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4 | 3rd - 9th OctOber 2014 | UtILItY WeeK National media Bat windfarm deaths Bats may be lured to their deaths at wind- farms because they think turbines are trees. The creatures are "attracted to and actively approach" turbines when they are either stationary or mov- ing very slowly, according to the researchers from the United States Geological Survey. About 600,000 bats are estimated to have been killed by windfarms in the US in 2012. The Telegraph, 29 September Sewage gas piped straight into the grid Severn Trent, Wessex Water and Northumbrian Water are prepar- ing to pipe a continuous supply of biomethane gas directly from sewage-treatment plants into the national grid. This means customers could be cooking on gas generated at a sewage treatment works. The Independent, 28 September UK to get 1,000 more turbines than needed At least 1,000 more onshore wind turbines will be built than are needed under the government's own green energy targets, official estimates have disclosed. All windfarm projects currently in the planning system are surplus to requirement. The Telegraph, 28 September Scottish Water in £3.5bn investment Scottish Water has announced a £3.5 billion investment programme to improve water mains and drink- ing water supplies. The six-year investment programme is expected to support 5,000 jobs. BBC, 29 September T he hype surrounding the nascent shale industry found further fuel this week as Conservative ministers voiced their support for the sector at their annual party conference. Despite the limited under- standing of the UK's shale potential and persistent opposi- tion from the public, the sector now seems poised to move for- ward aer the government acted to relax the rules on drilling access and applauded the recent entry of chemicals giant Ineos. In his keynote speech at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, energy minister Matthew Hancock pledged to "unlock the shale beneath our feet" in order to ensure a secure energy supply "in a dangerous and uncertain world". The need to pursue greater energy security was echoed later in the day by chancellor George Osborne, who told conference delegates: "We will tap the shale gas, commission nuclear power and renewables, and guarantee our energy future." The public support for shale came alongside news that Ineos will take a majority stake in Dart Energy's Scottish shale oil and gas licence block, while offering up to £2.5 billion to local com- munities in a bid to encourage shale development in the UK (see p19). On the fringe of the Tory conference, Energy and Climate Change select committee chair Tim Yeo said the company's "bribe" was necessary to encour- age the public to embrace the sec- tor until it proves itself safe (p12). Prior to the conference, the coalition government angered environmentalists by altering legislation to allow developers to drill under private property in pursuit of shale gas (p12). MB Conservatives stand full square behind shale gas Seven days... Coal power at all-time lows Coal-fired power generation in the UK fell to record lows in Q2 this year, according to government data. 28.2% of the UK's electricity was sourced from coal-fired power stations in Q2 this year compared with 34.5% in the same quarter last year 22.2% of the UK's gen- eration came from nuclear power output, compared with 18.4 % at the same time last year 16.8% of the UK's generation was sourced from renewable energy, up from 15.9 per cent in Q2 2013 story by NUMbErs 56.50p/therm Winter gas fell 4.5 per cent after news that Russia and Ukraine had secured a gas supply deal. More on p28 "Customers should know how to report and manage a temporary break in their power supply, and remember to check on relatives" Northern Powergrid head of customer service Kelly Graham on the company's regional power cut awareness campaign "One of the most serious threats facing our world" Prime minister David Cameron speaking at the United Nations Climate Change Summit Photo: PA