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Ofgem provides further clarity on its proposed network charging reforms
Ofgem is in the process of reforming the way in which users pay for access to and use of [...]
9 August blackout technical report highlights issues with Grid Code compliance
Ofgem has now published National Grid’s technical analysis of the 9 August blackout. Much of the meat is contained [...]
Supplier failures, rising prices and another review – the case for serious retail market reform
The need for reform of the retail energy market is increasingly clear – the past week has seen the [...]
Recent Posts
Swansea Bay tidal scheme officially rejected by the Government
Yesterday came the long-awaited decision as to whether the UK Government would offer any support or subsidy to the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon scheme. There has been widespread criticism of the decision (see #SwanseaBay on twitter) with many people [...]
Win for Ofgem: application for juducial review into embedded benefits decision rejected
On Friday, Mr Justice Lavender handed down his Judgement on the application by a number of small electricity generators for a judicial review into Ofgem’s decision last year to limit the amount of so-called "embedded benefits" available to such [...]
Developing local flexibility markets
In recent weeks, much has been made of the fact that coal has dropped out of the merit order for days at a time. While much of the commentary is around trying to prove that the system can run [...]
The first SMETS2 smart meters finally arrive but doubts over the programme remain
With the deadline for smart meter installation just 30 months away, more than 11 million smart meters had been fitted in domestic properties by the end of March 2018 against a target of over 50 million – in order [...]
Price rises by energy suppliers will not be remedied by the price cap
The Big 6 energy suppliers have all raised the prices of their standard variable tariffs recently. E.On kicked off with a 2.7% increase, followed by EDF Energy with 1.4%, npower with 5.3%, Scottish Power and British Gas both with [...]
New power projects in Wales: Government expected to approve new nuclear but reject tidal lagoon
Nuclear power is back in the news in the UK, with reports that the Government is provide support to the new nuclear plant being developed at Wylfa Newydd in Angelsey, Wales by Horizon Nuclear Power, a subsidiary of Hitachi. [...]
A possible OPEC production increase triggers fall in oil prices
A couple of weeks ago Donald Trump announced the US was withdrawing from the nuclear deal with Iran, and I wrote that this added to the bullish trend in oil prices. Since then oil prices have fallen from their [...]
De-carbonising everything: is CCU the answer?
I have bemoaned in previous posts the dependence of de-carbonisation goals on carbon capture and storage (“CCS”), a process that has yet to demonstrate commercial viability, other than in the context of enhanced oil recovery, which is hardly supportive [...]
Relying on interconnectors for security of supply carries risks
Last week Will Gardiner, chief executive of Drax Group, told the Guardian newspaper that Britain’s increasing reliance on electricity imports through the use of interconnectors is a threat to energy security, and will result in the country importing carbon [...]
Market coupling failures undermine the Internal Energy Market
There are two main pillars to European energy policy: the internal energy market (“IEM”) and the Climate Change Package. The IEM was the result of extending the Single Market into energy, and involved the unbundling of networks from generation [...]
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