Rob Horgan

Public offered stake in Britain’s first shared solar park

Households across Britain will be able to buy into the country’s first shared solar park from tomorrow (18 April), it has been announced. It comes after Ripple Energy completed a deal with Derril Water Solar Park developer RES to provide an alternative ownership model.  

Thames deploys leak detecting AI tool

Thames Water has partnered with Fido and Microsoft to tackle leaks in the capital. Fido’s technology will be used to detect leaks beneath the ground in London, while the partnership with Microsoft will help to expand Fido’s coverage across the Thames Water network, giving visibility on an additional 350km of water pipe network.

Looming copper crisis must spark connection rethink

Predicted copper shortage have led to calls for alternative, more efficient ways of hooking up renewable energy schemes to avoid project delays, soaring costs and generation shortages. Former Ofgem senior partner Maxine Frerk told Utility Week that the regulator needs to do more to drive down electrical leaks, while Dominic Quennell, CEO of Enertechnos, has called for the rollout of an alternative cabling system.

Wales & West to use wastewater in hydrogen trial

Record Cold Weather Payments 430 times more than forecast  

Octopus calls out hydrogen champion’s ‘misleading’ claims

A coalition of 20 organisations including Octopus Energy, E3G and the UK Green Building Council have called on the government to reject recommendations made by hydrogen champion Jane Toogood. The coalition has labelled Toogood’s report on hydrogen and heat electrification as “misleading” and warns that accepting her recommendations risks driving up consumer bills and could undermine the government’s targets on heat pumps.

Centrica: DNOs are holding up EV and heat pump connections

DNOs are unable to deal with an increasing volume of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint and heat pump connection requests, according to Centrica. In particular, Centrica has raised concerns around “chronic capacity shortages”, lengthy response times to connection requests and charging inconsistencies.

On the move: Electricity North West, Ofwat, SGN

Our latest round-up of appointments across the utilities sectors includes senior moves at Electricity North West and SGN as well as changes at Ofwat and the Environment Agency.

Installation scandal must not consign PPMs to history

The future of prepayment meters (PPMs) hangs in the balance following Ofgem’s call for evidence on their future use. Matthew Cole, head of the Fuel Bank Foundation, explains why recent scandals over forced installations must not spell the end of the prepayment tool.  

Good Energy signs record deal for power from Hornsea One  

Good Energy has signed its largest ever renewable energy deal. The contract has been agreed with Orsted and will see Good Energy power UK homes and businesses with energy produced at Hornsea One offshore windfarm in the North Sea.