Law stating that Germany must outlaw nuclear power generation by 2022 is encouraging more talk of an EU-wide electricity system. After the Fukushima disaster in Japan, Germany decided to shut down its 17 nuclear power stations by 2022, closing the 7 oldest ones immediately. This has turned Germany from a net exporter of electricity, to a net importer of electricity … Read More
‘European super grid’ could cost £28 billion
A new ‘super grid’ for electricity that connects Britain to mainland Europe is being tabled as the solution to balancing international supply and demand. The new system would use cables laid under the sea, making it easier to connect offshore wind farms to the grid, eliminating the need for pylons that run from the countryside to the coast. It would … Read More
RWE looking at sale of Npower
German utility giant RWE is reportedly assessing the sale of British energy firm Npower RWE, parent company of Npower, is assessing the sale of the UK company in a rethink of strategy. This comes after German parliament last week backed a withdrawal from nuclear power by 2022, following Japan’s nuclear crisis.
CCC advises government to step up carbon reduction
The Committee on Climate Change has advised the government to step up carbon reduction efforts in their latest report The advisory body said that the country’s greenhouse gas emissions are not dropping fast enough to meet targets. The CCC advised that a new range of carbon reduction tools is needed to achieve a faster rate of reduction. The Committee on … Read More
Germany to phase out nuclear by 2022
German chancellor Angela Merkel has ordered all of the country’s nuclear power plants to be shut down by 2022. Merkel’s coalition government has performed a complete reversal of policy regarding nuclear power. There have been many anti-nuclear protests in Germany following the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Germany is the largest industrialised nation to go anti-nuclear for 25 years. The country is … Read More
New EU stress tests for nuclear plants
EU Nuclear watchdogs have finalised continent-wide stress tests for all nuclear reactors following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan All 143 of Europe’s nuclear reactors will undergo new stress tests devised by European nuclear watchdogs covering both natural and man made hazards. From 1 June, nuclear power plants will be tested for resilience to natural disasters like the earthquake and … Read More
Budget 2011 introduces new carbon tax
The Chancellor, George Osborne announced yet another ‘carbon tax’ in yesterday’s budget, dubbed the ‘2011 budget for growth’. This means businesses and consumers can expect higher electricity bills, as carbon-emitting coal and gas-fired plants are taxed £3.2 billion over the next 5 years. Nuclear and renewable companies should see increased profits, as the tax is applied to the oil and … Read More
UK at top of European Commission report
The UK is one of the most energy efficient nations in Europe, says a European commission report. The European Commission report says the UK’s energy use fell by 5% between the year 2000 and 2008. In comparison, German energy use stayed at the same rate whilst France’s energy use grew by 7%. The report found that in total, there was … Read More
E.ON sells Central Networks to US firm
RWE E.ON has agreed to sell its UK electricity distribution company, Central Networks, to US firm PPL. The German-owned energy giant E.ON is selling Central Networks, the second largest distributor of electricity in the UK, to Pennsylvania Power and Light for £4bn. Central Networks operates an 80,000 mile power grid that delivers electricity to over 5 million customers in the … Read More
New pipeline deal means less dependence on Russia
Less dependence on Russia for the EU as Turkey and four other EU countries sign a new pipeline deal. The Nabucco project, formally agreed by Turkey and four other EU nations, is intended to reduce the EU’s reliance on Russian gas by allowing a new pipeline to be built through their countries. The prime ministers of Turkey, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania … Read More