mechanism for hydrogen created by the legislation.

Outgoing CCC chair slams lack of leadership on emissions

Climate Change Committee (CCC) chair Lord Deben has slammed lack of leadership across the political spectrum on tackling emissions, while the organisation’s chief executive has accused the government of “ducking” the issue. Lord Deben was speaking at the launch of the CCC's annual report which warned that the government is not doing enough to meet its net zero targets.

More balanced gas and electricity bills ‘essential’

Broadening of industrial energy saving scheme mooted

Firms benefiting from the government’s flagship industrial decarbonisation scheme could be broadened out to include new sectors such as horticulture. The changes will feed into the third phase of the IETF, which provides grants to industries wanting to reduce their carbon footprint by investing in more energy efficient equipment.

Ofgem checks risk exclusion from insulation help, EUK warns

Struggling households could be denied support for energy efficiency upgrades due to irrational eligibility checks, Energy UK has warned. In particular, the trade body has criticised the need to provide council tax bills when applying for support under the government’s flagship Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS).

Community energy support measure axed

The government has blocked proposed rule changes which would provide community renewable schemes with a guaranteed level of financial support, heeding Energy UK calls that the proposal needs to be better thought through. The committee of MPs currently scrutinising the government's Energy Bill voted to remove an amendment introduced by the House of Lords, which would have enabled community energy projects to benefit from a minimum export guarantee scheme.

Government urged to make tidal stream a ‘strategic priority’

Tidal stream power should be a strategic priority for the UK, a leading climate change expert has urged. Lord Stern – who chairs the London School of Economics’ Grantham Institute of Climate Change – made the remarks in the university’s report on the UK’s sustainable energy opportunities. In particular, the report says the UK has an opportunity to take a lead in rolling out tidal stream technology with the potential to deliver 100GW of electricity worldwide.

Scotland misses emissions target despite energy progress

A rise in overall emissions in Scotland in 2021 meant the country missed its government’s greenhouse gas target, according to new official statistics. That is despite a large emissions reduction in energy, which was down by 0.5MtCO2e.

MPs question credibility of low carbon generation goals

A heavyweight committee of MPs has expressed scepticism about the credibility of government plans for expanding low carbon generation. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has warned that the lack of an overarching delivery plan jeopardises government’s challenging ambition to decarbonise the power sector by 2035.

Winser: Transmission projects delivery time can be halved

The time it takes to deliver transmission projects can be halved, the government’s Electricity Network Commissioner has told ministers. Nick Winser revealed the headline finding of his transmission network review, while appearing at a hearing of the House of Commons environment audit committee. The review was submitted to the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero and is due to be published later this year.