David Blackman

Heat pump scheme budget ‘not likely’ to be spent

Firms expect 151% energy costs hike next year

Coffey backtracks on solar curbs

The environment secretary has backtracked on moves by Liz Truss' government to review farmland which can be used for solar generation. Therese Coffey said the transfer of agricultural land for energy production was “very attractive” in the light of targets to reach 70GW of solar capacity. The chief executive of Solar Energy UK described Coffey's comments as “a turning point for the entire renewables sector".

Government moves to ease onshore wind planning ban

Only ‘0.02%’ of UK land needed for onshore wind to meet demand

Just 0.02% of the UK's total land mass would need to be sacrificed in order for the country to triple its existing onshore wind generation capacity, according to a new analysis. The research, debunking the latest claims by the technology's critics, comes as the government apparently agreed to lift the moratorium on onshore wind.

Offshore wind developers facing 12-year connections wait

Shapps ‘deeply’ concerned PPM customers not receiving discounts

Ease planning rules for ageing onshore wind, industry urges

Penrose: Ofgem is too soft on monopolies

Ex-Rishi Sunak regulation adviser John Penrose MP has accused utility watchdogs of giving an “overly-easy ride” to the monopolies they police. He called for economic regulators to ensure that monopoly utility businesses make a "bit less money on average" than other companies in exchange for "ultra-stable profits".

Offshore wind already cheaper than onshore – Shapps

The new business and energy secretary of state has claimed that offshore wind procured through the next Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction round will be cheaper than equivalent power generated onshore. Grant Shapps made the claim as he was pressed repeatedly to end the confusion surrounding whether government is relaxing planning rules in England for onshore wind.