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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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Energy market outlook for 2020 – a year is a long time in energy
Another new year brings another look back at the past 12 months and a time to consider what the energy market outlook might be for 2020. This time last year, my predictions for the top five energy themes for [...]
Once upon a time…
A personal project has kept me away from my blog recently, but I wanted to end the year with a wrap-up of some interesting low-carbon technologies that are enjoying a revival. Scientists have been studying a rare phenomenon in [...]
Guernsey: energy policy considerations for small markets
Last week I had the pleasure of being one of the keynote speakers at the Institute of Directors Guernsey Branch annual convention, speaking about energy policy options for the Bailiwick in the context of climate ambitions. The day before, [...]
Hinkley Point C costs increase while new safety concerns emerge in French fleet
The troubled European Pressurised Water reactor technology hit new problems this week with EDF announcing further cost overruns at its next generation nuclear project at Hinkley Point C. “Challenging ground conditions” have meant the cost of the project has [...]
Smart meter rollout extended as benefits continue to fall
The Government has finally agreed to extend the deadline for smart meter installation, pushing it back to 2024 under a new supplier obligation that will come into effect from 1 January 2021 when the current obligation ends. At the [...]
Ofgem provides further clarity on its proposed network charging reforms
Ofgem is in the process of reforming the way in which users pay for access to and use of electricity networks, which I have described in previous posts here and here. The Targeted Charging Review is the more advanced [...]
9 August blackout technical report highlights issues with Grid Code compliance
Ofgem has now published National Grid’s technical analysis of the 9 August blackout. Much of the meat is contained in the appendices. The report does not answer many of the questions that have been asked in relation to the [...]
Initial blackout report blames lightning strikes, but why was Hornsea so vulnerable?
National Grid has now published National Grid ESO’s initial report into the 9 August blackout. The extremely repetitive 26-page report sheds some new light onto the events on the day (and I was rather gratified to see that my [...]
A new direction is needed for retail energy regulation
While energy news has been dominated by talk of last week’s blackout, there have been some important developments in the retail space which are worth highlighting, and which underline the need for a new direction in retail energy regulation. [...]
Blackouts and near misses: results of the energy transition or simple bad luck?
Since Friday’s blackout, there have been press reports that National Grid has presided over three “near-miss” situations where system frequency fell close to the lower frequency tolerance of 49.5 Hz, 1% below the target level of 50 Hz. National [...]
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