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4 | 8TH - 14TH MAY 2015 | UTILITY WEEK National media Scotland's super solar month Last month, Scot- land experienced a "super month" for solar power. 100% of the energy needs of homes with solar panels were met by the sun 113% of the energy needs of homes in Edinburgh were met by solar 106% of homes in Glasgow 99% of an average household's hot water needs met 69% of electricity needs of house- holds met by wind turbines 608GWh of electricity exported to National Grid from wind power in April Energy profits run dry in the US The slump in oil and natural gas prices has driven the American pro- duction operations of the world's largest oil companies into losses. ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips reported that they lost money on oil and gas production in their home country in the first quarter. Mean- while, Royal Dutch Shell disclosed a $1.1 billion loss at its upstream ex- ploration and production business in the Americas, and suggested that came mostly from its shale oil and gas operations. Financial Times, 30 April Starbucks selling water from drought- stricken California Starbucks continues to sell its Ethos brand of bottled water, even though some of that water is drawn from springs in drought-stricken California, according to a report from Mother Jones. Ethos bottled water – which Starbucks bought in 2005 – gets some of its water from private springs in California's Placer County, a part of the state that is under "exceptional drought", according to reports. The Independent, 30 April Interest waning in renewables, patents data shows The number of patents for renewa- ble energy products filed worldwide has fallen by 42 per cent in three years, which could suggest global renewables investment is stalling. Research from commercial law firm EMW shows that 20,655 green energy patents were filed globally in 2014, down from 35,590 in 2012. EMW said the decline was mainly caused by oversupply in the solar panel market. Solar-related patents accounted for 65 per cent of the total (13,551 patents) last year. The Guardian, 4 May STORY BY NUMBERS S cottish water regulator Wics, led by chief execu- tive Alan Sutherland, has bowed out of the opening of the English water market following Ofwat's decision to press ahead with changes in the delivery structure this month. Sutherland told Utility Week that he was leaving the market opening in good shape – but acknowledged that he would have preferred to stay to finish the job. He said: "Does anyone want to abandon a project that's not finished? The answer to that is obviously no. Is this the best time for a transition to MOSL [Market Operator Services Lim- ited]? In my view, definitively not. I would have waited until … the end of September. That's not Ofwat's view and it's their decision." Wics' formal role in the mar- ket opening will end this month, as Ofwat transfers responsibil- ity for market opening from Open Water Markets Limited (OWML) to MOSL at the end of May. Because of public sector technicalities, Wics is not able to work formally with MOSL, a private sector body. Sutherland has written to the board of OWML and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to formally mark the end of Wics' role. Wics has been heavily involved in designing the market and was set to be appointed Ofwat's delivery partner at the end of last year. This was vetoed by the Wics board because it was unable to agree with Ofwat about the work plan, budget and final responsibility. Sutherland said: "Ofwat wanted us to take full respon- sibility for the opening of the market. In reality, we couldn't, simply because we were not charged with doing everything." EB Wics withdraws from UK water market opening Seven days... "Everyone is looking for ways to break through this supposed indifference" Opower vice president John Webster on findings that consumers value good customer service ahead of price £906m amount onshore wind boosted the UK economy, according to Renewable UK. See p18