As the talk about regulation of energy brokers/consultants rages on it remains unclear when regulation will eventually arrive, the form it will take and who it will cover. Rather than wait for regulators businesses can take the initiative themselves by implementing some simple steps during the negotiating stage to avoid common pitfalls of energy tenders. Read more…
The winter that never came to be
Just like the market, if you took a random walk into any energy consultancy or brokerage last year, your efforts in gauging the market for future energy prices would have yielded pretty much the same result, regardless of who you asked. Assuming this question was “What’s the outlook for the UK energy prices on the Read more…
Green Investment Bank and Equitix in £24.5m energy efficiency deal
The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) and Equitix have today announced a £24.5m investment to finance the installation of renewable energy boilers at Bernard Matthews’ turkey farms. The project, the largest of its kind, will see 179 new biomass boilers installed across 21 farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire, meaning that 40% of Bernard Matthews’ estate Read more…
Market trigger strategy for better energy procurement
The new Market Trigger Strategy combines with broker’s 365-day market monitoring to deliver optimum packages, writes energyTEAM’s head of procurement Paul Garratt. Energy management consultancy energyTEAM is challenging the traditional thinking that presents businesses with only a stark choice between take-it-or-leave-it fixed rates and higher-risk purchasing on wholesale markets. Each of these approaches has its benefits: Read more…
The benefits of energy efficiency
According to a joint survey[1] released by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, and energy supplier npower, Britain’s manufacturers are increasing their investment in strategic energy management and efficiency, in order to improve their competitive position against a backdrop of rising energy costs. The survey voices the concerns of manufacturers and recognises that investment in energy management Read more…
FMs hindered by lack of tools
A survey by the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) and the National Energy Foundation (NEF) into experiences and expectations of improving the use of energy in buildings has found that FM professionals are highly committed to maximising energy improvements – but still lack metering and monitoring tools to establish accurate baselines and track progress. Read more…
Energy demand growth slowing
Global energy demand continues to grow but that growth is slowing and mainly driven by emerging economies – led by China and India – according to the BP Energy Outlook 2035, published last month (see inforgraphic on the right for a summary). The Outlook reveals that global energy consumption is expected to rise by 41% Read more…
Power generation needs to consider water shortages
Experts at Newcastle University are warning the Government that its current thinking on future energy generation risks locking the UK into a situation where water availability could put energy security in danger. Now the researchers are calling on policymakers to give greater consideration to the electricity sector’s ‘water footprint’, to minimise the risk of power Read more…
Boost for UK CCS
DECC has announced the award of a Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study for the Peterhead Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project on a natural gas power plant in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This news comes two months after the FEED study contract for the White Rose commercial-scale CCS electricity project at Drax power station in North Read more…
2030 framework – 40% GHG reduction and 27% renewable energy
The 2030 policy framework for climate and energy was proposed by the European Commission in January and aims to make the European Union’s economy and energy system more competitive, secure and sustainable. Opinion is divided over whether this has occurred. Many green commentators suggest it lacks ambition and is the feeble efforts of a burnt Read more…
New code for TPIs and brokers to be transparent
Ofgem is proposing a new code of practice requiring brokers and other TPIs to be completely clear with businesses about their fees, the contracts they offer and which suppliers they represent. The proposals also require suppliers to only work with brokers that have signed up to the code. Suppliers are to be set new rules Read more…
Air conditioning inspections make economic sense
As Chairman of the HEVAC Air Conditioning Plenary Committee and Vice President of the Heat Pump Association, Mike Nankivell* is closely involved with industry regulation and legislation and here he outlines the law regarding regular Air Conditioning Inspections. The Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) – Air Conditioning Inspections legislation implicates any building with an Read more…
What is Ofwat for?
Energy Managers Association, CEO Lord Redesdale questions why Ofwat isn’t looking more to the long term for its solutions. The Water Bill is inching its way through Parliament at the moment with little or no press comment. It is as though water is an uncontentious irrelevance that has little impact on the lives of those Read more…
Powering the renewables sector
The renewable energy sector has been under intense pressure over the last decade from national trade bodies, imposed UK energy targets and EU regulations. In fact, in 2010, renewable power constituted about a third of all newly built power generation capacity. Here, Steve Hughes, managing director of REO UK, explains how the testing of electrical Read more…
Where we are and where we are headed
The UK energy market is being rushed through an enforced update because it has been neglected for the last fifteen years or so. Today we are embroiled in that legacy. John Hall, Chairman, Alfa Energy looks to the future: When the Large Combustion Plant Directive was first proposed it made sense to phase out the Read more…
Energy reforms passed through Parliament at long last
Up to £110 billion of private sector investment in the electricity sector is said to be unlocked with the publication of the Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan. The investment isneeded by 2020 alongside crucial measures to improve the security of electricity supply, which will be made possible now that the Energy Bill has received Royal Read more…
Non-domestic RHI boost for CHP, air and ground source heat pumps
DECC has published a response document ‘Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive: Improving support, increasing uptake’, which sets out a range of improvements and increased support under the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). This responds to the consultations “Expanding the non-domestic scheme”, “Air to Water Heat Pumps and Energy from Waste” and “Non Domestic Scheme Early Tariff Read more…
No basis to change 4th carbon budget
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) advised that there has been no change in the circumstances upon which the fourth carbon budget (2023 – 2027) was originally set in 2011 that would justify a lowering of ambition. Therefore the budget should not and cannot be changed under the terms of the Climate Change Act. If Read more…
Complacent businesses risk blackout ruin
Unless they are prepared to face damaging problems that could seriously impact their profitability and reputation, small and medium businesses (SMBs) must shake off complacency and heed the widely reported warning from the National Grid that the risk of power blackouts this winter is at an all-time high, says Steve Spicer of power management company, Read more…
Philips delivers ‘cradle-to-cradle’ lighting
The new BREEAM Excellent headquarters of the National Union of Students (NUS) uses Philips LED lighting throughout, procured through a ground-breaking “Pay per Lux” solution Macadam House on Gray’s Inn Road, London, the new headquarters of NUS, has been totally refurbished to create one of the most sustainable offices in the country. As well as Read more…