Utility Week

4 | 31ST AUGUST - 6TH SEPTEMBER 2018 | UTILITY WEEK Seven days... US Army backs solar despite Trump The US Army has increased its investments in solar power and is eyeing further opportunities to work with the private sector to develop projects, despite the Trump administration's scepticism about renewable energy. Michael McGhee, who leads the US Army's Office of Energy Initiatives, told the Financial Times that installing solar panels at army bases could improve resilience against attacks or natural disas- ters, and provide cost-effective electricity supplies. Financial Times, 24 August UK fracking 'could fuel global plastics crisis' The push for large-scale frack- ing in England will fuel the global plastic crisis and undermine the government's claims that it is tackling the issue, according to a leading charity. The Campaign to Protect Rural England says fracking will not only destroy large areas of the countryside, it will exacerbate the global plastic binge which is already causing widespread damage to oceans, habitats and the human food chain. The Guardian, 22 August Official to face trial over Flint deaths A judge has ordered Michigan's health director to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter over two deaths linked to legionnaires' dis- ease in the Flint area, the highest- ranking official to face criminal charges as a result of the city's tainted water scandal. Nick Lyon is accused of failing to issue a timely alert about the outbreak. District court judge David Goggins said deaths probably could have been prevented and said that keeping the public in the dark was "corrupt". The Guardian, 21 August STORY BY NUMBERS National media Bulb chief executive denies the company is up for sale B ulb has denied media reports that it is up for sale. Responding in a statement to Utility Week, the renewable energy company's chief executive, Hayden Wood (pictured above le), who co-founded the firm with Amit Gudka (right), said: "I'm happy to confirm that there is no possibility that Amit and I would even contemplate selling Bulb. "We want to help as many people as possible cut their carbon emissions and save hundreds of pounds each year on their energy bills. We are extremely excited that hundreds of thousands of people have already switched to us to get affordable, renewable energy – but we want to go much further. We will use the new funding we have just secured to invest in great new technology for our members." One newspaper report cited City sources revealing the firm – described as "Britain's fastest-growing start-up" and which could be worth an estimated £500 million – had been courting the attention of New York and Silicon Valley funds following a £60 million investment. Earlier last week Bulb, which was set up in 2015, announced it had secured a £60 million injection from two major international investors. The mid- tier supplier, with a customer base of around 670,000, received the money from DST Global and Magnetar. The company said the funding would help it hire more engineers and energy experts. Currently, it has a total staff of 200 but expects that figure to hit 250 by next year. Speaking at the time, Wood said he was "delighted" to have the investors on board and added: "To be backed by DST Global is a fantastic endorsement as we develop technology to transform the way energy is used and produced." Bulb has also hinted at a further price rise due to wholesale energy costs. SH Big six 'should be broken up' A YouGov survey on climate change commissioned by environmental law organisation ClientEarth found more than two- thirds of people would like to see the breakup of the big six energy companies. 68% said they were in favour of breaking up the biggest energy companies' share of the market. 62% said they would install solar panels in their home if more assistance was available. 60% said they would install a home energy storage device, for example a home battery, if financial incentives were given. 71% said they would be interested in joining a community energy scheme. "We are not just talking about how we'll manage the future of energy, we're doing it right here and now" UK Power Networks' director of asset management Barry Hatton says the company wants to adopt a "flexibility first" approach to the delivery of extra grid capacity.

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