First Update of April 2019 – An overview of last week’s Energy news

(Click a bullet point to open the relevant article)

Tuesday – 2nd April

• Developers of pumped storage systems are pushing for UK Government to encourage further capacity including at Loch Ness. Pumped storage is the system where low demand, cheaper power is used to pump water uphill to a dammed section of the valley. The water flows downwards through turbines during periods of high demand and higher prices.

• Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) have been required by UK law for a year but Business Green reports concerns for high levels of non-compliance in the private rental sector.

Wednesday – 3rd April

• Orkney Islands (north east of Scottish mainland) continue to lead the way in maximising use of renewables. ‘Waste’ wind is minimised by generation of hydrogen and high take-up of electric vehicles. High degree of ‘micro-generation’ is identified as the driving force as community of individual generators has the incentive to maximise value. Could this be scaled up to the mainland?

• The article badly confuses electricity and energy which are far from the same as well as confusing capacity with power delivered but it is still worth noting the rise of electricity generation from renewable means around the world. Roughly a half is hydro power but wind and solar together almost match that and are growing faster.

• UK Government launches 4 ‘demonstrators’ (… think we used to call them ‘pilot projects’) to trial smart energy systems designed to link power generation, storage and delivery in heating, transportation and power for future energy system.

• The case is made for bioenergy which is the single biggest contributor to UK renewables’ electricity generation according to Renewable Energy Association.

• Germany. Good news: the last piece of black coal has been mined. Bad news: the plan is to burn more polluting brown coal (lignite) for a further 20 years.

Friday – 5th April

• Russia Liquid Natural Gas: 2017 = 0% of UK supply. 2018 = 17% of UK supply.

Saturday – 6th April

• Now here’s an interesting one: China is having its own LNG carrier built as homes continue to be converted from coal to gas on a huge scale. The partner is Norwegian company DNV GL. Norway is currently the biggest exporter of natural gas to UK.