Featured Posts
Time to accept that wind farm costs are not falling
There has been a consistent narrative that the cost of building new wind farms is falling, with falling subsidy [...]
Windfall tax harms oil and gas production and must be cut
In May last year, the UK Government introduced a windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies [...]
Why Norway’s views on energy security should ring alarm bells across Europe
Norway's energy security would appear to be a done deal, yet the past couple of years have been very [...]
Addressing the high real cost of renewable generation
Over the past few months we have been inundated with claims from interested parties that more renewables are the [...]
Recent Posts
Ofgem waters down financial resilience proposals
Back in July, Ofgem launched a consultation on plans to boost financial resilience in the retail energy sector, in which it made three key proposals: Protecting consumer credit balances and Renewables Obligation (“RO”) payments: Ofgem believes there is a [...]
Another low-wind Capacity Market Notice with more tightness expected
On Monday 28 November, National Grid ESO issued the second Capacity Market Notice (“CMN”) of the winter, again on a day with low wind output. Although the Notice was cancelled after around half an hour, it is certainly a [...]
The first Capacity Market Notice of Winter 22 indicates difficult times ahead
Just after 2:30 yesterday afternoon, National Grid ESO issued the first Capacity Market Notice (“CMN”) of the winter, predicting a spare generation margin of just 177 MW at 7pm – CMNs are issued automatically if the margin drops below [...]
Why Norway’s views on energy security should ring alarm bells across Europe
Norway's energy security would appear to be a done deal, yet the past couple of years have been very challenging for its electricity market. While the rest of Europe struggles with reduced access to gas, it seems strange that [...]
A depressing Autumn Statement introduces new taxes and cuts consumer support
Yesterday the new Chancellor. Jeremy Hunt, issued a new Budget for the UK in his Autumn Statement, reversing most of the policies in the Truss/Kwarteng Growth Plan. The Statement heralds significant tax increases for just about everyone, with several [...]
Stress corrosion continues to trouble the French nuclear fleet
This week EDF updated its expectations for its nuclear fleet for this winter, downgrading its output forecasts to 275-285 TWh, compared to the previous estimate of 280-300 TWh. The main driver of the downgraded forecasts is a refusal by [...]
Demand Flexibility Service allows households to participate in DSR for the first time
Today National Gris ESO has officially launched the Demand Flexibility Service it announced in its Winter Outlook after Ofgem approved the scheme. It will run from today until 31 March 2023 allowing both businesses and households to be paid [...]
Sale of Bulb to Octopus Energy should finally cap the bill for consumers
Over the weekend, the Government announced that failed supplier Bulb which entered Special Administration back in November last year, is to be acquired by rival Octopus Energy. Although the sale process was described as “competitive” it is widely believed [...]
European gas markets remain volatile: demand reduction will be key
In addition to the electricity winter outlook, National Grid’s gas operations division recently published its outlook for the gas market this winter. Despite the wider crisis in the gas markets, which is driving gas prices higher globally, including in [...]
UK Government energy price support schemes creating uncertainty
On Monday, the new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, shocked the energy market by potentially limiting the domestic Energy Price Guarantee (“EPG”) to just six months, rather than the two years initially promised only last month. Of course, the Government is [...]
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