Ioannis Papadopoulos, Business Lead, Wind, DNV Anyone who follows the trends in the energy sector can see that many regions of the world are shifting to dispersed power systems, based on various and distributed power sources supplying the grid. Wind farms, especially those located offshore, are currently favoured in many regions around the world due to their low cost and power output. These offshore wind assets generate power that needs to be delivered to the demand centres to satisfy our growing need for electricity; but in this digital era, the data that goes to and from these power proj ..read more

Within the first few days of being elected, the new UK government will face a critical decision which will determine the number of wind, solar and tidal energy projects that go ahead this year. They will finalise the budget for ‘Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6’, this year’s clean power auction.     This blog explains how these CfD auctions work, how they benefit consumers, why the budget matters and what it measures, and what needs to happen next to maximise investment. What is the CfD scheme and AR6?&nbs ..read more

It has been my enormous privilege to serve on the WindEurope Board for the last two years; two years which have been some of the most volatile in both European energy markets and the wider political landscape. WindEurope’s leadership through this volatility has delivered significant outcomes for the sector, notably the Wind Power Package, Non-Price Factors in auctions, building a clear programme for workforce development, to name just a few highlights, demonstrate the skill, insight and capacity that the WindEurope team has. I know from the inside just how powerful effective advocacy can be ..read more

By Jess Hooper, Director, RenewableUK Cymru  Next month’s UK General Election hinges on two slogans the political parties want voters to hear. On the one hand the Conservative’s “stick to the plan”, and on the other, Labour’s “time for change” message. Age old questions about funding public services, addressing the cost of living crisis and incentivising economic growth continue to swirl, but how do these two different slogans translate when viewed through the lens of energy policy?  The Conservatives have said they aim to reach a net zero power system ..read more

For all the Telegraph wrote up the DESNZ Secretary’s recent speech as ‘the Government going cold on net zero’ – if you read the substance on it, Claire makes a compelling argument in favour of decarbonisation. It’s essentially, “it’s far more impactful for the UK to develop cheap clean technologies that help countries across the world decarbonise at pace and scale, than focus on squeezing the very last of the UK’s carbon emissions at great cost to the country”. After all, only 30% of global electricity comes from renewables – we do need to turn the ..read more

Introduction The concept of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is reshaping how we approach development projects, emphasising the importance of enhancing, rather than simply mitigating, the impacts on biodiversity. As BNG becomes a mandatory requirement for all planning applications in the UK, its influence extends beyond conservation efforts to touch upon various sectors, including energy. In this blog, we delve into how the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain for all planning applications will impact battery energy storage system (BESS) and solar planning applications, ushering in a new era of s ..read more

How will low-carbon technologies, such as green hydrogen, and the changing climate impact water demand needed to scale the energy transition?   The production of almost all types of energy relies on the water required for the extraction of raw materials, steam generation, hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage, cultivation of crops for biofuels, and cooling for thermal processes. However, some renewable power systems, such as wind and solar PV, require very little water. In our UK Energy Transition Outlook 2024, we forecast that as we move towards 2040 and beyond, the energy spl ..read more

With RenewableUK's annual green hydrogen conference happening next month, it is worth reflecting how pivotal 2023 was for the UK's hydrogen economy. At the heart of this was the 125MW of electrolyser capacity that was secured through the first hydrogen allocation round (HAR1), which not only marked a significant milestone for the UK but also set a precedent across Europe, with the highest number of commercial-scale projects awarded contracts in a single allocation round.  However, this is only the first step on the journey to vibrant green hydrogen eco ..read more

In anticipation of RenewableUK's Green Hydrogen event in Liverpool on 18th April, Dan Brimelow, Statkraft’s Commercial Manager, Origination in the UK, examines how trading structures may develop in order to drive a successful new market for green hydrogen in the UK.  Green hydrogen is the key next step to net zero. It enables us to store surplus wind and solar and convert it to heat, transport or power for later on at peak times when it’s most needed. Hydrogen economics are expected to significantly improve as our industry learns more about manufacturing electrolysis plants, an ..read more

The energy transition can benefit from the introduction of Artificial Intelligence but it has work to do to gain the sector’s trust and ensure safe operations. Artificial intelligence (AI) can already stake a good claim to be the phrase of 2023. It is now a well-established household name, in no small part due to concerns about the potential for the technology to generate thoughts of its own, replace jobs and spread disinformation. Such worries are certainly not without merit, and they broadly represent the hopes and fears of many. Nevertheless, the emergence of AI comes at something of an opp ..read more