Tax authorities in Europe have grappled for years with the problem of so-called “carousel fraud”. In this scam goods are traded across EU borders and VAT is charged but never paid – netting the fraudulent traders a steady 20% of…
Perspective
The wind and fishery industries must co-operate
by New Power •
The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, is calling for more cooperation at the planning stages of offshore wind farms. Barrie Deas explains why
Perspective
Government persists in denying its subsidies
by New Power •
William Blyth argues that a more honest and rational approach to energy
subsidies would benefit consumers
Perspective
Politicians should mind their language on PV
by New Power •
Catherine Strickland says that it’s time to look at the bigger picture when considering the popularity of solar energy development in the UK – and that mixed messages from the government could be detrimental to the UK’s energy security.…
Perspective
Existing gas meters could have ‘smart’ capabilities at little cost
by New Power •
Ray Cope argues that smart meters will do little to solve some systematic billing errors in gas – but existing meters have unused capacity that could fix the problem. The political furore about energy prices has now died down somewhat.…
Perspective
Why is P272′s quick win stuck in the slow lane?
by New Power •
In 2011 SmartestEnergy raised a modification (referred to as P272) to industry codes that would mandate the use of real half-hourly (HH) usage data to settle bills for larger energy users, instead of their bills being calculated using one of…
Perspective
Why the Micropower Council became the Sustainable Energy Association
by New Power •
Self-production from users of sustainable sources of heat and power within energy efficient buildings has made striking progress over the last decade. We have moved from a simple range of promising technologies and ideas – taken up by a small…
Perspective
The wind skills base needs both offshore and onshore development to thrive
by New Power •
The government has signalled it understands the need for more funding to help the UK develop its offshore wind industry, but with onshore wind an established, secure source of power, it needs to consider fully the ramifications of cutting subsidies.…
Perspective
What trilemma?
by New Power •
The government has said for many years that it has three aims for energy policy: security of supply, affordability, and decarbonisation. It has been neatly summed up in recent years as the energy “trilemma”, which makes clear the inherent tensions…