Minister feels heat for confusion over Elgin gas flare

The Energy Minister is feeling the heat this week after inadvertently causing confusion over the flare at the North Sea oil platform which Total evacuated because of a gas leak on Sunday. The flare is effectively a flame which constantly burns on offshore gas rigs. When it emerged that the Elgin Franklin well platform’s flare […]

No wonder Horizon was chucked, says energy expert

The Government’s controversial carbon price floor is responsible for the issues facing the nuclear industry. This is according to energy analyst Tony Lodge, who predicted back in January the carbon tax would not incentivise new nuclear build. The Centre for Policy Studies Research Fellow warned the carbon price floor should be re-examined as it only […]

Energy debt on the up as a result of increasing fuel bills

Energy debt is on the up, according to consumer action group uSwitch. An annual study shows that customers owe more this year than last, at £131 on average. Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch said: “With households still struggling to absorb last year’s price hikes, energy debt is on the rise again. “Although […]

No fuel strike at Easter

Unite today ruled out Easter strike action by tanker drivers in a bid to focus on talks. The announcement came as the union confirmed it was ready to start substantive talks through ACAS as soon as possible and ahead of a meeting later today with Energy Secretary Ed Davey. The union’s Assistant General Secretary, Diana […]

Reactor manufacturer ‘unshaken’ after Horizon debacle

Leading nuclear reactor manufacturer Westinghouse has admitted its disappointment with the decision taken yesterday by RWE npower and E.ON to drop their joint nuclear venture Horizon. However the company says it is “unshaken” and still sees nuclear as being an important part of the UK’s energy mix. Yesterday the two German utilities announced they were […]

Petrol group slams ‘unprepared’ DECC

A petrol group has slammed DECC for failing to prepare properly for disruption to the fuel supply chain, warning the consequences of a planned strike by tanker drivers could have been avoided. Fuel tanker drivers from the union Unite voted in favour of strike action on Monday in a dispute over pay and terms and […]

Power cable thefts on the rise

ELN investigates the worrying rise in power cable theft in the UK and what the energy sector and police can do to stop it.

Obama law could rule out new US coal plants

The United States is putting forward laws to limit carbon pollution from new power plants which some are suggesting could effectively rule out new coal plants in the USA. Under proposals for the first Clean Air Act standard from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), any new coal and natural gas power plants will have […]

Horizon reaction: Government should go green

Responding to yesterday’s announcement that energy giants E.ON and RWE have shelved plans for new nuclear plants in the UK, environmental groups have suggested there is no better time for the UK to get behind renewable strategies. Friends of the Earth’s Energy Campaigner Paul Steedman said: “With energy firms abandoning plans for nuclear across Europe, […]

Davey to meet haulier bosses

The Energy Secretary is meeting with haulier bosses later today to discuss possible strike action from fuel tanker drivers. The Government has come under fire this week for sending mixed messages about how the public should prepare for the fuel strike, with a Cabinet Minister apologising for initially advising the public to fill up their […]