Utility Week

4 | 11TH - 17TH JANUARY 2019 | UTILITY WEEK Seven days... Poland's coal plans labelled 'absurd' Environmental groups have called on Poland to cut its heavy depend- ence on coal more quickly than planned, as the government pre- pares to adopt an energy strategy for the next two decades. Dra proposals from the energy ministry published in November envisage coal continuing to play a significant role in Poland's energy mix until at least 2040. Environmen- tal groups say the plans – which project that coal will still account for around a third of energy produc- tion in 2040, and that onshore wind energy will be phased out by 2036 – do too little to help Poland's environment and are at odds with EU plans on emissions reductions. Financial Times, 7 January Hydrogen fuel cell trains due in 2022 Hydrogen-powered trains could run on British railways as early as 2022, as plans to introduce fuel cell tech- nology to the network gather pace. French rail multinational Alstom and UK rolling stock operating company Eversholt Rail Group have unveiled the design for a new hydrogen fuel cell train for the UK market. Based on the tried and tested British Rail Class 321, the fuel cell trains – nicknamed "Breeze" – will bring zero-emission hydrogen technology to parts of the UK that still run on diesel. The Telegraph, 7 January Thai islands hit by worst storm in decades Tropical storm Pabuk has lashed southern Thailand with wind and rain in what is expected to be the worst storm to hit the region in 30 years. The storm made landfall last week, sending trees crashing down into houses in the province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. It is moving across southern Thailand, affecting popular tourist spots. BBC News, 4 January STORY BY NUMBERS National media Economy Energy ceases trading after credit default E conomy Energy has ceased trading just a day aer the company was revealed to be in credit default and less than a week since it was banned from taking on new customers. Ofgem is in the process of choosing a supplier of last resort for the company's 235,000 domestic customers. Economy Energy was not allowed to request one-off pay- ments or increase direct debits until customer service failings had been addressed. The company's website includes a statement advising customers that it has ceased to trade and that Ofgem is appointing a new supplier for customers. It said: "Customers need not worry, their supplies are secure and credit balances are protected." Under Ofgem's safety net, customers will get uninterrupted supplies and prepayment meters can be topped up as normal, the regulator confirmed. Outstand- ing credit balances will also be protected. A new supplier will be chosen and customers will be contacted by that supplier once the process is complete. Referring to the demise of several energy companies in the past year, Ofgem said its safety net procedure was working as it should to protect customers. Philippa Pickford, Ofgem's director for future retail markets, said: "Our message to energy customers with Economy Energy is there is no need to worry, as under our safety net we will make sure your energy supplies are secure and your credit balance is protected." Ofgem previously opened three enforcement investigations into Economy Energy, two of which will now close. Last week, Ofgem issued a provisional order to Economy Energy preventing the supplier from taking on new customers. Utility Week revealed on 7 January that Economy Energy was likely to enter the supplier of last resort process as indica- tions the company was in finan- cial difficulty mounted. KP Renewables hit second consecutive record in Q3 2018 The proportion of electricity generated from renewables hit a record new level in the third quarter of 2018 despite low wind in July, according to the latest government figures. 33.1% Renewables accounted for a third of generation between July and September 2018. 43.2GW The renewable capa city at the end of the third quarter of last year, a rise of 10 per cent. 26% Solar was boosted by a 26 per cent increase in sunny hours over the quarter. 11% Solar and wind combined were up 11 per cent year on year in Q3. "Until now nobody has managed to get as far as to demonstrate a real-world working system" Tony Roskilly, director at the Sir Joseph Swan Centre for Energy Research at Newcastle University, as the world's first grid-scale pumped heat energy storage system started operating at the university.

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