Month: September 2015
Volkswagen (VW) has revealed almost 1.2 million cars in the UK are affected by its diesel emissions scandal. The German car manufacturer admitted a software that deceives emissions testing for certain air pollutants were installed in 1,189,906 vehicles. They include more than 508,000 Volkswagen models and more than 393,000 Audi vehicles. More than 76,700 Seats, […]
The World Bank has granted funding worth $20 million (£13m) to reform the power sector in Nepal. The project is expected to help strengthen the capacity of power sector agencies in the country as well as develop hydropower generation and transmission line projects. The funding will support the Upper Arun Hydroelectric Project and the Ikhuwa […]
The Scottish Government has confirmed small-scale solar projects will continue receiving support. It has pledged to retain support for projects that have a capacity below 5MW. The news comes despite the UK Government’s decision to close the Renewables Obligation scheme earlier this year. Last week Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing wrote to Energy Secretary Amber […]
A pub giant has been fined £150,000 after its sewage treatment works polluted a watercourse in Teesside. Spirit Pub Company Ltd, which runs the Cross Keys Inn pub and hotel in Guisborough, was prosecuted by the Environment Agency after investigations revealed sewage was not being treated effectively before being discharged. The inn has an environmental […]
Ofgem has revealed plans to connect more households to the gas grid in a bid to reduce fuel poverty. Network companies will have to deliver more than 90,000 – or 18% more – fuel poor connections by 2021. The change, including a number of other revisions to the Fuel Poor Network Extension Scheme, will come […]
The UK Government has pledged to play a “leading role” in making solar revolution a reality across Africa. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York with African leaders, investors and global businesses yesterday, International Development Minister Grant Shapps said that’s what Africa needs to end its dependency on aid. He added the UK […]
Plans to reform carbon reporting and the taxation regime for UK businesses have been unveiled. The Treasury has launched a consultation and set out proposals to simplify and move away from overlapping policies towards one where businesses would face just one tax and one reporting scheme. It is seeking responses from businesses, representative bodies and […]
Businesses with fixed-price contracts should secure their arrangements for winter 2015, according to Inenco’s Y report. Energy trader Kayleigh Winstanley said they should also be “cautious” about prices for summer 2016 as a cold winter “could push up prices”. She added: “If you have a cautious attitude to risk, now might be a good time […]
The UK gas system is oversupplied, according to npower’s daily market report. That’s because demand has been reduced and is forecast at 197mcm. Tim Carter from npower’s Optimisation Desk said: “This is influenced by lower domestic demand, smaller nominations from CCGT plants and also less exports through the interconnector to Europe. Meanwhile the small injection […]
British Gas’ appeal against electricity price rules imposed by Ofgem has been dismissed by the competition watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had received requests from Centrica’s British Gas Trading (BGT) and Northern Powergrid (NPg) for permission to appeal against the regulator’s ‘RIIO-ED1’ ruling on the price control for network operators in March this […]