Utility Week - authoritative, impartial and essential reading for senior people within utilities, regulators and government
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/772056
UTILITY WEEK | 13TH -19TH JANUARY 2017 | 5 Tidal lagoons could be 'a pillar of the UK energy mix' Tidal lagoons have the potential to become "a pillar of the UK energy mix", providing reliable low-carbon power for up to a third of British homes, according to a group of 20 manufacturing executives. They said Britain should "embrace" its first-mover advantage in a new global industry by pressing ahead with the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. The group includes the bosses of Sheffield Forgemasters and the UK arm of GE. ELECTRICITY On 6 January, the London Air project from King's College, London, released figures showing that the UK had broken the 2017 annual air pollution limit after just five days – three days earlier than the previous year. In response, campaign group Greenpeace staged a protest, hanging a mask-wearing Mary Poppins above the affected streets, to "chivvy politicians into action". The group said it was urging the government to end the sale of new diesel cars. "Completely out of step with the public mood" Northern Ireland's deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, has resigned in protest over the mishandling of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. "Renewables are now a mainstream provider of electricity" The Christmas break brought a trio of new wind power records after the half-hourly, daily and weekly highs were all bested on Christmas Day. £5.4m Work is to begin imminently on the 5.4MW Chapel Farm solar park near Swindon after the developer tied down financing for the £5.4 million project. 20% Data from Carbon Brief has found that 20 per cent less carbon dioxide was emitted as a result of power generation in the UK last year than in 2015. Short-term supply concerns boosted power prices in the last three months of 2016, according to price reporting firm ICIS. The ICIS Power Index averaged £45.94/MWh over the period – the highest level in two years – aer reduced nuclear output in France had a knock-on effect in the UK, which was already facing unusually tight margins. Electricity prices started rising at the end of 2016 01 Jan 16 01 Apr 16 01 Jul 16 01 Oct 16 ICIS Power Index value (£/MWh) ICIS UK gas calendar year ahead (p/th) 60.00 50.00 40.00 30.00 20.00 10.00 0.00 ICIS Power Index and year-ahead gas prices for 2016 ➟