
09 October 2006
The green lobby are beginning to get to the government, is it common sense or the fact that the leader of the opposition has parked his tanks on that particular lawn.
The government has hinted that it will look at the way in which the renewables obligation scheme is operating. A consultation process has been set-up with the intention of introducing banding. The current scheme does not allow for generation types and so biomass plant and wind turbine if they are of equal size get the same amount of RO. In reality the finances for biomass, tidal and solar are significantly more than wind and so the scheme indirectly punishes solar and tidal and encourages wind.
Under the banding process the scheme would encourage some of the less financially viable schemes to come on line. The review is set to be completed by next year and implemented in 2009/10. Furthermore Ofgem have asked suppliers to simplify the process of taking spill they feel that value is not being properly rewarded, mainly because unjustifiable risk premiums associated with sporadic generation are being asked for.
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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Two Years On...
 
17 September 2010
This week marked the 2nd Anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, perhaps the most significant collapse of the banking crisis. Ironic perhaps then that the anniversary coincided with the publication of stricter international banking rules requiring banks to hold larger cash reserves. How will these banking regulations impact energy companies?  
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Falling Wholesale Prices but what about the tariffs?
 
18 September 2009
Even though the power wholesale market is following the falls seen in gas (Winter 09 Baseload closed the week down £0.20MWh at £38.70), and is now at levels where supplier tariffs must be under pressure, any tariff reduction announcements are unlikely to be made anytime soon.  
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