Greg Barker resigns, Matthew Hancock new Energy Minister

[View the story “Greg Barker resigns, Matthew Hancock new Energy Minister” on Storify]

The Energy Round-up – June 2014

From World Cup energy surges to tough talk from energy regulator Ofgem, we take a look at what made the headlines in June. ELN’s Vicky Ellis reports.

Mini-nuclear reactors mulled by UK ministers

Mini-nuclear reactors are being looked at as a cheap nuclear energy option for the UK. Experts are due to report to the Government over the summer about Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Energy Minister Michael Fallon said in a statement to the Commons. The National Nuclear Laboratory is leading research into the “potential high value commercial […]

Minister hails “extraordinary” demand for oil licenses

Energy Minister Michael Fallon yesterday claimed the UK’s North Sea is still attractive to the oil and gas industry, pointing to “extraordinary” interest in new exploration licences. The latest round of bids to hunt for oil and gas offshore had 173 applications for around 370 blocks, by the time it closed on Friday 25 April. […]

Fallon spears Brit energy fears with oil and gas

A small island Britain may be – but its big energy needs are not to be scoffed at. How do you fuel a nation and its economy? That’s what keeps Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon busy and he seems to think the answer is oil and gas. Last week he visited bustling oil centre […]

Would Aberdeen be “loser” of Scottish independence?

It was a tale of two energy ministers in Aberdeen this week as the war of words over Scottish independence continued. Declaring Aberdeen would be a “loser” if Scotland votes to break away from England, the UK’s Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon drew glum looks from Fergus Ewing, his Scottish counterpart. The pair was […]

Tories to scrap onshore wind farm subsidies

Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative party has pledged to axe public subsidies for any newly planned onshore wind projects if they win the 2015 general election. Subsidies for existing onshore wind projects would however remain in place and wind farms currently under construction or given legal consent would still be completed. But projects that are […]

UK must ‘invest £33bn to start shale gas production’

An estimated £33 billion needs to be invested to bring UK shale wells into production between 2016 and 2032, says a new report. That includes up to 4,000 horizontal wells, around £20.5 billion for hydraulic fracturing – the controversial process of extracting shale gas – and more than £4.1 billion for drilling fluid and water […]

EDF opens new wind farm and gas plant

EDF Energy opened a new offshore wind farm and a gas power station yesterday. The double christening is a sign of times to come, with gas power expected to eventually make up a large chunk of baseload power to back up wind energy in the UK. Energy Minister Michael Fallon joined EDF Group Chairman and […]

Government offers £10m as coal pits in deep trouble

Two of the last deep mines in the UK are likely to close next year, prompting ministers to arrange a £10 million loan to their owner. Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon today revealed the Government is scrabbling to avoid the pits shutting any earlier to limit potential damage to the public purse. Last week […]