Electricity Market Reform
Plans for 110bn of investment in electricity generation have been unveiled in a White Paper by the Energy Secretary, Chris Huhne. Under the plan, a quarter of the country’s power stations would be replaced by 2030, Mr Huhne said. It also aims to insulate the UK from swings in oil prices by increasing nuclear and renewable energy sources. Shadow energy secretary Meg Hillier said the White Paper was a “mixed bag of measures”.
BBC 13th July 2011 more >>
A warning that household fuel bills are set to soar came last night as Energy Secretary Chris Huhne revealed a raft of measures to turn the energy industry green. Even if the government did nothing, he said, the average home electricity bill would rise by 200 a year by 2030 – as much again as the recent increases due to Scottish Power and Centrica. Mr Huhne claimed his proposals to encourage investment in wind, wave and tidal generation and nuclear power to reduce dependence on gas would bring that down to 160.
Press & Journal 13th July 2011 more >>
Chris Huhne, the energy secretary, claimed to have ended 25 years of dithering on Tuesday when he outlined radical reform of the electricity market, including a fixed price for low carbon power. Presenting a long awaited white paper, Mr Huhne said the aim was to build a cleaner energy future while also replacing a quarter of our existing power stations. He sought to resolve the tension between these competing goals by offering energy companies new incentives to generate low carbon electricity. Nuclear power stations and renewable technologies will be eligible for a contract for difference model of feed-in tariff.
FT 13th July 2011 more >>
Chris Huhne bet 110 billion yesterday on fossil fuel prices remaining high when he announced a huge outlay on new wind farms and power stations. Revealing the biggest shake-up of the electricity market since privatisation, he guaranteed that low-carbon generators such as wind, nuclear and low-emission coal and gas would receive more than the market rate for their electricity to make it economic for companies to build such facilities. The precise level will be set in 2013.
Times 13th July 2011 more >>
Households and businesses across the UK face a future of power blackouts unless they help to pay for major new investments in the country’s creaking infrastructure, the energy secretary warned on Tuesday. “We have to stop dithering you can have blackouts or you can have investment. Which do you want?” asked Chris Huhne, unveiling a package of far-reaching reforms in the biggest shake-up of the electricity market since privatisation. He said the UK’s energy infrastructure, from ageing power stations to an outdated grid, was in such poor state that it would cost scores of billions of pounds to overhaul, even without investment in low-carbon generation. Government estimates show the total i nvestment required in both electricity and gas is likely to be 200bn by 2020.
Guardian 13th July 2011 more >>
Herald 13th July 2011 more >>
Scotsman 13th July 2011 more >>
When a Government minister says Britain needs 110 billion of energy infrastructure investment immediately if not sooner and that it is going to make fuel bills lower, scepticism is justified. Such was the reaction when Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne introduced his big shake-up of the UK energy market yesterday. Nobody could argue with his analysis of the need for change. With many power stations coming to the end of their useful lives, we need new plant. If we do not double the current rate of investment, the UK will become increasingly dependent on imported energy and continue to be vulnerable to price hikes and threats to sustainable supply. (Britain came within an ace of the lights going off one day last winter.) Yesterday Mr Huhne set out a series of proposals, including a price guarantee payable to low-carbon generators and a capacity mechanism to help cope with su rges in demand and intermittent wind generation. More stringent emissions standards should ensure that old coal-fired plants adapt or die. Some environmental campaigners complain that the proposals will provoke a second dash for gas and create back-door Government subsidies for nuclear power. However, new gas plants are impressively energy efficient and, at least in the medium term, the UK (including Scotland) needs nuclear, if it is to meet its CO2 reduction targets. A bigger issue for potential investors is the lack of specific detail on the level of support renewable and nuclear generators can expect.
Herald 13th July 2011 more >>
British companies have warned the Government that electricity market reforms could force businesses to leave the UK.
Telegraph 13th July 2011 more >>
New Nukes
Mark Lynas.
Telegraph 13th July 2011 more >>
Scotland
Brian Wilson: The Nationalists’ aim of generating our electricity from renewables would make no sense in an independent Scotland. SECURITY of supply, affordability and carbon reduction – this trinity of objectives must underpin any responsible energy policy in the 21st century. Inevitably, accommodations are necessary if all three are to be respected. At present, Scotland is setting out to break that golden rule. The policy of generating the equivalent of 100 per cent of our electricity from renewable resources guarantees us neither affordability nor security of supply; quite the reverse. Whatever the other merits of renewables, they are neither cheap nor constant.
Scotsman 13th July 2011 more >>
Radwaste
Pangea Project sponsored by BNFL rules out areas of high rainfall and mountains for geological disposal
Radiation Free Lakeland 12th July 2011 more >>
Hinkley
South West businesses have so far been awarded contracts worth £9 million off the back of the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point. EDF Energy, which is behind plans for the new power station, says that a total of £16.7 million has been spent in the region as a result of the project.
Western Morning News 12th July 2011 more >>
Japan
With confidence in Japanese nuclear safety shaken by the crisis at Fukushima Daiichi, you might think the nations atomic utilities would all be taking extra care not do anything that might further shake public trust. Think again. Even as engineers battle radiation leaks at Tokyo Electric Powers tsunami-crippled plant, a fellow utility on the south-western island of Kyushu has been found using underhand techniques to try to sway debate over whether it should be allowed to restart idled reactors.
FT 13th July 2011 more >>
The meat of six cows shipped from a Fukushima Prefecture farm at the heart of growing concerns over radioactive beef has been distributed to at least nine prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, and some was believed consumed, local government officials said
Japan Times, Tuesday, July 12, 2011 more >>
For a remarkable insight into the scope of the radioactive contamination from the Fukushima disaster, watch this:
You Tube 12th July 2011 more >>
Prime Minister Naoto Kan pledged to reduce Japan’s reliance on nuclear power and called for debate on whether private companies should be allowed to run atomic plants.
Bloomberg 12th July 2011 more >>
France
France is openly considering a long-term energy plan that would phase out nuclear power over the coming decades. Considering that France gets around 75% of its electricity from nuclear the highest penetration in the world this announcement, as reported by Reuters, is significant: Energy Minister Eric Besson announced on radio Europe 1 the launch of a study on Friday on the countrys energy mix by 2050, with options including a complete exit from nuclear production, a cut in the share of nuclear to 50 percent and a progressive reduction of total electricity production in France.
Climate Progress 11th July 2011 more >>
