Clean Energy

The government and Ofgem have today jointly launched the long-awaited call for evidence on the future of the UK’s energy system, seeking views on the development of a smarter, more flexible and user-friendly network.

As the long-awaited call for evidence (CfE) on the future of the UK’s smart power policy gets ever closer, David Pratt outlines the five key areas the UK government is seeking to address in the upcoming document.

The government has set out its strategy to meet last year’s commitment to close unabated coal plants by 2025, effectively seeking to price the existing fleet of plants out of operation.

The secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) Greg Clark appears to have ruled out a consultation on the proposals expected to come from Ofgem following the completion of its review of embedded benefits.

A new report from Policy Exchange has called for a wholesale overhaul of the UK’s power system to create a level playing field for clean energy flexibility technologies to compete with dirtier forms, which would ultimately save consumers as much as £90 a year by 2030.

The Irish minister for communications, climate change and natural resources has sought to manage expectations for the country’s nascent solar market, indicating that not all of the applications currently in the pipeline will be supported by the government.

PV Kits Direct and Moixa have begun a national installer training programme to support the rollout of the partnership’s combined solar storage package, having already trained installers from 24 companies.

Earlier this week climate news was abuzz with reports that today would see a major announcement from the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, essentially committing them to the development of renewables. But all was not as originally alluded to, as Liam Stoker writes.

Communities secretary Sajid Javid has refused appeals from two solar developers to overturn refusals for proposed solar developments in the latest ruling to favour upkeep of the green belt over contributions to the national targets for renewable energy generation.

The chief executive of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has expressed the body’s disappointment over the delay in the government’s response to the NIC’s Smart Power report and its recommendations for electricity storage systems.