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The energy white paper fails to deliver a detailed plan for net zero
December saw the publication of the long-awaited energy white paper, which built on Boris Johnson’s 10-point energy plan. In [...]
FES-2020 costs indicate massive investment needed for net-zero
Last week, National Grid ESO published the first costings for its Future Energy Scenarios (“FES”). The key conclusions of [...]
Boris Johnson’s 10-point energy plan: a mixed bag
Despite being forced to self-isolate having come into contact with a covid-positive MP, Boris Johnson has finally unveiled his [...]
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Boris Johnson’s 10-point energy plan: a mixed bag
Despite being forced to self-isolate having come into contact with a covid-positive MP, Boris Johnson has finally unveiled his 10-point plan for a “green industrial revolution”. With his familiar flamboyance, he describes a new utopia full of clean air [...]
Space-based solar power: an exciting idea or pie in the sky?
This weekend the press became very excited by an announcement from the UK Government that it is commissioning new research into space-based solar power (“SBSP”) systems that would use satellites to collect solar energy and convert it into a [...]
Domestic DSR trials explore ways of tapping household flexibility
Building on the recent development of local flexibility markets, a couple of domestic demand-side response ("DSR") trials are underway to explore whether households can provide flexibility to local electricity networks. The trials take different approaches: WPD's Sustain-H trial uses [...]
Low wind and high demand squeeze the GB power market
There are signs of squeezed power market supply and demand margins. Last week saw National Grid ESO issue two Electricity Margin Notices (the new name for the Notice of Inadequate System Margin, or “NISM”), warning of a potential shortfall [...]
Nuclear power could be a key enabler for net zero
Despite the disruptions to the energy sector as a result of the pandemic, the Government remains committed to its 2050 net zero carbon target. The problem, as I have noted before, is that there are currently no technological solutions to [...]
How can energy suppliers survive a hostile market environment
I posted earlier about the difficult conditions facing energy suppliers in the GB market, and repeated my long-held vies that suppliers should be allowed to focus on energy supply and be released from their tax-collection activities. However, in the [...]
Energy retail in a covid world
Many industries have been hit hard by the covid-19 crisis, including the energy sector, but energy supply businesses were in trouble even before the novel coronavirus struck. This year another five suppliers have disappeared - Tonik Energy, Gnergy and [...]
Dynamic Containment: National Grid ESO launches new frequency control service
National Grid has launched a new frequency response service: Dynamic Containment, designed to provide sub-second response to faults which cause a significant deviation in the electricity system frequency. According to National Grid ESO: “Currently, the electricity system is experiencing [...]
Smart meters: handing over control of electricity usage
This month saw a flurry of negative press about smart meters as journalists awoke to the implications of some proposed industry changes that could lead to suppliers remotely switching off appliances used by domestic consumers. Back in July, SSE [...]
Hydrogen is big news but is it really the answer to de-carbonisation?
As we begin to emerge from the covid lockdown there is a lot of talk about a “green recovery” and “building-back green”, with a renewed focus on hydrogen. Last week the Confederation of British Industry (“CBI”) with the University [...]
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