Is public opinion on shale gas changing?

adminBusiness Gas, Utilities Market Regulation, Wholesale Utilities Markets

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

Estimated shale gas reserves doubled by BGS

adminBusiness Gas, Wholesale Utilities Markets

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

Japan extracts ‘frozen gas’ from seabed

adminBusiness Gas, International

The island nation has become the first country to extract natural gas from methane hydrates frozen underneath the sea. New technology could lead to the gas being commercially extracted in the coming years – as the technology improves and it costs less to extract. Although frozen gas is currently very expensive compared to other methods of extraction, it might be … Read More

2013 budget announces shale gas tax breaks

adminBusiness Electricity, Business Gas, Utilities Market Regulation, Wholesale Utilities Markets

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

Fracking ‘could be fast tracked’

adminBusiness Gas, Utilities Market Regulation, Wholesale Utilities Markets

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

A 2013 UK Shale Gas Revolution? Unlikely.

adminBusiness Electricity, Business Gas, Energy Efficiency, International, Utilities Market Regulation, Wholesale Utilities Markets

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