First Update of May 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 – 28th April

• UK again broke its own record for a period of time generating electricity without a contribution from coal. The previous record of 18 days in June 2019 was broken during the previous days and stood at 22 days and counting at the time of this article being published.

Thursday – 30th April

• The Portuguese Government has decided to invest in a $5 billion project to create one of the biggest hydrogen plants in the world using excess solar power. The Environment Minister is quoted as saying “The economy cannot grow along the lines of the past and our post-coronavirus vision is to create wealth from projects that reduce carbon emissions and promote energy transition and sustainable mobility”.

• The International Energy Agency is predicting the biggest annual drop in global emissions in history (8%) for 2020 as a result of actions taken in response to the ongoing pandemic.

Friday – 1st May

• UK now has 3.2 GW offshore wind electricity generation capacity operational through Contract for Difference (CfD; Government guaranteed minimum price).

• According to this BBC piece, efficiency of current solar technology (the amount of sunlight received being converted to electricity) has increased over the years but may reach its physical limit in years to come. Other technologies with higher limits are the subject of advanced research.

• A British manufacturer of hydrogen fuelled buses has described a vision to put 3000 of the vehicles on the roads of UK cities.

• Biomass contributed the biggest part of renewable electricity generation during April and over 8% of UK total electricity generation. Biomass power generation is dominated by Drax combustion of wood pellets in north of England.

Saturday – 2nd May

• Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland have won an award from the EU’s first “Responsible Island” prize for their commitment to renewable energy and hydrogen generation and use from excess renewable energy. The islands won 3rd prize. First and second prize went to two Danish islands.