Policy

What role should a National Infrastructure Bank play?

Backlog means ‘significant chunk’ of GHG cash still to come

The huge backlog of applications for Green Homes Grant (GHG) vouchers means that the £320 million allocated for the scheme next year may be spent even though the scheme is due to close this week, Utility Week has been told.

Deben: We aren’t delivering on climate change

The chair of the Climate Change Committee has branded the delivery of efforts by the government to decarbonise the economy as “crap” and called for the establishment of a “powerful” body to oversee them.

Green economy goes into slump

Weekend press round-up: Green Homes Grant scheme axed

In our latest review of sector coverage across the national newspapers, there is criticism of the government’s handling of its flagship energy efficiency scheme, as it is scrapped with just four days’ notice. There is also continued coverage of the standoff between British Gas and the GMB union and of bill hikes prior to the energy price cap rise this week.

Government confirms legislation on CSOs

The government has confirmed that legal duties to reduce the harm caused by combined sewer overflows (CSOs) will be put into law.

Calls for ban on new gas boilers by 2033

Just 20 GHG measures paid for last month

Alan Whitehead has slammed the Green Homes Grant (GHG) as a “catastrophic failure” after highlighting figures that show just 20 applications for vouchers last month have been paid out.

Labour calls for fresh measures to spark EV revolution

Consumer markets are unprepared for net zero

Bioenergy with carbon capture ‘will not deliver negative emissions’

Blair’s thinktank warns populists could hijack net zero debate

Action needed to cut emissions to net zero is threatened by the “fragile” nature of the political consensus surrounding it, which could be seized on by populist parties, a new report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change has warned.

Net zero cannot be about winners and losers

As part of the investment strand of our Countdown to COP campaign, Utility Week talks to Michael McNicholas of Omers, the backers of SGN and Thames Water. He discusses the investment case for UK utilities and ways to incentivise long-term, low-risk capital to drive forward decarbonisation.

BEIS says heat pump industry can grow 20-fold before nearing ‘regret level’

Decarbonisation of heat ‘will cost more than £65bn’