Expectations – and challenges – running high for manufacturers A healthy manufacturing sector is essential for a robust economy, which perhaps explains why George Osborne has set a target of doubling exports to £1 trillion by 2020. But while the economy appears to be recovering – recording 1.9% growth in 2013 – manufacturers will need […]

Today MEPs voted in favour of setting renewable energy targets for EU countries to reach by 2030. A majority of MEPs on the EU’s joint Environment & Industry committee were in favour of a 40% greenhouse gas emissions cut, a 30% renewables target and a 40% boost of energy efficiency. The three-fold resolution was backed by […]

An alliance of more than 100 organisations including businesses, trade groups, investors and NGOs, have urged the UK Government to follow the advice of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and stick to its carbon reduction targets. Firms including SSE, Kingfisher, DONG Energy, WWF and the Renewable Energy Association (REA) published a joint statement in […]

Business energy users are likely to be feeling hard done by as their predicament was “one big piece of the jigsaw” missing from the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. That’s according to the CBI Director General John Cridland (pictured) who has told ELN: “He didn’t do anything about energy costs on business.” While the recent debate over […]

The manufacturers’ organisation EEF has called on the Chancellor to do more to tackle rising energy bills for businesses, echoing a similar petition by the CBI last week. Speaking ahead of George Osborne’s Autumn statement due in December, EEF’s Chief Executive Terry Scuoler said: “The Chancellor’s top priority must be action on business energy costs. […]

The industrial sector in the UK is overspending on energy by more than £2.2 billion per year, new analysis suggests. Inefficient technology, equipment and controls are behind the huge loss, according to research done under the Energy Efficiency Financing (EEF) scheme which is a joint initiative between the Carbon Trust and Siemens. Switching to cost-effective […]

Ed Davey’s annual energy statement today “lacked real solutions” for rising energy bills and hard-pressed householders in the country. That’s according to environmental campaigners and consumer groups who made it clear they weren’t happy with the Energy Secretary despite his plans to hold a competition review on the UK’s energy market and make switching easier […]

David Cameron’s pledge to rollback some of Britain’s environmental regulations risks spooking investors, the Renewable Energy Association (REA) has warned. Today the Prime Minister said he would chop back “some” green levies in a heated Commons debate with Labour’s Ed Miliband. But he made no mention of which ones face the axe which has worried […]

A small chain of luxury hair salons in the North West of England has brushed away expensive energy bills by installing solar panels at its largest site in Preston. Jo and Cass underwent an assessment by solar PV specialists Solarlec, which showed the company it could trim its energy costs by £35,000 over 25 years, […]

Manufacturers appear to be pinning their hopes on activating a “caveat” in legally binding rules for cutting carbon which would lessen the burden on British businesses. Trade body EEF has flagged up the notion of a caveat just as the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) told Energy Secretary Ed Davey the UK’s fourth carbon budget […]