Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 08/02/20.
News: MPs criticise government home insulation programme – BBC News Online
8 February 2021, Roger Harrabin. The slow pace of progress achieved by a government scheme aimed at tackling climate change and keeping homes warm in winter has been criticised by MPs:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55978344
News: Less than 5% of green homes grant budget paid out, Labour reveals – Guardian Online
6 February 2021, Sandra Laville. Party calls for flagship renewables scheme to be extended amid significant delays and problems:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/06/government-green-homes-grant-budget-labour
News: Heat pump market to almost double in 2021 as ‘essential’ domestic decarbonisation picks up speed – Current News
4 February 2021, Molly Lempriere. Manufacturers have ordered nearly double the number of heat pumps currently on the shelves and in the warehouse in the UK to meet surging demand in 2021:
Heat pump market to almost double in 2021 as ‘essential’ domestic decarbonisation picks up speed
News: UK battery storage steps in to help when new interconnector with France trips out – Energy Storage News
3 February 2021, Alice Grundy. Battery storage was called into action in Britain after a newly-inaugurated interconnector with France tripped:
UK battery storage steps in to help when new interconnector with France trips out
News: Low-carbon heat: UK’s heat pump sales set to almost double this year – Edie.net
3 February 2021. The UK’s heat pump manufacturers have collectively placed orders with suppliers for more than 67,000 units this year – around double the number currently already in warehouses and on shelves:
Low-carbon heat: UK’s heat pump sales set to almost double this year
News: Investment minister dubs German interconnector ‘vital contribution to UK’s green ambitions’ – Current News
3 February 2021, Alice Grundy. Minister for investment Gerry Grimstone has lauded the NeuConnect interconnector being developed between the UK and Germany as “a vital contribution to the UK’s green ambitions”:
Investment minister dubs German interconnector ‘vital contribution to UK’s green ambitions’
Guidance: Apply for the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund: phase 8A – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
4 February 2021. The Energy Entrepreneurs Fund (EEF) is a competitive funding scheme to support the development of technologies, products and processes in energy efficiency, power generation and storage:
Apply for the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund: phase 8A
News: China’s new coal power plant capacity in 2020 more than three times rest of world’s: study – Reuters
3 February 2021, David Stanway. China put 38.4 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power capacity into operation in 2020, according to new international research, more than three times the amount built elsewhere around the world and potentially undermining its short-term climate goals:
China’s new coal power plant capacity in 2020 more than 3 times rest of world’s – study
News: Green tariffs alone not enough to prompt UK energy consumers to switch supplier – City AM
2 February 2021, Rob Doepel. Over three-fifths (62%) of UK energy consumers are more likely to purchase a product or service that is sustainable, with over 40% of under 35s willing to pay a premium for sustainable energy, a new EY survey reveals today:
Green tariffs alone not enough to prompt UK energy consumers to switch supplier
News: Ofgem increases price cap by almost £24 as ‘Adjustment Allowance’ is approved – Current News
2 February 2021, Molly Lempriere. Ofgem is to adjust the default tariff price cap by almost £24 in response to growing bad debt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Ofgem increases price cap by almost £24 to manage COVID-19 driven bad debt
National Statistics: Final UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics: 1990 to 2019 – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
2 February 2021. Final estimates of UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions:
Final UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics: 1990 to 2019
News: Climate Change Committee calls for rethink on Cumbrian coal mine approval – Edie.net
1 February 2021. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) is the latest organisation urging the UK Government to reconsider the planning approval for a new coal mine in Cumbria, warning that it will increase emissions and create a “negative impression” of UK green policy in the build-up to COP26:
News: Ofgem independent system operator call ‘only the first step in a longer journey’ – Current News
1 February 2021, Alice Grundy. Ofgem’s recommendation that an independent system operator is created is “understandable” but “only the first step on a longer journey”:
Ofgem independent system operator call ‘only the first step in a longer journey’
News: Smart meter rollout reaches 10 million milestone – Current News
1 February 2021, Molly Lempriere. The 10 millionth smart meter has been installed in Great Britain in a significant milestone for the technology:
https://www.current-news.co.uk/news/smart-meter-rollout-reaches-10-million-milestone
News: National Grid recommends over £183m in 2021 network reinforcement costs – Current News
28 January 2021, Alice Grundy. n investment of over £183 million is being recommended by National Grid ESO to support network reinforcement in 2021:
National Grid recommends over £183m in 2021 network reinforcement costs
Guidance: UK greenhouse gas emissions statistics: planned methodology changes – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
28 January 2021. 2021 changes to methods used to estimate UK greenhouse gas emissions:
UK greenhouse gas emissions statistics: planned methodology changes
News: £84 million boost for technology to power a green aviation revolution – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Paul Scully MP
27 January 2021. New grants for groundbreaking aerospace projects to help the industry build back greener:
£84 million boost for technology to power a green aviation revolution
News: Brearley doubles down on Ofgem independent system operator call, cites ‘billion pound’ benefits – Current News
26 January 2021, Alice Grundy. Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley has assured that the goal of the regulator’s recommendation of creating a fully independent system operator (ISO) is to support a “robust system” that can result in “billion pound” savings:
Report: Review of GB energy system operation – Ofgem
25 January 2021. This report sets out the key findings from the Ofgem review of GB energy system operation and advice to government:
Review of GB energy system operation
Press release: Ofgem recommends an independent body to help lead Britain’s green transformation – Ofgem
25 January 2021. Ofgem has recommended the creation of an independent body to help lead the path to net zero at the lowest cost to consumers:
Ofgem recommends an independent body to help lead Britain’s green transformation
News: National Grid should lose role as electricity system operator, says Ofgem – Guardian Online
25 January 2021, Jillian Ambrose. Regulator says there could be conflict of interest in company also owning energy networks:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/25/national-grid-electricity-ofgem-energy-networks
News: Shock to the system: Ofgem proposes new body to run electricity network – City AM
25 January 2021, Edward Thicknesse. Ofgem has this morning submitted proposals for the creation of an independent body to run the UK’s electricity network, in what would be a radical shake-up of the way the country’s power is managed:
Shock to the system: Ofgem proposes new body to run electricity network
News: Ofgem calls for new outfit to run net zero grid – Re News
25 January 2021. UK regulator Ofgem has recommended the creation of an independent body to help lead the path to net zero at the lowest cost to consumers in the country:
Ofgem calls for new outfit to run net zero grid
Press release: New Global Coalition launched to address impacts of Climate Change – Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, and The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
25 January 2021. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will launch the Adaptation Action Coalition, a new international coalition to tackle the impacts of climate change:
New Global Coalition launched to address impacts of Climate Change