Cuadrilla Resources, the company responsible for drilling for shale gas underneath Blackpool, has released the findings of an independent report it commissioned earlier this year. On April 1, a tremor reaching 2.3 on the richter scale was recorded, followed by another of around 1.4 on May 27th after drilling at the Preese Hall-1 well in Lancashire. The company has even … Read More
‘Keep switching’, says Huhne at Energy summit
The UK has “relatively good electricity and gas prices”, the Energy Secretary said at the Energy Summit held on 17 October 2011. Mr Huhne said on Radio 4’s Today programme, that energy companies were “not the Salvation Army”. He added “We expect them to earn respectable returns for their shareholders but they need to be operating in a fair and … Read More
Nuclear is cheapest ‘low carbon’ energy source
Energy secretary gives the green light to nuclear development, despite fears over the management of nuclear waste. In a speech to the Royal Society today, energy secretary Chris Huhne confirmed that the UK is to continue with its plan to build new nuclear power plants that was set in motion by the current Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband when he … Read More
Weightman report: nuclear power is safe
The final report by Mike Weightman commissioned after the Fukushima disaster in Japan confirms “no fundamental weaknesses” in the UK’s nuclear licensing program. The report makes 38 recommendations of lessons learned from Fukushima, but stresses that is that nuclear power is safer than it has ever been. The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has said “operators should continue … Read More
North sea oil and gas outputs decrease
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has released new figures showing that imported coal is replacing gas and oil from the North sea in the UK fuel mix. The newly released data shows that North sea oil and gas production fell by 16% and 25% respectively in the second quarter of 2011, while coal imports rose 36% in the … Read More
Full extent of shale gas reserves revealed
Cuadrilla Resources estimates that up to 200 trillion cubic feet of gas lies underground near Blackpool. The company that halted the controversial ‘fracking’ process after a minor tremor near Blackpool earlier this year says that the resources found beneath the Northwest of England are extremely vast. Hydraulic Fracturing, or ‘fracking’, is a process which is enabling companies to extract gas … Read More
Utility bills a main factor of inflation increase
Inflation hits a three year high of 4.5% for August- utility bills a main factor of the increase of cost of living. The biggest annual rise in water and energy bills in more than two years has been a main factor in the high inflation rate. Energy prices, along with increases in the cost of food and clothing meant the … Read More
Npower to increase gas and electricity prices
Npower yesterday announced rises in gas and electricity prices which will come into effect later this year. Energy company Npower is to raise gas prices by 15.7% and electricity prices by 7.2% from 1 October. Npower is the fifth of the “big six” UK energy suppliers to announce rises for the coming winter, following Scottish and Southern Energy, Scottish Power, … Read More
British Gas suspends doorstep sales
British Gas have announced they are to suspend door to door selling for an initial period of 3 months The Centrica owned company has called the practice “outdated”. The decision follows harsh criticism of door to door selling by Consumer Focus.
E.ON Energy announces price rise
E.ON Energy has become the latest of the big six UK energy suppliers to up its prices. E.ON have raised electricity bills by 11.4%, while gas bills will be raised by a larger margin of 18.1% and will come into effect from 13 September. They are the fourth of the big six UK suppliers to announce hikes, after Scottish Power, … Read More