Rounding up the energy decisions in the Spring Budget
Reforms to planning and grid connections, extensions to oil and gas windfall taxes and efforts to catalyse the green industries of the future all feature in the Spring Budget. Setting the scene, the government signalled its intention to continue investing infrastructure, pledging to deliver over £600bn of planned public sector investment over the next five […]
UK ranked worst among top 5 Western European economies for green investment
The UK has been ranked worst out of the top five Western European economies on green spending according to analysis carried out by Greenpeace. Comparing France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK, Greenpeace used the International Energy Agency’s government energy spending tracker to explore how each had fared on green investment between 2020 and 2023. […]
UK faces energy security “crunch point” in coming years
Delays to building new UK power generation are set to leave the country facing an energy security “crunch point” in 2028. That is according to a Drax-commissioned report from Public First, which warned of a “perfect storm” of an increase in demand, the retirement of existing assets and delays to the Hinkley Point C nuclear […]
Two thirds of UK energy companies eyeing investments abroad
The UK’s claim to green leadership is under threat, with the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) finding that two thirds of UK energy companies are considering moving their investments overseas. Publishing a report, UKSIF found 63% of UK energy companies have either moved, or are planning to move, investments out of the UK […]
“Time is now” for Scotland’s offshore wind ambitions
Scottish Renewables wants the UK government to “act now” if Scotland is to be able to unlock its pipeline of offshore wind projects in line with its climate ambitions. Ahead of the funding pot for the next Contracts for Difference (CfD) round being announced in March, Scottish Renewables has written to the Energy Security and […]
Government plots out energy policy priorities for Britain
The government has launched its strategy and policy statement for energy policy in Britain, setting out the roles and responsibilities of itself, Ofgem and the forthcoming National Energy System Operator (NESO), as well as key priorities and outcomes. Under enabling clean energy and net zero infrastructure, the government’s priorities include achieving the UK’s net zero […]
UK exits Energy Charter Treaty
The UK has withdrawn from the Energy Charter Treaty, with the government putting the exit down to a failure to agree “vital modernisation”. The purpose of the treaty, which has been in place since 1994, was to ensure international investment in the energy sector. Historically, it has provided protections for investors in fossil fuels, though […]
Spotlighting the scale of opportunity in China
Achieving the goals of carbon neutrality and peak carbon emissions by 2060 in China is progressing, with the proportion of non-fossil energy use expected to reach about 20% in 2025, 25% by 2030, before soaring to more than 80% by 2060. The proportion of non-fossil energy in China’s primary energy consumption from 2019 to 2060 […]
Europe sees “unprecedented” collapse in coal and gas generation
Last year saw fossil generation fall a record 19% in Europe, leading to it to account for less than a third of the EU’s electricity mix for the first time. Ember, in its European Electricity Review, delved into the full-year electricity generation and demand data across all of the EU-27 countries. From this, it was […]
UK minister highlights Scotland’s “acute” need for grid capacity
Energy Security and Net Zero Minister, Graham Stuart, has spoken of the importance of transforming the electricity network to ensure Scotland can achieve its ambitions for a cleaner, greener future. Stuart was speaking at Scottish Renewables’ Grid and Networks Conference, where he also drew on how planning and grid reforms will reduce consumer bills, bring […]