COMPLETE UK ENERGY TRENDS – Page 6 – COMPLETE UK Energy Trends aims to gather publications from media or government departments of relevance to UK energy with a few lines of summary or capturing a key point. Updates will include overseas pieces considered of interest to followers of UK energy.

Second Update of March 2020 – An overview of last week’s Energy news

16th Mar 2020 • 0 Comments

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.

First Update of March 2020 – An overview of last week’s Energy news

11th Mar 2020 • 0 Comments

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 – 2nd March

More than 12 million UK homes (about half) are rated below C Grade (scale A to G) for energy efficiency.

A consortium led by BP and Shell has launched a Hydrogen Taskforce to examine and promote the role of hydrogen in meeting UK net zero emissions targets as well as aims for UK to develop a role in global hydrogen solutions.

Tuesday – 3rd March

UK Government has lifted opposition to onshore wind power generation allowing onshore wind to compete for financial support with other renewable projects.

Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage Project is moving to the next stage of development. Acorn aims to be the first CCS plant in UK. Based at Saint Fergus in NE Scotland, the project will convert natural gas from the north sea into hydrogen for blending into the grid; then capture and store the Carbon Dioxide by-product.

Wednesday – 4th March

A company will open the first hydrogen refuelling station in central Scotland near Edinburgh. Company Director quotes the need for urgent action like this to meet longer-term emissions targets and support policies regarding petrol/diesel/hybrid vehicles.

UK Government has announced plans to increase the amount of ethanol in petrol in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions. Transport Secretary claims it to be the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the UK roads. Article also shows almost 5-fold increase in purchase of battery electric vehicles (BEV’s) in previous 5 years in UK.

Thursday – 5th March

A briefing from the UK House of Commons Library lays out the status of UK nuclear power: UK has 15 existing reactors contributing about 25% of power as ‘base load’. 13 reactors are in various stages of construction or planning including Hinkley Point in SW England.

Friday – 6th March

45 households in London have taken part in a UK Government trial using household batteries to store non-peak demand electricity for use at peak demand.

Ahead of this week’s UK Government budget, the nuclear industry has warned that 2050 net zero emissions cannot be achieved without commitment to further new nuclear plants. Article points out that nuclear power provides 20% of UK electricity and that all but one of the existing fleet will be closed down in the next ten years.

Fourth Update of February 2020 – An overview of last week’s Energy news

2nd Mar 2020 • 0 Comments

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)

Wednesday – 26th February

A consortium led by French energy company EDF is considering plans to generate hydrogen at-scale using UK nuclear power.

Thursday – 27th February

UK electricity generation plant, DRAX in northern England, has announced it will close two remaining coal-fired stations in a year. Four units generating electricity from burning wood pellets will continue.

Friday – 28th February

A plan to build a Carbon capture and storage (CCS) site at Teesside in NE England has been announced by a consortium led by BP and including Shell, Total, Equinor and ENI.

Article describes UK’s first hydrogen-fuelled public train being introduced to the public in 2019.

A wind farm of 100 turbines offshore northeast Scotland, with a total 1 GW generating capacity, has completed pile-driving. Jacket structure is required for the turbines due to higher water depth than typical at around 50m.

Sunday – 1st March

This article asks if 2020 will be ‘the year of hydrogen’ and reports on hydrogen being introduced into the gas grid at Keele University campus in central England.

A report for trade association Energy UK has suggested UK is behind where it needs to be in storage and flexible ‘demand-side’ solutions for the energy transition including encouraging households to use electricity off-peak through reduced tariffs.

Third Update of February 2020 – An overview of last week’s Energy news

24th Feb 2020 • 0 Comments

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 – 17th February

UK Government has announced £90 million for schemes to reduce emissions including Europe’s first large-scale hydrogen production plants in NW England and near Aberdeen Scotland as well as a third plant to use offshore wind power off the Yorkshire coast to produce hydrogen using electrolysis.

Tuesday – 18th February

UK storms prevented LNG vessels landing natural gas cargo and caused a price increase.

Article describes UK energy provider EDF in final stages of submission for regulator’s approval of Sizewell C nuclear power plant in south east England. Plant is expected to cost £16 billion and provide more than 3GW of electricity, equivalent to approximately 7% of UK demand according to the article.

Wednesday – 19th February

Offshore UK wind ‘loads’ (production) have risen to average 55% of installed capacity in recent years.

Thursday – 20th February

A company has announced plans to install 62 MW of solar PV in Wales citing the drop in cost of installation as the incentive.

Friday – 21st February

UK Government has announced a ban on domestic use of coal and ‘wet wood’ (more than 20% moisture) for heating. Dry wood is not included in the ban. Government says such heating is biggest contributor to emissions of fine particulates.

Newport Council in south Wales will install 2 MW of solar power capacity on public buildings such as schools around the town.

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