Third Update of October 2019 – An overview of last week’s Energy news

Below is this week’s summary. It should be a one minute read relevant to UK energy with links to documents for those who wish to read more.

(Click a bullet point to open the relevant article)

Monday – 14th October

• UK 3rd Quarter 2019 was first quarter in history where electricity generation from wind, solar and biomass exceeded electricity generation from coal and gas.

• The Eden Project visitor attraction in Cornwall, SW England has announced £17 million funding is in place to drill a well which will exploit geothermal energy from granite rocks 4.5 kilometres beneath the surface as first phase of a bigger programme.

• 4th offshore wind leasing competition has opened for a total of 7 GW power capacity. Successful applicants based on financial, technical and legal criteria will be announced in about a year.

• A UK company is proposing turning waste plastic that cannot be recycled into methane and hydrogen. Article quotes UK has sending approximately 2.5 million tons of waste plastic to landfill.

Tuesday – 15th October

• UK Government Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy report shows aspects of implementation of Committee on Climate Change proposal for net-zero emissions by 2050. £2 billion provided to various research projects including hydrogen, electric vehicles, new nuclear and carbon capture.

Thursday – 17th October

• US Liquid Natural Gas companies are betting on increased growth and more flexibility in customer-base. US plans for terminals match 2018 global consumption and usual approach for long-term contracts is in decline.

• Article highlights UK dependence on natural gas for domestic heating. According to the article, 40% of UK energy is for heating properties and 85% of UK households have a gas central heating boiler. Options to tackle this challenge towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions are quoted as hydrogen, heat pumps and district heating.

• BBC article discusses floating offshore wind power for deeper water areas of UK coast. UK has over half global floating offshore wind capacity. Article is critical of lack of UK presence in supply chain.

• Exploratory work has begun on a giant pumped storage plant in Australia. 17km of tunnels will connect 2 reservoirs with an elevation difference of 800m. When there is excess power water will be pumped uphill and power will be generated when needed by flowing water downhill through turbines. Cost estimate is equivalent to 3 to 4 billion pounds.

Friday – 18th October

• UK energy supplier Scottish Power claims regulator OFGEM is holding up investment into infrastructure for charging electric vehicles.

• Total has launched its first vessel which will supply liquid natural gas (LNG) to marine vessels switching from liquid fuel (diesel) to natural gas as a fuel.