Pressure on the Department of Energy and Climate Change has increased substantially in recent days after a number of reports poked holes in the government’s energy strategy, or lack thereof. A hastily-drafted press release sought to respond to scrutiny from the likes of the Confederation of British Industry and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers yesterday, but without a more open dialogue, the industry will continue to draw the conclusion that DECC’s energy strategy for the future looks non-existent.
Solar Portal 27th Jan 2016 read more »
The government has this morning confirmed a £250 million ‘rescue package’ for the North Sea oil and gas industry, but appears to have left nothing similar on the table for the UK’s trimmed solar industry.
Solar Portal 28th Jan 2016 read more »
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has written to energy secretary Amber Rudd to reiterate the need for new plans and policies following December’s climate agreement in Paris. In a letter signed by the CCC board, the advisory body has said that while the aims established at COP21 are “more ambitious than the basis of the UK’s statutory target for 2050”, there is no revision necessary of the fifth carbon budget. The letter does however heap more importance onto the recommended measures. It states that the fifth carbon budget represents the “minimum level of UK ambition necessary” to meet its targets and that new plans and policies would be required within this parliament. Central to this is an extension of the Levy Control Framework beyond 2020 and the continual award of contracts to low carbon generators. While the Department of Energy and Climate Change is on record as saying that the LCF will continue, there is some confusion over which technologies will be supported.
Solar Portal 28th Jan 2016 read more »
The Confederation of British Industry has led calls from some of the UK’s largest businesses for the government to embrace the transition to renewable power, rather than stymie it. An open letter, published today, has urged the government to build on the climate agreement reached at COP21 and produce a clear, long-term framework that will trigger the required investment into the UK’s energy infrastructure. Led by CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn and signed by prominent CEOs and chairmen such as Aviva’s Sir Adrian Montague, Tata Steel’s Karl Koehler, Lloyds Banking Group’s Tim Hinton and Carillion’s Richard Howson, the letter states that the country’s transition to low-carbon power is being led by businesses.
Solar Portal 26th Jan 2016 read more »
The UK would be plunged into an energy crisis if the government perseveres with plans to close all remaining coal plants by 2025, a new report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME) has claimed. The report states that coupled with the shuttering of retired nuclear generators, closing coal plants as energy secretary Amber Rudd has promised would create an energy shortfall of 55% by 2025. However the IME has stated that instead of putting off the coal shutdown – as the government could propose in its forthcoming consultation – it should instead resolve the shortfall by incentivising demand reduction and invest in renewables and storage.
Solar Portal 26th Jan 2016 read more »