
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.
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.  
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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  
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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  
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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.  
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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.  
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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  
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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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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%!  
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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.  
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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!  
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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.  
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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.  
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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?  
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