Tag: nuclear reactor

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

28th Apr 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 – 20th April

A consortium of industrial power suppliers and end-users has been awarded funds from UK Government to support plans to make Humberside in eastern England the first industrial cluster to be ‘de-carbonised’ by 2040. The plans depend upon production of hydrogen and Carbon capture and storage.

Tuesday – 21st April

Industry body Oil and Gas UK has stated that UK offshore oil and gas met approximately two-thirds of UK oil and gas demand and almost half of total energy in 2019.

Article describes UK Government data showing biomass share of electricity generation has multiplied three-fold in the previous 10 years. Total power generation from all renewable sources, including biomass, has increased four-fold.

Wednesday – 22nd April

A project in NW England, aiming to become the UK’s first net-zero industrial cluster, using hydrogen and Carbon capture and storage, has received government funding in order to develop a plan.

Cargoes of liquid natural gas from the USA have been cancelled by Asian and European importers due to lower demand from the current business environment.

Thursday – 23rd April

Plans are being made to use heat from water in flooded former coal mines in northern England to heat homes.

Friday – 24th April

The fine spring weather across the UK meant that on Monday 20th April 2020 solar power generation broke a record. At peak generation solar power provided 30% of the electricity supply, generating 9.7 GW (for context UK electricity demand during the week varied between 20 and 30 GW).

Sunday 26th – April

EDF is preparing to submit an application for a large nuclear power station (Sizewell C) to be constructed on the English east coast.

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

24th 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 – 16th March

Applications for renewable energy projects in the UK hit a new high in 2019, increasing by 75% compared with 2015.

Tuesday – 17th March

EDF which operates all 15 nuclear power reactors in the UK has said plans are in place to ensure continued operations across the fleet. Total combined capacity is 4.2 GW. (for context, UK demand is at 32 GW at time of writing according to Gridwatch: https://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/ )

Thursday – 19th March

UK Government has reached agreement with all domestic energy suppliers to ease payment difficulties for households in the current situation.

The biggest service station in Europe to offer natural gas as an alternative fuel to diesel for heavy goods vehicles is open along a motorway in NW England.

Friday – 20th March

A Geographical article describes the need for a ‘Just Transition’ for workers as part of targets to reduce greenhouse emissions. The article describes efforts from around the world, cases in history (including east Scotland fabrication yards) and points of view.

Saturday – 21st March

The Guardian reports that between a quarter and half of UK greenhouse gas emissions are generated from central heating systems which heat 85% of homes. The article quotes a report from Institution of Engineering and Technology which suggests hydrogen may be the way to solve this using the existing network.

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.