National Grid expects “significant solar growth” for decades to come, even in its most conservative modelling of the UK’s future energy mix. According to its annual Future Energy Scenarios report, solar capacity will double from around 14GW today, to at least 28GW by 2050. It could reach 65GW. A more immediate effect of solar’s rise Read more…
MEEF: more beef for energy efficiency funding
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a £500m fund for energy efficiency projects in the capital. Like it’s forerunner, the London Energy Efficiency Fund (LEEF), the Mayor’s Energy Efficiency Fund (MEEF) is run by Amber Infrastructure. The largest public-private energy efficiency fund in Europe, it will provide lower cost finance (rates start at 1.5%) to Read more…
Gridbeyond chief: Triad avoidance may go by 2022, but flexible firms will only gain
Triad avoidance may cease to exist by 2022, according to Gridbeyond chief executive Michael Phelan. The head of the flexibility provider, formerly known as Endeco, also thinks Capacity Market prices will rise following the failed legal challenge to halt Ofgem’s cuts to embedded benefits. The High Court ruling means that the main embedded benefit, the Read more…
BES Utilities loses judicial review claim over data seized in raid
BES Utilities has lost a claim for judicial review following the raids on its premises by Lancashire Police and Trading Standards two years ago. In a related action, the company is also seeking £8.6m damages from Cheshire West and Chester Trading Standards. The authorities are conducting an investigation into allegations of fraudulent sales of utilities. Read more…
Utility Warehouse: More independent suppliers will go bust
Utility Warehouse has suggested small independents acquiring customers at a loss will not last long, predicting further insolvencies. Reporting financial results for the year to 31 March, parent firm Telecom Plus posted an adjusted pre-tax profit increase of £54.3m (up 1.8%) and a marginal statutory pre-tax profit increase on 2017 of £100,000 to £41.0m. Boom Read more…
WPD expands DSR programme, launches tenders across Midlands and South West
Western Power Distribution is launching a tender for more demand-side response (DSR) to help balance its networks. The company began a flexibility trial in the Midlands last year, which went live in April this year. It now seeks expressions of interest from half-hourly metered businesses that can cut consumption or increase generation in Rugeley, Northampton, Read more…
Anesco’s Steve Shine: Battery storage isn’t ‘merchant risk’, it’s just merchant
Anesco plans to keep more of its battery assets to fund new projects “because the returns we are seeing are good”, according to executive chairman Steve Shine. Shine also suggested the market should stop dwelling on “merchant risk” that is frightening debt investors and instead get used to a merchant model that can be exploited by Read more…
Give us your views on DSR and storage
The Energyst needs end user views on battery storage and demand-side response to inform its annual DSR Report. The aim is to provide a snapshot of the challenges and opportunities from an end-user perspective – a genuine picture of the state of play. Does your business provide demand-side response, what assets do you harness and Read more…
Nissan: Vehicle to grid services will not drain EV batteries
Nissan has countered suggestions that providing vehicle to grid services using electric vehicles (EVs) will leave customers with empty batteries. Some prominent EV owners, such as Energy Managers Association CEO Lord Redesdale, have suggested that the idea of using EV batteries as energy storage is “complete crap”, because owners will be reluctant to lose power Read more…
Electrifying heat: Too expensive, or too little ambition?
Electrification of heat was seen as a key policy objective in the early part of this decade, but appears to have receded in recent years, largely on grounds of cost of meeting winter peak demand. The government and much of industry now talk about a ‘whole systems approach’ that involves greener gases, such as hydrogen Read more…
Hydrogen: the great white hope for decarbonisation?
Hydrogen is seen as a key option for decarbonising gas and therefore heat. Some studies suggest it could reduce emissions from heat by almost three quarters, while also helping to decarbonise transport, power and industry. So what’s the catch? The Committee on Climate Change has repeatedly called for “proper” hydrogen trials so that decisions on Read more…