Capacity Payments Discussed as a Tool to encourage Investment
 
30 June 2010
In a week when the engineering industry, in its State of the Nation report, said that the Energy Industry gave the most cause for concern in light of security of supply, Energy Minister Charles Hendry spoke of 'Capacity Payments' as a tool to incentivise plant development.  
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Investing in the Future
 
11 June 2010
The Wave and Tidal energy sector gets nervous ahead of the E-budget, concerned that funds will suffer as part of anticipated public spending cuts. Should this sector suffer?  
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Queens Speech: Energy Bill Outlined
 
25 May 2010
The state opening of Parliament is history personified, wrapped in lashings and lashings of ceremony, pageantry and tradition dating back centuries. But for all its spectacle, there is the serious business of the Queen's speech (actually the Government's) which this year included details of this coalition government's Energy Bill.  
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Government announces Green Investment Bank
 
24 March 2010
in the last budget before a general election, the Government unveiled plans to set up a Green Investment Bank that will control £2bn worth of equity. Initial focus will be investments in green transport and sustainable energy.  
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Nothing's Joined Up
 
01 March 2010
Sometimes you get so caught up in the detail that it is only when you step back that you realise that nothing appears to be joined up. With such mixed signals it is surprising that anything is achieved at all. In this instance we are talking about the UK's Climate policy!  
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Copenhagen Summit -Slow Progress
 
15 December 2009
With 120 leaders expected to attend the Summit's final session on Friday, UN's Climate Chief warns that current progress is too slow. The concern now is whether any agreements will or can be reached.  
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We have reached peak oil .... again?
 
31 July 2009
Another article in the press this week suggests that we face peak oil imminently (we say another article because various academics have been reporting this fact periodically over the past few years). In any event, whether peak oil (the point at which growth in
supply is less than the growth in demand) occurred this week, last month or last year, the point is we have, or are about to, reach a turning point and something ought to be done.
 
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Cashing in on the Power Price Highs
 
29 August 2008
A number of coal-fired power stations, that opted out of the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD), appear to have exceeded operating expectations to take advantage of high summer power prices  
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No Quick Get-away for Aviation
 
08 May 2008
It seems that the aviation sector will still be included in the EU Emission Trading Scheme for 2011. The European Parliament is sticking by its tough proposal to include them despite the sector remaining unprepared for trading.  
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Nuclear go ahead of sorts
 
10 January 2008
Nuclear given go-ahead but there is still a lot to do before they produce electricity most predict it will be 2020 before the first project gets on the bars.  
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25GW of off-shore wind farms
 
10 December 2007
The DTI (as was) has highlighted a potential 25GW of off-shore wind farms, if accurate there are still significant planning obstacles.  
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Carbon steady.
 
01 November 2007
CER's could be limited under the country definitions as described in certain NAPs.  
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Open Europe report condemns ETS
 
09 August 2007
The Open Europe report makes bad reading for most EU countries and is critical of the way in which the EU ETS operates. For a group reknowned for slating Europe in general it holds no punches back.  
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VCS finalises VERs
 
30 July 2007
Voluntary Emissions Reductions getting more press as apotential for tool for reducing carbon footprints.  
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Climate Change Levy
 
19 July 2007
CCL is likely to increase and the fact it hasn't for five years is not a reason to budget for a potential rise.  
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Retailing Green Energy
 
25 May 2007
With more and more 'green', premium attracting energy products coming to market, should we be looking out for the next green scam.  
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The Green cost code
 
30 October 2006
The principles behind a green tax economy to some extent work, but governments must be careful not to tax their own, to the point of making themselves uncompetitive in a gloabalised economy.  
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Climate Change Bill
 
12 October 2006
There will be a climate change bill and it will result hopefully in a better more clear streamlined trading environment.  
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New energy research centre planned
 
15 September 2006
The UK Government has published details of its planned £1bn energy research institute. With a mix of private and public funding, the Energy Technolgies Institute aims to pool expertise across the sector.  
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Energy Review
 
11 July 2006
The energy review is a fair reflection of the future, but there are still some unanswered questions. The review has at least highlighted the questions and set a timetable for action.  
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EU ETS - Phase II Changes Recommended
 
22 June 2006
A new study by the Carbon Trust urges changes to improve Phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The study identifies 7 key challenges that if left, will result in incentives that do not support low-carbon investment, and suggests that changes are essential to maintain competitiveness and investment in Europe.  
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Nuclear Debate
 
19 June 2006
Some would question whether there is actually a nuclear debate with the poistives for nuclear constantly being brought to the fore. However, the UK energy crisis is vastly complex and not just an issue of forecasting supply and demand. Environmental and geographical issues also need to be considered.  
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How Energy Efficient Are You?
 
15 June 2006
When the Government reports on its Energy Review later this summer, we're all expecting to read about nuclear. However, as well as considering the production of energy, we're expecting the Review to also focus on consumption.  
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A theory of some import
 
03 June 2006
The LCPD is going to become more of a hot subject and it could end up doing what the emissions market had always hoped it would do........ cut emissions.  
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CO2 prices rise, but something has changed.
 
13 April 2006
Carbon having little or no effect on the gas and power markets but perhaps eventually players will have to realise that as carbon is in effect a pass through, the wholesale price should reflect the growth in these fundamental costs.  
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Hedge your bets
 
29 March 2006
The UK Phase II nap is under consulatation and the energy sector is going to have to cut emissions further, a switch to gas will help, but don't expect a fall in emissions prices and for this to be passed on to the consumer.  
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The BBC Energy Calculator
 
28 March 2006
The BBC energy calculator is a good tool for a getting a flavour of how fundamentals in the power market can change and vary the costs and revenues of the power industry in the future.  
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Powerisk's Chancellor answers
 
23 March 2006
The Chancellor decides to take profiits from his British Energy stake, and this perhaps is one of the best signs that the market has higher to go, if we look at his trading performance with gold. Potentially the 800m bail out to BE will be rewarded with a £2-£6bn return. Good trading which ever way you look at it!  
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Chancellor for the day.........
 
22 March 2006
The market has ticked down a little with a sell of in April due to a relaxation in the supposed gas fears and the market has fallen on the back of this. Winter 06 still looks high and perhaps some of the shorts might come and sell at these levels, but there are not many shorts in the market, willing to take the risk.  
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EU Energy Policy: Time to Work Together
 
09 March 2006
EC president, Jose Manuel Barroso has said that it is vital for EU leaders to abandon their 25 different and uncoordinated energy policies and speak with one voice. emphasising that certain areas of energy policy, including fuel mix, would remain an area for individual states, the paper has called for greater degrees of coordination in others.  
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Nuclear not an Energy Necessity
 
08 March 2006
Government independent advisory body concludes nuclear risks outweigh the benefits. With the Energy Review due to be published this summer, will the Government take on board the findings or has it really already made its mind up?  
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May 15th Emissions day
 
20 February 2006
Emissions day will have a big impact on gas and power markets. Players will be jostling to see if the UBS hype of the EU system not being as short as players suggest may well prove to be damp squib. If the market is doing its job, the system is seriously short and hence the reason emissions prices are at €26.8.  
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Emissions market set for change
 
01 February 2006
Creating markets is not that easy, and government plans for a mini-emissions market have all the hallmarks of political platitudes. Perhaps though the Americans and the UK are planning something which they cannot tell us, until more detail comes forth.  
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Our Energy Challenge
 
24 January 2006
Perhaps it is about time that the government tested whether the public would embrace Nuclear as a fuel source for energy. Truth is I think that the answer will be a resounding yes....... another box ticked.  
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Standby for reality.
 
23 January 2006
TV's require 7.3TWh of power when on standby overnight, this is the equivalent of the demand for Brighton. It would be good to reduce this figure but just how practical is it in reality.  
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RWE nPower cries for clarification
 
17 October 2005
The key to long term investment lies in a stable a market with few regulatory influences. The current UK market is the antithesis of this and so long term investment is being put on hold.  
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Oil bulls return
 
09 August 2005
Markets rise on oil fears hitting new highs, gas trcikles up and Carbon looks to respond. The bulls are back in town.  
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Is the Carbon Market broken?
 
01 August 2005
Carbon is being reduced and so the market is working but the costs are all being passed on to consumers, and so there are no real financial incentives for retaining customers.  
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