UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Date: 2020-12-04
According to Fitch Ratings, the UK is increasingly likely to adopt a post-Brexit national emissions trading system (ETS) similar to the EU ETS.

The UK emissions trading scheme would be similar to the EU ETS but would apply a tighter emissions cap, higher fines than under the EU ETS and could lead to higher carbon prices -- £100 per tonne -- for the roughly 1,000 UK-based businesses currently covered by the EU ETS but will move to the new scheme, according to the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). (Source: UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Fitch Ratings, Dec, 2020) Contact: BEIS, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News UK BEIS,  EU ETS,  Emission Trading,  Carbon Emissions ,  

InterGen
Date: 2020-11-30
In the UK, Edinburgh-headquartered energy storage specialist InterGen reports receipt of planning consent from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to construct the UK's largest battery storage project at DP World London Gateway on the Thames Estuary.

The £200 million project will provide at least 320MW/640MWh of capacity, with the potential to expand to 1.3GWh -- more than ten times the size of the largest battery currently in operation in the UK. When fully charged, the battery could power up to 300,000 homes for two hours.

Construction on the Gateway project would likely begin in 2022, becoming operational in 2024. The company also has planning permission for a 175MW / 350MWh installation in Spalding, Lincolnshire. (Source: InterGen, Website News, 30 Nov., 2020) Contact: InterGen, Jim Lightfoot, CEO, +44 131 624 7500, enquiries@intergen.com, www.intergen.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Battery Energy Storage,  

DNV GL,National Grid ESO
Date: 2020-10-19
DNV GL, the world's largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, has been appointed by National Grid ESO as a lead partner in the Offshore Wind Coordination project in Great Britain.

The project will analyze a coordinated approach for offshore grid development and shape the future national strategy of Great Britain's offshore grid through feeding into the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy's (UKBESS) Offshore transmission network review. The UK regulator OFGEM is also participating in the project.

The project will review and recommend ways to improve how offshore wind farms are connected to the onshore transmission network. To that end, DNV GL will assess: technology availability (HVDC equipment); analyze technical and regulatory barriers and solutions; study implications on power system security and stability; develop offshore and onshore grid designs and; conduct societal cost-benefit analysis of the offshore grid.

As offshore infrastructure is anticipated to be shared among multiple projects, it is projected that a harmonized development approach will result in optimal utilization of infrastructure, higher integration of offshore wind energy, reduction of carbon emissions and consumer bills, and provision of operational benefits to the onshore grid. Offshore wind continues to be a key electricity source for the UK government and supports its commitment for the country to be net zero by 2050. (Source: DNV GL. National Grid ESO, Oct., 2020) Contact: DNV GL, www.dnvgl.com; National Grid ESO, www.natopnalgrideso.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News OFGEM,  DNV GL,  Offshore Wind,  National Grid ESO ,  

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Date: 2020-06-29
In London, the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is reporting almost £80 million in funding to support a range innovative projects aimed at upgrading building energy efficiency.

The new investment covers a wide range of programmes, with £30 million going towards the first phase of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) aimed at energy intensive manufacturers such as car factories and steel plants; a further £25 million earmarked for heating networks and the remaining £24 million focused on new approaches for installing insulation for social housing at scale, rolling out heat pumps, and supporting the development of innovative green home finance products. The funding will enable various projects that use of modern smart technologies to cut energy consumption and energy costs across the UK. (Source: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, GreenBiz, 29 June, 2020) Contact: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Hon. Kwasi Kwarteng, Minister, www.gov.uk/government/people/kwasi-kwarteng

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Insulation,  Green Energy,  

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Date: 2020-04-29
In the UK, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is reporting biodiesel consumption set records in both 2018 and 2019 when liquid biofuel consumption reached 621.07 million gallons -- up 24 pct from 2018.

According to BEIS data, ethanol accounted for 32 pct of the UK's liquid biofuels consumption in 2019 ewhile biodiesel accounted for 68 pct. (Source: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Biofuel Int'l., 27 April, 2020) Contact: BEIS, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Department for Business,  Energy and Industrial Strategy,  Biofuel,  Biodiesel,  Ethanol,  Alternative Fuel,  

UK Wind
Date: 2020-03-18
In the UK, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS)is reporting renewable electricity generation increased 16 pct year-on-year in the third quarter of 2019.

The increase is partially due to the startup of HornSea One, the world's largest offshore wind project with 174 turbines. The rapid increase in capacity meant that renewable output overtook the share of generation from gas for the first time, setting a new record and providing a commercial basis for more investment.

"Wind remains the principal source of renewable generation. For the first time offshore wind had a larger share of renewable generation than onshore wind with 25.1 pct and 23.7 pct respectively," according to a BEIS statement. (Source: UK BEIS, BreakBulk, 16 Mar., 2020)Contact: BEIS, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News UK BEIS,  Hornsea One,  Offshore Wind,  UK Wind,  

BBC Shared Data
Date: 2020-03-06
In the UK, the BBC Shared Data Unit reports roughly two-thirds of UK homes fail to meet long-term national energy efficiency targets with ore than 12 million homes below the average C grade on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) which measure a home's energy efficiency based on how well a property is insulated, glazed, or uses alternative measures to reduce energy use.

The government has set a target to upgrade as many homes to grade C by 2035 "where practical, cost-effective and affordable." To that end, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is investing more than £6 billion in those upgrades and exploring ways to halve the cost of retrofitting properties. It is also investing over £320 million to help heat homes with lower carbon alternatives. (Source: BBC Shared Data, Mar., 2020) Contact: UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy BBC Shared Data Unit, www.bbc.com › lnp › sdu; BEIS, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News UK BEIS,  Energy Efficiency,  

UWE Bristol
Date: 2020-02-07
In the UK, the University of West of England in Bristol (UWE Bristol) reports it is collaborative;y developing a system incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to determine the energy consumption and cost efficiency of commercial buildings.

The IoT-enabled Real-time Energy Analytics Platform (i-REAP) is a two-year £1.5 million collaborative R&D project funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The system will use data collected from a network of small sensors to paint an accurate picture of energy consumption at a number of commercial building test sites with a view to setting up a service to offer energy efficiency advice to businesses.

The project is led by engineering firm TerOpta, which is developing Internet of Things (IoT) enabled sensors for i-REAP. Researchers from UWE Bristol's Big Data Lab will initially carry out a feasibility study in the buildings, assessing the heating layout, staff sitting arrangements, office structure, orientation of buildings and building facade, materials, as well as insulation. UWE will then install up to 80 IoT sensors inside and four outside each of the buildings. By collecting data over a period of six months, the researchers will be able to gather enough intelligence on the building to then give client advice on how the current building systems are functioning and how they could be improved by retrofitting for energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness. (Source: UWE Bristol, pbctoday, 6 Feb., 2020) Contact: UWE Bristol, Prof. Lukumon Oyedele, +4411732 83443, L.Oyedele@uwe.ac.uk, www.uwe,ac.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

G7
Date: 2019-08-30
At the conclusion of the Biarritz G7 Summit, the Uk announced it would increase its contribution to cutting carbon emissions in the developing world to £1.44 billion over the next foru years. The UK's previous contribution of £720 million between 2014 and 2019 came from the UK's Green Climate Fund (GCF). The GCF supports projects to protect and preserve natural habitats in the developing world, including in the Amazon where fires continue to rage.

The newly announced £1.44 billion funding, which will come from the UK aid budget and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), will be earmarked for tackling climate change, including wildfires.

During the Summit meeting, the G7 agreed to support a medium-term reforestation plan which will be unveiled at the UN in September. (Source: G7 Release, Various Media, Daily Mail, 27 Aug., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News G7,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emission ,  

Low-Carbon Energy, UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Date: 2019-07-29
In London, the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is touting renewable and nuclear energy fund proposals it says are critically important in reaching net-zero emissions. The proposals explore the use of the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) finance approach to attract significant private investment in major infrastructure projects like the Thames Tideway Tunnel which used the RAB model to reduce the cost of financing and risk for developers while limiting the long term impact on consumer energy costs.

The RAB funding model could also be used to reduce the costs of carbon dioxide storage. A funding model similar to the Contracts for Difference scheme, which provides developers with a set price for low-carbon electricity will be explored alongside other options to deliver investment in Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) power projects while cutting emissions. The government aims to roll out the technology at scale by the 2030s, subject to costs coming down, as part of its commitment to become a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

To that end, the government has committed £170 million towards deploying technologies like carbon capture and hydrogen networks in industrial clusters to support establishment of the world's first net-zero industrial cluster by 2040. Additionally, industry will consider investing up to £261 million in new technologies to reduce emissions. Plans have also been announced to make it easier to recycle oil and gas infrastructure for use in CCUS projects, including using some of the 20,000 km of pipelines and depleted oil and gas reservoirs to transport and store CO2. Great Britain is aiming to completely phase out coal by 2025. (Source: UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) , PR, 23 July, 2019) Contact: BEIS, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCUS,  CCS,  CO2,  Carbon Dioxide,  Net-Zero Emissions,  BEIS,  

UK BEIS
Date: 2019-07-26
The UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is reporting wind power generation in 2018 achieved record levels of 17.1 pct -- up from 14.8 pct in 2017. Of that figure, 91.pct came from onshore wind, while the balance was generated offshore. Overall, renewables generated a record 33 pct of the island country's electric power needs. (Source: BEIS, EnergyVoice, 25 July, 2019) Contact: BEIS, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind,  UK Wind,  BEIS,  

BEIS
Date: 2019-07-15
"We've always needed to get to net zero. The question has always been when, not if, We need an investment of £22/23 billion in business energy efficiency by 2030 to help deliver climate change. If we deliver that, we could wipe £6 billion off business energy costs in 2030.

"UK emissions have already fallen by 40 pct since 1990, while the economy has grown by over 70 pct. It will get better, and we]ve accepted the challenge to act on climate change. The government can help to make it easier and simpler for UK businesses to change for example, by making renewables and electric vehicles cheaper." -- Ben Golding, Dir., UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Contact: Ben Golding, Dir, DEIS, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News BEIS,  Energy Efficiency,  

UK BEIS
Date: 2019-07-03
In London, the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is reporting the launch of a £5 million fund for the financial sector to develop green mortgages and a £10 million innovation fund to cut the costs of retrofitting the UK's housing stock. The funds are part of a new Green Finance Strategy.

Green mortgages give customers discounted mortgage rates after they have upgraded the energy rating of their homes. Britain's 17 million homes are currently responsible for around 15 pct of the country's carbon emissions, according to BEIS. (Source: UK BEIS, Energy Live, June, 2019) Contact: BEIS, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News UK BEIS,  Energy Efficiency,  

Equilibrium Engineering,StorTera
Date: 2019-06-26
Edinburgh, Scotland-based energy storage specialist StorTera, together with its Kentville, Nova Scotia-headquartered partner Equilibrium Engineering, report receipt of $2.6 million Cdn (£1.6 million) to implement its pilot Alba Nova: A Smart Grid Pilot Using Advanced Battery Storage system.

The funding from the Power Forward Challenge, a joint initiative between the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Natural Resources Canada, will support the implementation of commercial and domestic battery systems with in-built artificial intelligence that can increase uptake of renewables, save money for customers and utilities, and accelerate carbon reductions by boosting the use of electric energy.

Alba Nova is run in partnership with the Nova Scotian town of Berwick and the Renewable Energy Storage Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax. (Source: StorTera, The Scotsman, 25 June, 2019)Contact: Equilibrium Engineering, (902) 482-0811, www.equilibrium-engineering.ca; StorTera, +44 131 569 0727, www.liquid-batteries.com

Carbon Brief,Committee on Climate Change
Date: 2019-06-07
Following up on our 6th May report, the UK, Chancellor of the Exchequer (Treasury) Philip Hammond has reportedly warned outgoing prime minister Theresa May that reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050 could cost the UK over £1 trillion, according to the Financil Times newspaper. The Chancellor also noted the target would render some industries "economically uncompetitive without huge government subsidies." adds the FT.

The 2050 net-zero target was recently recommended by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the UK's independent climate advisory body which estimated that reaching net zero would come in at £50 billion a year. The UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy puts the figure at £70 billion, according to the FT.

The Chancellor and Under-Treasurer of Her Majesty's Exchequer, commonly known as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or simply the Chancellor, is a senior official within the Government of the United Kingdom and head of Her Majesty's Treasury. The office is a British Cabinet-level position. (£1 = $1.27 US) (Source: Financial Times, Carbon Brief, Various Media, June, 2019) Contact: The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP - GOV.UK www.gov.uk/government/people/philip-hammond; Committee on Climate Change, www.theccc.org.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Committee on Climate Change,  Net-Zero Emissions,  Carbon Emissions,  

British Steel,Bexit
Date: 2019-05-06
Following up on our 15th April report on the European Union's decision to suspend Britsh Steel and other UK firms' access to free carbon permits under the EU ETS until a Brexit withdrawal deal is ratified, the UK government reports it has loaned British Steel £120 million to meet its obligations under EU ETS rules allowing industrial polluters to use carbon credits to pay for the previous year's emissions, or trade them to raise money.

Each free permit gives a firm the right to emit a tonne (1,000kg) of CO2. British Steel claims that it is discussing the impact of Brexit on its business with ministers and officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS) and is in talks with Department for Business about financial assistance. British Steel has until 30 April to comply with EU emission rules. (Source: British Steel, Insider Media, 2 May 2019

More Low-Carbon Energy News UE ETS,  Carbon Emissions,  Brexit,  British Steel,  

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Date: 2019-04-29
In London, the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) reports it will launch a consultation aimed at identifying actions that would drive improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions in the commercial built environment sector.

According to the BEIS release, around 60 pct of the built sector is rented, creating barriers to improve energy efficiency due to complex contracts between landlords and commercial tenants which often clash with the ownership, maintenance and long lifetimes of technological improvements. Roughly 40 pct of the UK's carbon emissions come from energy consumed in buildings, according to the release. BEIS estimates a 20 pct cut in building emissions will reduce energy costs for businesses by £6 billion, £2.7 billion of which will be saved by SMEs, with a new energy efficiency targeting scheme set to be introduced to assist smaller businesses. The government's Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) came into effect on 1st April 2018, imposing new rules on both domestic and commercial properties within the private rental sector. The new rules prohibit landlords from granting a tenancy to new or existing tenants if the property has an inefficient Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. (Source: UK BEIS, edie News, 25 April 2019, Contact: BEIS, Ben Golding, Director of Energy Efficiency, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk,www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Department for Business,  Energy and Industrial Strategy,  Energy Efficiency ,  

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Date: 2019-04-26
In London, the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) reports it will launch a series of consultations on the commercial buildings sector's energy efficiency which the Ministry describes as a "huge untapped area" for improvements. The consultation is intended to identify actions that would drive improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions in the commercial built environment sector.

Approximately 60 pct of the sector is rented, creating barriers to improve energy efficiency due to complex contracts between landlords and commercial tenants which often clash with the ownership, maintenance and long lifetimes of technological improvements.

The Ministry notes its Clean Growth Strategy includes a "package of measures" to support business to improve energy efficiency and productivity by at least 20 pct by 2030 and lead to the establishment of an Industrial Energy Efficiency scheme to help large companies cut energy use and bills in commercial properties.

BEIS estimates that the 20 pct target will significantly cut energy costs for businesses and, to that end, has also launched a £315 million Industrial Energy Transformation Fund to support high energy consumption businesses with the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Elsewhere, the UK Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) came into effect in April 2018, imposing new rules on both domestic and commercial properties within the private rental sector. The rules prohibit landlords from granting a tenancy to new or existing tenants if the property has a sub-standard Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. (Source: BEIS, edie Newsroom, 25 April, 2019) Contact: BEIS, Ben Golding, Director of Energy Efficiency and Local Department, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Department for Business,  Energy and Industrial Strategy ,  

EU ETS
Date: 2019-04-15
The BBC is reporting the European Union's decision to suspend UK firms' access to free carbon permits under the EU ETS until a Brexit withdrawal deal is ratified is behind British Steel's decision to seek a £100 million to meet EU ETS rules allowing industrial polluters to use carbon credits to pay for the previous year's emissions, or trade them to raise money.

Each free permit gives a firm the right to emit a tonne (1,000kg) of CO2. British Steel claims that it is discussing the impact of Brexit on its business with ministers and officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS) and is in talks with Department for Business about financial assistance. British Steel has until 30 April to comply with EU emission rules. (Source: BBC, Steel Times, 14 April, 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  EU ETS,  

UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Date: 2019-04-12
In London, the attached UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy's (BEIS) short-term traded carbon values for UK public policy appraisal are used for determining the impact of government policies on emissions in the traded sector -- those sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Short-term values quoted in this paper correspond to the period up to 2030 and long-term values correspond to the period post-2030.

HERE. (Source: UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, April, 2019) Contact: Gov of UK, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News UK Department for Business,  Energy & Industrial Strategy,  Carbon Emissions,  

UK Emissions
Date: 2019-03-29
In London, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is reporting Britain's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions dropped by 3 pct in 2018. The drop is largely credited to six consecutive years of declining coal consumption for power generation.

Output of heat-trapping gases in Britain, Europe's second-largest emitter behind Germany, fell to 449 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). data from the showed. Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the main greenhouse gas blamed for climate change, fell by 2 percent to 364 million tonnes. (Source: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Reuters, 28 Mar., 2019) Contact: UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, www.gov.uk/.../department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Date: 2019-03-01
The UK national certification body Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) reports development and planned mid 2019 launch of a certification scheme for battery energy storage systems.

The new battery storage scheme will better equip the industry to roll out energy storage installations whilst ensuring consumer protection following the growing adoption of energy storage technologies to maximize renewable energy and create a flexible UK electric power grid.

MCS is a quality assurance scheme supported by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). It provides the framework for the certification of microgeneration technologies used to produce electricity and heat from low carbon sources.

Download the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) details HERE (Source: Microgeneration Certification Scheme, PR, Feb., 2019) Contact: Microgeneration Certification Scheme, Ian Rippin, CEO, www.microgenerationcertification.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy STorage,  Battery,  

UK GHGs
Date: 2019-02-06
The attached report from the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy provides the final estimates of UK greenhouse gas emissions going back to 1990.

Estimates are presented by source every February, and updated every March to include estimates by end-user and fuel type and are thus reallocated in accordance with where the end-use activity occurred. This reallocation of emissions is based on a modelling process: for example, all the CO2 produced by a power station is allocated to the power station when reporting on a source basis. But when applying the end-user method, these emissions are reallocated to the users of this electricity, such as domestic homes or large industrial users.

For the purposes of reporting, greenhouse gas emissions are allocated to a small number of broad, high level sectors as follows: energy supply; business; transport; public; residential; agriculture; industrial processes, waste management; land use and forestry.

Download 2017 UK Greenhouse Gas Emission Statistics HERE.

Access the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory HERE. (Source: UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy , Feb., 2019) Contact: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHG,  Greenhouse Gas,  Glimate Change,  

UK BEIS
Date: 2019-02-01
In London, the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is reporting the launch of a new £20 million R&D funding competition to support and commercialize innovative long-duration energy storage technologies.

The "Storage at Scale" competition is intended to deliver up to three demonstration projects that can be built and tested by the end of 2021. Successful projects could include electricity energy storage projects with a target minimum power output of 30MW, such as compressed air, flow batteries, and fly wheels, as well as so-called power-to-x projects with a target minimum power input of 5MW where hydrogen, ammonia or biomethane could be generated from excess renewable generation and stored.(Source: BEIS, Business Green, 31 Jan., 2019) Contact: UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, www.gov.uk/.../department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News BEIS,  Energy Storage,  Battery,  

Climate Change
Date: 2019-01-23
The United Kingdom UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, along with the Gov. of New Zealand, issued the following joint statement on climate change:

"New Zealand and the UK reaffirm a joint commitment to work with Pacific Island countries, which are uniquely affected by the impacts of climate change, to take action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change.

"The Paris Agreement, signed and ratified by all Pacific Island countries, set the goals of holding the increase in the global average temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperatures increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

"Pacific countries -- including those with medium to high per capita GDP -- continue to suffer from diseconomies of scale, external economic shocks, uncertainty caused by future climate impacts and catastrophic climatic events. The UK and New Zealand recognize that individual and coordinated action is required to address the vulnerabilities of Pacific Island countries to support their sustainable and prosperous future.

"The UK and New Zealand are committed to supporting international action to address issues of oceans, access to development and climate finance, advice on climate induced migration and issues around climate induced insecurity across the Pacific.

"The UK will open three new diplomatic posts in the Pacific next year -- Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga -- and a new UK regional development expert will be based in Fiji from 2019 onwards. These new UK posts will work with New Zealand and like minded partners to maximize the impact of multilateral spending to address Pacific Island Countries' vulnerability to climate risks." (Source: UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, 21 Jan., 2019) Contact: UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Climate Change Mitigation,  

UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Date: 2019-01-16
In London, the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) reports the release of its proposed guidelines intended to support the development of small-scale renewable energy technologies by ensuring remuneration for any and all electricity generated that is supplied to the grid by small-scale generators.

The proposed Smart Export Guarantee is intended to improve and replace existing Feed-in Tariff (FiT) schemes and a Generator Export Tariff incentive scheme for small-scale generators to supply electricity to the grid. Both schemes expire on 31 March,2019.

Those most obviously affected by such a shift are rooftop solar owners, but the UK boasts approximately 560,000 households and businesses generating small-scale electricity under the FiT scheme using a range of technologies including biomass anaerobic digestion, ,wind power and hydro-electricity.

The proposed Guarantee would specifically replace the FiT scheme and would require electricity suppliers to pay new small-scale energy producers for excess electricity generated from homes and businesses which is supplied to the grid. (Source: UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, CleanTechnica, 13 Jan., 2019) Contact: UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, https://www.gov.uk/.../department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News UK Department for Business,  Energy and Industrial Strategy ,  

Igloo Energy
Date: 2018-08-20
In the UK, Southampton-headquartered energy software specialist Igloo Energy is reporting receipt of more than £1 million in grant fumding to further develop its unique energy saving software in partnership with two leading British Universities.

Igloo Energy received a £900,000 Thermal Efficiency Innovation Fund grant from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), as part of the Thermal Efficiency Innovation Fund -- a government led scheme investing up to £10 million to develop technologies and approaches to increase energy efficiency across the UK.

The grant will fund a two year project to further develop Igloo's software that identifies suitable energy efficient upgrades for customers' homes. The research will analyze customers' energy consumption using insights gained from interacting with customers and datasets that describe the homes we live in, the appliances we own and how we use them, as well as other available household data. As a result, Igloo will be able to understand the value to each customer of installing smart energy efficiency measures and provide each individual customer highly personalised recommendations to make it easier for them to reduce bills and therefore help the UK improve the energy efficiency of its housing stock.

Separately, Igloo Energy has also scored a £120,000 grant by InnovateUK to support the understanding of existing data to create more confident insights into customers energy consumption. (Source: Igloo Energy, Globe Finance & Banking, 18 Aug., 2018) Contact: Igloo Energy, Matt Clemow, CEO, +44 0 333 405 5555, team@igloo.energy, www.igloo.energy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Igloo Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  

UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Date: 2018-08-17
In London, the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy recently released updated energy statistics, reporting that electricity generation from renewable sources increased by 19 percent between 2016 and 2017. Overall in 2017, 10.2 pct of the country's total energy consumption came from renewable sources, up from 9.2 pct in 2016. Renewable electricity represented 27.9 pct of total generation, renewable heat reached 7.7 pctt of overall heat, and renewables in transport reached 4.6 pct.

Generation from bioenergy and waste increased by 6 pct from 2016 to 2017, reaching 31.9 TWh. Power generation from plant biomass grew by 6.6 pct, anaerobic digestion generation increased by 19 pct, power generation from landfill gas dropped 8.9 pct, while animal biomass generation and capacity were largely unchanged from 2016 to 2017, and renewable heat generation inched up by 3.6 pct in 2017. (Source: UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Aug., 2018) Contact: UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, +44 0 20 7215 5000, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News UK Bioenergy,  Biomass,  anaerobic digestion,  

Energy Efficiency
Date: 2018-07-30
In the UK, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy last week published its Call for Evidence: Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) for Buildings .

The aim is to gather responses from sales and rental agents, in regards to the quality of EPCs and whether there is encouragement to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. The consultation also outlines suggestions for improvements. The Government would like to hear from building owners and occupiers in both domestic and non-domestic sectors, estate agents, and others involved in the sale or lease of buildings. They would also like to hear from EPC assessors, accreditation bodies, software providers, enforcement bodies, and anyone else who regularly uses EPCs.

According to the Ministerial Foreword for the consultation, EPCs are already giving people the information they need on the energy performance of buildings, allowing consumers to make informed purchase and rental decisions and providing building owners with recommendations for improving their properties. At the same time EPCs provide a wealth of data on the performance of the country's building stock, which is being used by researchers, government, and lenders to gain new insights into buildings and develop new products and services. EPC ratings could also underpin an evolving market in "green mortgages" and other green finance products, allowing people to benefit financially from better performing properties.

New rules regarding Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) came into effect recently. As of 1st April this year, it is now illegal to grant a new lease to new or existing tenants on a domestic or commercial property with an EPC rating below E. As of April 2020, this will apply to all tenancies. The consultation is now open for responses and is due to close at 11.45pm on 19th October 2018. (Source: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy , Landlord News UK, July 30, 2018) Contact: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy , Call for Evidence HERE.

More Low-Carbon Energy News Building Energy Performance,  Energy Efficiency,  

UK Carbon Emissions,
Date: 2018-07-11
In London, the UK Department of Business and Energy Strategy (BEIS) reports the government will increase its public sector greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to 43 pct by 2019 to 2020 based on 2009 to 2010 levels.

The new emissions reduction targets are expected to result in savings of £340 million ($452 million), and will be implemented parallel to guidance on targets for the wider public and higher education sectors., according to a statement. (Source: UK Department for Business, Energy and Strategy, CleanTechnica, 9 July, 2018) Contact: UK Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark, www.gov.uk/government/people/greg-clark; BEIS, https://itportal.beis.gov.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News BEIS,  UK Carbon Emissions,  UK Business and Energy Strategy,  

Date: 2018-05-21
In London, the Financial Times is reporting UK Members of Parliament "are warning of a 'dramatic and worrying collapse' of clean energy investments in Great Britain in the last three years." The paper notes that While the UK's share of low-carbon energy roughly doubled in the last decade, the government's annual investment in clean energy dropped 10 pct in 2016 and an additional 50 percent in 2017" leaving some MP's concerned that the drop is threatening the country's ability to meet its climate change targets.

According to the Financial Times article, unless government rigs the market in favor of clean energy investments it cannot meet its legally binding climate change targets.

But, as the Guardian recently noted, to boost clean energy's market share government must also penalize or ban fossil fuel investments. Such penalties can come in many forms, not only the obvious ones like carbon taxes and cap-and-trade, but also interminable environmental reviews and permitting delays.

The UK Department for Business, Investment and Industrial Strategy recently published a proposal to weaken the grip of "under-performing local planning authorities that repeatedly fail to determine oil and gas applications within statutory time frames." The Department seeks to expedite environmental reviews of onshore hydraulic fracturing projects.

Thanks in part to offshore natural gas production, which is now declining, the UK has "had competitively-priced energy since 1990 whilst reducing carbon emissions across the economy by 49 pct." (Source: UK Department for Business, Investment, and Industrial Strategy Competative Enterprize Institute, 20 May, 2018)Contact: UK Department for Business, Investment, and Industrial Strategy, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cap-and-Trade,  Clean Energy,  Renewable Energy,  Carbon Tax,