UK Government

The government has been urged to boost the UK’s rapidly developing artificial intelligence (AI) industry and help the nation become a leader in the sector. A new industry-led independent review suggests AI technologies could help increase productivity, improve services for customers and unlock £630 billion for the economy. The report suggests it could help businesses […]

A new inquiry into plastic waste management in the UK has been launched. The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) aims to assess the extent of the damage being done to the environment by disposable drinks packaging, particularly focusing upon the impact of plastic bottles and coffee cups. It will then try to work out how to […]

Children have handed in a petition to drop a solar tax hike threatening their school’s renewable energy project. This morning, students from Eleanor Palmer Primary school in Camden, London, visited the Treasury to deliver the 200,000 signature request. They want the Chancellor to rethink the planned business rate tax increase on solar energy for self-consumption, so schools, hospitals and businesses generating their own clean […]

An inquiry into the role of hydrogen gas and fuel cells in the energy system has been secured. The UK Government’s Science and Technology Committee heard more than 70 ideas for new areas to thoroughly investigate as part of its ‘My Science Inquiry’ open call – it selected nine for further consideration following a pitching process. The […]

Scotland’s oil and gas industry will “prosper and thrive with fiscal and regulatory stability” if the nation is independent, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said. The Scottish Government would enhance the existing tax regime in a bid to maximise oil and gas recovery and increase North Sea development, “something UK Governments have failed to commit to”, […]

The UK Government has insisted the nation is on track to meet its carbon reduction targets. Energy Secretary Ed Davey said yesterday the UK will meet its first three legally binding carbon budgets, which will see a 34% reduction in emissions by 2020. He was responding to a report published by the Committee on Climate […]

The UK Government has hailed the Horizon nuclear power project claiming it would help boost new investment and create thousands of jobs across the country. Energy Minister Michael Fallon is set to meet executives from Hitachi and Horizon today, who are planning to invest £20 billion in new nuclear plants at Wylfa in Anflesey and […]

Energy intensive users can now claim up to £113 million in compensation for the extra power costs caused by the impact of European carbon pricing schemes. The UK Government has published guidance for steelmakers and ceramics companies and those firms that are eligible will be able to apply for the cash starting next month. It […]

BP is calling on the UK Government to step in over the firm’s rising compensation costs associated with the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, according to reports. The firm agreed to pay £5.4 billion in compensation last year after the Deepwater Horizon disaster killed 11 oil rig workers and released around four million barrels of […]

The UK Government is inviting views on the site selection process to find a host community for an underground disposal facility for radioactive waste. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) issued a call for evidence yesterday of the on-going Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) programme. It follows Cumbria County Council’s decision earlier this […]