News & Articles
Platinum Jubilee – How has electricity changed during the
Queen’s reign?
When Queen Elizabeth first came to the throne, Britain was
still using gas lamps on the streets.
Seventy years on, most things have been electrified and
we’re nearly at the point where we can operate our electricity
system for short periods on 100% low carbon electricity.
That’s a pretty amazing achievement!
Today, we consume six times as much electricity as we did
seven decades ago, as electricity increasingly powers our
lives. From phones to laptops to electric vehicles, our need
for leccy has grown exponentially.
Where we get our electricity from has also changed over time
as advances in new technologies have allowed Great Britain
to draw on an increasingly diverse mix of technologies.
Did you know that one turn of a wind turbine can power your
home for a day? And who would have thought that by 2022
half of our electricity would regularly come from low carbon
energy like wind, solar and nuclear?
By 2035 we’ll have gone even further by operating a 100%
zero carbon electricity network all the time.
Britain's Gas Grid to Accept 20% Hydrogen Blend by 2023,
Preparations Underway
Britain's gas grid will, from 2023, start accepting a blend of
up to 20% hydrogen as part of the UK's effort to decarbonize
its infrastructure. The Energy Network Association (ENA)
published an elaborate plan on how the country's five gas
grid companies will meet the government's target as a
replacement for up to a fifth of the natural gas currently
used. Based on ENA's report, the country's gas-powered
plants will be able to use blended gas to generate cleaner
electricity. https://www.pipeline-journal.net/news/britains-
gas-grid-accept-20-hydrogen-blend-2023-preparations-
underway
Octopus and Ilke launch clean energy scheme with no bills
for householders
UK power supplier Octopus Energy has joined forces with
housebuilder Ilke Homes to develop a renewable scheme that
aims to guarantee home buyers no energy bills. The joint
project between Octopus and Ilke, which builds prefab homes
in factories, is designed to wean the country off fossil fuels in
what the companies say is a first for the UK market.
https://www.ft.com/content/b81307f1-94cc-4b0f-9b64-
1ac072dfe9dd
Kremlin says no more gas cuts to European customers
expected
The Kremlin said on Thursday it does not expect Gazprom to
cut gas supplies to any more European customers, adding
that its scheme to make buyers pay for their gas in roubles
was functioning as intended.
https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/kremlin-says-
no-more-gas-cuts-to-european-customers-expected
Ofgem publishes full report following six-month review into
networks’ response to Storm Arwen
Storm Arwen saw nearly 1 million homes in Britain lose power
in November 2021, with nearly 4,000 homes having to cope
in appalling conditions without power for over a week. Ofgem
has published its findings following a six-month review
launched in December 2021 to establish what went wrong
and what industry needs to change to provide a more
effective response to severe weather events.
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/ofgem-publishes-
full-report-following-six-month-review-networks-response-
storm-arwen
Major gas storage site could reopen
The UK’s largest natural gas storage site – Rough – could
reopen to help bolster security of supply.
Centrica has submitted a formal application to the North Sea
energy regulator to reopen the huge site, five years after it
was closed for economic reasons.
Rough, which is located 18 miles off the east coast of
Yorkshire, used to account for 70% of Britain’s natural gas
storage capacity.
Read more
Major oil-producing nations agree to accelerate their
output over next two months to cool sharp rise in fuel
prices
Major oil-producing nations have agreed to accelerate their
output over the next two months to cool a sharp rise in fuel
prices. Members of the Opec cartel said they would step up
their supply, amid a squeeze caused by Russia's brutal attack
on Ukraine. The group, which includes Saudi Arabia and Iran,
agreed to increase production by 648,000 barrels per day in
July and August following a meeting of its ministers.
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-
10879639/Major-oil-producing-nations- agree-accelerate-
output.html
Put energy efficiency ahead of gas bill bailouts, says CBI
chief Danker
The head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has
called on the Government to upgrade the UK’s leaky housing
stock rather than spending billions on massive energy bills
every year. Director-general Tony Danker said that the UK
will need to invest around £5.2 billion every year until 2035
to properly insulate its homes, which lose heat faster than
any in Europe. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/cbi-
government-europe-confederation-of-british-industry-
experts-b1004509.html
UK Energy Minister to give evidence to MPs on grid
connectivity in Wales
Marking its final evidence session exploring Grid capacity in
Wales, the Welsh Affairs Committee will be putting questions
to Energy Minister Greg Hands.
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/162/welsh-
affairs-committee/news/171251/uk-energy-minister-to-give-
evidence-to-mps-on-grid-connectivity-in-wales/
----------
Locational pricing 'could save £30bn by 2035'
Reforming the UK electricity market so that wholesale prices
reflect local supply and demand conditions could save
consumers £30bn by 2035, according to a new report.
The study by Energy Systems Catapult also said that moving
to locational pricing would more accurately reflect the real-
time challenges of managing supply and demand on a low
carbon grid.
In turn that would encourage more efficient operation and
the right balance of investment in generation, grid
distribution, and technologies that provide flexibility and
storage.
Read more
Nuclear plant faces more delays
The Hinkley Point C power station in Suffolk has been
delayed again for around a year with costs also rising further.
Developer EDF said the forecast date for starting generation
was now June 2027 with projected costs of £25bn-£26bn.
EDF blamed factors including the impact of the Covid
pandemic on supply chains.
"The risk of further delay of the two units is assessed at 15
months, assuming the absence of a new pandemic wave and
no additional effects of the war in Ukraine," it said in a
statement.
Read more
UK inflation hits 40-year high of 9% as energy bills soar
Prices are rising at their fastest rate for 40 years as higher
energy bills hit millions of households.
UK inflation, the rate at which prices rise, jumped to 9% in
the 12 months to April, up from 7% in March. The surge came
as millions of people saw an unprecedented £700-a-year
increase in energy costs last month.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61483175
Energy switching drops to a new low
April saw the fewest switches recorded in a single month
since 2012, according to a new report
https://www.energylivenews.com/2022/05/19/energy-
switching-hits-a-new-low/
The surreal, but also real, problem of Britain's gas glut
The UK energy system is drowning in natural gas. There is so
much of the stuff in this country that for the time being at
least no-one is quite sure what to do with it.
If at this stage you're wondering whether I've lost my mind or
that you're reading an article from a year or two ago: no.
https://news.sky.com/story/the-surreal-but-also-real-
problem-of-britains-gas-glut-12614797
Quarterly price cap 'could drive down energy bills'
Analysts have said frequent reviews of the price cap level
could reduce bills by 5%
https://www.energylivenews.com/2022/05/19/quarterly-
price-cap-could-drive-down-energy-bills/
Comparison site Energy Helpline collapses as it becomes
the latest casualty of the energy crisis
Comparison site Energy Helpline has become the latest
casualty of the energy crisis after collapsing into
administration. The 20-year-old website provides a free
energy switching service to help customers find the best gas
and electricity deal.
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-
10736433/Comparison-site-Energy-Helpline-collapses-
administration.html
Tel: 0800 027 0020 | Email: info@theenergycompany.co.uk
The Energy Company © 2023
Website designed and maintained by H G Web Designs
Contact
Unit 7, Ruthin Business Centre
Lon Parcwr
Ruthin
LL15 1NJ
Tel: 0800 027 0020
Tel: 01824 703 253