The last turbines at the Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm, located in the Irish Sea around 19 kilometres off the coast of Cumbria, were installed in April. The extension is situated next to the existing wind farm and comprises of 87 new turbines, spread across 145km2, which will be capable of generating 659MW of energy a year when fully operational: enough to power more than half a million homes.
Delivering electricity to the grid Read More »
Acknowledging the importance that consumers must be able to trust tariffs marketed as ‘green’ will in fact be just that, Ofgem is succumbing to growing concerns about ‘greenwashing’ and promises to ‘ensure that consumers are not misled’, say some commentators.
Decarbonisation Action Plan targets greenwashed energy tariffs Read More »
It’s business as usual. That’s the response I get from Emery when I ask him how challenging it is to run a business that he knows could be sold.
Decarbonisation driving change at ENW Read More »
Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 42% since 1990, more than any other large advanced economy, due largely to the decarbonisation of electricity generation. This has been driven by Government policies, such as the carbon price which penalises coal plants in particular, and the huge growth in wind and solar power. In fact, renewables generated a record 33% of our electricity last year.
Decarbonisation progress slowing, Ofgem report shows Read More »
If energy networks aren’t concerned about the threat of terrorism via cyber attack, they should be. This was the blunt message from General Keith Alexander, former first commander of United States cyber command and former director of the National Security Agency, as he spoke to delegates at Accenture’s international utilities and energy conference earlier this year.
Dealing with the digital enemy: the rise of cybercrime Read More »
Speaking to me just days after National Grid held a roundtable discussion in association with Network entitled ‘Creating infrastructure policy in an uncertain world’, Brackley is in a reflective mood.
Dealing with uncertainty Read More »
There is little doubt our weather is becoming more unpredictable and extreme. Last year, we saw widespread snow fall in March when the ‘Beast from the East’ struck, followed by one of the longest heatwaves in living memory over the summer.
Dealing with weather events Read More »
February brings twin conferences for the sector: the Future Networks event on 25 February, followed by the Future of Heat on 26 February. The events will allow the sector to debate its response to the huge challenges it faces: the net-zero by 2050 target, combined with the additional pressure it has created ahead of the RIIO-2 regime, then the abandonment of natural gas and heat decarbonisation.
Debating the steep path to net-zero 2050 Read More »
We’re often told that energy data is valuable. Less often discussed is the fact that handling data can be risky. But just as not all data is equally valuable, some types of data are riskier than others. The trick is to maximise value while minimising risk.
Data: maximising value, minimising risk Read More »
UK energy networks are at a turning point and leaders in the sector have must some big decisions about how they want their companies to be defined in a time of transformation, according to David Rutherford, chief executive of the Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC).
David Rutherford, chief executive, Power Networks Demonstration Centre Read More »
