First Update of February 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 – 4th February

• UK Prime Minister has launched a ‘year of climate action’ including phasing out coal in power generation a year sooner than previous target (2025 to 2024) and bringing in a ban on petrol, diesel and hybrid private vehicles 5 years sooner (2035 to 2030).

Wednesday – 5th February

• Scottish Transport Strategy has been published with a vision based on four priorities: 1. reduced inequalities 2. takes climate action 3. helps deliver inclusive economic growth 4. improves health and well-being.

• Ferries being built in west Scotland shipyards will be the first to be powered by Liquid Natural Gas in the UK. Proponents say the fuel is cleaner than diesel which is by far the most common fuel in UK waters but opponents say that gas is imported from the middle east and that hydrogen would generate even less greenhouse gas emissions.

Thursday – 6th February

• UK Government Department for Transport has announced plans for UK towns to bid for £50 million to become the first to run an entirely electric-powered bus service by 2025. Almost £100 million has been set aside for other bus service initiatives.

• “I” reports that UK Government plans to increase offshore wind power capacity from 9 GW to 40 GW in the next decade mean installing 5 new turbines per week. Article says that this is equivalent to 2017 construction rates.

Friday – 7th February

• BBC reports discussion in UK Government to shift the cost of net-zero emissions from energy bills which disproportionately hit the less well-off. Head of UK’s biggest household energy supplier, Iain Conn of Centrica says “Before the costs get much higher I would advocate that the government needs to move the funding to income tax”.

• Wind turbine blades from 1990’s USA are heading to landfill. Plans are in place to recycle today’s materials into plastic and other products including a children’s playground in the Netherlands.

• UK imports of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) doubled in 2019 with increases from Qatar, Russia and USA.