Second Update of March 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)

Monday – 9th March

• Global use of coal for electricity generation in 2019 saw its greatest decline since 1990 when figures began being recorded. China increased coal power generation by 2% in the same year and is responsible for more than half of global coal power generation according to the report covered in the Independent.

• National Infrastructure Commission says UK needs 50% of electricity to be generated from renewables by 2030 in order to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Tuesday – 10th March

• Research group Energy Systems Catapult claims UK cannot achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions before 2050 but a 2050 target is achievable if treated with urgency. Achieving the 2050 target will require investment in Carbon Capture and Storage, hydrogen for heating and transport and new nuclear power generation (including small scale modular reactors).

• UK’s first service station-style electric vehicle charging forecourt will open in summer 2020 in Essex, south east England. With ability to charge 24 vehicles at once and a retail outlet on-site, the aim is to open many more in the coming years.

Wednesday – 11th March

• UK Government House of Commons Library has published a report on Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) describing history of CCS/CCUS on the back of the 2020 budget announcement for £800 million fund to establish two CCUS sites; one by mid 2020’s and a second by 2030. Report includes criticism of ‘lack of clarity and ambition’ for CCUS from previous governments.

Thursday – 12th March

• 10 months after the Committee for Climate Change report into net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and 8 months before Conference of Parties in Glasgow (CoP26), this article covers energy in the UK Government budget: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and tree-planting are highlighted. Concerns are raised over road-building plans. UK Government says a more detailed ‘Spending Review’ will follow focused on climate change targets.

Friday – 13th March

• The National Union of Mineworkers Trade Union (NUM) points out that the recent UK government decision to ban burning coal for domestic heating will impact former miners who receive a coal allowance as part of their retirement agreement.

• UK Government House of Commons Library has published a report on fuel poverty in UK. They are measured differently in various parts of UK but are all based on a household’s income, fuel costs and energy consumption. 11% of England’s households are classed as fuel poor, 25% in Scotland, 12% in Wales and 18% in Northern Ireland.