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National media Protesters target water meter installers Anti-water-charge campaigners around Ireland have vowed to continue to block the installation of water meters despite a High Court order barring protesters from com- ing within 20 metres of workers. The injunction granted to GMC Sierra, one of four companies contracted to install the meters, focused attention on Dublin where recent demonstrations have been peppered with sporadic violence. Irish Times, 10 November Drones buzz French nuclear power stations An epidemic of mysterious drone flights over French nuclear power stations remains unexplained despite the recent arrests of three young model aircra enthusiasts in central France. The illegal flights by the tiny, pilotless helicopters, mostly at night, were initially dismissed as a nuisance. But a recent spate of five co-ordinated "visits" in one evening to nuclear reactors hundreds of miles apart has now placed the French government on high alert. A campaign of harassment by anti-nuclear campaigners is consid- ered the most likely explanation. Independent, 9 November Australia 'losing out' on green investment Investment in renewable energy projects in Australia has dropped by 70 per cent in the past year, ac- cording to a new report by a climate change body. The Climate Council says foreign investors are going to other countries because Australia's government has no clear renewable energy policy. Another new report says Australia will need to raise its carbon emission reduction target to 40 per cent by 2025. BBC News, 10 November N ational Grid is set to unlock the value of its brownfield property portfolio by developing its land across the southeast of England in partnership with Berkeley Group, a property developer. The UK's transmission system operator said in its half-year financial results that it would be able to realise a higher value for its property portfolio, currently at £500 million, by forming a joint venture with Berkeley to develop residential and mixed-use development schemes across London and the South East. "By bringing together Berke- ley's development expertise with National Grid Property sites, we hope to transform redundant land that was once at the heart of the industrial revo- lution to meet the housing and commercial needs of the 21st century," National Grid chief executive Steve Holliday said in a statement. National Grid UK executive director John Pettigrew told Util- ity Week the company had some "very attractive sites in London" made redundant because many of its gas holders are no longer in use. He added that the com- pany would not be "going into property development" as such, but would "stick to pipes and wires" while Berkeley builds the houses. National Grid will clear and clean the land prior to development. The joint venture will be called St William and will be set up with £700 million of funding. JA National Grid brownfield sites set for housebuilding Seven days... Annual wind investment hits £2.6bn Renewable UK's 'state of the industry report' reveals the level of investment achieved by the wind industry over the past year. £1.6bn Amount of invest- ment in onshore windfarms over the past 12 months £1bn Amount of invest- ment in onshore windfarms over the past 12 months £5.9m Annual contribu- tion to local councils by English onshore windfarms since the localisation of business rates for new onshore pro- jects in April 2013 story by NUMbErs 21 April 2015 Faversham House, the publisher of Utility Week, has announced the launch of Utility Week Live, a major exhibition and conference at the NEC in Birmingham next year 300% The government has approved plans for an extension to the 360MW Walney offshore windfarm, tripling its size "It's clear that domestic gas is good for business, energy security and the whole of the UK" Energy minister Matthew Hancock on the UK's planned sovereign wealth fund for future shale gas revenues 4 | 14th - 20th NovEmbER 2014 | UtILItY WEEK