In this podcast, Kenny Hallet, Head of Sales Development and Nick Parr, Head of Major Business Commercial join the team at Future Net Zero to give a quick market update. They look back at the past few years to talk through the energy market and how we’ve got to where we are now! They discuss the landscape through covid, the war in Ukraine and an energy crisis to market stability and normality in 2024, touching on how as a business we managed daily spikes, changing consumer appetite for energy procurement and how we’ve diversified our product offering to strike a balance between risk and budge ..read more

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has given the green light to a detailed delivery plan for the Investment Zone. The plan, endorsed today at a meeting in Wolverhampton, outlines a strategic approach combining tax incentives, direct funding, and business rate retention to support sectors such as advanced manufacturing, green industries, health tech and digital technologies. Spanning the entire West Midlands region, the Investment Zone will concentrate on three principal sites: the Coventry-Warwick Gigapark, the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter and the Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corrid ..read more

Octopus Energy has stressed the urgency of streamlining the connection process to meet ambitious net zero targets in the UK. The energy company has released a detailed report advocating for quicker grid connections for green energy projects in the UK. The report addresses concerns over delays in connecting renewable energy sources to the national grid, despite ongoing efforts by network companies, regulators and the government. Key recommendations in the report include enhancing collaboration between developers and network operators to optimise infrastructure use and prioritise high-potential ..read more

Ofwat has issued an update for the 2024 price review (PR24), revising several key dates due to the general election on 4th July. The consultation on draft price control determinations, originally set for 12th June, will commence on 11th July 2024. This consultation will run for seven weeks, closing at noon on 28th August 2024. Final determinations are expected to be published at 7am on 19th December 2024. In response to company feedback on confidential information, Ofwat reviews submissions but does not intend to publish all outbound queries or responses. Relevant data will be referenced in th ..read more

Waste management company Biffa has acquired an organics composting facility in Ardley, Oxfordshire. The site, previously operated by Severn Trent Green Power, processes up to 30,000 tonnes of municipal organic and garden waste annually. This acquisition includes the facility, its machinery, and employees, expanding Biffa’s total composting capacity to 200,000 tonnes per year across multiple sites. Mick Davis, Biffa’s Chief Operating Officer (Resources and Energy), said: “The ongoing move away from peat as a fertiliser means there will be increasing importance placed on substitute materials and ..read more

BBC News has uncovered data suggesting that major English water companies may have illegally discharged raw sewage almost 6,000 times in 2022 when it was not raining, including during the country’s record-breaking heatwave. According to BBC analysis of spill data from nine water firms, sewage spills occurred outside of rainy periods, contrary to legal guidelines. Water companies are permitted to release untreated sewage during rainfall to prevent flooding of homes, but such practices are prohibited during dry weather. The companies have acknowledged public concerns over dry weather spills but ..read more

National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has unveiled its strategy to transform the Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) into a year-round initiative. Initially designed to mitigate peak electricity demand during winter, the DFS will now extend its operations throughout the year. This expansion aims to enhance grid stability by encouraging consumers to participate in managing electricity consumption flexibly. The ESO’s decision follows a forecasted increase in the de-rated margin for winter 2024/25, indicating greater generation capacity available during peak demand periods. As a result, th ..read more

Durham University has unveiled plans to establish the National Geothermal Centre (NGC). In collaboration with the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), SHIFT Geothermal and with support from The Reece Foundation, the centre aims to drive research, innovation and policy reform in the geothermal sector. Geothermal energy harnesses the Earth’s heat, offering a secure, ultra low carbon energy source that is widely accessible across the UK. The NGC will leverage Durham University’s pioneering research from the Durham Energy Institute to accelerate the adoption of geothermal heat and electricity within ..read more

Plans for a £250 million green hydrogen production facility in Hull have been approved by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Meld Energy, the developer, will construct the 100-megawatt facility at Saltend Chemicals Park. The new facility will produce green hydrogen through electrolysis, using renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This process will help meet up to 30% of Saltend Chemicals Park’s hydrogen demand, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 125,000 tonnes annually. Saltend Chemicals Park hosts several major chemical businesses, including BP Petrochemicals Tec ..read more

The Association of Renewable Energy & Clean Technology (REA) has announced the appointment of Trevor Hutchings as its new Chief Executive. Mr Hutchings will assume his role on 1st July, succeeding Dr Nina Skorupska, who has led the REA for over a decade. Hutchings’ immediate focus will be to advocate for the incoming government to prioritise energy transition and net zero in its legislative agenda. The REA has urged all political parties to support sustainable energy growth and low carbon innovation, in line with the UK’s legally binding net zero carbon emissions targets. Before joining th ..read more