08/11/23 – Useful Links

Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 08/11/23.

News: King’s speech draws fire from environmentalists as oil and gas claims branded “distraction tactics” – The Chemical Engineer

7 November 2023, Amanda Jasi. “IT SIMPLY won’t do what the prime minister claims,” said Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, after the king’s speech unveiled a planned bill to mandate annual oil and gas licensing in the North Sea:

Link: https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/king-s-speech-draws-fire-from-environmentalists-as-oil-and-gas-claims-branded-distraction-tactics/

News: King’s Speech outlines ‘record levels’ of renewables investment – Energy Voice

7 November 2023, Ryan Duff. The first King’s Speech in over 70 years has outlined plans to “attract record levels of investment in renewable energy” – but experts say fresh measures are needed to achieve that:

Link: https://www.energyvoice.com/renewables-energy-transition/540836/kings-speech-outlines-record-levels-of-renewables-investment/

News: ‘Shovel ready’: National Grid helps 20GW of clean energy projects jump connections queue – Business Green

6 November 2023, Stuart Stone. National Grid moves capacity equivalent to six Hinkley Point C nuclear power stations up connections queue, promising major boost to energy storage developers:

Link: https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4142736/shovel-ready-national-grid-helps-20gw-clean-energy-projects-jump-connections-queue

News: Energy bills set to RISE next year as volatility spooks oil and gas markets – City AM

6 November 2023, Nicholas Earl. Household energy bills will not ease any time soon, with forecasters warning that the energy price cap is now set to rise again, fuelled by rebounding gas prices and fresh market volatility:

Link: https://www.cityam.com/energy-bills-set-to-rise-next-year-as-volatility-wreaks-havoc-with-gas-markets/

News: Annual oil and gas licences planned with net zero commitment required – BBC News Online

6 November 2023, Joshua Nevett & Paul Seddon. Licences for oil and gas projects in the North Sea are set to be awarded annually, under government plans. There is currently no fixed period between licensing rounds – but this would change under a bill to be announced in the King’s Speech:

Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67326497

Article: ‘The pace of policymaking has to increase’: Climate change expert Simon Sharpe discusses progress towards net zero – Civil Service World

3 November 2023, Mark Rowe. Climate change expert and former senior civil servant Simon Sharpe speaks to Mark Rowe about the role officials can play in tackling climate risks and driving progress towards net zero:

Link: https://www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/article/climate-change-expert-simon-sharpe-on-progress-towards-net-zero

News: Mark McAllister confirmed as new Ofgem Chair – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ofgem, and The Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP

2 November 2023. A new chair of the Ofgem Board has been appointed by the Energy Security Secretary, Claire Coutinho:

Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mark-mcallister-confirmed-as-new-ofgem-chair

News: UK’s declining carbon prices could cost Treasury billions, Energy UK warns – Business Green

30 October 2023, Amber Rolt. New analysis from Energy UK warns decline in carbon prices could impact investment in clean energy and cost Treasury billions of pounds in lost revenue:

Link: https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4139869/uks-declining-carbon-prices-cost-treasury-billions-energy-uk-warns

News: Award of 27 oil and gas licences ‘boost for UK energy security’ – City AM

29 October 2023. An offshore energy trade body has welcomed the announcement of 27 new oil and gas licences as a “boost for UK energy security”:

Link: https://www.cityam.com/award-of-27-oil-gas-licences-boost-for-uk-energy-security/

News: Green energy chiefs hail new Energy Act reforms – The Energyst

27 October 2023, Alban Thurston. Britain’s biggest group lobbying for low carbon power has welcomed the passing into law of the nation’s biggest shake up for a generation in energy regulation:

Link: https://theenergyst.com/20383/

News: UK gas grid readies for blending hydrogen amid technology debate – Energy Voice

26 October 2023. The UK’s natural gas network will be ready to blend some hydrogen into the grid by the end of next year, according to its operator, which is preparing for the technology despite renewed debates about its viability:

Link: https://www.energyvoice.com/renewables-energy-transition/hydrogen/uk-hydrogen/539965/uk-gas-grid-readies-for-blending-hydrogen-amid-technology-debate/

News: New laws passed to bolster energy security and deliver net zero – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ofgem, The Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP, and Andrew Bowie MP

26 October 2023. Landmark legislation becomes law to ensure bills are affordable in the long-term:

Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-laws-passed-to-bolster-energy-security-and-deliver-net-zer

Collection: Energy and emissions projections – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

26 October 2023. This series brings together all documents relating to energy and emissions projections:

Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/energy-and-emissions-projections

Research briefing: Debate on energy social tariffs – House of Commons Library

25 October 2023. A Westminster Hall debate has been scheduled for 3pm on 26 October on energy social tariffs. The debate will be opened by Marion Fellows MP:

Link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0202/

News: 1,500GW of Renewables deployment delayed globally because Grids aren’t modernising fast enough – Energy Voice.eu

24 October 2023. A first-of-its-kind global country-by-country study, “Electricity Grids and Secure Energy Transitions” by the IEA finds that electricity grids are not keeping pace with the rapid growth of clean energy technologies:

Link: https://energypost.eu/1500gw-or-renewables-deployment-delayed-globally-because-grids-arent-modernising-fast-enough/

News: Petition calling for energy bill rebate this winter reaches major milestone – Yahoo News

23 October 2023, Steph Brawn. The Tory Government is coming under further pressure to reintroduce a £400 energy bill rebate this year after 10,000 people signed a petition calling for the move:

Link: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/petition-calling-energy-bill-rebate-123141689.html

News: Meltdown of West Antarctic Ice Sheet unavoidable, study says – Reuters

23 October 203, Gloria Dickie. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet will continue to melt this century regardless of how much the world slashes planet-warming emissions, research from the British Antarctic Survey has found, locking in further sea level rise over the coming decades:

Link: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/meltdown-west-antarctic-ice-sheet-unavoidable-study-says-2023-10-23/

News: How Ofgem can restore trust in the energy market – City Am

23 October 2023, Nicholas Earl. Spiralling energy bills, soaring household debt, and geopolitical uncertainty have plagued Ofgem’s attempts to reform the energy market and clean up the sector after an industry crisis which saw 30 suppliers collapse:

Link: https://www.cityam.com/how-ofgem-can-restore-trust-in-the-energy-market/

Comment: Hydrogen boiler push to continue despite verdict of UK watchdog – Guardian Online

21 October 2023, Sally Weale. Government and gas-focused industry body resist conclusion that heat pumps are ‘only viable’ option for heating UK homes:

Link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/21/hydrogen-boiler-home-heating-uk

News: Scottish Renewables sets out actions the UK Government must take if the sector is to maintain its position as a world leader – Energy-pedia

21 October 2023. With a month to go until the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, industry body Scottish Renewables has set out actions the UK Government must take if the sector is to maintain its position as a world leader:

Link: https://www.energy-pedia.com/news/united-kingdom/scottish-renewables-today-sets-out-actions-the-uk-government-must-take-if-the-sector-is-to-maintain-its-position-as-a-world-leader–193030

News: Ofgem boss reignites calls to reform energy price cap as winter looms – City AM

19 October 2023, Nicholas Earl. Ofgem boss Jonathan Brearley has doubled down on his criticisms of the energy price cap, raising doubts over its future role in the market:

Link: https://www.cityam.com/ofgem-boss-reignites-calls-to-reform-energy-price-cap-as-winter-looms/

Publication: Supply change: Seizing opportunity in the UK heat pump supply chain – Social Market Foundation

18 October 2023, Niamh O Regan. Despite the government’s target to reach net zero emissions by 2050, the UK’s heat pump supply chain is still in its infancy and remains much weaker than in mainland Europe or Asia:

Link: https://www.smf.co.uk/publications/uk-heat-pump-supply-chain/