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The energy sector needs to use common premises identifiers if the smart meter rollout is to go smoothly, says Marc Hobell
11 years ago
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) will back four UK carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects for EU funding.
"Never let the facts get in the way of a good story." It's an old, if irreverent, adage in journalism, which parts of the national media took to heart in their coverage of the gas markets this week. It began with warnings that Britain has only two days' worth of gas left in reserve - which is correct, as far as it goes, but ignores the fact that the country has taken a strategic decision not to rely on gas storage. This is because of its proximity to the North Sea - the mother of all gas storage fields, you might say. Comparisons with other European nations, which can't rely on the North Sea and have built vast gas reserves over decades, are therefore irrelevant and misleading. There's a valid argument that Britain should increase its gas storage over coming years as its energy mix changes, but that doesn't equate to any risk of the lights going out under the current arrangements.
Centrica has signed a long-term deal to import LNG from America. It announced the move amid fears of a supply shortfall, days after the UK gas spot price hit a record high.
Gas spot prices spiked to a record high of 150 pence a therm on Friday as an interconnector failure exacerbated short supplies. Interconnector UK said the affected pipeline was running on reduced flow shortly before midday.
The two preferred bidders in the government's £1 billion carbon capture and storage (CCS) commercialisation programme competition have been named.
National Grid has backed off from an initial aggressive rejection of proposed regulatory price controls for its gas and power transmission arms, ending speculation it would enter a stand-off with energy watchdog Ofgem.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) should get the same kind of subsidies as renewable power generation as soon as possible, according to an industry expert.
Ofgem's price control for gas distribution companies will lead to 3,000 job losses and put lives at risk, GMB claimed today after National Grid confirmed it was accepting the package.
CCS needs to get off the drawing board and into action. Tore Amundsen explains the role a leading test centre in Norway is playing
Gazprom is keen to see its Nord Stream gas pipeline extended to the UK, and various options are being explored, but does another interconnector make economic sense, asks Keith Nuthall?
The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has launched four projects worth more than £1 million to develop a "smart energy system" for the UK.
Career history: Worked at ABB in Switzerland, Manweb, Siemens Transmission and Distribution before joining EA
The Central London electricity distribution network lacks capacity, according to a report by the British Council for Offices (BCO).
A recent High Court case has added to uncertainty over whether take-or-pay contracts are always enforceable. Ben Holland and Phillip Ashley explain why
