Friday 29 March 2013

Putting #Nuclear Waste to Work - Recycle nuclear fuel rods http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/putting-nuclear-waste-to-work-recycle-nuclear-fuel-rods-3/



With the coalition government subtly pushing England towards nuclear power as a short-term gap as we head towards a less carbon-dependent future, more and more researchers are looking into ways that nuclear power can be made safer, environmentally-friendly and generally more efficient.Far from just being a pressing issue for UK commercial energy suppliers, nuclear power has very much been a global agenda since the Fukushima disaster that gripped Japan last year – and two American scientists say they have found a way to make harmful nuclear waste work for the whole planet. At the heart of a traditional nuclear power plant, radioactive rods are inserted into a reactor core to produce energy. However, as much power as this yields it is Putting Nuclear Waste to Work

via Putting Nuclear Waste to Work – Recycle nuclear fuel rods | Catalyst Commercial Services – The Market Leading Business Energy Broker.



Putting #Nuclear Waste to Work - Recycle nuclear fuel rods

Thursday 28 March 2013

British Gas bosses pocket £16m while your gas and #electricity bills go through the roof http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/british-gas-bosses-pocket-16m-while-your-gas-and-electricity-bills-go-through-the-roof/



Five bosses at British Gas owner Centrica shared a £16.4million pay bonanza last year as bills soared for domestic customers.

Just weeks after householders were told their bills would jump by £70 a year, the directors enjoyed a 6 per cent rise in their pay packages.


Last night unions said the payouts, coming after inflation-busting price rises, were ‘insensitive beyond belief’.


In addition, British Gas chief Phil Bentley will walk away with a nest-egg worth more than £10million when he steps down in June, in addition to a £5.4million pension pot.



via British Gas bosses pocket £16m while your gas and electricity bills go through the roof | Mail Online.



British Gas bosses pocket £16m while your gas and #electricity bills go through the roof

Edinburgh Airport reduces carbon emissions http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/edinburgh-airport-reduces-carbon-emissions/



Edinburgh Airport is continuing to demonstrate its commitment to climate change after being placed highest out of any UK airport in the second Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency League Table, published annually by the Environment Agency.

The CRC scheme, which aims to significantly lower UK carbon emissions, sees participating companies annually report their energy consumption to receive a score which represents their efforts in reducing emissions.


David Wilson, Edinburgh Airport’s Chief Operating Officer, said:- “As Scotland’s busiest Airport we are committed to being as energy efficient as possible. The fact that we have been ranked the highest of all the UK airports is a great boost and helps highlight the work we do to make our airport as carbon conscious as possible.”


In 2012 Edinburgh Airport also successfully gained a Carbon Masters Standard for recognition of its reduction in carbon emissions by 3% compared to the two years previous. It is the first airport in Scotland to be awarded with such a standard.



via Edinburgh Airport reduces carbon emissions : The Edinburgh Reporter.



Edinburgh Airport reduces carbon emissions

Ofgem to manage code of practice for energy comparison sites http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/ofgem-to-manage-code-of-practice-for-energy-comparison-sites/



Ofgem has now taken over management of a code of practice used by energy price comparison websites for households.Managed by Consumer Focus since 2008, the Confidence Code ensures that websites accredited through the code have to make sure that prices they quote for energy deals and information given about the offers are done in a fair and unbiased way.Using a site with the Confidence Code certification mark is expected to make the process of switching energy suppliers easier, more reliable and reassuring for consumers. The websites covered by the code act independently of the energy suppliers.Ofgem will be reviewing the code this year to see if any improvements can be made and to ensure it supports its plans, which includes making the energy market simpler, clearer and fairer.

via Ofgem to manage code of practice for energy comparison sites | Energy Live News.



Ofgem to manage code of practice for energy comparison sites

Wednesday 27 March 2013

Putting Nuclear Waste to Work - Recycle nuclear fuel rods http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/putting-nuclear-waste-to-work-recycle-nuclear-fuel-rods-2/


Recycling Nuclear Waste Fuel Rods



What potential effects could this have on the commercial energy market? Well, the US alone has around 67,500 tonnes of nuclear waste from the last 5 decades of atomic energy. When combined with the rest of the world’s waste, the MSR research team believe that would power the entire planet until 2083; a truly incredible prospect.

As for the likelihood of business energy suppliers being excited enough to invest in having an MSR of their own? Early figures say that – at current market prices – all that untapped energy in current stocks of nuclear waste is worth $7.1 trillion. So probably just enough to excite at least one big energy company, then.



via Putting Nuclear Waste to Work – Recycle nuclear fuel rods | Catalyst Commercial Services – The Market Leading Business Energy Broker.



Putting Nuclear Waste to Work - Recycle nuclear fuel rods

Renewable Energy's Hidden Costs? | The Energy Collective http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/renewable-energys-hidden-costs-the-energy-collective/



A recent Bloomberg press release got wide coverage with its claim that wind power is now cheaper than coal. But a new report from the OECD shows that when you cover the full cost to the grid, variable renewables like wind don’t add up as favourably.

It is often claimed that introducing variable renewable energy resources such as solar and wind into the electricity network comes with some extra cost penalties, due to “system effects”. These system effects include intermittent electricity access, network congestion, instability, environmental impacts, and security of supply.


Now a new report from the OECD titled System Effects of Low-Carbon Electricity Systems gives some hard dollar values for these additional imposts. The OECD work focuses on nuclear power, coal, gas, and renewables such as wind and solar. Their conclusion is that grid-level system costs can have significant impacts on the total cost of delivered electricity for some power-generation technologies.


All generation technologies cause system effects to some degree. They are all connected to the same transmission and distribution grid structure and deliver electricity into the same market. They also exert impacts on each other, on the total load available to satisfy demand, and the stability of the grid’s frequency control. These dependencies are heightened by the fact that only small amounts of cost-efficient electricity storage are available.



via Renewable Energy’s Hidden Costs? | The Energy Collective.



Renewable Energy's Hidden Costs? | The Energy Collective

The Npower Business Energy Market Report – 26th March 2013 http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/the-npower-business-energy-market-report-26th-march-2013/

The Market Report – 26th March 2013



Find out the latest news on the energy market from Magali Hodgson, npower’s Product and Services Optimisation Manager, in this weekly update.


via The Market Report – 26th March 2013 | Energy Live News.



The Npower Business Energy Market Report – 26th March 2013

Latest business, finance and money news http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/latest-business-finance-and-money-news/


The Government has warned energy companies the cold snap is “no excuse” for putting up electricity and gas bills.



Energy Secretary Ed Davey said predictions of big increases in bills as a result of the current “tightness” in the gas market brought about by wintry conditions were “wildly wrong”.

“This is a market, so when there is lots of cold weather in north-western Europe, naturally the gas market becomes a bit tighter, there is more competition for the gas and because we have a market, the price goes up a little bit.


“But over a year, because we have probably the most diverse, most well-traded gas market – arguably in the world – our gas prices are on average through a year lower than the big EU 15 countries.

“But of course that is on average over the year. You may get a little increase where we are above the average for a short period, that is what is happening at the moment.


“Some of the reporting saying there is going to be a big increase in consumer bills because of this particular short-term tightness in the market, I think again are wildly wrong.


“We will make it clear … to energy suppliers that this just is a temporary cold snap, there is no excuse for putting up energy bills. They should always minimise the impact of these types of things on consumer bills.”


Mr Davey repeated Government assurances over supplies, saying Britain is not running out of gas. He said there was a “very diverse” gas supply in the UK with about half straight from the North Sea – in winter a third – and three pipelines from Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands.



via Latest business, finance and money news | DailyFinance UK.



Latest business, finance and money news

Nuclear energy 'could create 40,000 jobs', says Government http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/nuclear-energy-could-create-40000-jobs-says-government/




The nuclear industry could create up to 40,000 jobs in the UK over the next 20 years, according to estimates by the Government as it launched a strategy for the sector today.


The Business Department said that globally there will be £930 billion invested in building new reactors and £250 billion in decommissioning those coming off line.


Ministers announced £15 million for companies and universities carrying out research into nuclear technology, £12.5 million for a reactor test programme being carried out in France, and changes to the National Nuclear Laboratory.


Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “There are huge global opportunities that the UK is well placed to take advantage of in the nuclear industry. Our strong research base will help develop exciting new technologies that can be commercialised here and then exported across the globe.


“The nuclear industry presents significant multibillion pound long-term opportunities for UK companies and for thousands of high value jobs. We have worked with industry on a plan for the future to ensure we are well placed to grasp those opportunities.


“We have some of the finest workers, research facilities and academics in the world. But we need to sharpen those competitive advantages to become a top table nuclear nation.”


Energy Secretary Edward Davey said: “Nuclear and other forms of low carbon power mean highly-skilled jobs, sustainable growth, and the lasting legacy of a UK supply chain.


“We need all our energy options in play in the fight against climate change, and to keep the lights on in a way that is affordable to consumers. Not just this decade, but to 2050 and beyond.”


Rhian Kelly of the CBI commented: “Nuclear will be a vital player in achieving a balanced low-carbon energy mix, and with commercial opportunities worth billions of pounds at home and overseas, it is a sector that can bring real economic benefits.



via Nuclear energy ‘could create 40,000 jobs’, says Government – UK – News – London Evening Standard.



Nuclear energy 'could create 40,000 jobs', says Government

Energy firms to be forced to keep large gas reserves under new proposals http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/energy-firms-to-be-forced-to-keep-large-gas-reserves-under-new-proposals/


Large energy firms could be forced to hold a minimum level of gas in storage, amid growing concerns about shortages linked to the prolonged period of cold weather.


Just days after analysts raised the prospect of gas rationing, ministers are considering inserting a “security of supply” amendment to the Energy Bill. The government is understood to be considering a proposal by Ofgem, the regulator, that would oblige suppliers to keep stocks above a specified level to ensure recent supply scares are not repeated.


“We are considering whether there is anything else we can do through the Energy Bill… to promote more gas storage. We are looking at possible interventions into the market to encourage greater security of supply,” said a spokesman for the Department of Energy & Climate Change.


Because of its historic reliance on the North Sea’s now diminished gas supply, the UK has a much lower level of storage capacity than many other countries. Britain has the ability to store just 20 days supply of gas, compared to 103 days in France, 92 days in Germany and 70 days in Italy.



via Energy firms to be forced to keep large gas reserves under new proposals – Home News – UK – The Independent.



Energy firms to be forced to keep large gas reserves under new proposals

U.K. Clean Energy Rules to Add 36% to Company Power Bills - Bloomberg http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/u-k-clean-energy-rules-to-add-36-to-company-power-bills-bloomberg/




U.K. measures to curb carbon emissions may raise power and gas bills for the biggest corporate consumers by as much as 36 percent by 2020, the Department of Energy and Climate Change said.


Energy-intensive companies will see energy bills soar by as much as 5 million pounds ($7.6 million) a year due to carbon taxes and support for nuclear and renewable energy, according to a study e-mailed today by the department. Medium-sized companies face an average rise of 22 percent, or 330,000 pounds.


The government is spurring renewables and nuclear power to meet the U.K.’s target to cut greenhouse gases 34 percent in 2020 from 1990 levels. It’s also seeking to gain a bigger share of the 3.3 trillion-pound global market for clean energy while sparing households the burden of carbon cuts. Consumer bills will be reduced by 166 pounds, or 11 percent by 2020.


“Our strategy of shifting to alternatives like renewables, and of being smarter with how we use energy, is helping those that need it most save money on their bills,” Energy Secretary Ed Davey said in a statement. “The picture for businesses is less positive, which is why our new proposals to exempt and compensate the most energy intensive industries from certain policy impacts are crucial.”


The study shows costs to business have risen since the government last published an analysis in November 2011. Then, the maximum impact of government policies on the heaviest corporate energy users was a 20-percent rise in 2020; with the projection for medium-sized companies being a 19-percent gain.



via U.K. Clean Energy Rules to Add 36% to Company Power Bills – Bloomberg.



U.K. Clean Energy Rules to Add 36% to Company Power Bills - Bloomberg

Putting Nuclear Waste to Work - Recycle nuclear fuel rods http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/putting-nuclear-waste-to-work-recycle-nuclear-fuel-rods/


Putting Nuclear Waste to Work


With the coalition government subtly pushing England towards nuclear power as a short-term gap as we head towards a less carbon-dependent future, more and more researchers are looking


into ways that nuclear power can be made safer, environmentally-friendly and generally more efficient.Far from just being a pressing issue for UK commercial energy suppliers, nuclear power has very much been a global agenda since the Fukushima disaster that gripped Japan last year – and two American scientists say they have found a way to make harmful nuclear waste work for the whole planet. At the heart of a traditional nuclear power plant, radioactive rods are inserted into a reactor core to produce energy. However, as much power as this yields it is Putting Nuclear Waste to Workno-where near as efficient as it could be; whilst each rod is in service for over four years, only around 3% of it’s potential nuclear energy is put into the reaction.

via Putting Nuclear Waste to Work – Recycle nuclear fuel rods | Catalyst Commercial Services – The Market Leading Business Energy Broker.




Putting Nuclear Waste to Work - Recycle nuclear fuel rods

Tuesday 26 March 2013

Too much green energy is bad for Britain http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/too-much-green-energy-is-bad-for-britain/




With the worst snow conditions in the country since 1981, it’s worrying, to say the least, that gas supplies are running low. A month ago, The Sunday Telegraph warned in this column of the problems of an energy policy that puts expensive, inefficient green power before coal-fired and nuclear power. There have been a few signs that the Coalition is at last turning its attentions to the issue but, still, not nearly enough has been done. Now we are reaping the consequences. Because of a misguided faith in green energy, we have left ourselves far too dependent on foreign gas supplies, largely provided by Russian and Middle Eastern producers. Only 45 per cent of our gas consumption comes from domestic sources. All it takes is a spell of bad weather, and the closure of a gas pipeline from Belgium, to leave us dangerously exposed, and to send gas prices soaring. Talk of rationing may be exaggerated, but our energy policy is failing to deal with Britain’s fundamental incapacity to produce our own power.



via Too much green energy is bad for Britain – Telegraph.



Too much green energy is bad for Britain

UK GAS Prices: Prices remain high on cold, LNG provides some relief - Natural Gas http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/uk-gas-prices-prices-remain-high-on-cold-lng-provides-some-relief-natural-gas/


UK gas prices remained high Tuesday morning — about 30% higher than where they began the month — with a freezing spring drawing hard on gas supplies but an LNG delivery provided some relief, one gas broker said.


The day-ahead contract was valued at 99.00 pence/therm at 1200 GMT, down by 5.00 p/th from Monday’s close while the within-day contract was unchanged at 98.00 p/th.


“I think people are a bit more comfortable with LNG en route,” the broker said.


The UK received the Q-Max Zarga LNG vessel from Qatar on Monday and the Q-Flex Tembek tanker is scheduled to arrive on Friday, Milford Haven port data showed.


Shipping data also indicated another delivery is expected from Trinidad.


The vessel is a BG carrier heading for Milford Haven port and is expected to arrive Sunday or Monday, Platts unit Bentek Energy said.


Demand remained well above norms Tuesday — by 102 million cubic meters with National Grid forecasting demand at 373 million cu m — but the system was well supplied.



via UK GAS: Prices remain high on cold, LNG provides some relief – Natural Gas | Platts News Article & Story.



UK GAS Prices: Prices remain high on cold, LNG provides some relief - Natural Gas

Compare Half Hourly Business Electricity Suppliers http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/compare-half-hourly-business-electricity-suppliers/


Since de-regulation in April 1994 two distinct retail market segmentation’s have emerged in the UK electricity markets, half hourly electricity metered sites and that of non half hourly metered sites. The retail electricity market in the UK has become highly competitive in both segments. Two distinct market trends have emerged from this as the various supply companies decide upon their chosen strategy to cope with intensive market competition. The first discernible trend is that the various participants are merging in an effort to consolidate market share and as this reaches critical mass it allowsHalf Hourly Electricity


for operational costs to be apportioned over greater volumes of customers. Secondly, suppliers are actively pursuing the business of competitors by employing aggressive pricing policies.


Catalyst is ideally positioned to negotiate and tender with these suppliers in pursuit of the best value for money and overall service value for your commercial half hourly electricity needs. Half hourly electricity Meters or “00″ electricity meters have a peak load above 100kW and are equipped with a ‘half hourly’ primary meter. These commercial electricity meters cover all sites that have a large commercial supply of electricity, and the electricity meter is automatically read every 30-minutes of the day, hence the name half hourly electricity meter.



via Half Hourly Electricity / 00 Meters – Half Hourly Energy Supply – Catalyst Commercial | Catalyst Commercial Services – The Market Leading Business Energy Broker.



Compare Half Hourly Business Electricity Suppliers

Quarter of households billed incorrectly by energy firms http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/quarter-of-households-billed-incorrectly-by-energy-firms/



Consumers have named energy suppliers as one of the biggest culprits for getting bills wrong, with a quarter of households billed incorrectly in the last two years.

That’s according to a new survey by energy comparison site uSwitch.com, which claims it is the seventh year the energy industry has been ranked below banks, council tax departments, credit companies and other utility firms on accuracy. On average, energy firms take just over a month to resolve billing inaccuracies although 42% are sorted out within a week, the survey claims.


It also revealed over a third of households have unexpectedly owed money to their energy supplier following a discrepancy between an estimated bill and ‘real’ bill. The average amount owed is now £154 – £2 more than last year and £7 more than the year before, however, more than one in ten consumers have ended up owing £200-£400 while 6% have ended up owing more than £500.



via Quarter of households billed incorrectly by energy firms | Energy Live News.



Quarter of households billed incorrectly by energy firms

American #gas will power 1.8m UK homes after Centrica strikes a 20 year deal http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/american-gas-will-power-1-8m-uk-homes-after-centrica-strikes-a-20-year-deal/



Gas imported from the United States is to heat as many as 1.8 million UK homes after Centrica unveiled a supply deal worth £10 billion.

The British Gas owner said the 20-year contract for commercial deliveries from the Sabine Pass liquefaction plant in Louisiana would play an important role in protecting the UK’s energy security as production from the British North Sea fields falls.


The deal with Cheniere Energy Partners for 1.75 million metric tons of annual liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the first time that the UK has entered into a formal gas import agreement with the United States.


In 2011, Centrica entered into a three-year supply agreement with Qatargas and a new 10-year contract to pipe gas to the UK from Norway from 2015.


The new deal is enough to meet the annual gas demands of around 1.8 million UK homes and the deal can be extended for another 10 years.


Centrica chief executive Sam Laidlaw said: ‘This landmark agreement represents a significant step forward in our strategy, enabling Centrica to strengthen its position along the gas value chain and helping to ensure the UK’s future energy security.’



via American gas will power 1.8m UK homes after Centrica strikes a 20 year deal | Metro News.



American #gas will power 1.8m UK homes after Centrica strikes a 20 year deal

Labour 'will curb energy contract rollovers’ - Telegraph http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/labour-will-curb-energy-contract-rollovers-telegraph/




Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, has made the pledge to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) hard on the heels of a decision by Ofgem, the industry regulator, to defer a decision on the issue until next winter.


Ofgem has limited automatic rollover of contracts to one year to more companies in a package of measures designed to give small businesses a better deal from their energy supplier, but says it is “duty bound” to review the impact of an outright ban before making a decision.


The FSB, while applauding Ofgem’s efforts to create a level playing field with the big energy suppliers, is disappointed at the absence of “concrete action” to make it easier to switch suppliers.


John Allan, the federation’s chairman, said: “Perhaps above all, we now need to see action to tackle the ability of energy suppliers to trap small firms into uncompetitive contracts via the use of contract rollovers and we look forward to working with Ofgem to end this practice once and for all.”


Mr Umunna promised the FSB at its annual conference last week that a Labour government would not only bar the rollover but would limit back-billing to one year and would insist on suppliers offering realistic repayment plans for small businesses falling behind with bills and not “immediate demands for full repayment”.



via Labour ‘will curb energy contract rollovers’ – Telegraph.



Labour 'will curb energy contract rollovers’ - Telegraph

It’s payback time for our insane energy policy http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/its-payback-time-for-our-insane-energy-policy/




As the snow of the coldest March since 1963 continues to fall, we learn that we have barely 48 hours’ worth of stored gas left to keep us warm, and that the head of our second-largest electricity company, SSE, has warned that our generating capacity has fallen so low that we can expect power cuts to begin at any time. It seems the perfect storm is upon us.The grotesque mishandling of Britain’s energy policy by the politicians of all parties, as they chase their childish chimeras of CO2-induced global warming and windmills, has been arguably the greatest act of political irresponsibility in our history.Three more events last week brought home again just what a mad bubble of make-believe these people are living in. Under the EU’s Large Combustion Plants Directive, we lost two more major coal-fired power stations, Didcot A and Cockenzie, capable of contributing no less than a tenth to our average electricity demands. We saw a French state-owned company, EDF, being given planning permission to spend £14 billion on two new nuclear reactors in Somerset, but which it says it will only build, for completion in 10 years’ time, if it is guaranteed a subsidy that will double the price of its electricity. Then, hidden in the small print of the Budget, were new figures for the fast-escalating tax the Government introduces next week on every ton of CO2 emitted by fossil-fuel-powered stations, which will soon be adding billions of pounds more to our electricity bills every year.



via It’s payback time for our insane energy policy – Telegraph.



It’s payback time for our insane energy policy

Monday 25 March 2013

Apple goes green with 100 percent renewable energy switch http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/apple-goes-green-with-100-percent-renewable-energy-switch/



GADGET DESIGNER Apple has shown its greener side today, announcing that its datacentres are now 100 percent powered by renewable energy.Apple said in May 2012 that it would move entirely to renewable energy, and it looks like the firm has made decent progress so far. The iPhone flogger announced on Thursday that all of its datacentres are now running on renewable energy rather than coal.The firm’s datacentre in Maiden, North Carolina which hosts Apple’s iCloud service, now gets its energy from a 100-acre solar farm and fuel cell installations, and its next datacentre in Nevada will use only geothermal energy.In total, Apple says the percentage of renewable energy used throughout the company has increased from 35 percent in 2010 to 75 percent by the end of last year.Apple said, “Our goal is to power every facility at Apple entirely with energy from renewable sources – solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal. So we’re investing in our own onsite energy production, establishing relationships with suppliers to procure renewable energy off the grid, and reducing our energy needs even as our employee base grows.”

via Apple goes green with 100 percent renewable energy switch- The Inquirer.



Apple goes green with 100 percent renewable energy switch

Energy bills to rise £100 next winter, official forecasts suggest http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/energy-bills-to-rise-100-next-winter-official-forecasts-suggest/



The Office for Budget Responsibility predicts a seven per cent rise in energy costs for families in winter this year and a three per cent rise the year after.

Average bills are currently £1,420 per family for gas and electricity, signalling an increase of £99 is on the way this year followed by a £46 rise in 2014.


The estimates were released along with George Osborne’s Budget as part of calculations about inflation.


The independent economic watchdog said higher energy costs would contribute to the rising cost of living, mostly driven by rising wholesale electricity and gas prices.


It said green taxes and other environmental policies would probably add two per cent to electricity bills and 0.5 per cent to gas bills annually until the year 2020.



via Energy bills to rise £100 next winter, official forecasts suggest – Telegraph.



Energy bills to rise £100 next winter, official forecasts suggest

Why Virtual Energy Audits Don’t Go Far Enough http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/why-virtual-energy-audits-dont-go-far-enough/



In recent months there has been a wave of attention around the so-called “virtual building audit.” Companies promise to solve the energy efficiency woes of building operators with just a few pieces of information. In truth, this tactic is a brilliant innovation: the ability to get a high-level view of your portfolio’s performance quickly and inexpensively. But in practice, it’s not all that it seems.

It’s worth exploring why.


The virtual audit typically uses two pieces of customer-supplied information: the addresses and utility data from a portfolio of buildings. In some cases, just the monthly kilowatt usage will suffice; in others an incremental breakdown is required, sometimes as detailed as hourly electricity consumption over a year. The supplier of the audit then plugs this information into some type of modeler, whether that be a fully automated analytics engine or a souped-up spreadsheet. In the better models, the data is married with weather, utility cost, and building operation data from the corresponding time frame and injected with a little expertise from energy analysts. This system spits out a sky-high view of how those buildings have been performing compared to one another, national averages, or similar buildings in the same region. That’s the brilliant part.


With very little investment of resources, customers receive a map of their entire portfolio’s performance. For holders of diverse or far-reaching building portfolios, this is an invaluable advantage. This audit affords them the opportunity to compare apples to apples, placing buildings of varying sizes and uses, from across a region, country, or around the world, onto a relative scale. This level of visibility makes it possible for a property manager to see that her data center in Boston is actually performing relatively well compared to her high-rise office building in Denver. Or on a slightly smaller scale, a facility manager in the D.C. area can now see that his company’s newly acquired office space is performing far below its headquarters across town. That facility manager now knows exactly where to focus his energy performance improvements.



via Why Virtual Energy Audits Don’t Go Far Enough : Greentech Media.



Why Virtual Energy Audits Don’t Go Far Enough

Saturday 23 March 2013

Gas rationing 'inevitable' if freezing weather continues, energy experts warn http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/gas-rationing-inevitable-if-freezing-weather-continues-energy-experts-warn/



Blizzards and freezing temperatures were expected to continue through the weekend as some areas of the country woke up to a foot snow on the ground.

A major undersea gas pipeline shut down unexpectedly on Friday, pushing prices up by 50 per cent to a record high and forcing suppliers to eat into the country’s limited gas reserves.


Britain has less than 36 hours of gas reserves remaining and with severe cold weather forecast over the weekend, energy demand is unlikely to abate.


The Met Office has put a level 3 cold weather alert in place until Monday morning, warning that heavy snow and cold temperatures posed a particular risk to vulnerable elderly people.


It said that strong winds are also expected to contribute to the harsh conditions. Sleet and snow is due to spread from the south west, bringing significant snowfall to the Midlands and north of England over the weekend.



via Gas rationing ‘inevitable’ if freezing weather continues, energy experts warn – Telegraph.



Gas rationing 'inevitable' if freezing weather continues, energy experts warn

Friday 22 March 2013

Gas price rockets by 50% to seven-year high http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/gas-price-rockets-by-50-to-seven-year-high/


The wholesale gas price soared 50% to a seven-year high today after a key gas pipeline from Belgium shut down unexpectedly.


The price of gas for same-day delivery surged to 150p a therm this morning as a water-pump failure forced the closure of the UK-Belgium interconnector, one of Britain’s’s three gas import pipelines.


The surge in the wholesale gas price to its highest level since March 2006 will fuel concerns that supplies are dangerously close to running out, amid a sustained period of colder-than-usual weather.


It emerged yesterday that the cold snap in March has left Britain with only two days’ worth of gas in reserve. This is because customers have been using 20% more gas in recent weeks than is usual for this time of the year. As a result, storage facilities are only 10% full, compared with 49% at this time last year.


Nor are gas shortages the only concern. SSE chief executive Ian Marchant warned yesterday that electricity supplies were also coming under pressure.



via Gas price rockets by 50% to seven-year high – Business News – Business – London Evening Standard.



Gas price rockets by 50% to seven-year high

Solar Panel Price Cut Comes as Renewables Surge http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/solar-panel-price-cut-comes-as-renewables-surge-2/



A new report from renewable energy authority Clean Edge has shown a large growth in the number of renewable technologies deployed in 2012 – and also explained the ‘flat’ state of revenue in the clean energy sector. Released on Tuesday, the Clean Energy Trends 2013 report established a global increased in renewable energy from wind, solar and bio-fuels over the course of 2012. However, the income generated by the renewable energy sector as a whole remained flat, thanks to a nose-dive in the cost of producing photovoltaic solar panels.

via Solar Panel Price Cut Comes as Renewables Surge | Catalyst Commercial Services – The Market Leading Business Energy Broker.



Solar Panel Price Cut Comes as Renewables Surge

UK gas prices jump to seven year high as pipeline forced to shut down http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/uk-gas-prices-jump-to-seven-year-high-as-pipeline-forced-to-shut-down/




Interconnector, which runs the gas pipeline between the UK and Belgium, said a technical problem related to a water/glycol pump at its Bacton gas terminal had forced the shutdown.


Gas prices for same-day delivery jumped to 150p per therm, more than 50pc above Thursday’s closing price and the highest level seen since March 2006. Week-ahead gas surged as much as 37pc to 135p a therm, also a seven-year high.


The Interconnector is one of Britain’s main gas import pipelines. This week, it set a new record, exporting 783 gigawatt-hours of gas from Belgium to Britain.


Weeks of cold weather have left national gas supplies at critically low levels, prompting fears of a new wave of engery bill increases.


If the pipeline remains shut for a number of days, Britain’s grid operator could be forced to trigger emergency supply options, including reducing demand from contracted users.



via UK gas prices jump to seven year high as pipeline forced to shut down – Telegraph.



UK gas prices jump to seven year high as pipeline forced to shut down

UK gas prices surge on supply fears http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/uk-gas-prices-surge-on-supply-fears/



The price of wholesale gas surged to a record high on Friday after the unexpected closure of one of three import pipelines.A technical fault at the UK-Belgian interconnector, one of the UK’s biggest import pipelines, forced the shutdown.The price of gas for same-day delivery jumped as much as 50% to 150 pence a therm.It comes amid a prolonged cold snap which has already sparked fears that the UK will run out of stored gas.”I don’t think the price has ever been higher. It’s certainly super spike territory,” a gas trader at a utility told Reuters. “The worrying thing is it can probably go higher.”Meanwhile, some reports suggested that the unusual cold weather could lead to the UK running out of gas within days, but the government denied this.

via BBC News – UK gas prices surge on supply fears.



UK gas prices surge on supply fears

Thursday 21 March 2013

SSE boss Ian Marchant warns of risk of "lights going out" http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/sse-boss-ian-marchant-warns-of-risk-of-lights-going-out/



The boss of the energy firm SSE has warned that “there is a very real risk of the lights going out” in Britain.

Ian Marchant said the government was significantly underestimating the scale of the capacity crunch facing the country.


He was commenting on the company’s decision to cut back on power generation at five sites.


The energy regulator, Ofgem, has also warned of an increased risk of a blackout.


In February it predicted power station closures could mean a 10% fall in capacity by April alone.


SSE points out that the regulator did not take into account its plans to cut power generation when the warning was issued and that therefore, makes the warning even more stark.


Ofgem’s chief executive Alistair Buchanan told the BBC that Britain “would be very tight on power station capacity in three to five years’ time”.


SSE’s Mr Marchant added that the government “can reduce this risk significantly by taking swift action to provide much greater clarity on its electricity market reforms and bringing forward capacity payments for existing plants from 2018 to 2014″.


The company is reducing its energy generation by 2,000MW over the next year. The power stations affected are Ferrybridge, Keadby, Slough Uskmouth and Peterhead. It is also postponing further investment in gas-fired electricity generation until at least 2015.



via BBC News – SSE boss Ian Marchant warns of risk of “lights going out”.



SSE boss Ian Marchant warns of risk of "lights going out"

The quiet global energy revolution http://www.energy-broker.co.uk/the-quiet-global-energy-revolution/


In all the noise of tomorrow’s Budget, many may not spot a small tweak to the fiscal regime for UK oil and gas. Those of us with a close interest in unconventional oil and gas, however, will be watching closely. Last year the Chancellor announced a consultation on a specific tax regime for onshore shale gas development, the results of which are expected on Wednesday.




Press coverage of shale gas is often characterised by myth and hyperbole. For some, it’s the last gasp for fossil fuels; for others, a new source of energy security and the key to bringing down bills for industry and consumers.


We are not used to thinking of energy as a diplomatic weapon here, but contrast this with the EU which imports a fifth of its gas from Russia via Ukrainian pipelines. Several times in recent years, Russian gas giant Gazprom cut or threatened to cut Ukrainian supplies. On each occasion the impact reverberated across mainland Europe. However, as a result of the US shale gas boom, some analysts now expect lower LNG prices to reduce Europe’s exposure to Russian gas from 27 per cent of supply in 2009 to just 13 per cent by 2040. That’s without significant domestic European shale gas production. With estimates of European shale gas reserves rising, the impact here could be even greater. Earlier this year, for example, Shell signed a 50-year, $10 billion deal to develop reserves in Ukraine. All of this could mean massively reduced reliance on Russian gas and hugely improved security of supply for mainland Europe. It could also have a significant impact on the Russian economy, where oil and gas revenues reached a record $346 billion in 2011.



via The quiet global energy revolution » Spectator Blogs.



The quiet global energy revolution