News
Heat
STA: Support solar thermal for district heating
Removal of solar thermal technology from the domestic and non-domestic renewable heat incentive will “kill off” a potentially important contributing technology to the district heating sector, the Solar Trade Association (STA) has warned.
Power
EV cross-sector group to take step forward
The cross-sector partnership between the automotive and electricity industries set up to support the development of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK is to take a step forward with its first group meeting next month.
Gas
Innovation investments top £15.7 million for EIC
The Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) has facilitated £3.2 million of investment in innovation projects in the last 12 months while growing its innovator community to over 1600 companies, the EIC has revealed.
Gas
RedT accelerates towards energy storage deployment
Energy storage technology company RedT Energy has successfully transitioned to become a pure energy storage business ready to accelerate the deployment of its flow battery technology in the coming year.
Power
Powervault gears up for smart meter rollout with new storage system
Domestic energy storage company Powervault has launched the second generation of its energy storage system, to prepare for the introduction of smart tariffs.
People & Skills
Drax director to replace Johnson at ENW
Electricity North West (ENW) has announced Peter Emery as its new chief executive, replacing Steve Johnson in the top role.
Gas
Biomethane pioneer recognised with Queen’s Award
CNG Services has been given a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its work in establishing the UK’s biomethane-to-grid market.
Gas
Virtual energy storage startup get £500,000 seed funding
UK start-up Upside has secured £545,000 from angel investors to expand its enterprise and bring its virtual energy storage proposition to market.
Gas
ETI launches hydrogen storage project
The Energy Technologies Institute has launched a new phase of an investigation into the use of UK salt caverns for the storage of hydrogen gas.
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.
Heat
Energy Systems Catapult to outline five-year plan
The Energy Systems Catapult is to outline its proposed five-year plan of work at an official launch event in May.
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem rejects calls to license energy storage
Regulator Ofgem has ruled out allowing network companies to own and operate storage.
Strategy & Management
National Grid: Creating an ISO will damage investor confidence
National Grid has warned against moving to an independent system operator (ISO), as the necessary market changes will not help investor confidence in the UK energy market.
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.
Power
SHET secures £500 million for major transmission link
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission has secured a £500 million loan from the European Investment Bank to support the reinforcement of the transmission network in the north of Scotland.
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.
Gas
Integration of OT and IT key for asset management gains, say industry executives
New research has highlighted the importance with which utility industry executives view the integration of operational and information technology.
Strategy & Management
Actavo makes US acquisition
Engineering solutions provider Actavo has bought Atlantic Engineering Group, marking its first foray into the US market.
Power
Systems advocate joins Catapult board
The Energy Systems Catapult has appointed an expert in whole energy system modelling to join its board, strengthening its expertise in energy systems integration.
Heat
Energy storage could cut bills by £50 by 2030, says Carbon Trust
Full utilisation of energy storage has the potential to cut household electricity bills by £50 a year through a system-wide saving of £2.4 billion, a new report by the Carbon Trust has claimed.
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.