The story from new mechanisms like National Grid’s Demand Side Balancing Reserve and the Capacity Market are that they welcome bids from storage. But in practice, those mechanisms have largely incentivised traditional generation instead, some of it at small scale.
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Analysis, interviews, thought leadership
From New Power Report: Treasury plans reform of independent regulators
by New Power • • Comments Off
Background on plans for Ofgem as announced in today’s budget. From New Power, January 2016 HM Treasury has signalled a shake-up among the UK’s independent regulators, with energy leading the way. The news came in a policy document titled “a…
The New Power Interview: Peter Haigh, managing director, Bristol Energy
by Annabel Andrews • • Comments Off
Janet Wood spoke to Peter Haigh about starting an independent supplier backed by a city council This interview was first published in the November edition of New Power Report. Since then, Bristol Energy has officially opened to new customers. I…
What is the future for distribution networks?
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What is the future for distribution networks? The European description of them as distribution system operators (DSOs) illustrates the issue: should they be active players in electricity supply and system management, or should they be independent facilitators for other market…
Ofgem tells National Grid: ‘We are not “Going Green” ’
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Ofgem has sent National Grid back to the drawing board in the way it assesses options for future network development, saying the system operator (SO) was too ready to assume its ‘Gone Green’ scenario would come to pass. The regulator…
Demand response products get mixed customer response
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National Grid has attracted just a fraction of its target in a new demand response product that would help manage system stresses. Rebecca Yang, commercial manager at National Grid, told New Power that the new product (enhanced Stor) was a…
Eggborough signs SBR contract for 2016/17 capacity
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Eggborough has signed a contract to supply 775MW of power in National Grid’s Supplemental Balancing Reserve for the winter of 2016/17 following a December auction (see table below). As reported in New Power (January 2016 issue, subscribers login to read),…
From the archive: Swansea’s tidal lagoon – how does it work and where are the costs?
by New Power • • 1 Comment
Tidal Lagoon’s Swansea Bay project is at once “innovative” and “tried and tested”, depending on whether it is looking for subsidy or investment. Janet Wood took a look at the project
From the archive: Sara Bell, Tempus Energy chief executive, talks to New Power
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From the archive: New Power interviews Sara Bell, Tempus Energy chief executive
From the New Power archive: Levy Control Framework – a chance for budget discipline or a political fiction?
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Levy Control Framework – a chance for budget discipline or a political fiction?