A new report by RenewableUK suggests that integrating energy storage projects with onshore wind and solar farms can significantly reduce electricity system costs and enhance energy security. The report, titled “Making the most of renewables: the role of onshore co-location in accelerating an integrated energy system,” emphasises the potential benefits of co-locating battery storage and green hydrogen projects with renewable energy generation sites across the UK. According to the report, such co-location could streamline the planning process and reduce costs associated with building and operati ..read more

Thérèse Coffey, former Environment Secretary and Conservative MP for Suffolk Coastal has raised concerns over the level of standing charges for gas and electricity in Suffolk, urging the government to take action to lower costs. Ms Coffey asked the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero what steps have been taken to reduce these charges. In response, Amanda Solloway, Minister for Affordability and Skills, outlined Ofgem‘s recent review into standing charges, noting that regional disparities primarily stem from varying energy distribution costs. Ms Solloway emphasised the ongoing analysis ..read more

Octopus Energy Group has partnered with Enphase Energy, a supplier of solar and battery systems. This collaboration aims to introduce Enphase’s technology to UK households, enabling customers to integrate solar and battery systems into their energy plans for cost-effective solutions. Through this partnership, Octopus Energy will use its software platform, Kraken, to manage distributed energy resources, allowing customers to benefit from smart tariffs and savings on electricity bills. Devrim Celal, Chief Executive Officer of Kraken Technologies, said: “By integrating Enphase’s systems with Octo ..read more

National Grid has unveiled proposals for two electricity projects in Lincolnshire and West Norfolk, aiming to enhance local energy supplies and support net zero. These projects, named Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL 3) and Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL 4), are subsea electricity links connecting Scotland to England, with a consultation period running from 23rd April to 17th June. EGL 3 and EGL 4 are predicted to power up to four million homes in the Midlands and South of England, forming part of The Great Grid Upgrade to modernise England and Wales’ grid infrastructure. Consultation events, webinars, an ..read more

Hull City Council has revealed plans to explore additional options for expanding the Hull District Heating Network (HDHN). The council’s move to adjust its current contract with technical consultants Ove Arup and Partners is aimed at facilitating alterations to the HDHN’s layout, which include future connections to the East Bank Urban Village and additional network routing to Great Thornton Street Flats, as well as enhancements to the energy centre at Trippett Street. With £10 million of Levelling Up funding earmarked for the East Bank development, there’s an opportunity to integrate district ..read more

Nottinghamshire County Council’s officers have discovered an issue with bagged solid fuel sales in the area. Routine inspections involving the weighing of 645 bags of solid fuel revealed that more than 10% of them were significantly underweight, mainly due to poorly maintained weighing equipment at local coal yards. One coal yard was found to have consistently sold underweight bags, resulting in a consumer loss of nearly £13 per ton. Some of the weighing equipment, dating back to 1963, was found to be faulty, making accurate measurements impossible. As a result, affected yards have been requir ..read more

The European Commission (EC) has indicated an anticipated decrease in global natural gas prices, citing an expansion in supply volumes. This announcement came during a plenary session of the European Parliament, where Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EC, highlighted recent investments made during the energy crisis, resulting in the emergence of numerous new energy export initiatives entering the market. Von der Leyen suggested that this trend might signify a transition from a period of global energy scarcity to one of abundance. UK gas prices rise As a consequence, the President of the Europe ..read more

Outfox the Market introduces the Fix’d Dual Apr24 v1.0 energy deal, featuring a fixed rate for 12 months and no early exit penalties. A fixed energy tariff means that the unit rates and standing charge remain unchanged for the duration of the contract you agree with your energy supplier. It’s worth noting that while the cost per unit rate and standing charge are fixed, your total bill may still vary depending on your energy consumption. The deal claims to cut electricity costs by roughly 13% and gas expenses by approximately 9% compared to the average Ofgem price-capped bill. This could mean a ..read more

Ahead of the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6, multiple renewable energy projects in Scotland have been granted consent, including the first project in the Crown Estate Scotland‘s Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas leasing round. The consented projects encompass offshore wind, wave and tidal energy developments. The results of Allocation Round 6 are expected to be published between 28th June and 4th September. First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Scotland is one of the best places in the world to develop offshore wind and its supply chain and we are determined to maximise the huge ec ..read more

The transition away from coal-fired power and the challenges in recruiting skilled workers for renewable energy projects are expected to keep electricity prices high in Australia until 2030, according to the latest NEM Benchmark Power Curve report from Cornwall Insight. With coal units retiring, energy prices are forecasted to remain above AUD$100 (£52.3) per MWh across all NEM regions until the end of the decade, with New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (QLD) expected to see prices peaking at AUD$170 (£88.9) per MWh by 2028 and AUD$164 (£85.8) per MWh by 2029, respectively. Shortages in the ..read more