David Blackman

Shapps: Very strong case for blending hydrogen and gas

Hunt tasks Ofgem with ending PPM premium

As part of his Budget announcement, chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed that he has asked Ofgem to draw up regulatory options for permanently ending the standing charge premium paid by prepayment meter customers. Other Budget announcements included the launch of the government’s Great British Nuclear agency and £20bn in funding for CCUS projects.

Brearley: Forced PPM ban to extend beyond this month

Ofgem’s moratorium on forced pre-payment meter installations will not end later this month, the regulator's chief executive Jonathan Brearley has revealed. Suppliers will also face fines if they do not improve the way that they identify vulnerable customers.

First Celtic Sea floating wind project wins planning consent

Flint’s challenging first year chairing fuel poverty committee

When Caroline Flint was unveiled just over a year ago as the surprise new chair of the government’s Committee on Fuel Poverty (CfP), the invasion of Ukraine was still germinating in Vladimir Putin’s mind. She speaks to Utility Week about the progress made in the last year and the challenges to come.

Grid connection amnesty suffers from low uptake

Uptake of the National Grid’s connection ‘amnesty’ has been lower than expected, the company’s transmission chief has admitted. The deadline for customers to submit expressions for the amnesty has already been extended to the end of April but at the moment firms have shown little interest in giving up their connection offers.

Testbed scheme boosts hydrogen for homes ambition

The government-backed Hy4Heat programme has successfully developed a series of prototype hydrogen-ready cooking and heating appliances. It has been deemed a success and paves the way for larger trials in real homes.

CCC chief labels Labour’s net zero target as ‘stretching’

Labour would have to immediately focus on achieving its stated goal of decarbonising electricity generation by 2030 if it forms the next government, the chief executive Climate Change Committee (CCC) has said. Stark added that the current government will fall “well short” of its objective to decarbonise the power sector by 2035 if it fails to up its pace on the issue.

CCC: Power system design must factor in wind drought risks

The electricity system’s future design must account for the risk that climate change will result in longer wind droughts, increasing the need for more back up gas and hydrogen generation, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has warned.

Helm’s firm power auction plan dropped

The government has dropped a key plank of Professor Dieter Helm’s 2017 energy review from its Review of Electricity Market Arrangements. Helm’s Equivalent Firm Power auction is one of a series of proposals for comprehensive reform of the wholesale electricity market.