Low-carbon generation

Planning reforms to fast track water and energy schemes

Delivering nationally significant energy, water and wastewater infrastructure projects will be accelerated under planning reforms unveiled by the government. Reforms cover changes to the development consent order (DCO) application process, environmental assessments and updating National Policy Statements.

Drax to end gas retail business

Rooftop solar installations doubled in 2022

‘Madness’ to delay nuclear decisions

Leaving big decisions about the future of the UK’s nuclear programme until after the next election would be “disastrous” and "madness”, the government’s chief nuclear adviser has warned. He added that the industry in the UK and abroad would soon lose faith in the government’s commitment to nuclear power.

ESO transmission amnesty identifies 5.5GW of stalled projects

National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has told Utility Week its amnesty on stalled schemes in the queue for connection to the transmission system has attracted approaches from 5.5GW of projects. It comes as the ESO set out its plans for fast-tracking grid connections, including a new two-stage process that will allow projects to get a place in the queue more rapidly.

Record capacity auction to cost consumers £5.7bn

T-4 capacity auction clears at record high price

UK low-carbon investment set to be blown off course

Hinkley C’s £6bn cost hike tests UK’s nuclear resolve

UK faces £62bn green investment shortfall

Weekend press round-up: Japanese owners put SES Water up for sale

The Japanese owners of SES Water are reportedly putting the business up for sale due to their reluctance to inject fresh equity into the highly-geared company. Meanwhile, Grant Shapps, head of the newly-formed Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, discusses his plans to make British energy the cheapest in Europe. This and more in Utility Week’s latest round-up of the weekend’s papers.  

ESO saves £80m with early start to constraint management scheme

Strong nuclear output sees EDF post £1 billion UK profit

Solar target would swallow less land than UK’s airports

Meeting the government’s target for a fivefold increase in solar generation by 2035 would require less new land than that currently covered by the UK’s airports, according to backers of solar power. Solar Energy UK has presented figures MPs in a bid to counter concerns that valuable agricultural land will be swallowed up in order to meet increased solar generation.

UK green economic growth ‘unspectacular’ despite 30% boost