Utility Week - authoritative, impartial and essential reading for senior people within utilities, regulators and government
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UTILITY WEEK | 26TH JUNE - 2ND JULY 2015 | 5 This week, the energy industry and green groups expressed outrage at the government's decision to scrap Renewables Obligation support for onshore wind from April 2016, one year earlier than planned. The announcement followed through on a Conservative manifesto pledge to "halt the spread" of onshore windfarms. The move was slammed by the Scottish government as "irrational" and "deeply regrettable", and Renewable UK said it "leaves thousands of British jobs and millions of pounds' worth of investment hanging in the balance". Decc said up to 5.2GW of onshore wind capacity could be eligible for a grace period, but around 7.1GW of projects would be excluded, and are therefore more unlikely to get built. Full analysis, p14 "They are the most sophisticated hackers in the entire community" Goldsmiths innovation research director Dr Chris Brauer said the traditionally vulnerable have unparalleled knowledge of how to use less energy, including the products and services that can further lower their use, but that knowledge is currently undervalued "Be extra vigilant" Metal theft from power lines is on the increase in Scotland, with around 35 incidents recorded since the start of May, Scottish Power Energy Networks has warned "The regulator isn't ready" Emerging smart home technology could leave Ofgem and the big six energy suppliers behind, according to a report from Goldsmiths and the Energy Savings Trust 40% The price of gas for this winter has plunged 40 per cent in 4 years. For the full story, p26 ➟ Renewable energy will draw almost two-thirds of the spending on new power plants over the next 25 years, dwarfing spending on fossil fuels, according to a forecast from Bloomberg New Energy Finance published this week. In addition, the contribution of developing nations will account for most of this invest- ment, contributing 79 per cent of the 8.9TW of new power capacity added worldwide. Investment in renewables set to soar Holliday to quit Grid National Grid chief executive Steve Holliday is expected to step down next year after almost a decade at the helm of the energy network operator. According to weekend reports in The Times, he will step down next year after "a very good run" as chief executive from 2007. RBC Capital analysts said on Monday morning that the report was unsurprising given the length of Holliday's tenure, and was unlikely to cause too many ripples for the company. "[H]e has been a very good CEO for the company leading it through the turbulence of the financial crisis, including the much criticised rights issue of 2010. More recently he transitioned National Grid onto the RIIO regulatory regime in the UK and continues to focus on improving US returns," RBC Capital said. The newspaper tipped National Grid's current chief financial officer, Andrew Bonfield, as the most likely candidate to replace Holliday, and RBC Capital views chief operating officer of National Grid's regu- lated business, John Pettigrew, as another likely option. ENERGY Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance