Shale gas is an environmental and political hot potato. This article studies how the country’s feelings towards shale gas have evolved. It’s probably the hottest topic in energy at the moment – ‘fracking’ for shale gas. As with any new source of energy, it has drawn protests from hard left groups at exploratory drilling sites and the HQ of energy … Read More
Cameron “determined to win” shale gas debate
Fracking for shale gas will cut energy bills, create jobs, and pump money into local communities, the Prime Minister has stated. In an article published in The Telegraph on Sunday, David Cameron waded into the national debate on fracking for shale gas, saying it’s one he is “determined to win”. In it he claims that fracking is safe, and has … Read More
Labour slams Big Six profits
Figures released by the Labour party last week show that the largest energy suppliers have notched up £3.3 billion in profits since the Conservative-led Coalition came into power. The combined profits of E.ON, EDF Energy, ScottishPower, British Gas, Scottish & Southern and Npower have gone up 73% in the last three years, according to Shadow Energy And Climate Change Secretary … Read More
Two of Big Six to end rollover contracts
E.ON and British Gas are to stop rolling their business energy customers into new contracts automatically at the end of their agreed term. Most organisation have experienced it. You receive a letter near the end of your electricity or gas contract informing you that there is only a few weeks or months left of your fixed-price agreement. It isn’t urgent … Read More
Centrica plans oil and shale gas exploration
The parent company of British Gas is seeking to generate more of its own energy, due to its increasing reliance on foreign imports. Centrica, owner of British Gas, has announced a new 2 year partnership with Cuadrilla Resources to extract shale gas at 7 wells across Lancashire. Fracking will take place at 6 new wells, as well as the one … Read More
Energy regulator considers TPI code of practice
The energy regulator, Ofgem, is considering new ways to monitor Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs) in the business retail market. As part of its Retail Market Review, the energy regulator Ofgem is looking at ways to rid the business energy market of ‘rogue TPIs’. There is currently no mandatory form of regulation for energy brokers, consultants and switching websites that serve the … Read More
Wind farms continue to get massive subsidies
Ministers increase “strike price” paid to onshore and offshore wind farms for each megawatt-hour of electricity they generate. Onshore and offshore wind farms are to receive subsidies on the energy they generate of at least £100 and £155 per megawatt-hour (MWh) respectively, with the going rate for electricity currently at around £50/MWh. The subsidy will be in place for the … Read More
Estimated shale gas reserves doubled by BGS
A new report by the British Geological Survey says there could be 1,300 trillion cubic feet of gas stored away under the North of England. Previous estimates of around 600 trillion cubic feet were revised, although only 10% of the total gas can definitely be extracted. Energy Minister Michael Fallon said shale gas was “an exciting new energy resource”. A … Read More
Has the oil market been rigged to raise prices?
BP, Shell & Statoil suspected of deliberately manipulating markets and exacerbating the recession. Three energy giants may have “colluded in reporting distorted prices to manipulate the published prices for a number of oil and biofuel products”. If these allegations are true, it could have had an impact on not just petrol. Everything is linked to the price of oil somehow … Read More
Is Britain’s energy security at risk?
With EDF Energy still in talks with the government about building new nuclear plants, are we at real risk of running out of electricity? Britain could have a new ‘fleet’ of nuclear power plants by 2030, if all goes well, but the first of the 18 projects is under threat. EDF is negotiating hard with the government about the subsidy … Read More