Current-news.co.uk’s Post

Government announcements on REMA are starting to roll. https://lnkd.in/eeCibaSW The headlines seem to be a reform to the capacity market to support the next wave of gas capacity and zonal pricing. It isn't yet clear how firm these intentions are, but these seem to be bullish political statements so presumably these are decisions rather than consultation ideas.

REMA: Government to publish plans to boost energy security and renewables investment - BusinessGreen ‘Government proposes new locational pricing regime and capacity market reforms, in bid to curb energy costs and bolster security of supply.’ Consultation to be launched on proposals to reform the UK's electricity pricing regime to help meet climate goals and reduce costs for businesses and households. #energy #climatechange #renewables Stephen Woodhouse Greg Jackson Guy Newey Graeme Cooper MBA FEI https://lnkd.in/e5p-Y4w6

Renewable industry response to the PM's plan to build new gas-fired power stations 👇   Andrew Willis of Kona Energy, a leading clean energy development company grappling with grid connection delays, has commented on Rishi Sunak’s plan to build new gas-fired power stations:   "Arguments for/against gas plants aside, on current grid connection processes any new gas stations would be at the back of the queue and therefore would not be connecting until at least 2037.   There are two options - either we wait over a decade for these plants, supposedly in the national interest. Or Government steps in to prioritise them over other projects currently waiting in the queue. The latter is how the system should operate, with shovel-ready developments allowed to move ahead of ‘zombie’ projects which are simply holding a valuable position in the queue.   If a development can get online faster, delivering vital energy security, then that should be given priority. It’s common sense.   Regardless of the rights and wrongs of building new fossil-fuel powered generation, this story further underlines the desperate need for fundamental reform of how the grid connection process operates. It is simply not fit for purpose, and without doubt the biggest obstacle on our path to Net Zero. https://lnkd.in/euJVN3MP

With the rise of renewables, electricity markets are fundamentally changing #EBR #european_business_review #ebr #EU #GR #Business #News #World

Lots of misinformation is out there, and lots to do to explain the benefits and reduction in energy prices with renewables! #renewables #energy #survey

The Inflation Reduction Act was supposed to boost all forms of renewable energy, but two years after its passage wind power growth is flat while solar has taken off. The U.S. solar industry added a record 32.4 GW of new capacity in 2023, a 37% increase from the previous record set in 2021 and a 51% increase from 2022. Wind generation, on the other hand, dropped for the first time since the 1990s, per EIA. In an ideal (decarbonized) world, the two complement one another: solar during the day, wind at night – so the demand is there. Both are cheaper than fossil fuel generation – and grid-scale batteries can store their electrons to smooth out any intermittency or imbalance. So what gives? Lingering COVID-caused supply chain issues, long-distance transmission bottlenecks, and good old-fashioned NIMBYism. No one really protests solar projects: they're low profile, quiet and motionless, and can be moved over a bit if a neighbor objects. Wind turbines, on the other hand, while offering exponentially more power for a given area, face an "array" of objections – which has greatly hindered their deployment, both on- and off-shore. Brad Plumer and Nadya Popovich have the story at The New York Times. https://lnkd.in/eE_BYkAN #windpower #solarpower #energystorage #renewables

The Commonwealth Government’s expanded Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) will install an additional 32 GW of renewables and storage by 2030. This more than doubles the wind, solar and storage that we have built over the last 20 years in just 6 or so years. But it isn’t enough to get us to the Government’s legislated 2030 greenhouse gas abatement target, writes Professor Michael Brear, Director of the Melbourne Energy Institute. University of Melbourne #energytransition #renewableenergy https://lnkd.in/gbgwTbEH

Our chief executive Steve Davies writes in the Australian Financial Review about real world impacts on the best laid plans for energy projects, and why gas is a friend not a foe in the renewables revolution. It is broadly recognised there can be no pathway to net zero without natural and renewable gas, which is why the Federal Government must urgently reconsider the decision to exclude gas from the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS). Gas generation isn’t just about providing a safety net against unforeseen complications and delays in the energy transition, it’s about reducing emissions from coal generation as quickly as possible – at the lowest cost to consumers. https://hubs.ly/Q02fLr4v0 #renewable #gas #sustanability #future #netzero

It is worth reading. Battery storage system avoids negative electricity price, not only it supports grids but it also enhances ROI of renewables assets.

WEEKEND OPINION: Beyond Politics – A Call for Solutions in Canada’s Energy Dialogue – Dan Balaban https://hubs.la/Q02sMnFF0 For the past several years, Alberta has been Canada’s leading destination and one of the top places in North America for renewable energy investment and development. However, the province’s recent moratorium on new renewable energy development, coupled with divisive dialogue across the country, has put this at risk. Dan Balaban believes these challenges are symptomatic of a larger issue: the politics of division — an approach that seems to dominate on every major issue, including energy, in Canada and across the globe. #alberta #abpoli #canpoli #cdnpoli #renewables #energy #oilgas #wind #solar #netzero Greengate