Electricity networks

Latest

Networks see £1.5bn boost from surging inflation

Energy networks have seen their regulatory asset value (RAV) grow by £1.5 billion as a result of higher than expected inflation, Ofgem has estimated. The regulator has proposed a series of options to claw back inflation-driven benefits, including introducing a cap on inflation-driven outperformance, a true-up adjustment at the end of a price control or a tightening of the rules on how dividends can be shared. However, networks have warned the regulator that any retrospective steps would compromise its integrity.

1 year ago

Weekend press round-up: Decision to drop social energy tariff ‘betrays most vulnerable’

1 year ago

Inquiry launched into long-duration energy storage

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has launched an inquiry into long-duration energy storage as part of the UK’s ambitions to decarbonise the grid. The government has set a target for a fully decarbonised electricity system by 2035. The inquiry will seek to establish whether the government has sufficient policies in place to support medium and long-duration energy storage and whether it is on track to deliver this component of a net zero energy system.

1 year ago

Factor in network needs when drawing up offshore leases

Transmission network needs should be taken into account when future offshore wind seabed leasing rounds are being developed, a government review has recommended. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the response to its recent consultation on the future framework of the offshore transmission network.

1 year ago

Northern Powergrid inks deal with Piclo Flex marketplace

1 year ago

Call for tougher penalties on grid ‘blockers’

1 year ago

Repower up

1 year ago

Sending the right signals

1 year ago

‘Significant issues’ with government’s major energy schemes

1 year ago

Call to tie renewables consents to community packages

Onshore renewables and transmission developers should be forced to pay financial packages to local communities to help smooth away opposition to their projects, an influential Conservative-allied thinktank has urged. Polling carried out by Onward for its new report, entitled ‘Power to the People’, shows that providing packages of community benefits are more popular among rural voters than offering discounts on their energy bills.

1 year ago

Strategic Innovation Fund projects awarded £95.3m

Ofgem has awarded £95.3 million to 10 projects for the final phase of the inaugural round of its Strategic Innovation Fund. More than a third of the money – £33.3 million – will go towards a project led by National Gas Transmission to establish whether existing gas compression units on the transmission network can be adapted to work with 100% hydrogen.

1 year ago

Government signals caution on local wholesale power prices

The government has signalled that it doesn’t want reform of the wholesale electricity prices, such as by creating a patchwork of local markets, to undermine investment in renewables. Its response to the now defunct BEIS (business, energy and industrial strategy) committee’s report on decarbonisation of the power sector, confirms that the government wants to significantly narrow the options when it publishes the second consultation on its Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) this autumn.

1 year ago

Shortlist revealed for biggest ever offshore transmission contracts

Four bidders have been shortlisted by Ofgem for the UK’s biggest ever offshore transmission tender round. All four bidders will be able to bid for the three offshore transmission assets of Dogger Bank A Offshore Wind Farm, Neart na Gaiothe Offshore Wind Farm and Moray Offshore Wind Farm (West), estimated to be worth a combined total of around £2 billion.

1 year ago

‘Final piece in the jigsaw’: Orkney link gets green light

1 year ago

Regulator rejoins Open Networks steering group

1 year ago

Fast forward to 2030

1 year ago

Grid connection woes hold up over 1,000 shovel-ready projects

1 year ago

ENW seeks flexible services platform provider

Electricity North West (ENW) is seeking a technology provider to develop a flexible services platform. The platform will support the flexible service process while helping to manage demand and reduce costs for customers.

1 year ago

Demand concerns over industry bills reforms

Government proposals to remove green levies from energy intensive businesses could lead to an unintentional rise in peak time demand, Energy UK has warned. While generally supportive of the government’s Industry Supercharger proposals, Energy UK has called for an impact analysis to be carried out to “avoid unintended consequences”.

1 year ago

Looking back to the future

1 year ago