Saturday, December 21, 2013
Leeds United vs Barnsley live streaming Npower-Cha
SSE: Director/PDMR Shareholding
Deacon Blue bring festive cheer to Glasgow as they pack out SSE Hydro
Deacon Blue bring festival cheer to Glasgow as they pack out SSE Hydro
Friday, December 20, 2013
SSE chief awarded £234,000 in shares
EDF Renewable Energy Confirms Turbine Order with Vestas for 220 Megawatts
SSE invests £15m in Peterhead plant
Npower to pay £3.5 million to vulnerable customers (From Redditch Advertiser)
Energy company 'threatens to turn off Christmas lights' after issuing town with £10k bill
Can Europe frack itself to energy independence?
Russia starts pumping oil at Arctic rig raided by Greenpeace
Did natural gas prices of $4.00 per MMBtu cause TNH’s recent fall?
NEW LONG 8 YEAR BOND ISSUE
Npower pays £3.5m Ofgem penalty out to customers
Npower's latest mis-selling penalty means energy giants have now been fined £27million for misleading customers
EU leaves shale gas out of stricter law on environmental studies
SSE to close two coal-fired power stations
Gazprom starts producing oil at Arctic rig raided by Greenpeace
UPDATE 1-Gazprom launches Arctic oil field after a decade of delays
Vestas receives 220 MW order in the USA and increases the potential of the master supply agreement with EDF from 750 MW to 1,174 MW
EDF-Led Public-Private Coalition a Model for Cities around the World
Natural-Gas Futures Drop From 2-1/2-Year High
Ofgem: Npower Agrees to Pay £3.5m to Compensate Customers
Npower coughs up £3.5m Ofgem fine for ‘vulnerable’ customers
Dong acquires 1,050MW offshore wind from SSE
Gazprom starts oil production at Arctic rig raided by Greenpeace
Peterhead power station set for £15m refit by SSE
npower agrees £3.5m customer payout
Glasgow helicopter crash: £220k donated to bereaved relatives and survivors of Clutha pub disaster
Renewable energy for Hailsham leisure centre
Gazprom constantly improving corporate governance system taking into account world's best practices
Board of Directors, Gazprom adhering to law on use of insider information
SSE to shut two UK coal plants by end 2023
EDF fined US$18.4 million for anti-competitive behaviour in solar market
npower to pay £3.5m penalty to 'vulnerable' customers
Npower to pay £3.5 million to vulnerable customers (From Worcester News)
Npower to pay £3.5m for mis-selling - are you affected?
Dong Energy Buys Remaining Share in Three Wind Farms From SSE
Npower pays £3.5m Ofgem penalty to 'vulnerable' customers
British official: Shale could reduce Europe's dependence on imports
SSE chooses early closure for Ferrybridge and Uskmouth
SSE PLC : Future operation of thermal generation sites
Npower to pay 3.5m to less advantaged customers
Npower To Pay £3.5m To Vulnerable Customers
SSE opts for LLD for remaining coal-fired capacity
Npower pays £3.5m to settle charges of energy mis-selling
UK GAS-Mild weather, strong supply keep prices low
Smart meters to give UK consumers power to control energy bills
Npower agrees to £3.5m customer payout over sales tactics
Vulnerable customers to get £25 from Npower after regulator punishes firm for misleading doorstep selling
Npower boss: I won’t give up bonus
SSE hit with record fine
SSE chief earns £755k while your bills go up
Friday newspaper round-up: BAE Systems, interest rates, British Gas
RWE npower found guilty of misleading UK energy customers
Npower to pay £3.5m for misleading vulnerable customers over switching
EDF applauds New York Governor Cuomo's Launch of Green Bank
Thursday, December 19, 2013
npower: We made some mistakes and put things right
npower's £3.5m payout for breaching sales practise rules
British Gas customer chief gives a final answer
Npower pays the price for committing ‘original sin’
EDF Renewable Adds to Its Texas Wind Farm Portfolio
Statistics: Advanced Notice: Proposed DECC procurement exercise for renewable energy data for statistical purposes
DECC intends to carry out a competitive tender exercise in late Spring 2014 to appoint a contractor to continue to supply statistical and deployment pipeline data, from 1 October 2014. As part of the procurement process DECC will consider how the data can be improved and what statistical and deployment data will be required to help inform policy and meet our requirements to 2020 and beyond.
Statement to Parliament: Contingencies Fund: Advance for urgent funding for the UK Coal Cohort Concessionary Fuel Costs in 2013/14
The Department of Energy and Climate Change requires a cash advance of £1,500,000 from the Contingencies Fund in 2013/14 to fund the costs of assuming the concessionary fuel allowances of former miners who lost their entitlement as a result of the restructuring of UK Coal in July 2013.
On 15 November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that the government would guarantee the concessionary fuel allowance and, where appropriate, the alternative cash in lieu entitlements of the 1,500 former miners who lost their entitlement as a result of the restructuring of UK Coal with all entitlements to be backdated to July 2013 subject to any change in personal circumstances.
The department intends to rely on the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act for this spend. The advance is urgent to avoid hardship and potential ill-health effects in the winter months. Accordingly, Parliamentary approval for additional resources of £1,500,000 for this new service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £1,500,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.
FOI release: Scientific evidence around extreme weather events
Request for information on DECC spokesman statement that scientific evidence around the intensifying of extreme weather events quoted in Daily Mail article.
Policy paper: Exemption from the requirement for a licence to generate electricity: proposal to make the electricity (exemption from the requirement for a generation licence) (Berry Burn) order 2014
A proposal to make an exemption from the requirement for a licence to generate electricity in respect of the Berry Burn wind farm. Responses by 16 January 2014.
Speech: Securing Britain’s Energy Future
INTRODUCTION
It's an honour to be asked to give the inaugural Annual International Energy Lecture here at the UCL Energy Institute.
And I'm delighted to be making the speech today, when Royal Assent has been given to the Energy Bill – so we now have the Energy Act 2013. Thanks to any of you who've helped in its birth.
Now in June 2014 the Institute will celebrate its 5th birthday.
And in those five years you have much to be proud of – the wide portfolio of research and consultancy developed in that time, the strong relationship you have with Departments across Government.
The Energy and Climate Change Department I lead had its own fifth birthday in October this year.
So we've grown up together.
Just like DECC, the UCL Energy Institute was established to respond to the challenge of mitigating climate change and providing energy security in the 21st century.
And I particularly value one of the founding principles of your work:
That the aim must be “not to simply understand the world, but to help change it.”
Because – ultimately – that is what we are going to need to do. A profound change - from a fossil fuel world to a low carbon world.
And analysis alone is not going to solve our problems. We need practical solutions – affordable solutions – lasting solutions.
And that is what I want to talk to you about, here tonight.
Bringing together the challenge of energy security, the challenge of climate change, and the challenge of energy affordability in a coherent energy policy for the country.
And, crucially, a policy that is built to last.
As the title of the lecture suggests – Securing Britain's Energy Future.
And I want to talk specifically about the challenge that Britain faces, and indeed Europe as a whole faces, in making sure that we maintain economic competitiveness as we decarbonise.
But first let me address that issue of crafting solutions for the long-term.
SOLUTIONS FOR THE LONG-TERM
“Why should I care about future generations?” Groucho Marx once famously remarked. “What have they ever done for me?”
That quip encapsulates one of the particular challenges of governing in a democracy – resisting the lure of short-term populist solutions that fit neatly into the electoral cycle but just build up problems for the future.
It is all too easy to plump for simple, headline grabbing quick fixes, that, under serious analysis, end up undermining the delicate balance that needs to be struck if we are to meet all of our objectives together.
Quick fixes for instance, that seek to hold down energy prices, but at the expense of the very investment we need for energy security – leading to higher prices in the future.
Or that see accelerated unilateral cuts to carbon emissions, but at the cost of carbon leakage and economic competitiveness.
Or that improve energy security, but at an exorbitantly high price.
And that is why, during the recent review of the impact of Government policies on domestic energy bills, we have taken special care to ensure that any changes we make:
- do not negatively impact on investment in low carbon energy;
- do protect the fuel poor;
- and are compatible with our emissions reductions goals.
But this is a challenge not only for government, but for the Opposition too.
Over the next decade we need tens of billions of pounds of investment in new energy generation and networks if we are to replace the old and dirty infrastructure set to close.
If we are to persuade investors, not just in the UK but around the world, to invest here, they need to see that there is a political consensus on these issues that rises above the normal everyday party politicking.
That we are putting the national interest above party interest.
Now you might think I'm about to launch a broadside on Ed Miliband for doing the opposite – and it's tempting.
The Coalition Government has serious differences with the Labour Party over its proposal to freeze energy prices regardless of what happens in the global energy markets.
I agree with the assessment of the OECD that Labour is creating regulatory uncertainty that is not consistent with Britain's need for investment, for energy security, and to tackle climate change.
However, I actually want to focus on the much longer term energy policy where there is agreement.
THE ENERGY ACT 2013
Because I'm proud of the fact that the fundamentals of energy policy are subject to wide cross party agreement.
Contracts for Difference which are our central tool to incentivise investment in low carbon electricity generation and encourage a diverse energy mix.
A Capacity Market to help guarantee security of supply.
And a regulatory regime in the wholesale and retail markets that boosts competition, encourages new entrants, and bears down on prices for consumers.
For the Energy Act 2013, completed its passage through Parliament with the active support of the opposition.
This sends out a strong message that the legal, financial and political framework we are putting in place is designed to last, not just for the next few years, but reaches out ten, twenty, thirty years into the future.
A framework that works with the grain of the energy markets – providing the incentives and stability needed to attract the investment required to guarantee our energy security for decades to come.
A framework that boosts home-grown low carbon technology and energy efficiency, bringing down costs over the long-term, and providing lasting relief for hard-pressed consumers.
By creating the world's first low carbon electricity market, we are going green at the lowest cost – demonstrating that carbon reduction and economic growth can go hand in hand.
Because this is a framework designed to enable Britain to meet our climate change obligations in the energy sector without sacrificing international economic competitiveness.
Because when it comes to achieving our essential objectives – affordability, energy security and carbon reduction – if we can anticipate the development of the global energy markets, we can position ourselves for success across the piece.
So let me briefly sketch out for you the global picture as it relates to energy and climate change.
AGE OF TRANSITION
We are living through an age of global transition.
The emerging super economies of China, India, Brazil are already energy hungry, just like the established economies in Europe, North America and the Pacific Rim.
Global energy demand is already twice as high as it was 30 years ago.
And the International Energy Agency estimates that it will grow by at least a third again by 2035, with 90% of that growth in developing nations.
China and India alone are likely to make up just over 30% of world energy consumption by 2035.
This is all equates to a huge shift in just a few short decades.
And this increasingly energy hungry world is going to have to face up to the consequences of its appetite.
CLIMATE CHANGE
The latest Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change Report makes the situation crystal clear.
Human activity is significantly contributing to the warming of our planet.
Forecasts of the rate at which the world will warm in the future may differ – but all the traffic is in one direction.
And without radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the world our children and grandchildren are set to inherit will be potentially 4 degrees hotter than today.
The debate has to be about how we reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, not if.
Two thirds come from the energy sector, so without action here, the hopes of limiting climate change to manageable levels are close to zero.
Global energy related CO2 emissions trends have generally followed trends in the global economy.
And with the economic growth expected over the coming decades, particularly in the developing world, emissions are set to rise not fall.
There is some good news.
Today CO2 emissions per unit of economic output are 25% lower than in 1990 and there are signs that this could increase to 50% lower by 2035.
So globally we are becoming more energy efficient and more carbon efficient.
We need to continue to increase this trend, and the work being done here by the Institute on energy use will contribute to that.
But the IEA estimate that emissions from global energy use are on course to rise by 20% by 2035 and unless we bring that figure down climate change will not be limited to two degrees scenario judged by science to be manageable.
The answer has been obvious for some time.
We need to decarbonise the way our societies are powered, as our energy demands increase.
This means accelerating the growth of existing low carbon energy generation – such as renewables and nuclear – bringing down prices so they can compete on a level playing field with fossil fuels and eventually replace them.
It means accelerating innovation in technological solutions commercially developing zero carbon fuels like hydrogen and abatement technology such as carbon capture and storage.
And as we do this we need to progressively cut out high impact fossil fuels like coal in favour of lower carbon options such as gas as a bridge to the future, an issue I will return to later.
GREEN GROWTH
Ultimately we need to forge a global consensus at the negotiating table in the United Nations.
And my focus next year will be to accelerate the preparations in the UK and in Europe for the crucial 2015 summit in Paris.
But the lack of an existing global deal should not be an excuse for failing to act at a national or regional level now.
Because in actual fact, tackling climate change is an opportunity for our people, not a burden.
Combined with much greater energy efficiency, the construction of modern low-carbon energy infrastructure will improve our energy security.
It will reduce our dependence on increasingly expensive fossil fuels from risk-ridden regions, in favour of home-grown energy we can rely on, helping to keep energy bills down.
And in the process it will provide jobs for our citizens, profits for our businesses and growth for our economy as the global green marketplace expands.
It is already worth around £3.3 trillion a year and is expected to grow annually at over 4% for the foreseeable future.
China is investing over $1.2 trillion in its green economy between 2011 and 2015.
The US is securing record sums in clean energy and recently became the world's largest investor in low carbon energy research and development.
For the planet, this is encouraging, suggesting that the world's two largest polluters have a growing stake in a low carbon-future.
So the challenge for the UK, and for Europe as a whole, is maintain our ambitious vision for emissions reduction and investment in climate-friendly clean energy.
Indeed, it's why I've established at the European political level a Green Growth Group – which now has 14 Member States of the EU actively working together, and now has 2 business advisory groups helping us craft growth-friendly climate change policies.
INVESTMENT
In the UK, we are pushing hard for that green energy investment.
With the tripling of support available to low-carbon technology to 2020 agreed as part of the Levy Control Framework;
With the stable legal, financial and political framework put in place by the Energy Act;
And with our commitment to delivering on renewable energy targets;
We are positioning Britain to compete in the green economy while guaranteeing our energy security.
I consider this action to be imperative, not optional.
Today, 40% of our electricity comes from coal.
20% is from old nuclear.
Much of that is due to come off line in the next decade.
So the Coalition Government inherited from the previous administration, an energy future with a huge multi-billion black hole at its heart - an energy crunch, the result of years of under-investment.
Official statistics suggest that, in the ten years to up to 2010, investment across the whole of the electricity sector totalled just under £28 billion.
That figure has been overhauled in just three years under the coalition Government.
Latest DECC estimates suggest that at least £35 billion has been invested in new electricity infrastructure since 2010, and much more is in the pipeline.
This year I opened the largest offshore wind farm in the world – the London Array.
We've agreed key terms to build the first British nuclear power station in a generation at Hinkley Point and are pressing on with plans to replace the current fleet.
And earlier this month, I announced updated contract terms and strike prices alongside wider reforms to the electricity market that could unlock additional investments of around £40 billion in renewable electricity generation projects up to 2020.
So investment is now flowing in the UK which will boost energy security, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, and support up to 200,000 jobs by 2020.
But when it comes to investment decisions on energy projects that will last into the middle of the century and beyond, 2020 is fast becoming the rear view mirror.
We need to project the stability we have brought further ahead.
That is why the UK is pressing at a European level for an ambitious 2030 emissions reductions target of 50% compared to 1990 levels as part of a global agreement in 2015.
It has escaped almost every UK commentator but this is the UK leading in Europe. To persuade our European partners to be more ambitious on climate change than they would otherwise be.
And my current judgement is that we are winning that debate.
But if we are to be ambitious, we must also be smart.
A carefully conceived international climate change agreement can help to ensure that those countries that act decisively to limit emissions do not face unequal competition from countries that don't.
But to guarantee that European economies can compete internationally we have to take advantage of all the opportunities for green growth – from energy efficiency to new technology.
And to be cost effective, we will have to allow Member States to make the right choices for themselves – especially the choices over which technologies to use in the low carbon transition.
So we must deliver emissions reductions in a flexible, technology neutral way without cutting off the carbon-saving and cost-reduction benefits that can accrue from nuclear power for instance – and, indeed, lower carbon fossil fuels such as gas, including shale.
I have always been, and remain, a huge proponent of renewable energy sources in all their forms.
And I believe recent and predicted cost-reductions in clean energy suggest the future belongs to renewable technologies.
But the climate change threat is so great, we should back every low carbon technology and let renewables, nuclear and carbon capture and storage live and compete together.
Because this is the way we maintain economic competitiveness while we decarbonise.
COMPETITIVENESS
So let me turn now directly to the issue of competitiveness and energy prices..
Any plan to tackle energy prices must always place a premium on energy efficiency, because you don't pay for energy you don't use.
And the UK has a raft of policies for industry such as the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and Climate Change Agreements that help reduce the impact of prices on competitiveness by incentivising more efficient use of energy.
But energy efficiency alone has been and will never be enough.
So we have also acted to protect energy intensive industries from the impact of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, so we don't end up exporting emissions outside the EU.
The UK is the first country in the EU to start paying out State Aid for this because we recognise that our energy intensive industries are exposed to international carbon cost differentials – particularly on electricity.
But ultimately we must address the root causes of international energy price differentials.
The United States pays a third of the price European countries pay for gas imports and one fifth of price of imports to Japan.
Japan and Europe pay more than twice the price for electricity than US consumers, with China paying double.
Of course energy is just one factor in competitiveness and attractiveness for investment – financial, legal, tax regulatory systems – geopolitical stability, geography, infrastructure, labour costs and skills all play a part.
But the sheer scale of international energy price differentials, particularly with the US, can have a significant effect on competitiveness and exports. And so where carbon emissions occur.
But if we to address these price differentials properly, we need to recognise why they have occurred.
Some have chosen to focus on the cost of subsidising low-carbon electricity generation in Europe as the reason for the differentials with the US.
But this does not bear close scrutiny.
For the vast bulk of the UK and European economy you could abolish all green levies and all climate change policies, and it would still not make significant inroads into the energy price differentials with the United States.
Why?
Because there has been a strategic change in the terms of trade between the US and the rest of the world. Due to shale gas.
THE SHALE EFFECT
As the latest IEA investigation into energy and international competitiveness sets out, lower prices in the US are primarily driven by the exploitation of their shale gas reserves and relative lack of export capacity.
This has driven down both gas and electricity prices in the US relative to Europe and Asia.
So the problem is not climate change action.
It's the shale gas revolution we have to respond to.
So what is the answer?
Well its clear we have to get our own house in order, so that we in Europe can trade our energy properly and bear down on prices.
First, we must step up the integration and interconnection of European energy markets so that countries can buy clean, competitive, low carbon electricity from wherever it is cheapest.
That means across Europe we must fully implement the EU's energy liberalisation legislation by the end of next year and facilitate investment in the physical links that make the interconnections possible.
It just doesn't make sense for Europe to fail to leverage the potential advantage of a single energy market – we must get real about cross-border infrastructure, and fast.
We must, for example, look again at the unbundling rules that are blocking investment from many major financial institutions.
I'm convinced connecting the UK better into a better functioning European single energy market would spur greater competition in our electricity markets – and provide a real boost for consumers and industry.
Second we must set a climate and energy framework for 2030 and reform the EU ETS to give investors a stronger, more certain carbon price signal.
That may seem odd to some, as it itself may well increase the price of energy for some – but compared to the shale gas price effect, hardly at all.
And pricing carbon better, would stimulate the types of investments that will help make us more competitive and more secure on energy in Europe than we are now.
Third, we must develop strategies and invest more and urgently in focused R&D and innovation for Europe's energy intensive industries.
I'm not talking about strategies and investment for incremental improvements in energy or resource efficiency – important though that is.
I'm talking about game changing technological breakthroughs, that will dramatically cut the energy usage and/or carbon emissions from our energy intensive industries.
And guess what? It's being done by some industries already.
Europe's paper and pulp industry has got together, set a competition between two teams and developed ideas and new breakthrough technology options that will deliver dramatic cuts in industrial energy usage, by completely re-inventing processes.
Last month I met a Cambridge company who have innovated and filed a patent for zero carbon concrete. The UK and Europe has to get behind these game changing innovations.
The fourth part of my package for a strategic response to the shale gas effect on EU/North American energy price differentials is trade policy.
We should use the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and other negotiations to promote greater international trade in energy, including encouraging the US to export more of its gas.
Not least because the UK is well placed to benefit from such an eventuality as our capacity to import gas has increased five-fold in the past decade.
But ultimately, unless the potential of home-grown electricity and gas production is unlocked, in the UK and across Europe, we won't see downward pressures on prices strong enough to offset fast rising demand.
And that includes unlocking the potential for European shale gas – the inevitable fifth element of a strategic response to American shale gas.
EUROPEAN SHALE
A recent report from the Centre for European Reform concludes that European shale is unlikely to replicate the step change in energy costs that we have seen in the US.
The geology, economics and politics are vastly different.
But exploiting shale gas Europe-wide has the potential to contribute significantly to energy security whilst reducing dependence on imports from outside the EU, most notably from Russia.
So while European shale isn't likely to be a silver bullet solution for energy costs in the EU anytime soon, one could imagine, in the 2020s, large scale shale gas production in Europe boosting supply sufficiently well that markets might really be impressed.
And frankly after wholesale gas price rises of 50% in the last 5 years - the key and overriding reason behind today's high energy bills in Britain - any downward pressure that can be exerted on prices will be welcomed by consumers and industry alike.
And it will also help directly with efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Europe.
Gas is much better for the environment than coal when generating electricity, with half the carbon footprint.
With the climate change imperative to take coal out of the mix, and with commercially viable carbon capture and storage still some way off, gas provides a bridge to the future.
Not at the expense of renewables and other low carbon energy generation, but complimentary to them.
The UK is pioneering shale gas exploration in Europe, and can show a lead on how shale can be done safely and in an environmentally friendly way.
The new Regulatory Roadmap and the independent Strategic Environmental Assessment we published yesterday show how adverse impacts can be minimised and Britain can gain from developing shale gas:
Boosting the UK's energy security;
Contributing to economic growth;
Creating thousands of jobs;
And ploughing almost £1 billion back to local communities through benefit schemes.
And I believe that if we can encourage a global move from coal to gas, we will be doing the planet a favour.
If shale gas can contribute to weaning the world off more damaging coal; then we should not fear it; from an environmental point of view we should welcome it.
So while I respect the reticence of some of our European neighbours on shale, the UK Government believes that there should be no obstacles to safe and commercially viable shale gas production across Europe.
Decades of ambitious EU Environmental Directives have left the EU uniquely suited to handling the challenges of shale gas development, from water use through to methane emissions.
We therefore do not believe there is a need to legislate further.
Of course the Commission needs to clarify how existing EU legislation applies to shale gas to provide certainty to industry and to ensure that Directives are applied uniformly across the EU.
But we must ensure EU action is proportionate.
Facilitating safe shale gas production, not putting up barriers.
With over 50 years of experience in onshore oil & gas activity, the UK has robust regulation in place.
We are using our expertise and experience to help the Commission produce this guidance, and are willing to work with Member States to ensure consistent implementation across Europe.
None of the actions I have outlined today on competitiveness can succeed in isolation.
We need to pursue them all.
A carefully conceived global agreement on emissions reduction that ensures that those who decarbonisation more swiftly are not at a disadvantage.
Energy efficiency in our industries and business, helping them reduce the intensity of their energy use and save money, with compensation for the most energy intensive.
Driving greater competition in European energy supply by completing the single market and accelerating interconnection, driving down prices.
And addressing the cost of the raw materials of energy, bringing low carbon technology overtime to grid parity and maximising home-grown gas resources including shale.
This is what will bring the long-lasting solutions that I talked about at the start.
Securing Britain's energy future.
CONCLUSION
One of the founders of UCL, the poet Thomas Campbell, once wrote:
“O star-eyed Science! hast thou wandered there,
To waft us home the message of despair?”
The sheer enormity of the challenges we face, particularly the threat of climate change, can sometimes feel overwhelming.
But these lines from Campbell were from a poem called the Pleasures of Hope.
So I want to leave you with a message of hope.
On energy security, with the Energy Act now passed and the investment in infrastructure now flowing, the lights will stay on.
On affordability and competitiveness, working domestically and through Europe we are acting to make energy as cheap as we can, exploiting our natural resources, including shale gas, in an environmentally sustainable way.
On climate change, science has given us an understanding of the scale of the problem we face.
But it is also providing us with the tools to tackle it.
Bringing down the cost of low carbon technologies so we can build the sustainable societies we will need to survive through this century and beyond.
The next few years will be definitive in the fight against climate change.
I am determined that together we grasp this opportunity.
Governments, scientists, campaigners, businesses.
Academic research delivering across a wide range of disciplines.
Not just analysing, but proposing solutions, just as you here at UCL do.
The whole of society working together to meet our collective responsibility to pass on to future generations a planet that can sustain them.
But there is a particular onus on the politicians and the Governments of the nations of the world.
Because it is we who lead, and it is we who need to hold the course through difficult times when the pressure to trim and tuck is greatest.
As Secretary of State, I have had the opportunity over the past year to meet with my counter-parts across the world and seek to break through the issues that are holding us back.
And I have been greatly encouraged by what I have seen.
The steely determination of the Obama administration to ensure that the United States plays a central role in tackling climate change after years of seeming to stand apart.
The commitment of our partners in Europe to work together to deliver Green Growth.
The Chinese Government recognising its responsibilities as one of the world's new powerhouses, wanting to build an ecological civilization that softens its tread upon the earth.
Here in the UK, with the Climate Change Act of 2008 and the Energy Act of 2013 receiving almost unanimous cross-party support, we have put in place the legal, financial and political frame work for us to meet our responsibilities over the decades to come.
Affordable energy security and climate change action that is built to last.
Because we don't just want to be the greenest government ever, we want the next government, whenever that may come, and however it is formed, to have the tools to be even greener still.
ENDS
Statistics: LSOA estimates of households not connected to the gas network
Updated: These estimates have been republished on 23 December 2013 following an error with figures for lower level super output areas (LSOA) which changed following creation of new areas and boundaries based on the 2011 Census.
These estimates have been republished on 23 December 2013 following an error with figures for lower level super output areas (LSOA) which changed following creation of new areas and boundaries based on the 2011 Census. A number of the new LSOAs had been incorrectly reported as having no households with a gas connection. We are grateful for user feedback alerting us to this issue.
Estimates for the number, and proportion, of households without mains gas are based on the difference between the number of households and the number of domestic gas meters as published in the sub-national gas consumption data. These estimates are provided at local authority and LSOA level.
It is strongly advised that users become familiar with the accompanying Methodology and guidance note, produced by DECC before using any of the following statistics.
Other pages relevant to this publication are: Sub-national gas consumption statistics and Energy Trends.
Ukraine’s Yanukovich: Thanks for the bailout, Russia… want the gas pipeline now?
Statistics: Quarterly Energy Prices: December 2013
Quarterly statistical publication containing tables, charts and commentary covering energy prices to domestic and industrial consumers for all the major fuels, as well as presenting comparisons of fuel prices in the European Union and G7 countries.
Statistics: Domestic Green Deal and ECO statistics methodology note
Updated: Latest version of methodology note published.
This note summarises the methodology used to produce estimates of the various elements of the Domestic Green Deal (GD) and Energy Company Obligation (ECO). It is intended to help users understand the assumptions made in the compilation of these statistics and some of the limitations of the data sources.
EDF’s Energy Efficiency Protocols Gain Traction
Putin says he will pardon jailed former oil tycoon Khodorkovsky after ten years in prison
Greenpeace Is Nowhere Near Done Protesting Oil Drilling in the Arctic
Twitter fiasco director leaves British Gas
Revamped leisure centre goes green
UK GAS-Spot prices lower as system oversupplied
SSE PLC's Dividend Prospects For 2014 And Beyond
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
SSE Composite
Gazprom approves Investment Program, Budget and Cost Reduction Program for 2014
FOI release: Communications with Energy UK
Request for information on communications between one of DECC's Special Advisers and Energy UK from 25/09/13 to 27/09/13.
FOI release: Communications with Big Six utility firms
Request for information on communications between DECC Special or Political Advisers and representatives from the Big Six utility firms from 25/09/13 to 27/09/13.
FOI release: Meetings with Horizon Nuclear Power and Hitachi
Emails, papers, minutes and documents relating to Ed Davey's June 2013 meeting with Hitachi and DECC's Permanent Secretary's May 2013 meeting with Horizon Nuclear Power/Hitachi Europe Ltd.
Policy paper: Smart Metering summary plan
Summary plan for delivery of the GB Smart Metering Programme. DECC previously published updates of the plan in 2011 and 2012.
British Gas owner Centrica to return extra £420m to shareholders after Texan power plant sale
Statement to Parliament: Hinkley Point C State aid – EU Commission Opening Decision
The European Commission has today announced its decision to open an investigation into the State aid case for the proposed Hinkley Point C investment contract. I welcome the investigation and the consultation that will follow which will seek views to enable the Commission to make a legally robust decision. Such investigations on the part of the European Commission are a standard part of the process for interventions that are novel and complex and the raising of doubts, questions or concerns as part of this process is also to be expected. Indeed, this is what happened on the Royal Mail, Property Tax on Telecommunications Infrastructure and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority State aid cases, all of which were subject to investigations by the Commission and all of which were ultimately cleared by the Commission.
The European Commission's decision represents another important step forward in progression of the State aid case for Hinkley. Alongside Royal Assent, today, of the Energy Bill and my Department's publication tomorrow of the Electricity Market Reform (EMR) Delivery Plan and revised version of the Contracts for Difference (CfDs) terms, this Opening Decision for Hinkley demonstrates excellent progress in delivering the Government's EMR Programme. Investment contracts, such as those proposed for Hinkley, are in effect early CfDs and, like CfDs, they are a market-orientated instrument designed to incentivise investment in new low carbon generation whilst ensuring an appropriate allocation of risks between generators and consumers. This investment is needed at scale if the UK is to play its part in meeting the EU's common security and diversity of supply and decarbonisation objectives, all at least cost to the consumer. EMR, taken together with our other energy interventions, for example, in relation to energy efficiency and the pursuit of interconnectors with other Member States, will help ensure that the UK is able to make its fullest contribution to achieving a single EU energy market.
The UK's electricity market reforms are ground breaking, with much of Europe following our progress with close interest. This is particularly so in the case of CfDs. CfDs are necessary given the current market failures and are an innovative intervention, with impacts on competition and trade limited to the very minimum required to ensure that security of supply and decarbonisation objectives can be achieved. For example, as set out in the commercial agreement on key terms for the proposed Hinkley Point C investment contract that I announced on 21st October this year, any contract awarded to EDF for Hinkley would include in-built mechanisms to prevent overcompensation. These include construction and refinancing gainshares and operating cost reviews taking place at 15 and 25 years into the contract term. Indeed, CfDs are less distortive and less generous to generators than some other interventions, which have previously been approved by the Commission.
We have already provided a substantial amount of information and evidence to the Commission to support its assessment of the Hinkley case and have been discussing the case and EMR more generally with the Commission for the past 18 months. I now look forward to considering the Opening Decision, and continued close engagement with the Commission on Hinkley and other EMR related state aid cases. The Hinkley investigation will include a public consultation period during which third parties can provide views to the Commission and there will of course be opportunity for the UK Government to provide further evidence to the Commission on why the agreement we have reached with EDF is consistent with State aid rules under the European Treaty.
I would encourage all interested stakeholders to participate in the consultation. Investment contracts and CfDs are a vital measure which the UK must implement in order to achieve its energy objectives and I have no doubt that we will be able to provide robust responses to any lines of inquiry which the Commission sets out as part of its Opening Decision on Hinkley.”
'Digital champions' encourage others to get online with support from E.ON
The training was created and delivered by the Tinder Foundation (formerly known as the Online Centres Foundation) and offers community volunteers the opportunity to learn how to help people most in need of digital support to get started online.
It's estimated that there are over half a million people in the North East without basic online skills. By developing a network of digital champions, it's hoped that they can deliver a sustained improvement in digital awareness and skills in the North East.
Anthony Ainsworth, Sales and Marketing Director at E.ON, said: "In this digital era, it's more important than ever to have at least a basic understanding of the internet. That's why we're keen to develop this network of digital champions to help educate people about the advantages of being online. Through this digital skills training, we're also able to reach people who may be in or at risk of fuel poverty and can offer support with tools to help them manage their energy bills and use no more energy than they need to."
Anna Geraghty, Head of Marketing, Communications and Training at the Tinder Foundation said: "By supporting this training, E.ON has really shown its commitment to helping its customers and the population at large become more digitally included. The training events have been great and have shown that a partnership approach - with people from the community, businesses and the voluntary sector coming together - can help us take even bigger steps toward helping everyone cross the digital divide."
Graham Walker, CEO at Go ON UK, said: "It's fantastic that E.ON is supporting the training of digital champions in the North East. There's so much to gain from being online, and the best way to learn is through real people in the region who are willing and able to share their digital skills with others."
E.ON is a Founder Partner in Go ON UK and shares the aim of making the UK the world's most digitally skilled nation. For more information about E.ON's commitment to supporting Go ON UK and or for energy- saving advice, visit eonenergy.com
Ends
Notes to editors:
- E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production. It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 72,000 worldwide;
- In the UK, E.ON supplies power and gas to around five million domestic, small and medium-sized enterprise and industrial customers. E.ON also offers innovative energy services and technologies tailored to meet its customers' needs, and is helping customers become energy efficient by encouraging them to insulate their homes, moderate their energy usage and even generate their own power;
- Go ON UK is a cross-sector charity which was established in 2012 to encourage and support people, business and charities to enjoy the benefits of being online. Go ON UK has nine chief executives around its boardroom table - Age UK, Argos, BBC, Big Lottery Fund, E.ON, EE, Lloyds Banking Group, Post Office and TalkTalk. Together, Go ON UK's vision is to make the UK the world's most digitally skilled nation.
- Go ON North East is working with people and partners to kickstart its regional digital skills roll out in the North East of England. This is the first regional pathfinder being rolled out by Go ON UK and partners to help increase the Basic Online Skills of individuals, SMEs and charities. The Pathfinder will provide a platform for a sustainable digital skills programme in the North East and a replicable model for other UK regions to use to improve their digital skills.
- Basic Online Skills are the basic skills needed to enjoy a wide range of online benefits, including being able to transact online safely. Go ON UK has defined the categories of skill and the activities people need to be able to complete at a basic level which include the ability to send and receive email, use a search engine, browse the internet and complete online forms
For more information contact:
Naomi Troy on 02476 180523 or naomi.troy@eon-uk.com
Statement to Parliament: EU Energy Council, 12 December
I am writing to report discussions at the Energy Council on 12 December, where I represented the UK.
The Council discussed the Proposal to amend the Renewable Energy Directive and the Directive relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels with the aim of reaching political agreement. The proposal is intended to address Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC), which occurs when production of biofuels from crops grown on existing agricultural land results in the displacement of production on to previously uncultivated land. The Council was unable to reach agreement on the proposal as Ministers could not find a compromise between those who wanted high ambition on ILUC (including the UK) and those who wanted to protect the interests of their biofuels industries. It is hoped that this dossier will be taken forward under the Greek Presidency.
The Council report on the Internal Energy Market was approved by the Council with one amendment relating to the need to prioritise interconnection between Member States that were below the 10% electricity interconnection target, endorsed by the European Council in 2002. A number of Ministers emphasised that Member States should protect the internal energy market by adopting EU solutions to address security of supply concerns rather than national measures.
The Council agreed the progress report on EU external energy policy with no changes. The Commissioner presented a round-up of recent and upcoming events and developments in international energy relations. He welcomed the decision to extend the Energy Community for another ten years and suggested that there was a need for stronger interconnections in South-East Europe, in particular a new interconnector between Bulgaria and Greece.
The incoming Greek Presidency outlined their priorities for the next six months. They will focus on the internal energy market, particularly ending energy isolation for the EU's peripheral regions and funding options for infrastructure projects; energy costs and vulnerable consumers; and the Nuclear Safety Directive.
The Presidency gave an update on nuclear energy. A number of Member States noted that they considered the proposal for the Nuclear Safety Directive to be premature.
Over lunch, Ministers discussed energy prices and competitiveness.
Statement to Parliament: Second annual progress report on the roll-out of smart meters
Today, I am pleased to announce the publication of the second DECC annual progress report on the roll-out of smart meters.
Smart meters will transform consumers' relationship with energy, bringing considerable benefits for both them, for the energy industry and for Great Britain. Smart meters will for the first time put consumers in control of their energy use, allowing them to take energy efficiency measures that can help save money on energy bills, offset price increases and reduce carbon emissions.
The annual report provides an explanation of smart metering and its benefits. It describes the work that is being undertaken by the Government, energy suppliers and other stakeholders during the Foundation Stage of the roll-out and in particular the progress that has been made during 2013, to prepare for the period between Autumn 2015 and 2020 when most consumers will receive smart meters. This work will help to ensure that everything is in place to handle a roll-out of this scale (over 50 million meters to be installed in 30 million premises) and that consumers will have a good experience, which is crucial for realising the benefits. Energy suppliers are already testing and trialling the new technology, and some consumers are already receiving smart meters from their energy suppliers and starting to see the benefits.
The annual report is being placed in the Library of the House and can be found on GOV.UK.
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E.ON wins national award for its commitment to diversity and inclusion in its recruitment processes
This honour recognises companies who have shown exceptional creativity and innovation in the development and delivery of their diversity and inclusion recruitment strategy.
E.ON was commended for its' holistic approach to addressing diversity and inclusion across all areas of its business. By creating a strong link to the company's overall business strategy, E.ON has been able to deliver a consistent message, giving all applicants the confidence that their individual contribution as part for the whole workforce matters.
Dave Newborough, HR Director at E.ON, said "Our diversity and equality strategy underpins our business aim to become our customers' trusted energy partner. If we are to achieve this we need to ensure that our existing and future employees feel they are supported and treated fairly, and thus performing at their best.
"But we also know that everyone needs to do this while remaining true to themselves and the unique differences that mark us out as individuals can also bring us together as a stronger business. Our UK Board is fully committed to supporting and developing a culture that understands and values the many differences between our employees."
This award comes after E.ON successfully won the ‘Inclusive Recruitment' award from the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (ENEI), after demonstrating consistent support for a diverse workforce and promoting best practice in equality and inclusion in the workplace.
For more information about E.ON's approach to Diversity and Inclusion, visit eon-uk.com/careers
Ends
Notes to editors:
- E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, retailing power and gas, developing gas storage and undertaking gas and oil exploration and production. It is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON employs around 12,000 people in the UK and more than 72,000 worldwide;
- In the UK, E.ON supplies power and gas to around five million domestic, small and medium-sized enterprise and industrial. E.ON also offers innovative energy services and technologies tailored to meet its customers' needs, and is helping customers become energy efficient by encouraging them to insulate their homes, moderate their energy usage and even generate their own power;
- E.ON is committed to improving the candidate experience and recruitment practices across the company and together with The Clear Company has implemented a best practice framework to enable this.
- E.ON has also joined forces with the DWP and leading UK employers to support the creation of an assessment and development programme called ClearAssured. Through this work, E.ON has demonstrated that it can attract more disabled applicants, and ensure that they have the best possible chance of being offered a job with the company.
- The FIRM was founded as a LinkedIn Group in December 2007, run by In-house recruiters for in-house recruiters. Their aim is to support, develop and inspire their members as well as working to ensure integrity and best practice through the in-house resourcing community. The award ceremony recognised several categories including Diversity and Inclusion, In-House recruiter of the Year, Recruitment Team of the year amongst others.
For more information contact:
Naomi Troy on 02476 180 523 or Naomi.troy@eon-uk.com
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Sustainable Development indicators- Theme 1: Managing the transition to a low carbon economy
Monday, December 16, 2013
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Consultation outcome: New Smart Energy Code Content (Stage 2): consequential consultation on changes to the DCC licence
Updated: Government response published.
The Smart Energy Code (SEC) is a new industry code which has been created through, and comes into force under, the DCC licence. The SEC is a multiparty contract which sets out the terms for the provision of the DCC's Smart Meter communications service, and specifies other provisions to govern the end-to-end management of Smart Metering.
This response and further consultation provides the government's conclusions on one of the issues discussed in the October 2013 consultation on the Smart Energy Code (SEC). This is the proposed provisions in the SEC to support the delivery of cost-effective, viable and sustainable third party financing for communications hubs. The government has concluded that these provisions are a proportionate and appropriate mechanism for helping to secure the most cost-effective financing for an initial 5% of the expected total number of communications hubs. However, as a result of information received during that consultation a further consequential consultation is needed on changes to the DCC licence to support these provisions.
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Open consultation: Regulatory arrangements for enrolment and adoption of Foundation Meters
Updated: Document updated to remove duplicated table contents in Annex 3.
An important task for the DCC, its service providers, and energy suppliers will be to establish projects to develop or procure systems or services under which the DCC will enrol and operate SMETS 1 meters installed during the Foundation stage on behalf of suppliers.
The government considers it important that an appropriate regulatory and governance framework is put in place to govern these projects and to provide assurance to stakeholders that the projects will be progressed in an effective manner. This document sets out proposals for a number of key elements of that framework.