GDA report published

The Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency have completed their initial assessment of the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) for the two proposed new reactor designs, AREVA and EDF’s UK EPR and the Westinghouse Electric Company’s AP1000. For both designs, the ONR and the EA say some issues remain, which they are confident that […]

North Sea drilling slows down

Drilling activity in the North Sea dropped by 43% for the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2010 with less than a third of new wells drilled. Analysts at Deloitte’s Petroleum Services Group said activity was lower than would be expected during a time when the oil price averaged […]

Market reform can get the UK off the fossil fuel hook

Renewable electricity supplier Good Energy are hoping the Government’s electricity market reform will take away the UK’s reliance on imported oil and gas. CEO Juliet Davenport backed Energy Secretary Chris Huhne’s sentiments that moving toward green generation will protect the UK from price volatility: “It’s now up to the Government to deliver. The ball is […]

Huhne defends UK energy prices

Energy Secretary, Chris Huhne, is expected to set out plans tomorrow to encourage low-carbon energy generation techniques. Speaking on the Andrew Marr show yesterday he defended the Government’s plans for market reform by claiming that the UK had in actual fact some of the cheapest energy prices in Europe. Mr Huhne refused to believe the […]

Ofcom investigate npower for cold calling

Communications regulator Ofcom may fine npower and Homeserve £2m for breaking rules on persistent cold-calling. Ofcom say they have “reasonable grounds for believing that between 1 February 2011 and 21 March 2011, npower persistently misused an electronic communications network or services by virtue of its use of an automated calling system.” npower defended their actions […]

Siemens sign deal for turbine magnets

Siemens and the Australian Lynas Corporation Limited have signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture for the production of neodymium based rare earth magnets. Magnets are needed for the production of energy-efficient drive applications and wind-turbine generators. Lynas will provide Siemens raw materials, predominantly neodymium to the joint venture. Lynas Executive Chairman, […]

Feed in Tariff puts breaks on Marks and Spencer solar

The highly controversial review to the Feed in Tariff scheme has prevented Marks & Spencer from building a massive solar array on a 1.1 million square foot distribution centre. Speaking at an M&S event Richard Gillies, Director of Plan A, CSR and sustainability, said: “We went through all the work [for the solar array] only […]

British Gas price rise adds to lack of trust

Consumer Focus have said British Gas’s recent 18% price rise will push hundred of thousands of households into fuel poverty. Unless Ofgem step up with strategic measures to make energy pricing fair, the market will continue to fail the consumer. Mike O’Connor CBE, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus said: “Consumers simply don’t trust that energy […]

Independent energy provider calls for tougher regulator

Following yesterday’s meeting between the Department of Energy and Climate Change and new energy providers, a new energy provider called for tougher action from Ofgem in making a better marketplace for customers Stephen Fitzpatrick, Founder and Managing Director of Ovo Energy, said: “UK families don’t want too much, just to pay a reasonable price for […]

SSE sells wind interests

SSE has sold a 50% share, 36MW, in the Braes of Doune onshore wind farm to a fund managed by Climate Change Capital for £61.3 million.The agreement follows the April 2011 sale to Infinis of SSE’s 100% interest in three onshore wind farms, with a total capacity of 96.8MW, for £178.4 million. Gregor Alexander, Finance […]