RWE has changed its operating regime at Aberthaw and from April next year will focus on providing capacity only when needed. It will also install technology to allow Aberthaw’s three 500MW units to expand the range of coal they can…
Flash update
Barn Energy builds Yorkshire’s largest-ever river hydro project on River Calder
by Annabel Andrews • • Comments Off
A new low head hydro project is being built on the River Calder at Kirkthorpe, four miles east of Wakefield in West Yorkshire. Work on the project has started after Wakefield Council granted permission to Kirkthorpe Hydropower Ltd, a subsidiary…
Carbon Trust launches £7m fund to reduce energy costs for small businesses
by Annabel Andrews • • Comments Off
The Carbon Trust has launched a new fund to enable small businesses across England, Scotland and Wales to replace energy inefficient equipment. The £7m fund is available to SMEs on a first come-first served basis, and will offer energy saving training,…
Green Deal “increased costs without any meaningful benefit”, according to National Audit Office
by Annabel Andrews • • Comments Off
The National Audit Office today concluded that the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (Decc) Green Deal has not achieved value for money. The scheme, which cost taxpayers £240 million including grants to stimulate demand, has not generated additional energy…
European Commission criticises member states’ capacity mechanisms
by Annabel Andrews • • Comments Off
“Unnecessary and badly designed capacity mechanisms can distort competition, hinder electricity flows across borders and lead to consumers overpaying for electricity,” that’s the verdict of the European Commission’s interim report of its inquiry into electricity capacity mechanisms. The report specifically studied…
Government invites views on extending fuel poverty programme to all energy suppliers
by Annabel Andrews • • Comments Off
The department of energy and climate change is inviting views on whether it should remove the participation threshold for the warm homes discount, which would make all energy suppliers liable for the costs of the scheme to combat fuel poverty.…
Energy Catalyst offers £9 million fund for innovative energy projects and research
by Annabel Andrews • • Comments Off
Innovate UK has invited businesses to apply for a share of £9 million from the Energy Catalyst funding competition for projects that solve energy industry challenges. Round 4 of the competition is now open. Businesses and researchers from any sector can…
RWE withdraws planning application for 2.4GW Tilbury C
by Annabel Andrews • • Comments Off
German utility RWE has withdrawn its planning application for Tilbury C, according to information published by the Planning Inspectorate on Monday. It had planned to build a new 2.4GW gas-fired power station on the site. The existing unit B, which had…
Atlantis signs deal with infrastructure investment firm Equitix
by Annabel Andrews • • Comments Off
Tidal power firm Atlantis has signed a partnership deal with Equitix, a developer, investor and fund manager of infrastructure assets with over £1.7 billion of funds under management. Under this agreement, Atlantis and Equitix will work together to advance Atlantis’s portfolio of tidal…
MPs to investigate “disruptive” technology in energy sector
by Annabel Andrews • • Comments Off
The energy and climate change committee has launched an investigation into disruptive technologies and innovation that could transform the future energy sector. As a first step, the committee of MPs is asking which innovations have the greatest potential to revolutionise energy…