It is the first industry that does not manufacture physical products to get a CCA, meaning exemption from the Climate Change Levy. Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) allow the 50 most energy intensive industries in the UK partial exemption from the Climate Change Levy, in return for meeting energy saving targets. Currently there are around 50 industries that have CCAs in … 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
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
Michael Fallon appointed Energy Minister
Conservative MP Fallon has been appointed the role as part of a ‘mini reshuffle’ of the cabinet. The old Energy Minister, John Hayes, will now act as a political and parliamentary adviser to the Prime Minister. A mere 6 months after his appointment, John Hayes leaves his post as Minister for Energy, having kicked up a bit of a storm … Read More
2013 budget announces shale gas tax breaks
Tax breaks for shale gas companies, and Climate Change Levy Exemption for ceramics companies were announced in the 2013 budget. The Chancellor George Osborne today unveiled his 2013 budget, which he said would help “those who want to work hard & get on”. But there was no sign of the new, simpler ‘carbon tax’ that we thought might possibly replace … Read More
FiT charges to inflate business electricity bills
Due to the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) costing more than expected, all companies that pay a business electricity bill could face extra charges. Since the 1st April, any household or business that generates their own renewable energy receives a subsidy for every unit of energy they produce. This subsidy is paid for through the bills of those who choose not to … Read More
Drax power station: coal to biomass
The largest carbon emitter Britain is to stop burning coal to comply with EU laws, and will instead burn imported American wood chips. Running on coal, Drax has long been a symbol of Britain’s energy industry, but its move to biomass means it is fast becoming a symbol of our confusing and convoluted present day energy policy. Built right next … Read More
Fracking ‘could be fast tracked’
The Growth and Infrastructure Bill, currently going through the House of Lords could give shale gas the go-ahead faster than expected. Shale Gas is the reason many parts of the U.S. are seeing their economy boom. Energy prices have halved in some areas, as their planning and drilling regulations have allowed shale exploration to progress to commercial extraction and sale … Read More
CRC Scheme league table to be published late
The performance table for the CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment) Energy Efficiency Scheme is due to be published in the coming days. The Environment Agency (EA) has confirmed that the Energy Efficiency Performance League Table (PLT) is almost ready, with over 2,700 organisations being measured and ranked in order of how efficiently they use the energy they buy. The Carbon Reduction … Read More
A 2013 UK Shale Gas Revolution? Unlikely.
Natural gas prices in the US have dropped by almost two thirds since they started ‘fracking’ for shale gas. Could we see a similar boost to the UK economy any time soon? Shale Gas – probably the only hope we have of producing a significant amount of useful, home-grown energy in the next decade or two. Some say it is … Read More