The capacity market may need a “basic redesign”, as proposals to reform it are beginning to look like “flogging a dead horse”, shadow energy minister Alan Whitehead has insisted.
Utility Week 11th March 2016 read more »
The UK’s reliance on gas-fired power has reached its highest level in five years and will accelerate the growing dependence on foreign energy supplies this summer, according to market data. Within the last week gas generators contributed to more than half of the total electricity supply for the first time since 2011, and analysts predict that this summer the UK’s gas power dependence will climb 26pc above the levels seen last year. The recent spike in gas use came as wind power petered out and nuclear plants were taken offline for planned maintenance work, resulting in eye-watering prices on the intraday power market. One gas plant was paid almost £1000 a megawatt by National Grid to help secure supply for the early evening demand pick-up, a market source confirmed. Last November – during a colder spell – a gas plant was paid £2,500 a megawatt to run.
Telegraph 14th March 2016 read more »