Business worried about keeping the lights on

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

A new report produced by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has revealed a lack of confidence in Britain’s infrastructure, compared to our European counterparts. The CBI/KPMG Infrastructure Survey 2012 provides a business-wide assessment of the state of the UK’s economic infrastructure networks. The survey underlines the critical role that infrastructure plays in making the UK an attractive place to … Read More

London 2012: The ‘greenest’ games ever

adminEnergy Efficiency, International

The day after the 30th Olympiad ended, the London 2012 Olympics has been hailed as the “greenest games ever”. The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 has hailed recycling and regeneration as a major success. However, they also noted that improvements can still be made for the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Shaun McCarthy, the Commision’s … Read More

Fracking gets go-ahead in the UK

adminBusiness Gas, International, Utilities Market Regulation, Wholesale Utilities Markets

An era of cheap, abundant gas could be on the way, as new report confirms risk of earthquakes and water contamination are minimal. In what could be the most significant step in Britain’s energy security since the widespread exploitation of North Sea oil, hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking’ has been deemed safe in a new report produced in joint by the … Read More

Sustainable development is ‘meaningless drivel’

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

James Lovelock, long-time environmental guru and the inventor of the Gaia Hypothesis says environmentalism is taking over from Christianity, and thinks we should ‘go mad on’ shale gas. In an interview in the Guardian, the celebrated environmental scientist also declares that he is not worried about sea-level rises, Germany is crazy for ditching nuclear power, how wind turbines are “ugly … Read More

David Cameron speaks at the Energy Summit

Web MasterInternational, Utilities Market Regulation, Wholesale Utilities Markets

Renewable energy sources must be “financially sustainable” if they are to meet the world’s needs, the Prime Minister David Cameron has said. A meeting of international Ministers was held last week when Mr Cameron welcomed the investment of £350 million to create 800 jobs in the energy sector, but he says the main challenge is to drive down costs. Mr … Read More

Shell announces 54pc profits rise

adminInternational, Wholesale Utilities Markets

Oil giant Shell has announced bumper profits from 2011, up 54pc from the previous year. The company’s formula for success is astonishingly simple – it sold oil at much higher prices, compensating for losses in its other businesses. Oil prices at an average of $109 per barrel, up from $88 per barrel the previous year, led to Shell to announce … Read More

Fracking for shale gas regulations sufficient

adminBusiness Gas, International, Utilities Market Regulation

A report published by the European Commission has declared that the current rules regarding fracking for shale gas are sufficient The controversial new method of extracting gas by hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of rocks deep below the Earth’s surface is already covered by existing water and drilling regulations, and no new rules are needed until the technology reaches a commercial scale, … Read More