Utility Week

UtILItY WeeK | 4th - 10th November 2016 | 5 "We are witnessing a transformation of global power markets led by renewables." The International Energy Association has increased its five-year growth forecast for renewables. Anglian Water says it "often" digs up skeletons when laying pipelines. Most recently, while laying a £9 million, 31km pipeline near Bury St Edmunds, it uncovered eight. The remains are believed to date back to the late or post-Roman era and were found alongside several sixth-century Anglo-Saxon huts. One skeleton is now on display at the firm's visitor centre at Rutland Water Park. Anglian Water's heritage expert Jo Everitt said: "Halloween is the traditional time of year to see youngsters dressing up as skeletons, but we never know when we're going to find them." Renewables 'destabilise' market The increase of renewables in the electricity mix has destabilised the electricity market, and utilities must adapt. A report by consulting firm Capgemini has called for utilities to change their business models and accelerate digital transformation efforts if they are to grow profitable revenue streams. The report pointed out that, during the past 12 months, the cost of renewable energy has continued to fall. The growth in renewables in a market experiencing overcapacity, combined with low oil and gas prices, has resulted in a fall in electricity wholesale prices, which reached a low at the beginning of 2016 of €22/MWh compared with €40/MWh on average in 2015. Flood defence funds go south The allocation of flood defence spending in the UK has been described as biased towards the south of England because it favours areas with high house prices. The analysis by the Press Association found that the value of assets protected is a key element in the economic formula for deciding where taxpayers' money should be spent, skewing the system towards wealthier areas where property prices are higher. eLectrIcItY WATER 100 Ireland's Environmental Protec- tion Agency has said more than 100 drinking water supplies in Ireland still require remedial work to remove the need for boil water notices and water restrictions. Scottish Water's first CEO passes away The former chief executive of Scottish Water, Jon Hargreaves, has died at the age of 66 after a short illness. As Scottish Water's first chief executive, he played a pivotal role in leading the transformation of water services to customers in Scotland. In July 2000, he joined East of Scotland Water (ESW) as chief executive and in April 2002 was appointed chief executive of Scot- tish Water at the formation of the first Scotland-wide water supplier. Hargreaves had 30 years' experience in the UK water industry together with experience in inter- national markets. He retired from Scottish Water in November 2007. Former Scottish Water chair Ronnie Mercer said: "It was always more than just work for this dynamic and charismatic leader. The need to provide safe drinking water around the world and a strong desire to clean up the environment was embedded in his DNA." OBitUary Dong Energy has installed its 1,000th offshore wind turbine at the German offshore windfarm Gode Wind 2. The windfarm is one of the many that the company fully or partly owns and operates in the UK, Denmark and Germany. The UK has experienced several major milestones in offshore wind. In 2007, the Burbo Bank offshore windfarm was the first to use the world's biggest offshore wind turbines at the time – 3.6MW. The next breakthrough came in 2015, when Dong built Westermost Rough with 6MW wind turbines. And in September this year, the firm installed the first 8MW offshore turbines at Burbo Bank Extension. Dong installs its 1,000th offshore wind turbine

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