The Windy Dichotomy

02 March 2006

Wind farms have always struggled with planning permissions. As another potential site gets rejected by the government, the question has to be asked is the UK's green generation policy just lip service to appease the green lobby.

The government wants more green energy, the market requires more green energy with the recent report on ROC's (Renewable Obligation Certificates) showing that more and more ROCs are being banked. Industry would like more green energy as it relieves the price of emissions and overall energy costs. However, a recent enquiry into a proposed wind farm development in the lake district has shown the project will be rejected by the inquiry inspector and this has been supported by the energy minister Malcolm Wicks.

How can the government on the one hand say they want green energy, and yet when the crunch difficult decisions come in areas of natural beauty they shy away from the decision. The very nature of wind farms means that they will be areas which are barren and beautiful. No one is erecting wind farms on brownfield sites.

Is there a solution? As a country we need to think about small improvements as opposed to a giant solutions. Power companies are getting bigger and bigger and financing projects become big money, they have just lapsed into this theory that big is best when quite often it is not.


UK Government  Renewable Energy  Finance 

Related Articles
100 % Blair and Brown Legacy  

11 May 2007


Verdict some of it has been good but there are still big issues which the energy industry faces.  read more...

67 % 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.  read more...

67 % Pain in the IAS 39  

13 April 2005


IAS 39 appears to be a minefield for accountants to make money.  read more...

67 % 5% increase for 2010  

11 February 2005


Renewables will cost customers £1bn  read more...

67 % Government waves at Tidal Power  

01 February 2005


Government spend £42m on tidal power  read more...


other articles on UK Government
Solar in the UK - Not So Bright  

01 November 2011


DECC has published the Comprehensive Feed-in Tariff (FiT) document and at the same time, many say, put a nail in the coffin for the Solar Industry in the UK. With the FiT rate for Solar Power to be cut by more than 50%, and with a proposal that eligibility to the scheme should be linked to a minimum energy efficiency requirement - many fear that this will be the end for the industry  read more...

Carbon Floor Price Announcement: The Market Reacts  

25 March 2011


The tensions seen in the markets last week, as participants assessed the impact of Japan and nuclear withdrawal in Germany, appeared to have eased when the market started trading on Monday. The Government's mid week budget Carbon Floor Price announcement soon changes that though  read more...

We're borrowing less than expected....  

20 August 2010


As the government prepares its spending review it will no doubt welcome the latest figures that show net borrowing for July at £3.8bn. While still sizeable, this is £1.2bn less than forecast and well down on the £6.1bn that was borrowed in the same month last year.  read more...

Confidence knocked in the Financial Markets  

12 August 2010


Statements from around the world all suggest a stalled recovery while closer to home there are continuing signs of inflationary pressures at a time of slow to stagnant growth.  read more...

Energy Secretary gives the first annual energy statement to the Commons  

28 July 2010


Chris Huhne, the coalition government Energy Secretary yesterday gave the first annual energy statement to the Commons. He set out plans to secure energy supplies and cut carbon emissions. In all 32 measures were outlined all with the aim of helping the UK achieve the legally binding target to cut emission by 80% by 2050.  read more...


other articles on Renewable Energy
Solar in the UK - Not So Bright  

01 November 2011


DECC has published the Comprehensive Feed-in Tariff (FiT) document and at the same time, many say, put a nail in the coffin for the Solar Industry in the UK. With the FiT rate for Solar Power to be cut by more than 50%, and with a proposal that eligibility to the scheme should be linked to a minimum energy efficiency requirement - many fear that this will be the end for the industry  read more...

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?  read more...

Labour's Pre Budget Report - Good News for the Bingo Players!  

09 December 2009


Labour's Darling delivered his (probably last) pre budget report which included a range of measures to "tackle" the country's balance sheet. Among a range of tax raising measures, it was heartening to see that the Bingo players out there will see duty fall 2% to 20%!  read more...

Budget day sees the UK set lead on carbon  

22 April 2009


The chancellor stated that he wanted the UK to cut emissions by 34% by 2020.  read more...

Dong buy Severn Power  

10 March 2009


The Danish energy utility, Dong have bought one part of Carron Energy.  read more...


other articles on Finance
November 2011 Review  

02 December 2011


While debt repayment concerns combined with woeful economic indicators continued to be a feature throughout November, supply and demand fundamentals were an obvious driver too. Unseasonably warm weather combined with (and causing) plentiful gas storage meant that UK power and gas markets went into a nose dive.  read more...

Prepare for the clash of OPEC & IEA  

23 November 2011


With less than a month to go until OPEC meets, the statements are beginning to fly: OPEC believe the oil market looks balanced while the IEA again are saying that high oil prices could harm fragile global economic growth. Let the battle begin!  read more...

Markets Still Jittery  

21 November 2011


Most markets reported further losses today on the back of underlying nerves about the ability of both Europe and the US to repay their debts. Oil, commodities and equities all reported losses.  read more...

Turmoil returns on Greek Announcement  

01 November 2011


Following last weeks announcement that the eurozone leaders had reached an agreement on a Greek bailout - one that would see banks take a 50% hit on their holdings of Greek debt, the Greek Prime Minister made his own shocking announcement that he plans to hold a referendum on the matter. The Markets tumble in response.  read more...

Eurozone Debt Deal Announced  

27 October 2011


After prolonged discussions and late night talks, European leaders have announced a agreement on a a Eurozone debt deal. But will the devil be in the detail?  read more...


Energy News by Date
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
december november october september august july jun may april march february january
RSS Feed
Keep up to date on energy trading news.
Click here to subscribe
RSS
Day Ahead Electricity Prices

1y  6m  3m  1m
Powerisk Online
Powerisk Online tools and services.
Click here to login
Glossary
Glossary
Powerisk glossary of power terminology.
Click here for glossary
Glossary