EU grants €444m for energy infrastructure projects

The European Commission is providing €444 million (£378m) for key European energy infrastructure projects. A total of 18 electricity, gas and smart grid projects will share the cash and support the Energy Union’s goals by connecting networks, increasing security of supply and integrating renewables across the EU. Out of those, seven projects are in the […]

British Gas owner to invest £100m in tech start-ups

The owner of British Gas has announced plans to invest £100 million in smart technology start-up companies in the next five years. Centrica said the new venture, dubbed ‘Centrica Innovations’, will strengthen its ability to identify and invest in technologies and ideas that can deliver new products, offers and services for customers. It will place […]

Climate cynic sworn in as US environment chief

Donald Trump’s controversial nominee has been sworn in to lead the US environmental department. Oklahoma’s Attorney General Scott Pruitt, said to be a climate change sceptic, won the Republican-controlled Senate vote to head the Environmental Protection Agency. The Senate voted in favour of Mr Pruitt by 52 to 46. The news comes despite calls from […]

Bumper year for UK offshore wind construction in 2016

Offshore wind construction in the UK hit a record high last year, according to new figures. The total construction value for projects reached £4.1 billion – up from £2.45 billion in 2015. Offshore wind farms alone accounted for 42% of UK construction contract values in the utilities and power sector and 21% of the entire […]

Are employees the biggest risk to cybersecurity?

The biggest risk to cybersecurity are employees, according to a majority of global power and utility executives. That was the findings of a new survey from EY, which reveals 84% of leaders and IT executives and managers questioned said careless employee actions are a threat. Around 12% of the 1,735 people questioned believe their boards […]

UK’s exit from European nuclear body ‘could threaten new build, supplies’

The future of Britain’s nuclear reactors, decommissioning activities and fuel supplies could be at risk if the UK leaves a Europe-wide nuclear co-operation body without transitional arrangements. The warning from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) comes as ministers previously said the government intends to leave Euratom as part of Brexit. It is calling on […]

Statoil to shut down ‘unprofitable’ CHP plant

Statoil has announced plans to shut down its combined heat and power (CHP) plant at Mongstad, Norway at the end of next year. The decision to close the plant follows “several years of unprofitable operations”. It was developed in 2010 to improve the energy efficiency at the Mongstad refinery and secure energy supply to industrial […]

Scottish councils offered £11m for energy efficiency

The Scottish Government is offering a further £11 million of funding for energy efficiency projects. It is the second wave of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) pilot fund, aiming to help local authorities test new and innovative energy-saving approaches with homes, community groups and businesses. The projects will be part of the development phase of […]

Toshiba ‘committed’ to Cumbrian nuclear project

The company building a new nuclear power plant in Cumbria said Toshiba “remains committed” to the project. NuGen is to continue to progress plans to develop the 3.8GW power station at Moorside, near Sellafield, which would provide 7% of the UK’s electricity needs. Toshiba has a 60% share in NuGen, a joint venture with France’s […]

Majority of UK councils ‘don’t have solar strategy’

Around 71% of local authorities in the UK have no strategy for solar energy. A series of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests revealed the renewable technology is not part of their current environmental strategy and they have no specific targets or direction towards solar deployment. Data from 332 local authorities by LG Electronics also found […]