I’ve heard government and industry talk about ‘evolution, not revolution’ so often in the energy and electricity industries. It’s time to admit it is the other way around. I think the ‘evolution’ idea is intended to make sure investors are…
Flash update
What are companies doing to address the energy skills shortage?
by New Power •
The energy industry faces a skills shortage, according to specialist recruitment consultant Utility People. The problem of attracting people with the right skills into the industry has been well known for many years. But now UtilityPeople believes the problem has…
News
British Gas Business to pay £4.5m penalty for failing to meet advanced meter deadline
by Annabel Andrews •
British Gas Business will pay £4.5 million redress to the Carbon Trust because it missed its deadline to supply some larger business customers through advanced electricity meters by April 2014. The company has also agreed to increased monitoring of its progress on…
News
Gaelectric sells 14 wind farms to CGN
by New Power •
Gaelectric has agreed to sell 230MW of wind energy assets on the island of Ireland to CGNEE Holdings, the renewable energy investment arm of China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN). The sale includes 10 operating wind farms totalling 184MW, and…
News
Drax plans to buy SME retailer Opus Energy
by Annabel Andrews •
Drax today announced plans to buy Opus Energy together with four Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) development projects. The announcement came in a trading update that also said Drax expects full year earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)…
News
Uniper plans upgrade at Grain and Enfield CCGTs
by New Power •
Two existing UK combined cycle gas-fired power stations are to be upgraded. The plants at Enfield (400MW) and Grain (1200MW) are owned by Uniper, the company formed to hold E.On’s traditional generating assets. The upgrade will add around 4% to…
News
Centrica announces £19m programme to trial local energy market in Cornwall
by Annabel Andrews •
Centrica is to run a £19m programme in Cornwall to trial a local energy market. The project will test the use of flexible demand, generation and storage, and reward local people and businesses for being more flexible with their energy. Over the…
News
WPD seeks to offer cost-sharing on reinforcement costs for new generation
by New Power •
New generation connecting to the distribution network in WPD’s service areas could avoid a charging lottery over the cost of upgrading the network, if the regulator Ofgem agrees to a trial. Instead, costs may be shared out pro-rata between a…
Perspective
Opinion: What’s all the fuss about embedded benefits?
by New Power •
Filippo Gaddo (Head of energy economics, Arup) and Marina Charalambous (Economist, Arup) discuss why embedded benefits are important and how the relevant decision bodies should address them The concern that has brought embedded benefits into the spotlight stems from…