August people news
Professor Martin Cave, the UK Government’s preferred candidate as the next chair of Ofgem, has passed muster after being scrutinised by the Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee.
Archive
Battery bought
Eelpower has acquired the recently-completed 20MW Rock Farm battery scheme from Anesco. Eelpower also acquired two storage projects that will be commissioned later this year – a 10MW scheme near Winchester and an 8MW scheme in Cumbria.
Minesto in test
Marine energy developer Minesto has begun commissioning its first commercial-scale tidal energy project. Initial sea trials of the company’s DG500 tidal energy converter are taking place in Holyhead harbour and Holyhead Deep.
In favour of onshore
The government is “massively out of step” with most of the public when it stands in the way of building more wind farms, according to new polling for RenewableUK.
PPA finance success in Sweden
Construction is about to start on a 235MW onshore wind farm in central Sweden, financed through a 29-year fixed-volume power purchase agreement (PPA) with aluminium producer Norsk Hydro.
Substation in question
East Lothian Council has recommended that Scottish ministers refuse planning permission for an electricity substation at the former Cockenzie power station site on the grounds it could prejudice future development of the site.
Funding sought
Gridserve has announced plans to roll out a UK-wide network of “electric forecourts”. It wants to “offer significantly more high-power charging points than are currently available at most UK petrol stations”.
German link steps forward
Neuconnect Britain has applied for an interconnector licence for a direct link between GB and Germany.
National Infrastructure Commission calls for ambition on renewables, realism on nuclear
“Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector no longer needs to be considered expensive,” says the National Infrastructure Commission.
GB Capacity Market ‘does not drive change’
The UK experience is a poor argument for introducing capacity markets, according to Ralf Wezel, secretary-general of EU Turbines, a European lobby group for gas and steam turbines, and Eugine, which promotes gas engines.