Utility Week

"It's a really useful exercise to go through because Brexit is only one event in the future that could compromise the supply chain" Trevor Bishop, head of WRSE, says planning for a no-deal Brexit has been a useful exercise for the water sector. UTILITY WEEK | 27TH SEPTEMBER - 3RD OCTOBER 2019 | 5 Last Friday millions of schoolchildren around the world took part in a "climate strike" to protest at the lack of action being taken to cut carbon emissions. In the UK, thousands took to the streets in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh (pictured). Education secretary Gavin Williamson said "every child" should be in school. ENERGY Energy UK: all government policies should be net zero Energy UK has called for all gov- ernment policies to be subjected to a "net zero test" to ensure they support rather than undermine the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. In a report released to coincide with last week's climate strike, the trade body said there must be a "step change" in the pace of progress if the target is to be met, with "a consistent and concerted effort across the whole of government". "We are calling for a 'net zero test' for all new government poli- cies to ensure they support the net zero target, not undermine it," said Energy UK chief executive Lawrence Slade. Energy UK made the call alongside the release of a report setting out the contribution of the energy industry to the UK's efforts to combat climate change. It notes that the power sector has reduced its emissions by 54 per cent since the Climate Change Act came into effect in 2008, lowering its share of total emissions by one third to 27 per cent. "The power sector has been world leading in reducing emis- sions, delivering benefits for the economy, the environment and customers, but we must now go further and faster if we are to achieve this target," said Slade. "Our industry stands ready to work in partnership with govern- ment to deliver our shared ambi- tion and we must start urgently." WATER Resource sharing initiative Water companies in the North have been urged to submit ideas for nationwide resource sharing as part of the Regulators' Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Develop- ment (RAPID) scheme. The group, comprising Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate, is calling for a nationwide planning network and is keen to explore options for redistributing water to tackle flooding, as well as drought in coming years. ELECTRICITY CfD auction sees record low price of £39.65/MWh The latest contracts for difference (CfD) auction has seen a number of renewable projects secure agree- ments at below forecast wholesale prices. A total of 12 projects won con- tracts – seven starting in 2023/24 at a strike price of £39.65/MWh and five starting in 2024/25 at a price of £41.61/MWh. They consist of six offshore windfarms, four onshore windfarms on remote Scottish islands and two bioenergy projects, which will together provide almost 6GW of capacity. The strike prices are around £10/MWh below the government's forecasts for wholesale market prices for intermittent and baseload generation over the early years of the agreements. (see analysis, p12) 2.5m The number of loans the next Labour government will make for the purchase of electric vehicles, according to shadow chancellor John McDonnell. Under Labour's plans, interest-free loans of up to £33,000 will be available in the first year of the scheme. 38,000 Number of concrete segments that EDF will have to deploy beneath the Bristol Channel to support three underground marine tunnels lying 33m below the seabed, which will form part of Hinkley Point C's cooling system.

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