Low-carbon generation

Review to examine growth of Welsh renewables

The Welsh Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into how the UK Government can best support the development of the principality’s renewable energy resources.

New initiative helps consumers verify energy sources hourly

An initiative has been launched to deliver hourly certificates to verify exactly where consumers’ energy comes from, helping them to understand their carbon emissions in real time. EnergyTag is made up of more than 60 companies including Ovo Energy, Microsoft and Google. Its council and advisory board are working together to define a set of guidelines that will form the basis of a market for energy certificates with a timestamp of one hour or less.

EDF seeks partners for hydrogen and direct air capture demos at Sizewell C

Weekend press round-up: More than half of £50bn wind farm cash to go overseas

In our latest review of sector coverage across the national newspapers, concern is expressed about whether homegrown supply chains will lose out in the UK’s spending boom in offshore wind. Details of Boris Johnson’s 10-point green plan are also explored, including regional disparities in the installation of electric car chargepoints. Meanwhile, a plan to export Scottish water to England to deal with shortages has been blocked by ministers north of the border.

Winners and losers from PM’s green plan

Utility Week’s policy correspondent David Blackman discusses the implications on the utilities sector of Boris Johnson’s plan for a “green industrial revolution”. He assesses the winners and losers from the speech, as well as the areas where question marks remain.

Hinkley Point B nuclear plant to close by July 2022

Plans for a green industrial revolution must be backed up by substance and investment

PM’s vision puts ED2 in the spotlight

Former Ofgem chief executive Dermot Nolan has told Utility Week that Boris Johnson’s green plan has “shone the spotlight even more brightly on RIIO-ED2”. He pointed to the move to bring forward the ban on petrol and diesel car sales to 2030 as having major ramifications for DNO’s business plans for the next price control and said there will “inevitably be tensions” around the levels of investment required.

Heat decarbonisation to be primed by new mechanisms

The government has pledged to set out details next year of new mechanisms to help both its target to dramatically increase the uptake of heat pumps and the UK’s fledgling hydrogen and carbon capture industries. The details are included in a policy paper giving further clarity on the prime minister’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution.

SSE appoints banks to explore sale of SGN stake

SSE’s chief executive has told Utility Week the company is “moving forward” with a full or partial sale of its 33.3 per cent stake in gas distribution network SGN. Alistair Phillips-Davies was speaking on the back of the company’s half-year results.

Net zero requires £400bn spend this decade

Green infrastructure investment must double from current levels, to £40 billion per annum over the next decade, to reach the UK’s decarbonisation target. This is the conclusion of research by PwC, which has also warned that half of the investment opportunities identified would currently be unable to access low-cost capital because they would be considered too high risk. It has called for government to urgently identify mechanisms to ensure this funding is forthcoming.

Johnson unveils his 10-point plan for net zero

NI Water embarks on hydrogen production project

NI Water is to become the first in the UK to produce hydrogen through electrolysis at a wastewater treatment site.  

The path to net zero: Five challenges for 2021

Social Energy expands into Australia with solar offering