Energy Policy
The Government is drawing up plans for a wholesale reform of Britain’s energy markets that could wind back the clock on 12 years of deregulation. In an interview with The Times, Ed Miliband, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said that Britain’s existing, highly liberalised market regime, introduced under Labour in 1998, was failing to deliver the investment needed to cut UK carbon emissions by more than a third by 2020. A market structure was being designed to boost long-term investment in low-carbon sources of electricity, including wind parks, nuclear reactors and fossil fuel stations equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Mr Miliband said that big reforms would be essential to deliver the estimated £170 billion of investment to meet its goals of huge carbon cuts. The Neta system, in which electricity is traded via contracts between buyers and sellers or power exchanges, does not give sufficient guarantees to developers of wind turbines and nuclear plants. He said that the changes were essential to help Britain to prepare for a doubling of electricity demand by 2050, driven by other policy objectives such as a growth of electric cars and a move from gas to electricity for heating.
Times 1st Feb 2010 more >>
Iran
Israel’s government has long tried to raise international concern about Iran ‘s nuclear ambitions and is likely to welcome the new US deployments in the Gulf if it signals a hardening of policy. Israel, itself a major but undeclared nuclear power, has been pushing for tougher sanctions against Iran and is wary of those who argue in favour of dialogue and negotiations. On Saturday the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, held a rare meeting with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Davos, Switzerland, and asked him to work “in a serious and steadfast manner against Iran’s nuclear armament”. Peres told him: “A nuclear weapon in the hands of a fanatical regime such as the one in Iran poses a threat not only to Israel but also to the entire world.”
Guardian 1st Feb 2010 more >>
Tension between the US and Iran heightened dramatically today with the disclosure that Barack Obama is deploying a missile shield to protect American allies in the Gulf from attack by Tehran. The US is dispatching Patriot defensive missiles to four countries – Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait – and keeping two ships in the Gulf capable of shooting down Iranian missiles. Washington is also helping Saudi Arabia develop a force to protect its oil installations.
Guardian 1st Feb 2010 more >>
Renewables
Feed-in tariff for small scale low carbon electricity finalised for 1 April introduction: Power from solar panel could earn £900, on top of £140 reduction on household energy bill; Blueprint published for world first incentive scheme for renewable heat; Tariff levels index linked; Micro combined heat and power piloted in the scheme to kickstart the industry in the UK.
DECC Press Release 1st Feb 2010 more >>
Those buying and installing solar panels, wind turbines or biomass processing equipment from April will receive a set rate for the electricity they create that is almost three times the current market rate and is guaranteed for 20 years. Any excess electricity can be sold to the grid, again for a set price.
Telegraph 1st Feb 2010 more >>
Independent 1st Feb 2010 more >>
Botched attempts by Scottish ministers to cut the red tape that is preventing people from fitting clean, green technologies in their homes have descended into chaos. The Scottish government will this week complete consultations on plans that put barriers in the way of energy-saving heat pumps and small wind turbines. But – amidst a welter of bureaucratic confusion – it will then launch contradictory proposals to remove the barriers. Ministers have been accused of making a “shambles” out of a crucial initiative to cut climate pollution and heating bills. According to opposition politicians, they have managed to make a U-turn within a matter of days
Sunday Herald 31st Jan 2010 more >>
HOMEOWNERS in Scotland may soon be allowed to put wind turbines on their roofs without planning permission. Climate change minister Stewart Stevenson said the proposals were “not a vision of unrestricted development” and are designed to help people cut energy bills “and play their part in reducing emissions”. The proposals are due to be launched on Friday as part of a consultation on renewable energy, and would give “permitted development rights” to homeowners to install turbines and air-source heat pumps, except in conservation areas and World Heritage Sites. Wind turbines could be put on roofs, with a maximum three metres height and 3.5 metres diameter.
Scotland on Sunday 31st Jan 2010 more >>
Energy Efficiency
The era of the ‘on-all-night’ illuminated high street could end, the Environment Agency is predicting. The agency says new rules will force businesses to switch off lights and displays at night to meet new limits. The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) scheme requires businesses to cut consumption or face stiff fines.
BBC 31st Jan 2010 more >>
Climate
A global deal to tackle climate change is all but impossible in 2010, leaving the scale and pace of action to slow global warming in coming decades uncertain, according to senior figures across the world involved in the negotiations. “The forces trying to tackle climate change are in disarray, wandering in small groups around the battlefield like a beaten army,” said a senior British diplomat. An important factor cited is an impasse within the UN organisation charged with delivering a global deal, which today will start assessing the pledges made by individual countries by a deadline that passed last night.
Guardian 1st Feb 2010 more >>
