Sustainable Energy news

• Greenwashing guidelines issued for financial products

  29-04-2024 03:00 via energylivenews.com
  
  The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued guidance to financial institutions regarding green claims for financial products, aiming to combat greenwashing practices in the industry.
  This guidance precedes the implementation of an anti-greenwashing rule set to take effect on 1st May.The FCA’s guidance outlines criteria for financial institutions to ensure that the environmental and social impact claims associated with their products are accurate and substantiated.
  The regulator aims t
  
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• Battery material prices plummet, driving down costs

  17-05-2024 12:00 via energylivenews.com
  
  Prices for key materials used in battery manufacturing, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite, have experienced significant drops, contributing to a notable decrease in battery costs.
  According to a report by the International Energy Agency, the price of lithium has plummeted by 75%, while cobalt, nickel and graphite prices have fallen by 30% to 45%.
  This decline in raw material costs has played a significant role in driving down battery prices by 14%, making electric vehicles and renewab
  
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• Virtual reality could accelerate the construction of Hinkley Point C, says expert

  17-05-2024 11:24 via energylivenews.com
  
  Multinational software company, Dassault Systèmes is facilitating the construction of the UK’s nuclear power plant using virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to create digital twins of the infrastructure.
  In an interview with Energy Live News, Aneela Nasim, Director of Infrastructure, Energy and Materials for Dassault Systèmes said: ‘A virtual universe can help plan and rehearse for real-world scenarios.
  ‘In a project as big as Hinkley Point C, th
  
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• Turning sludge into gold: ‘Ash stone’ project scores funding

  17-05-2024 11:00 via energylivenews.com
  
  Yorkshire Water leads a consortium awarded £2.3 million from the Ofwat Innovation Fund (OIF) to spearhead the Advanced Thermal Conversion (ATC) Gasification project.
  Dubbed ‘Ash Stone’, this initiative aims to transform sewage sludge treatment using gasification technology.
  Partnering with Enertecgreen (ETG), Queen’s University Belfast, the Carbon Trust, and water utility companies like Thames Water and United Utilities, Yorkshire Water seeks to address sewage sludge chal
  
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• Government funds decarbonisation of council housing

  17-05-2024 10:29 via energylivenews.com
  
  Cheshire West and Chester Council has successfully secured £1.5 million in funding from the government to support its initiative towards decarbonising council housing within the borough.
  The funding, granted by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), marks a significant step in the council’s commitment to optimising energy performance and reducing carbon dioxide emissions within its housing sector.
  Alongside the go
  
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• NAO flags risks in government’s biodiversity scheme

  17-05-2024 08:25 via energylivenews.com
  
  The National Audit Office (NAO) has raised concerns about the future viability of the biodiversity net gain (BNG) scheme introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
  The NAO’s latest report highlights several potential risks to the effectiveness of the scheme, which aims to ensure that developers in England protect or enhance biodiversity on land they are developing.The BNG scheme, legislated as part of Defra’s 2021 Environment Act, requires developer
  
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• UK Government plans new nuclear reactor in Scotland despite opposition

  17-05-2024 08:07 via energylivenews.com
  
  The UK Government‘s proposal to build a new nuclear reactor in Scotland has ignited tensions with the Scottish Government, as Scottish Secretary Alister Jack revealed plans during a House of Lords committee session.
  The move comes amidst opposition from Holyrood, with First Minister John Swinney asserting that the Scottish Government will have “nothing to do with nuclear power.”
  Despite this resistance, the UK Government remains committed to advancing its nuclear energy agenda,
  
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• UK offshore wind investment to hit £15bn a year by 2030

  17-05-2024 07:42 via energylivenews.com
  
  A new report by Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) outlines significant opportunities and challenges for the expansion of offshore wind energy in the UK.
  The Wind Insight report highlights the need for innovative approaches to address issues such as cost inflation and planning consent delays to attract investment and progress next-generation projects, including floating wind technology.The report reveals that the UK currently has 15GW of installed offshore wind capacity, positioning it as the second la
  
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• South West Water increases compensation to £115 after contamination

  17-05-2024 07:28 via energylivenews.com
  
  South West Water has announced an increase in compensation for customers in the Alston and Hillhead areas of Brixham affected by a recent cryptosporidium contamination.
  Initially, customers were promised £15 in compensation under a boil water notice.
  This has now been increased by an additional £100, bringing the total compensation to £115.
  The company will automatically issue these payments to customers, either directly or as a credit on the next water bill for those without d
  
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• EDF’s new service predicts energy prices weekly

  17-05-2024 07:09 via energylivenews.com
  
  EDF has launched a new service to provide weekly forecasts of the energy price cap.
  The service aims to help consumers make informed choices about their energy tariffs by providing updated projections every Tuesday.
  EDF’s latest predictions indicate changes in the price cap for upcoming quarters.
  The price cap is expected to decrease to £1,568 in third quarter (Q3) 2024, rising to £1,684 in Q4, reach £1,707 in Q1 2025, and then slightly decrease to £1,705 in Q2 2025
  
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• Union urges Labour not to ban new North Sea licences without plan for jobs

  17-05-2024 01:01 via theguardian.com
  
  Unite launches bid to persuade Keir Starmer to invest more in north-east ScotlandThe UK’s oil and gas workers risk becoming “the coal miners of our generation,” Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, has warned, urging Labour not to ban new North Sea licences without a clear plan to safeguard jobs.Unite is launching a billboard campaign in six Scottish constituencies aimed at persuading Keir Starmer to commit more investment to north-east Scotland, the centre of the of
  
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• Charge point operator Believ to exhibit at REiiF 2024   

  16-05-2024 17:21 via energylivenews.com
  
  Believ’s end-to-end, fully funded solution supports land and property owners looking to increase their earning potential by installing EV charging hubs or charge points within urban centres, along key transport routes and crucially for the wide-scale adoption of EVs, in rural areas. Believ will help interested parties identify which charging speeds are required to best serve a site and its drivers’ needs. It will also take responsibility for design, planning and installation, as well
  
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• Hot sauce and a muster dog: on the ground at Beef2024, the southern hemisphere’s biggest cattle industry expo

  16-05-2024 17:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Emissions, sustainability and windfarms are front of mind at Rockhampton’s Beef Week celebrationsSign up for the Rural Network email newsletterJoin the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the communityIt’s not your typical industry conference.Sure, there are some people wearing suits, and a lot of lanyards swinging around necks. There are seminars (35 on the 140-page program, with 125 speakers); international guests (617 from 35 countries); long lunches and even longer dinn
  
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• Energy companies charging solar panel owners for exporting power criticised by consumer groups

  16-05-2024 17:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Ausgrid has introduced a tariff to incentivise solar panel owners to export power in eveningGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastA new tariff that will see solar panel owners charged for exporting their energy during the middle of the day could discourage solar uptake, consumer groups say.Ausgrid, which has around 280,000 customers in New South Wales with rooftop solar panels, has introduced a two-way tariff system to incentivise solar panel owners to export t
  
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• Energy companies charging NSW solar panel owners for exporting power criticised by lobby group

  16-05-2024 17:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Ausgrid has introduced a tariff to incentivise solar panel owners to export power in eveningGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastA new tarriff that will see solar panel owners charged for exporting their energy during the middle of the day could discourage solar uptake, consumer groups say.Ausgrid, which has around 280,000 customers in New South Wales with rooftop solar panels, has introduced a two-way tariff system to incentivise solar panel owners to export
  
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• Consumer groups criticise energy companies charging solar panel owners for exporting power

  16-05-2024 17:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Critics argue change could lead to people installing smaller solar power systems so they aren’t penalised for exporting excess energy during the dayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastA new tariff that will see solar panel owners charged for exporting their energy during the middle of the day could discourage solar uptake, consumer groups say.Ausgrid, which has around 280,000 customers in New South W
  
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• Nearly 70% of UK utilities risk failing HSE inspections

  16-05-2024 11:00 via energylivenews.com
  
  Nearly 70% of utility firms in the UK face the risk of failing Health & Safety Executive (HSE) inspections due to insufficient data on asset management, a new study shows.
  The research, conducted by enterprise asset management specialist BPD Zenith, surveyed 500 individuals responsible for asset management and maintenance in the utility and renewables sector.
  Findings indicate that 18% of utility companies have received enforcement action in the past due to assets not meeting HSE compliance
  
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• Concerns arise over high fuel retailer margins

  16-05-2024 10:15 via energylivenews.com
  
  The RAC has raised concerns over excessive fuel prices in a letter to Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho, citing diesel margins at a staggering 18p per litre, double the long term average.
  Despite government efforts to increase transparency and competition, including a voluntary Pump Watch scheme, fuel margins remain unjustifiably high, according to the RAC.
  RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “We feel the current margins being charged by larger retailers in particular are extremely unfa
  
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• UK struggles behind Europe in smart meter race

  16-05-2024 10:01 via energylivenews.com
  
  Recent analysis conducted by LCP Delta highlights disparities between Britain and its European counterparts in deploying electricity smart meters.
  While the UK has progressed in installing these meters in domestic properties, data indicates it trails several European nations in achieving widespread adoption.
  Government statistics reveal that approximately 36% of UK households lack electricity smart meters, raising concerns about meeting national targets.Comparative data from European countries s
  
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• UK invests £1.5m in battery developers

  16-05-2024 10:00 via energylivenews.com
  
  Innovate UK’s Faraday Battery Challenge (FBC) has allocated £1.5 million to support battery developers in the UK, facilitating innovative projects in battery manufacturing, demonstration, scale-up and recycling.
  The recipients, announced at the Battery Cells and Systems Expo in Birmingham, will have the opportunity to scale up their initiatives at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC).
  The funded projects span cylindrical and pouch cell technologies, introducing advanced Li
  
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• UK car makers expected to fall short of electric sales target

  16-05-2024 08:32 via energylivenews.com
  
  Car manufacturers are on track to miss the government‘s target for electric vehicle (EV) sales this year, with approximately 19.8% of the new car market predicted to be battery-electric, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).The government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, introduced in January, requires at least 22% of new cars and 10% of new vans sold by major manufacturers in the UK to be zero-emission vehicles in 2024.
  However, SMMT Head of Techn
  
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• South West Water advises boiling water due to parasite outbreak

  16-05-2024 08:15 via energylivenews.com
  
  South West Water has advised customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham to boil their drinking water following new test results showing small traces of cryptosporidium.
  Cryptosporidium is a parasite commonly found in the intestines and faeces of infected humans and animals.
  It can be transmitted through contaminated water, swimming in or drinking from affected sources, as well as consuming contaminated food.Authorities are currently investigating the source of the outbreak to prevent f
  
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• SSE greenlights £100m Scottish wind farm

  16-05-2024 07:58 via energylivenews.com
  
  SSE Renewables has confirmed the construction of the Aberarder Wind Farm in the Scottish Highlands, an investment of approximately £100 million in its onshore wind portfolio.
  The decision follows the project’s success in securing a 15-year Contract for Difference (CfD) in the UK’s fifth allocation round in September 2023.The 50MW wind farm, consisting of 12 turbines, is set to begin construction by the end of this year, with completion targeted for the end of 2026.
  Located at S
  
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• Hydrogen, solar and batteries – did the 2024 federal budget deliver on clean economy investment? | Tennant Reed

  16-05-2024 07:50 via theguardian.com
  
  Labor’s Future Made in Australia policy has enough money to move the needle. What matters is implementation – and readiness to adjust course if neededGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastBusiness groups such as ours, alongside investors, unions and climate campaigners, have been calling out for a big push on clean economy investment.So what should we make of the 2024-25 budget and have those calls been answered?Sign up for Guardian Australia’
  
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• UK faces major infrastructure crisis, MPs warn

  16-05-2024 07:46 via energylivenews.com
  
  The UK Government and the wider economy do not have the necessary skills and capacity to deliver ambitious infrastructure plans over the next five years, according to a report released by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).The report highlights significant shortages in technical and engineering disciplines, with gaps in the workforce expected to worsen due to competition from global development projects.
  Project management and design are also areas of concern, especially in senior roles.
  Of the
  
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• Energy Secretary prioritises food security in solar plans

  16-05-2024 07:30 via energylivenews.com
  
  Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho has informed the Parliament that the government aims to protect high-quality agricultural land to ensure food security amid growing geopolitical tensions.Ms Coutinho stated that solar energy will remain a key part of the government’s strategy for energy security and achieving net zero emissions.However, the Energy Secretary emphasised that large solar projects should be prioritised on brownfield sites, contaminated land, industrial areas and lower
  
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• Flagship Energy’s Tejal Shah Energy Markets Update – 15th May 2024

  15-05-2024 15:34 via energylivenews.com
  Tejal Shah, Head of Trading & Risk at Flagship Energy provides a market updateThe UK and European gas wholesale market has continued to trade within a range over the past week. The markets opened softer on Monday however news that Russia’s military had stationed small assault units near Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, which is close to the Sudzha area where Russian gas transits to Europe via Ukraine, lent some support to TTF and NBP prices yesterday. Slightly lower temperatures o
  
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• Ofgem’s energy tariff plan sparks backlash

  15-05-2024 10:52 via energylivenews.com
  
  MPs and the public have expressed disapproval of Ofgem‘s plans to permit energy suppliers to conceal their cheapest deals from existing customers, according to new polling commissioned by So Energy.The proposal aims to lift the current ban on suppliers offering cheaper deals exclusively for new customers, potentially allowing hidden discounts for switchers via Price Comparison Websites (PCWs).
  However, new polls by So Energy indicate that seven out of ten MPs and nine out of ten energy cus
  
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• Majority of UK homeowners clueless about heat pumps

  15-05-2024 10:00 via energylivenews.com
  
  A new survey by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV) shows that nearly 59% of UK homeowners lack the necessary information to transition to renewable heating technologies such as heat pumps confidently.
  The polling shows that almost 26% of respondents felt well-informed about these alternatives to traditional heating systems.The survey revealed regional variations in knowledge about renewable heating technologies. In London, nearly 35% of respondents felt well-informed, the highest
  
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• Dogger Bank B foundation installation begins

  15-05-2024 08:57 via energylivenews.com
  
  The team behind the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, has initiated the foundation installation campaign for the second phase of the development.Seaway7’s vessels Seaway Strashnov and Seaway Alfa Lift have begun installing monopile foundations and transition pieces for Dogger Bank B, marking a significant step forward in the offshore wind farm project.The monopile foundations and transition pieces, manufactured by Sif and Smulders, provide a stable base for GE Vernova&
  
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