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
What the manifestos say about energy: Liberal Democrats
In the third and final post in my series on the energy policies outlined in the election manifestos of the three main UK political parties, I take a look at the second opposition party – the Liberal Democrats. My [...]
What the manifestos say about energy: Labour Party
In the second in my series on the energy policies outlined in the election manifestos of the three main UK political parties, I take a look at the main opposition party and likely winner of this year’s General Election [...]
What the manifestos say about energy: Conservative Party
Former Labour MP Gerald Kaufman famously described his party’s 1983 election manifesto as the “longest suicide note in history”. He was referring to the socialist nature of the policies contained in the document, which were out of step with [...]
Ofgem throws a spanner into GB’s interconnector ambitions
In March, Ofgem disappointed many by indicating that it is minded to reject all but one of the seven interconnector projects applying for authorisation under the cap and floor mechanism. The only project which makes the grade being the [...]
Interconnectors report available for peer review
The GB electricity market has become increasingly reliant on interconnection with other markets. In its 2023 Future Energy Scenarios , NG ESO said: “To manage dunkelflaute periods, dispatchable thermal power plants (gas and/or hydrogen), depending on the scenario and [...]
You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality
My blog is 8 years old today! The past year has seen my business develop in ways I did not expect even a year ago when I was celebrating my higher profile. I am still regularly quoted in the [...]
Streamlining nuclear regulation is essential if targets are to be met
Nuclear regulation is widely seen as strangling the delivery of new projects. Timescales are long and costs are high. Hundreds of permits are needed, and there is a constant threat of judicial review when permits are finally granted, adding [...]
Government pushes for more gas generation to support energy security
Today the Government has announced a new consultation to promote energy security (yet to be published) as part of its ongoing Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (“REMA”). Two main elements are being highlighted – a desire for more gas-fired [...]
Torness nuclear power station: clean energy in action
Last month I had the pleasure of visiting Torness nuclear power station in Scotland – many thanks to EDF for hosting me and giving me a detailed tour. I got to both stand on top of one of the [...]
New report: Gas network decommissioning
In recent months questions have been asked around the future of Britain's gas infrastructure and pressure put on both the Government and Ofgem to address the question of gas network decommissioning. The UK Government has entered into a legal [...]
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