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
Twisting electricity generation with nanotube technology
Today I came across a fascinating piece of research which has the potential to be a real game-changer - an international research team led by scientists at The University of Texas and Hanyang University in South Korea has developed [...]
Once upon a time….Mayor Khan’s zero carbon fairytale
This week the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has published his draft environmental strategy for the city, with an ambition for London to be a zero carbon city by 2050, with energy efficient buildings, clean transport and clean energy. He [...]
Will new BIPV technologies finally see the concept go mainstream?
The recent entry of Tesla into the PV market has generated renewed interest in building-integrated solar PV - a technology which allows the structure of buildings, walls and windows as well as roofs - to generate electricity thereby reducing [...]
Is Secure and Promote delivering for retail competition?
On 25 July, Ofgem launched a consultation as part of its review of the Secure & Promote licence condition. Secure and Promote was introduced in 2013 to improve liquidity and market access for small and new entrant electricity suppliers. [...]
Helm energy price review: time to confront the sacred cows
The Government has this week appointed Dieter Helm, professor of economic policy at Oxford University, to lead a review into the cost of energy. He will chair a panel of experts including Nick Winser, executive director at National Grid [...]
Electricity bills: the drama won’t stop until pricing becomes transparent
The press and politicians are currently full of outrage at the announcement by British Gas of a 12.5% increase in its electricity prices from September, describing the rise as "extortionate", "unjustified" and a "slap in the face" to families, [...]
RIIO reform: current regime too generous to network companies
On the 12th July, Ofgem issued an open letter launching the process for establishing the next round of price controls, known as "RIIO-2", for the GB gas and electricity systems. These price controls determine the amount of allowable expenditure [...]
Future Energy Scenarios underline the need for an Independent System Operator
In its Future Energy Scenarios, National Grid presents its views of the future of the GB energy system, which I have described here. As I was exploring the scenarios, I was struck by some surprising features of the scenarios, [...]
Future Energy Scenarios: interrogating the crystal ball
National Grid has published its latest future energy scenarios going out to 2050. The scenarios are based on the (in)famous energy trilemma: security of supply, de-carbonisation and affordability, and provide what National Grid says are "credible pathways for the [...]
Leaving Euratom: disaster or opportunity?
Since the announcement in on 29 March that as well as exiting the EU, the UK would also be withdrawing from Euratom, the European Atomic Energy Community, there has been much consternation, with fears ranging from the UK potentially [...]
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