Featured Posts
New report: The true affordability of net zero
This evening my latest report: The true affordability of net zero, was launched at an event hosted by The [...]
Norway turning away from electricity interconnection
Norway is turning away from electricity interconnection as its governing coalition collapses over disagreements over energy co-operation with Europe. [...]
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 [...]
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
Evolving markets for flexibility
The rapid deployment of renewable generation, and its impact on the electricity system in terms of transmission capacity management, balancing intermittency and frequency control has triggered the need for an entirely new suite of flexibility products. At the same [...]
Ofgem consults on new capacity market rules while legal challenges persist
Ofgem has launched a consultation into proposed changes to the Capacity Market (“CM”) rules, which aim to simplify the market and reduce complexity which Ofgem feels may be acting as a barrier to entry and inhibiting competition. There are [...]
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 failure of another new entrant supplier, bringing the total number of failures in since the beginning of 2018 to 17*. [...]
The role of third-party intermediaries in business energy procurement
Third party intermediaries or energy brokers are an important source of information for companies in their energy procurement and an important sales channel for suppliers; however the market is un-regulated, lacks transparency, and may be deterring customers at a [...]
The Targeted Charging Review will not kill flexibility in the electricity market
The consultation into Ofgem’s minded-to decision in its Targeted Charging Review into residual network charging and embedded benefits closed this week with strong objections being made by renewable and distributed energy bodies who see the proposals as damaging the [...]
Significant network charging and network access reforms ahead – part II
Ofgem is exploring major changes to electricity network charging and access arrangements that will affect all users of the system from large businesses to households, from large transmission-connected to generation to behind-the-meter storage operators. In this second post on network [...]
Significant network charging and network access reforms ahead – part I
Electricity network charging is facing its most significant reforms since the creation of the current NETA/BETTA system. Ofgem believes that current charging methodology creates distortions in the market and incentivises undesirable behaviours. This is because the entire electricity network [...]
As another project hits the rocks, what’s next for new nuclear in GB?
Horizon Nuclear Power announced today that it will suspend its UK development programme for new nuclear power stations, following a decision taken by its parent company Hitachi. Horizon is developing the Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant on Anglesey in North [...]
What next for energy markets in 2019?
It’s always interesting at this time of year to look back over the past year and ahead to what might be expected in the year to come. This time last year, I expected the retail price cap to be big [...]
All spruced up – the history of Christmas lights
According to The Week, the US uses an average of 6.63 billion kWh of electricity each year on Christmas lights - more than the entire annual consumption of El Salvador (5.35 billion kWh) and Ethiopia (5.30 billion kWh), and [...]
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