Fourth Update of January 2020 – 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)

Tuesday – 21st January

• The number of Scottish households in fuel poverty rose in 2018.

• This UK Government report was variously reported in the media as a boost for UK investment in overseas renewable energy, the end of UK investment in overseas coal or the continuing UK investment in overseas oil and gas projects.

• UK research shows hope for a lighter, more flexible and durable solar power generation material not requiring rare earth materials in construction.

Wednesday – 22nd January

• Telegraph article reports that the UK Committee on Climate Change suggests increasing tax on air travel to fund changes to land use as part of delivering 2050 net-zero emissions policy.

Thursday – 23rd January

• UK independent Committee on Climate Change report into land use urges government to increase UK forestry, reduce beef and dairy pasture (with a reduction of meat and dairy in UK diets) and increase crops for biomass power generation.

Friday – 24th January

• Rolls-Royce has announced that a consortium based in UK aims to develop a fleet of small nuclear power stations to contribute to UK low-carbon energy mix over the next decade. Supporters claim that loss of benefit of economy of scale from power stations with about a tenth of capacity of Hinckley is compensated by more rapid construction and return. Security is raised as a concern from distributing nuclear reactors.

• A group of businesses in north west England, with intentions to develop a regional hydrogen supply of energy and associated industry are appealing to government for policies which encourage growth of a local supply chain compared with offshore wind industry which, according to the group allowed much of work to be carried out overseas.

Saturday – 25th January

• BMW predicts that fuel for its hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles will equal the cost of petrol and diesel within five years.