Policy & Regulation
Gas
Lord Bourne speaks out on Brexit energy risks
Writing exclusively for Network and Utility Week, Lord Bourne, parliamentary under secretary of state for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc), says exiting the EU would be bad for energy investment, energy costs and energy security.
Gas
ADE sets out policy roadmap for heat networks
The Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE) has set out a policy roadmap which would “level the playing field” for heat networks and make them subsidy free from 2021.
Gas
Government capacity market measures will hit distributed generation, ADE warns
Measures being considered by the government to limit the role of diesel generation in the capacity market will mostly hit distributed generation, and will not increase the number of contracts awarded for new gas power stations, the Association of Decentralised Energy (ADE) has warned.
Gas
National Grid rules out transmission charge cut
National Grid has ruled out using the proceeds of the sale of its gas distribution businesses to lower the transmission charges applied to customers’ bills.
Gas
National Grid Transmission singled out for price review
Ofgem has launched a mid-period review (MPR) into price controls for National Grid Electricity Transmission and National Grid Gas Transmission to review three specific outputs.
Gas
Governance needed to fill heat policy ‘vacuum’
A new independent report has called for new governance arrangements to fill the “vacuum” for decision making and delivery in the heat sector.
Gas
An introduction to smart energy dynamics
Duncan Botting explains why we are seeing rising interest in whole system analysis of energy needs and a decline in top down control of sector development.
Gas
National Grid to push forward with plans for emergency gas number
National Grid is set to push forward with its proposals to include the emergency gas number in the sale of its gas distribution business following feedback from industry.
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem rejects calls to license energy storage
Regulator Ofgem has ruled out allowing network companies to own and operate storage.
Heat
Re-imagining our power system architecture
Dr Simon Harrison sets out why a clearer understanding of power system architecture is necessary for the future and how this is architecture is being defined.
Gas
Building the dream: energy systems integration
Is it real life? Or just fantasy? Network explores the vision of a single energy system – why should we desire it and is it feasible to create?
Heat
RHI reform and diversifying low carbon heat technologies
Drastic reforms to the renewable heat incentive could cut off a budding low carbon heat industry in its prime, says Owain Mortimer. Instead, reforms should be finding ways to increase and diversify low carbon heat technology uptake.
Policy & Regulation
Decc refuses to ‘tie Ofgem’s hands’ on onshore tendering
The Department for Energy and Climate Change (Decc) has ruled out specifying which model of competitive tendering should be applied to onshore competition for new transmission assets because it “does not believe in tying the regulator’s hands”.
Gas
National Grid Gas Transmission overspending on data centres
National Grid Gas Transmission is forecast to overspend the totex allowance for its system operator role by £177.5 million by 2021 due to increased spending on data centres and cyber security.
Gas
‘Unquestionable need’ for innovation funding, networks tell Ofgem
Energy networks have unanimously called on Ofgem to continue funding innovation, saying ending the support now would be “premature”.
Power
DNOs could be given greater powers to free up network capacity
Distribution network operators (DNOs) could soon be given greater powers to withdraw a connection offer from a customer if their development is not progressing to meet certain ‘milestones’, in an effort to free up network capacity.
Gas
Gas networks in line for transporting shale gas: Decc
The gas distribution networks could be in line for transporting shale gas, if the nascent shale exploration industry takes off in the UK, according to energy minister Andrea Leadsom.
Power
Scrap intellectual property rules, industry tells Ofgem
Network companies and third parties involved in the Network Innovation Competition (NIC) have called for more flexible rules on intellectual property (IP).
Power
NIC is stifling real innovation, Ofgem told
The Network Innovation Competition (NIC) cannot fund true innovation because of its adverse attitude towards failure and the short time frame allowed to judge a project’s success, third parties involved in the scheme have said.
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem mulls overhaul of network innovation funding
The Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) and the Network Innovation Competition (NIC) are in line for an overhaul as Ofgem confirms an in-depth review of the funding mechanisms over the summer.
Power
The NIC and NIA – innovation without barriers
The call from network operators to Ofgem on the future of innovation funding is loud and clear: it must continue. But they also acknowledge that the funding mechanisms need change to continue to be effective.
Heat
Heat networks and the trilemma
Responding to the trilemma is about more than just keeping the lights on argues Gareth Jones. Heat should play a much bigger role in our thinking about the future of energy.
Power
NIC calls for raft of regulatory changes
The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has called for a raft of regulatory changes to create a level playing field that would allow energy storage and demand flexibility to ensure security in the UK’s future low-carbon energy system.
Heat
Decc offers £1.5m funding boost to heat networks
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) has offered heat networks have been offered a major funding boost, sharing out £1.5 million between 24 local authorities across England and Wales.
Policy & Regulation
MPs hear row over energy storage
An industry row over the best way to develop energy storage and the role of DNOs broke out at a select committee hearing this week.
Gas
Making rural heat networks happen
What are the main viability factors which impact rural heat networks? Alistair Mumford explains.
