INSIGHT: Editor’s week – biogas cuts, water woes and an exit for Massara?

As the summer draws to a close, the biogas industry is asking whether they could be next in line for subsidy cuts, while water companies have their hands full with quality and odour issues.

Bye-bye to biogas?

Biogas has been heralded as the future of the gas industry – but the industry’s impressive growth is under threat, as speculation mounts that the Renewable Heat Initiative (RHI) could be the next for the chop.

Ecotricity isn’t daunted, though – the supplier has announced plans to develop a new plant using source from local farms to generate gas.

The networks are fighting for their future too, with news that the ENA has gone out to tender for a major study into the future role of gas.

Water woes

A truly terrible month drags on for United Utilities, which hopes that portable UV treatment units will finally kill off the cryptosporidium bug that has seen customers having to boil their water.

Yorkshire Water has its own problems, having been served an abatement order to stop odours coming from its wastewater treatment works at Saltend.

Supplier exit?

The summer silly season wouldn’t be complete without rumours of a high-profile exit – but these reports that npower’s Paul Massara faces the axe are particularly persistent.

Meanwhile, Scottish Power faced an exit of its own, with the confirmation of its plans to close Longannet power station in March next year receiving widespread attention.