Generation

Utility Week Congress 2019 report: The heat of the debate

Open Networks Project announces community energy forums

The forums will allow groups to provide input on public consultations directly to project representatives.

A thank you letter to Extinction Rebellion

Political decisions ‘hampering competition’ in renewables

The UK has been warned against “putting all of its eggs in the offshore wind basket”. The lead author of the International Energy Agency's Renewables 2019 report talks to Utility Week about the UK's "unique" approach and the obstacles to speeding up deployment of green energy.

Ovo acquires stake in renewable energy marketplace

Ovo has made a series of investments since Mitsubishi acquired a 20% stake in February. As part of this deal, Steven Ackroyd, Ovo’s director of business development, will be appointed to the board of the digital marketplace.

ESO sees pathway to carbon-free grid

The technology is available now to run the electricity grid without carbon emissions, the director of the National Grid’s Electricity System Operator has said.

SSEN launches ‘urgent review’, as Ofgem refuses £258m of funding

The energy regulator has turned down a series of projects from electricity distribution network companies, totalling £258 million. However, it has approved £64 million for other projects.

Compliance via the cloud

Legislation is changing energy generation, but the legal knowledge to accompany this is poor. Software can help suppliers to navigate regulatory complexity with clarity and certainty.

Is NIC report a missed opportunity?

Industry has long been anticipating the National Infrastructure Commission’s report on regulation, but is the reality a “missed opportunity”, as some are claiming? Suzanne Heneghan discusses.

CCC: UK could face civil unrest over net-zero costs

The UK government should look to the ‘gilet jaunes’ movement in France as evidence of the importance of a fair distribution of costs when setting decarbonisation polices, Lord Deben has warned. He also announced the Committee of Climate Change is bringing forward its sixth carbon budget by three months

Drax appoints biomass advisory board

Drax is boosting its sustainability credentials by appointing an independent advisory board to inform its activities on sourcing and using biomass. Chaired by John Beddington, former government Chief Scientific Adviser, the group will make recommendations that minimise impact on forests and biodiversity

Johnson to chair cabinet committee on climate change

The committee, which the government has described as the first of its kind, will bring together key ministers to hold departments to account for their actions to combat climate change and co-ordinate efforts to cut emissions and improve air quality.

Tidal stream energy project marks point of maturity for the sector

A collaborative project between groups in the UK and France will see tidal stream turbines installed across the Channel, could "herald a point of maturity for the sector". Work is expected to be completed by 2023 at the five turbine sites with the option to increase capacity to 8MW and the ultimate potential for several GW across the Channel.

Uncertain times for investors

Armitt: Government is not addressing key net-zero targets

The chair of the government’s National Infrastructure Commission has said he is fed up with “warm words” from ministers. Sir John Armitt said the government had accepted 42 of the 45 recommendations issued by the arms-length advisory body since its establishment four years ago, but only delivered ten to date