Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 21ST - 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 | 5 ELECTRICITY Coal resurgence could mean hike in emissions A resurgence in coal generation driven by rising gas prices could lead to the first year-on-year increase in power sector emissions in the UK in more than half a dec- ade, a new report has warned. After dropping to a historic low of 0.2GW over June and July, aver- age coal output more than doubled during August before shooting up to 2GW in the first week of September. The last time coal generation was that high was during the cold temperatures brought by the Beast from the East in March. According to the latest Electric Insights report by Imperial College London, the cost of carbon emis- sions has risen by 45 per cent in 2018 due to a rally in the price of EU ETS emissions allowances. Octopus leads V2G consortium A group led by Octopus Energy is conducting a trial to test the viability and effectiveness of using electric vehicles as a means of storing electricity for the grid (V2G). The Powerloop consortium comprises ChargePoint Services, Energy Saving Trust, Open Energi, Navigant, UK Power Networks and Octopus Electric Vehicles (a subsidiary of Octopus Energy). Thames Water has installed a "special edition" manhole cover to mark the first anniversary of the discovery of the 130-tonne Whitechapel fatberg. The 250-metre long congealed mass of fat, oil, grease, nappies, wet wipes and other sanitary products blocked an east London sewer and took 13-weeks to remove. The UK has hit a record 20GW of wind generation capacity with the opening of Orsted's 659MW Walney extension off the coast of Cumbria, the biggest offshore windfarm in the world. Wind contributed half of the 30 per cent of electricity that came from renewable sources last year. Renewable UK said the electricity generated by the UK's installed wind turbines could meet the annual power needs of more than 14 million homes, cutting carbon emissions by 25 million tonnes a year. Renewable UK's executive director Emma Pinchbeck said: "It took 14 years to install the first 5GW of wind energy in the UK and we've now installed the same amount in under two years. That phenomenal growth shows just how quickly the UK is moving to a smart, low-carbon power system and wind energy is at the heart of that." "We need to make sure the way we charge for the fixed costs in the energy system does not discourage consumers from taking up exciting changes in technology" Phil Lawton, power systems practice manager at Energy Systems Catapult, says an overexposure to network and policy costs is deterring the uptake of heat pumps and electric vehicles. 12.4% Ovo Energy is raising the price of its variable tariff from 12 October. This would make an average household's dual fuel bill £1,225. 0.5Ml Yorkshire Water says the first stage of its £300,000 satellite leak detection trial has already saved 0.5 megalitres of water a day. UK HITS 20GW OF WIND CAPACITY Cumulative wind energy capacity (MW) 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

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