New energy trade body kicks off

A new trade body Energy UK launches today, meant to provide a “strong voice” for the gas and electricity sector. It is formed after a merger of the Association of Electricity Producers (AEP), the Energy Retail Association (ERA) and the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy (UKBCSE). The group now represents around 70 organisations, including […]

Obama law could rule out new US coal plants

The United States is putting forward laws to limit carbon pollution from new power plants which some are suggesting could effectively rule out new coal plants in the USA. Under proposals for the first Clean Air Act standard from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), any new coal and natural gas power plants will have […]

Hot air balloon hits pylon

A hot air balloon carrying three people collided with power lines yesterday evening. The Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue service was called to the scene on Sunday at 18.10 when the balloon became entangled on a pylon near the village of Bozeat in Wellingborough. Once the live power lines had been earthed, the firemen were able […]

Bank of England notes rise of the energy consultants

Energy consultants are riding a wave of economic growth, according to agents at the Bank of England. The Bank today released its latest monthly report on business conditions in the UK, which notes energy consultancy services were a “source of growth”. This was against a wider backdrop of growth in the services sector, with the […]

EDF chief: energy firms must be ‘socially useful’

Energy firms need to show they are “socially useful” to regain the public’s trust, according to the head of EDF Energy. Vincent de Rivaz, the French energy firm’s Chief Executive made the claims in a speech yesterday at Exeter University. Drawing a parallel between the word ‘utility’ and the energy company’s role in Britain’s “economic […]

Europe leads world on wind capacity

Europe currently leads the world with the amount of wind capacity it has, according to US researchers. With close to 100,000 megawatts of wind capacity, the continent leads “all regions of the world”, says an analyst at the Earth Policy Institute. Across the globe, wind energy developers built a record 41,000 megawatts of electricity generating […]

Bogus gas engineers burgle London homes

Burglars have been tricking their way into London homes by pretending to be working for a gas maintenance firm. Wearing high visibility vests and “something resembling” fake identity cards, the bogus gas engineers targeted homes in Islington, Romford and Muswell Hill, according to National Grid. The thieves claimed they were from North London Gas Alliance […]

Plant demolished to make way for interconnector

The cooling towers of an old power station in Kent have been demolished to make way for a new electricity interconnector with Europe. The site of the former Richborough Power station will be the home of a new energy park, where the National Grid plans to build Britain’s first ever electricity link with Belgium. It […]

UK ramps up gas plant planning to dismay of green charity

Environmental charity Friends of the Earth has claimed the UK energy suppliers are planning to build too many gas plants, which could produce unnecessary extra emissions. According to its analysis up to 9GW of new gas-fired electricity generation could come on line by 2016, nearly twice the additional 4.9GW the Government projects may be needed […]

Where should compensation for climate change policies go?

BIS is calling for evidence from businesses affected by rising energy prices as a result of climate change policies to help the Government target funds from the Energy Intensive Industries (EII) Package. Last year it was announced energy intensive users will get a £250 million package from the Government to counter rising electricity bills. It […]