Utility Week

4 | 2ND - 8TH NOVEMBER 2018 | UTILITY WEEK Seven days... Vattenfall looks to gas and biomass Vattenfall is considering converting its German coal-fired power sta- tions to gas or biomass as utilities in the country brace themselves for a government deadline for phasing out coal. The end of coal is the latest major challenge power firms face in Germany, whose energy transfor- mation, or "Energiewende", has already included a rushed exit from nuclear power and a costly expan- sion of solar and wind capacity. Reuters, 29 October Flash flood in Jordan sweeps away school bus, killing at least 18 At least 18 people, most of them children, have been killed aer raging floodwaters swept away a school bus near the Dead Sea. Jordan launched a major opera- tion on Thursday to search for survivors involving army divers, and neighbouring Israel said it was assisting with search-and-rescue helicopters. Search teams had rescued 34 people, some of whom were in a serious condition, Jordanian civil defence sources said. The bus had been carrying about 40 children and their teachers. The Guardian, 25 October Saudi Arabia aims to take stake in Russian Arctic LNG project Saudi Arabia's energy minister has said the kingdom aims to acquire 30 per cent of Russian gas producer Novatek's $21 billion (£16 billion) liquefied natural gas project in the Arctic, strengthening ties between Riyadh and Moscow. Speaking to a state television outlet on the sidelines of a major investment conference run by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund on Thursday, Khalid Al Falih said Novatek's Arctic LNG 2 was "a very ambitious project". Financial Times, 25 October STORY BY NUMBERS National media Budget confirms carbon tax in event of no-deal Brexit H eavily emitting factories and power plants will have to pay £16 for each tonne of carbon dioxide pumped out above their existing allow- ances if the UK cannot agree a Brexit deal. As part of Monday's Budget, the government said that a car- bon emissions tax will replace the EU Emissions Trading Sys- tem (EU ETS) if the UK is unable to agree a withdrawal deal by its Brexit date next March. The introduction of the tax is designed to enable the UK to maintain its climate change commitments in the event there is no deal, and it will apply to all stationary installations currently participating in the EU ETS from 1 April 2019. Legislation is also being prepared for a range of longer- term carbon pricing options if the UK is unable to remain in the EU ETS. The government also said it will freeze the carbon price sup- port (CPS) rate at £18 per tonne of CO2 for 2020/21. It will seek to reduce this rate if the total carbon price, which comprises the EU ETS price and the CPS, remains high. Other energy-related Budget announcements include an extension of the enhanced capital allowances for compa- nies investing in electric vehicle charge points to the end of March 2023. The Budget also said the gov- ernment would issue a call for evidence on introducing a busi- ness energy efficiency scheme focused on smaller businesses. Chancellor Philip Ham- mond announced in his speech an additional £20 million in 2019/20 for the UK Atomic Energy Authority to develop and commercialise nuclear fusion technologies. On the Climate Change Levy rates for gas and electricity, the electricity rate will be lowered in 2020/21 and 2021/22, while the gas rate will increase over the same period. Responding to the Budget, Energy UK chief executive Law- rence Slade said he welcomed "clarity" on the government's policy on carbon pricing in the event of a no-deal Brexit. DB Octopus says tariff changed behaviour Octopus Energy says its Agile tariff, introduced in March, has had a "significant impact" on behaviour. 28% Proportion of "engaged" custom- ers who exhibited a "statistically significant change" in their usage over peak times, lower- ing their consump- tion by 28.2 per cent during these periods. 16 kWh Average monthly saving on peak consumption – equivalent to 11 washing machine cycles. 4.5 kg Monthly saving in carbon emissions. 47% Percentage of driv- ers of electric vehi- cles who reduced their consumption. £45 Typical saving on an annual bill. "There was not a single word from the chancellor about climate change, nothing about clean energy" Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton, responding to the Budget in the House of Commons. Photo: PA

• Cover