Zenobe to develop 100MW UK battery

Zenobe Energy is to develop a 100MW grid battery in the UK, which will be the largest in Europe when built.

The energy storage plant, to be located in Capenhurst in north-west England, will be the first in the world to absorb reactive power directly from a transmission network, Zenobe said.

The battery is due to be operational in April 2022 and will power Mersey and the surrounding areas with a reliable reactive power service as well as operate active power services concurrently.

The Capenhurst project was commissioned as a direct response to the National Grid’s pathfinder programme, seeking to solve the challenge of reactive energy management through the use of innovative technology.

The project is also the first of its kind to be approved under the new revised planning regime, which allows batteries larger than 50MW to be granted planning permission locally rather than by the national approval body.

Zenobe Energy co-founder James Basden said: “This is an incredibly exciting day for not just Zenobe, but the UK.

“The Capenhurst project is a great example of the pioneering solutions businesses like ours can bring to the table when industry innovation is encouraged by up-to-date legislation.

“As we move to a cleaner energy system, batteries like this one will play a vital role in stabilising the grid and ultimately enabling a greener, more sustainable, Britain.

“We will look to replicate this solution nationwide, working with government and industry to stabilise the UK energy system, push energy prices down and ensure an emission-free future.”

The project is the first deployment of the £150m investment in Zenobe from Infracapital, the infrastructure equity investment arm of M&G Plc, which was announced last year as part of Zenobe’s aim to accelerate the UK’s transition to a green energy system.

The battery will double Zenobe’s stationary battery capacity, maintaining the course to have 1000MW capacity by 2026, the company said.

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Minesto and Schneider Electric collaborate on ocean energy farms

Marine energy developer Minesto and energy technology company Schneider Electric have signed a memorandum of understanding for development of ocean energy farms.

Working together, the companies aim to fast-track the commercial roll-out of energy generation from marine sources.

The planned ocean energy farms will use Minesto’s Deep Green technology to generate electricity from ocean currents. They will also integrate Schneider’s experience and products to manage the equipment and increase efficiency.

The collaboration will focus on technical system integration and project management to sales and project finance opportunities.

Schneider Electric Power and Grid Segment president Gary Lawrence said: “We look forward to working with Minesto to bring ocean energy into the global renewable energy mix, balancing variable renewables with predictable, renewable baseload.

“For us it has been of significant importance to enter the marine energy sector together with a partner developing a game-changing technology with both a global market and a potential for energy production at competitive cost of energy.”

Under the collaboration, Minesto and Schneider will focus on development of projects ranging from smaller microgrid installations to multi-megawatt farms.

Additionally, the companies intend to engage with independent power producers and electric utilities.

Beijing to power 2022 Olympic games with 100% green energy

Beijing is set to power the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics with energy sourced from 100% renewables.

All of the 26 venues will be powered with 100% renewable energy.

Renewable energy and a smart grid

Chinese utilities including new energy providers China Huadian Corporation Ltd. and Beijing Jingneng Power Co, as well as the State Grid Beijing Electric Power have signed agreements with Olympic venues to deploy renewable energy and other electrification projects.

Deals signed have enabled the implementation of the Smart Grid Planning for Low-Carbon Olympics. The programme will ensure the installation of new and the use of existing smart grid technologies and renewable energy generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure in three competition zones of Beijing, Yanqing, and Zhangjiakou.

The deals have also resulted in the launch of the Zhangbei Renewable Energy Flexible DC Grid Pilot and Demonstration Project. The smart grid project demonstrates how smart grids and clean energy can be leveraged to ensure a strong, smart, clean, and efficient grid for a low-carbon Olympics.

Gu Yi, director of the second planning division under the Department of Development and Planning of State Grid, adds: “The company is building an energy internet innovation demonstration zone featuring ‘smart grid + UHV grid + clean energy’ based on the unique advantages of Beijing and Zhangjiakou in resource and location, so as to provide safe, reliable, and clean power support for the Winter Olympics.”

The State Grid Beijing Electric Power Company will also leverage a number of digital technologies such as smart robots to inspect power equipment for the Winter Olympics.

Renewable energy generation resources installed as part of a clean energy demonstration zone in Zhangjiakou will also be utilised. The demonstration zone was developed in response to the Zhangjiakou, Heibei Renewable Energy Demonstration Zone Development Plan. Some three renewable energy projects are underway.

The projects include a 10GW wind power initiative, large-scale photovoltaic power bases, and high-temperature solar thermal power projects. The projects are expected to install clean energy capacity of 20GW, 24GW and 6GW by 2030, respectively.

Energy trading

Beijing is also planning to power its venues with capacity sourced from green power trading network Jibei Power Exchange Platform.

This follows the release of the Rules for Market-Based Trading of Green Power in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, China’s first set of rules for green power trading, in November 2018.

According to the rules, green power trading between Winter Olympic venues and new energy generation enterprises will be given priority.

Using the power exchange platform, Olympics and Paralympics venues can negotiate power prices with energy traders, buy green energy at a cheaper price, save costs and reduce carbon footprints.

On July 1, 2019, the power trading for Winter Olympic venues in Beijing was launched. The first seven venues and auxiliary facilities thus gained access to green power. “From 2019 to 2020, the organising committee plans to seal deals for all Olympics-related power used during venue construction, trial events and official events, totaling around 700GWh of green electricity,” said the head of the green power trading workgroup under State Grid leading groups the for Winter Olympics.

E-mobility

The State Grid Beijing Electric Power Company has built the city’s largest centralised electric vehicle (EV) charging station at the underground car park of Wukesong Sports Center.

The 80 sets of 60kW DC charging pile and 120 sets of 7kW AC can charge a maximum of 1,300 EVs on a daily basis.

Schneider Electric ranked world’s most sustainable corporation by Corporate Knights

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has been ranked the world’s most sustainable corporation, in a prestigious annual list compiled by Corporate Knights, a media and research company focused on corporate sustainability performance.

“We are honoured and grateful to be ranked number one by Corporate Knights,” said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Schneider Electric’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “It is a major encouragement for our teams and partners, and a great recognition of more than 15 years of engagement to make our company and the world greener and more inclusive. Sustainability is a journey that we accomplish with our people, partners, suppliers, customers and communities where we operate. This recognition goes also to all of them.”

The number one position on Corporate Knights’ 2021 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the world ranking marks a big jump from 29th place the previous year and represents a high-profile external acknowledgement of Schneider’s long-standing commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

“There are two sides to the sustainability coin,” says Gilles Vermot Desroches, Sustainability Senior VP at Schneider Electric. “We aim to lead by example within our own operations and ecosystem, and we work to be part of the solution for our customers. Sustainability improves performance, innovation and our attractiveness as a place to work. It creates value.”

Corporate Knights’ 2021 ranking was based on an assessment of 8,080 companies with more than US$1 billion in revenues. Performance indicators include evaluations of how much renewable energy and waste companies generate. This year, they also included new indicators on sick leave, executive and board racial diversity, and clean investments.

The Toronto-based company called out Schneider’s steady shift towards products and services that help customers manage their energy needs more efficiently and safely.

“In recent decades, Schneider has shifted its focus to data centers; storage and other distributed energy resources; and smart solutions that advance electrification, energy efficiency and renewability. It now earns 70 per cent of its revenue from, and directs 73 per cent of its investments toward, sustainable solutions,” says Toby Heaps CEO of Corporate Knights. “Schneider Electric also performs strongly in racial and gender diversity and in resource productivity and safety.”

Schneider Electric was an early adopter of ESG considerations and has dialed up its sustainability commitments repeatedly and ambitiously over the past decade and a half. The latest acceleration of its sustainability strategy, also announced on January 25, involves six long-term commitments and eleven concrete targets, deliverable by 2025. Together, these aim to help Schneider, the businesses and communities it serves and interacts with, to address climate change and social inclusion. 

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Global electricity demand continues to decline as COVID-19 effects persist

After experiencing its biggest decline in decades, global electricity demand is expected to only show a modest rebound in 2021.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects growth will be led by growth in China, India and other emerging economies.

The historic shock of the COVID-19 crisis will result in a 2% decline in global electricity demand, according to the IEA’s first-ever Electricity Market Report. It forecasts electricity demand will grow by about 3% in 2021. This will be significantly weaker than the rebound of the electricity demand of more than 7% in 2010, the year after the global financial crisis.

China will be the only major economy to experience higher electricity demand in 2020. But, its expected growth of about 2% is well below its recent average of 6.5%. Other big electricity consumers including the United States, India, Europe, Japan, Korea and South East Asia are all set to experiences declines in average demand for 2020.

Electricity from renewable energy such as hydropower, wind and solar are however forecast to grow by almost 7% in 2020, squeezing conventional power sources. Coal-fired generation in 2020 is predicted to fall by 5%, the largest decrease on record. Nuclear power generation is set to fall by around 4% and fas-fired electricity generation by 2%. This means that overall CO2 emissions from electricity generation should decrease by 5% in 2020.
IE executive director, Dr Fatih Birol: “Based on the very latest data available the IEA’s new Electricity Market Report provides fresh insight on this critical sector. Starting next year, we will publish a new edition of the report on a half-yearly basis.”

Electricity demand in developing countries will outpace generation capacity

Falling demand, lower fuel prices and the increase in renewable generation have dragged down wholesale electricity prices in 2020. The IEA’s wholesale electricity market price index tracks price movements in major advanced economies. It shows an average price decline of 28% in 2020, as opposed to 12% in 2019.

The growth of renewable power generation is forecast to continue in 2021 with an increase of more than 6%, expanding the share of renewables in the global power mix by 1% to 29% in 2020. Nuclear power is predicted to grow by 2.5% next year thanks to rebounds in France and Japan and new plants coming online in China and the United Arab Emirates.

In advanced economies, the growth of renewables and nuclear power will continue to shrink the space remaining for fossil fuel generation. Natural gas is likely to be impacted more than coal as a result of an expected rise in natural gas prices.

In emerging and developing economies, demand growth is forecast to outpace increases in renewable and nuclear power. This leaves some room for coal and gas generation to expand.

The expected net result globally is that coal-fired generation will increase by about 3% in 2021, while gas-fired plants will increase output by around 1%. This would mean a rise in CO2 emissions from the power sector of around 2% in 2021.

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First green hydrogen heating network gets go ahead in Scotland

Scottish and Southern Gas Networks (SGN) has been given the go ahead to demonstrate green hydrogen heating in customers’ homes.

The H100 Fife project set in the Levenmouth area of Fife on Scotland’s southeast coast aims to develop a demonstration hydrogen network delivering carbon-free heating and cooking to around 300 homes from the end of 2022.

The project, one of five approved in the latest round of regulator Ofgem’s Network Innovation Competition, has been awarded up to £18 million ($24 million). This in turn has triggered a further £6.9 million ($9.3 million) from the Scottish government.

SGN intends to develop a hydrogen production and storage facility, with an associated hydrogen demonstration facility, at Energy Park Fife in Levenmouth. The facility will be powered from a nearby offshore wind turbine.

Green hydrogen from the facility will be delivered into a new distribution network, laid in parallel to the existing gas network, so that other gas customers can continue receiving their normal supply.

Customer participation is intended on an opt-in basis. Participating customers will receive a free hydrogen connection, free replacement hydrogen appliances and free maintenance over the length of the project. They will pay the same rate for hydrogen gas as they would pay for natural gas.

“We’re delighted that stakeholders have recognised the critical importance of H100 Fife, which is designed to demonstrate hydrogen distribution and in-home performance in a real-world setting,” says Angus McIntosh, director of energy futures at SGN.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to revolutionise the way millions of people heat their homes. The hydrogen appliances will connect to the existing pipes in the home for zero carbon heating and cooking with minimal disruption and with no need to replace existing radiators or plumbing.”

H100 Fife is considered a world first as to date there is no precedent for using electrolyser technologies to supply 100% hydrogen for use in buildings, Ofgem’s Network Innovation Competition assessment panel commented in its report.

A key outcome is to test consumer acceptability of hydrogen in homes. If successful it would give impetus to the role of hydrogen in decarbonisation, which brings with it the need for repurposing of the gas network.

SGN anticipates that with a phased expansion of the rollout, a hydrogen economy could be fully established in Fife in advance of 2045 with half of the rollout of hydrogen to gas customers, around 70,000 customers, in place by 2040. The successful completion of this full programme would save some 430,000t of CO2.

Moreover, the avoided cost of electrification to the more than 140,000 customers amounts to an NPV of £1.6 billion ($2.4 billion).

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UK blade recycling initiative spins into action

The National Composites Centre (NCC) in the UK has launched an initiative to accelerate the development of technology, processes and materials that address the recyclability and future development of composite wind turbine blades

The SusWind project is being delivered in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and is supported by The Crown Estate and RenewableUK.

SusWind will be delivered in three waves of activities to address the sustainability challenges for blades.

Wave one aims to stimulate the supply chain for blade recycling and how it leverages the broader supply chain for composites recycling demand with other sectors.

Work packages include landscape mapping, exploitation routes for upscaling viable technologies and demonstrating the effective use of recycled materials in value-add products for other applications.

Wave two looks to demonstrate options to reduce the environmental footprint of blade manufacture through the use of more sustainable and lower impact material feedstock, and through minimising or recycling waste streams.

Wave three will develop guidelines to improve design for end-of-life, ensuring waste is minimised and that composite components can be disassembled for cost effective repaired, re-used, remanufactured and recycled more efficiently and cost effectively.

NCC said it is looking for more companies from the energy industry to get involved in the programme to help to shape the direction of this work.

Other companies already involved include SSE Renewables, Vestas, BVA Associates and Shell.

NCC chief executive Richard Oldfield said: “Composites are a key enabler for the success of wind energy and the role that it plays in delivering a low carbon global economy.

“But it is apparent to engineers, economists and environmentalists alike that we need to find a more sustainable way forward.

“We must commit to transforming the current linear blade product lifecycle into an increasing circular process that forms part of a larger future market for low carbon, recycled composites materials.

“Investing now in the future of blade sustainability will help unlock the use of recycled composites for the next generation of sustainable transportation and infrastructure.

“We’re excited to work with key partners and the wind industry through this ambitious programme to deliver a more sustainable future.”

ORE Catapult research and innovation director Stephen Wyatt said: “As we strive to achieve net zero, offshore wind capacity globally is set to grow rapidly to meet our low carbon energy needs.

“It’s therefore vital that we work to minimise the direct impact on our environment and look for new and innovative ways to recycle the existing fleet of wind turbines and their blades.

“We must also work at the same time to future-proof technology for the next generation through the use of composites or more environmentally friendly and sustainable materials.

“We are pleased to be working on SusWind to solve this major industry technology challenge.”

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Schneider Electric launches off-grid-capable solar charge controller

The power electronics company is offering a product which can work on and off the grid and enables the charging of dead batteries using a rooftop solar array.

There are many reasons to add storage to a home solar system but, for many, the chief attraction is the ability to keep loads running during power outages—a point which power electronics company Schneider Electric‘s newest product claims to improve on.

The company has launched its Conext MPPT 100 high-power solar charge controller, which purportedly ramps up charging power 25% compared to predecessor the MPPT 80. Usually, if a battery dies at night, or after prolonged power outages, an inverter will not charge the battery from the PV array at daybreak, as grid power is needed to reboot the system. Schneider’s charge controller, however, would enable  recharging from PV after the whole installation has come to a halt. Thus, the system for DC-coupled solutions can also work entirely off-grid, if required. The manufacturer was keen to stress, though, the new charge controller works in tandem with the grid to optimize self-sufficiency.

Charge controllers manage the charge current going into the battery and according to the product datasheet, the MPPT 100 produces a considerable, 100 A charge current. Though the device is rated at 6 kW, it can be connected to slightly oversized arrays of up to 7 kW, says the manufacturer.

The product is designed to operate at 600 V, including the temperature correction factor, which drives a reduction in balance-of-system costs. The manufacturer said owners can benefit from 50% less wiring on the two input strings to the controller, compared to low-voltage products. The charge control is carried out by a three-stage set-up in which bulk, absorption and float methods are used, in addition to the option of manual equalization.

In terms of battery voltage, Schneider’s new device can handle 24 and 48 V products. The battery operation voltage range was announced as 16-67 Vdc. The higher the battery voltage, the better the power conversion efficiency, according to the manufacturer, with 95% efficiency measured for 48 V battery technologies and 92% for 24 V devices. Equipped with a wide operating voltage range – 195-550 V for the PV system – and a similarly open MPPT voltage range, of 195-510 Vdc, the manufacturer says its product offers greater flexibility in string sizing than rivals. The MPPT algorithm is also said to be shade tolerant and ‘fast sweeping,’ according to Schneider, further improving the energy harvest.

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UK and Dutch grid operators explore linking offshore wind farms

National Grid Ventures and Tennet aim to commission an interconnector project by 2029.

UK and Dutch grid operators are exploring the possibility of connecting the two countries’ offshore wind farms with subsea electricity cables, and aim to commission an interconnector project by 2029.

National Grid Ventures, the commercial arm of UK operator National Grid, and Dutch transmission system operator (TSO) Tennet are looking at how to connect up to 4GW of offshore wind between the two countries’ electricity systems.

This would provide an additional 2GW of interconnection capacity, they advised.

It would also enable spare transmission capacity to be used to trade electricity between the countries, increasing the potential utilisation of offshore infrastructure, the companies explained.

Reducing the infrastructure needed would also mitigate the environmental impact on coastal communities, compared to the current approach, whereby interconnectors and wind farms are developed and connected separately, they suggested.

National Grid Ventures and Tennet aim to have concrete plans for a pathfinder project by the end of 2021 and aim to deliver an operational project by 2029.

Both countries have set ambitious targets to grow their offshore wind fleets.

The UK aims to have 40GW of operational offshore wind capacity by 2030, while the Netherlands plans to have 11.5GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, and then an additional 20-40GW by 2050

Meeting these targets will require new infrastructure and close cooperation between countries around the North Sea, Tennet and National Grid Ventures explained.

Cross-border wind farms

WindEurope stated that 100-150GW of cross-border offshore wind farms – with connections to more than one country – could be built by 2050. This could help Europe reach the total 450GW of offshore wind capacity envisaged by the industry body by 2050.

However, the industry body warned that there must be a clear enabling framework that clarifies the market arrangements for cross-border projects and also incentivises wind farm developers to invest in them.

WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson said: “Hybrid cross-border offshore wind farms, with connections to more than one country, will be a big part of offshore wind. 

“They save money and space and improve energy flows across Europe. The EU needs to create a framework ASAP that will allow Europe to start developing these projects.”

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Wind power generation in the UK has broken records this month supplying roughly 60% of Britain’s electricity on two occasions

National Grid ESO confirmed the latest record at 1.30am on Wednesday 26 August, when wind met 59.9% (14.2GW) of total power demand (23.7GW).

At the time the UK was experiencing high winds from storm Francis.

The rest of the power mix at that time was made up of gas (18.8%), nuclear (15%), biomass (3,1%), imports (2.5%) and hydro/others (0.7%).

This new record surpasses the previous highest share for wind of 59.1% set a just days before on 22 August.

The UK has an installed wind energy capacity of 24GW, broken down as 10.4GW offshore and 13.6GW onshore.

Last year wind provided 20% of UK power. By 2030 offshore wind alone is expected to meet over a third of the UK’s power needs by 2030.

Ahead of a next year’s auction of contracts to secure new renewable generation capacity next year, RenewableUK has stated a “high level of ambition” could deliver new investment of £20bn and support 12,000 jobs in the UK.

RenewableUK director of strategic communications Luke Clark said: “Renewables are breaking records faster than anyone expected, and this new wind record is a clear signal of the future of our energy system.

“We need to see a huge increase in low carbon power to meet the UK’s net zero target and if we can ramp up low-cost renewables in the short term, that will boost our economic recovery and speed up the switch to low carbon heating, electric vehicle and investment in new technologies like green hydrogen.”

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UK’s largest pub retailer signs deal to deploy EV rapid charging points

Drive Energi, the electric vehicle (EV) charge point operator, has sparked a deal with Greene King, the country’s leading pub retailer and brewer operating 2,700 pubs, restaurants and hotels across the UK. 

The partnership, extending through to 2040, will see Drive Energi build, own and operate one of the UK’s largest retail located rapid charging networks with the first locations going live across the North West before the end of 2020. 

The contactless payment enabled, Tritium 50kW DC charge points will be powered by renewable energy and available to use via a “Pay As You Go” tariff, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year with no subscription required. 

he charging points will be deployed nationwide across Greene King’s diverse property portfolio, including its Farmhouse Inns, Chef and Brewer and Hungry Horse brands. 

The deal will provide crucial EV charging infrastructure to bolster the UK Government’s commitment to support growth of green, zero emission technologies – including ending the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035. 

CEO of Drive Energi James Moat, says: “This is a significant milestone for Drive Energi and we are proud to be working in partnership with Greene King on this exciting project, as the UK’s EV charging sector will play a major role in leading a green recovery post-COVID-19. 

“We are committed to the roll-out of accessible public charging across the UK and drivers can expect to charge from over 300 Drive Energi locations by the end of 2021.”

Tony Hodgson, head of estates at Greene King adds: “We’ve been working hard developing our sustainability plans as we continue to build a greener business. With more people buying electric cars in a bid to be more environmentally friendly, we want to support our customers who come to dine or stay with us by offering electric charging ports in our pubs that are able to do so.”

The initial deployment will focus on sites across the North West which are expected to be fully operational by 2021, with the wider roll-out taking place in phases across the UK over the next three years. 

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National Grid fires up coal power station for first time in 55 days

National Grid has fired up a coal-fired power station for the first time in 55 days after Britain’s record-breaking heatwave brought wind turbines to a near-standstill and caused gas-fired power stations to struggle.

The electricity system operator brought Britain’s latest coal-free streak to an end by calling for the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire to begin generating electricity before a peak in electricity demand.

Electricity supplies have become tighter than expected during the heatwave because gas-fired power stations have struggled to generate electricity at their maximum capacity owing to the unusually high temperatures. At the same time wind turbines have slowed because of low wind speeds.

A string of power stations were unable to produce electricity on Wednesday because of planned maintenance work which often takes place during the summer, but even available gas plants produced less electricity than usual owing to the heat.

Gas plants can struggle to produce electricity at normal levels during high temperatures, according to experts at the energy data company EnAppSys, and it is normal for their power output to fall during heatwaves. They rely on a steady flow of air through its compressor, according to the energy technology firm Wartsila. It takes more energy to compress hot, humid air to the same mass as air which is cooler and drier, so many power plants become less efficient as the outside temperature rises.

Thomas Edwards, an analyst at consultancy Cornwall Insight, said: “I feel solidarity with the power stations finding it too hard to do anything today.”

Electricity output from Britain’s wind farms, which generated 30% of the UK’s electricity in the first quarter of this year, fell to lows of 4% on Wednesday afternoon.

The UK recorded its hottest August day in 17 years as temperatures climbed to over 36C earlier this week, and hot temperatures set a new record for central London for the longest stretch of high temperatures in almost six decades.

Ratcliffe is one of Britain’s few remaining coal-fired power stations, which are all due to shut down by 2025 under the government’s ban on coal-fired power.

“It brings to an end the coal free run, but Britain has operated for almost 3,300 hours without coal so far in 2020 – over 60% of the year,” National Grid said via Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.

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Battery storage boost to power greener electricity grid

Government to relax planning legislation to make it easier to construct large batteries to store renewable energy from solar and wind farms across the UK.

The government announced it will relax planning legislation to make it easier to construct large batteries to store renewable energy from solar and wind farms across the UK.

Removing barriers for energy storage projects, which are discouraging bolder investment decisions in larger battery facilities, could treble the number of batteries serving the electricity grid. It will help bring about storage cells that are 5 times bigger than those currently available.

The UK has the largest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world, however because the availability and speed of wind is not constant, energy can sometimes be produced when it is not needed and then lost.

Today’s move will see ministers introduce secondary legislation to remove barriers for storage projects above 50 MW in England and 350 MW in Wales, meaning more clean energy can be stored and used all year round.

Energy storage has played a key role in balancing the UK’s electricity system during the 20% drop in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring what was produced was used efficiently.

Minster for Energy and Clean Growth Kwasi Kwarteng said:

The key to capturing the full value of renewables is in ensuring homes and businesses can still be powered by green energy even when the sun is not shining, or the wind has stopped blowing.

Removing barriers in the planning system will help us build bigger and more powerful batteries, creating more green-collar jobs and a smarter electricity network.

Flexible technologies like batteries will form part of the UK’s smarter electricity grid, supporting the integration of more low-carbon power, heat and transport technologies, which it is estimated could save the UK energy system up to £40 billion by 2050.

Last month ministers invested £10 million in the world’s largest and first liquid air battery facility in Manchester. The 50 MW project, to be built in Trafford, will be able to store energy for longer than a lithium battery – helping power 200,000 homes. But today’s announcement could usher in batteries that are even bigger.

Head of Markets at National Grid Electricity System Operator, Kayte O’Neill, said:

How we operate Great Britain’s grid is changing, with record levels of renewable sources generating our power. Storage can help us make the most of this green energy, using it to manage peaks and troughs in demand and operate the electricity system as efficiently as possible - keeping costs down for consumers too.

The government is investing more than £3 billion in low-carbon innovation, as the UK aims to end its contribution to climate change entirely by 2050.

Work begins in Lincolnshire on world's longest subsea power cable

Construction work has begun in Lincolnshire on the world’s longest subsea power cable, which will run between Britain and Denmark to share renewable energy between the two countries.

The 475-mile (765km) cable is a joint-venture between National Grid in the UK and Denmark’s Energinet. By 2023, the high-voltage, direct-current link will transmit the equivalent of enough electricity to power 1.5m British homes between Bicker Fen in Lincolnshire and the South Jutland region in Denmark.

The €2bn Viking Link project will surpass the 450-mile North Sea link, which will begin importing Norwegian hydropower to the

Viking Link is one of several new super-cable projects, which are each considered a significant step towards the UK’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions because National Grid will be able to tap more renewable energy resources to replace fossil fuels.

The UK has about 5GW of power cable capacity connecting Britain’s electricity system to power generated in the Netherlands, France and the Republic of Ireland. By the middle of the decade, this capacity is expected to rise fivefold to 25GW through a string of projects including more subsea cables to France and Ireland as well as new connections with Norway, Denmark, Germany and Belgium.

A more ambitious project has been proposed to connect Britain to Iceland via a 620-mile subsea cable, but progress on these plans has been slow.

Mike Elmer, National Grid’s project director, said the Viking Link cable would play a vital role in the UK’s net zero carbon ambitions by increasing Britain’s access to “a cleaner, greener supply of electricity, which will make energy more secure and affordable”.

The project also means less homegrown renewable energy will go to waste on days where there is more wind and solar power than the UK can use, because National Grid would export the extra electricity via the cable rather than call for wind and solar farms to be turned off.

Kwasi Kwarteng, the minister for energy and clean growth, said the project would “put Lincolnshire firmly at the heart of our economic recovery” and create jobs across the county.

“It will also bolster our energy security, reduce bills for consumers, and give our homegrown renewable generators a greater chance to export zero-carbon electricity around the world,” the minister said.

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Homeowners to get £2 billion towards insulation costs

Homeowners will receive £2 billion in financial incentives to insulate their homes as part of an economic recovery scheme set to be announced by the Chancellor.

The funding is part of an expected £3 billion green package Rishi Sunak will unveil on Wednesday to create jobs, upgrade buildings and protect the environment as part of efforts to rebuild the economy after Covid-19.

The scheme will also include a £1 billion programme to transform schools, hospitals and other public buildings so they are greener and more energy efficient.

According to The Sun, the Green Homes Grant scheme will allow households to receive vouchers worth up to £5,000 to use on environmentally-friendly additions such as insulation, low-energy lighting and energy-efficient doors.

Some of the nation’s poorest households will reportedly be able to access vouchers worth up to £10,000.

The paper reports the programme will commence in September and could save families up to £600 a year on energy bills, according to Treasury estimates.

The recovery package will also include £1 billion for public buildings to pay for measures such as insulation, efficiency and green heating technology to cut emissions and save energy in places such as schools, hospitals, military bases and prisons.

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73.5% of Londoners Changed Usual Mode of Transport Due to Ultra Low Emission Zone

If cities want to clean up their air and get people using healthier, more climate-friendly modes of transport, London has demonstrated a solution that genuinely works. Its new-ish “Ultra Low Emissions Zone,” which was established on April 8, 2019, has led to major shifts in transportation patterns. That said, there are also some downsides.

A survey conducted by Bikesure in March found the following, via Bikesure:

• 65.3% of Londoners changed their mode of transport for the ULEZ

• 19.6% of those who changed their usual mode of transport now use a low-emissions motorcycle or scooter/moped

• 26.7% can’t afford to drive in the ULEZ

• 11.3% of respondents thought the ULEZ was a bad idea

• 73.5% changed their usual transport before the ULEZ was introduced or within three months

• 30.9% of people said that they won’t be able to afford to drive/ride in London after the ULEZ is expanded in 2021.

You can actually drive in the ULEZ without any charges if you have a clean enough car — an electric car or at least a Euro 4 petrol-engine car or Euro 6 diesel-engine car. However, if your vehicle doesn’t qualify as clean enough, you have to pay £12.50 a day to enter the zone or you could be fined £160.

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Tesla granted electricity generation licence in the UK

The electric car manufacturer and technology firm hopes to develop virtual power plants in the UK and in other countries using its ‘Autobidder’ real-time trading and control platform

Energy regulator Ofgem has published a release stating: “The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority hereby gives notice pursuant to section 6A(5) of the Electricity Act 1989 that on 12 June 2020 an electricity generation licence was granted under section 6(1)(a) of the Act to Tesla Motors Limited… ….authorising it to generate electricity in the area specified in Schedule 1 for the purpose of giving a supply to any premises or enabling a supply to be so given.”

The electric car manufacturer and technology firm originally applied for the licence last May – it hopes to develop virtual power plants in the UK and in other countries using its ‘Autobidder’ real-time trading and control platform, which aggregates distributed energy resources and works to balance demand and supply.

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Britain goes coal-free for two months – longest period since industrial revolution

Britain is on course to pass an energy milestone as it reaches two months of coal-free power generation on Wednesday – the longest period the country has gone without using the fossil fuel since the industrial revolution.

The new record is due in part to the coronavirus crisis, which with the halting of manufacturing and increased levels of home-working has seen demand for electricity plummet by an average of 15 to 20 per cent.

But it also comes as renewable energy sources have contributed more than ever to the power-mix. This is due to growing numbers of facilities coming online, combined with sunny and windy weather this spring.

Just 10 years ago, coal-fired power stations contributed up to 40 per cent of Britain’s energy, and as recently as 2015, on many days of the year, coal contributed more than 50 per cent of the power used by the grid, and it still made up 25 per cent of the total power mix in 2016, according to records kept by Drax Electric Insights.

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British battery firms join forces in bid to develop UK's first gigafactory

AMTE Power and Britishvolt talk up project – reportedly worth £4bn – to feed growing demand for electric vehicles and battery storage

The UK could be on course to deliver its first 'gigafactory', after battery developers AMTE Power and Britishvolt yesterday agreed to jointly assess the potential for a multi-billion pound battery facility capable of feeding rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and power storage projects.

The two British firms have signed an agreement focused around their shared ambitions to create and expand a domestic manufacturing supply chain for a "diverse portfolio" of lithium ion batteries, they said, as transport shifts towards electrification in support of the UK's 2050 net zero goal.

Their ultimate aim is to develop a 30+ gigawatt hour factory - dubbed the GigaPlant - which they claim could create up to 4,000 British jobs, and help curb the need to import battery components from Asia at significant monetary and environmental cost.

At present UK electric car manufacturing is heavily reliant on battery components from abroad, raising significant potential challenges for the sector should trade tariffs emerge in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Britishvolt CEO Leo Carlstrom said meeting the UK government's goal to phase out sales of fossil fuel cars by 2035 or earlier and shift towards a low carbon electricity grid would "necessitate the unprecedented electrification of vehicles, and reliance on renewable energy will require extensive battery storage".

"It is costly and carbon-intensive to have lithium ion batteries imported from the Far East, and this GigaPlant would cement a solid onshore supply chain to ensure quality and eliminate future uncertainty of supply," he added.

The two firms, which came together with the support of the UK's Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), are also both working on their own individual plans to scale up battery making facilities across the UK.

Britishvolt, which was only founded in December, has five potential UK locations for its own large scale facility, and intends to raise £1.2bn next year to fund the first phase of the project to produce 10GWh of batteries, according to the Financial Times

AMTE Power, meanwhile, already operates a battery production facility in Thurso, Scotland, and has plans for another large scale 1-5GWh per year factory that it hopes to bring online in 2023, with two potential sites identified in Dundee and Teesside.

The two firms could potentially even combine their planned sites in order to deliver a much larger-scale battery making facility, they told the FT.

Kevin Brundish, CEO at AMTE Power, said the current coronavirus crisis had further highlighted the need for the UK to have a robust domestic supply chain for batteries, and that the creation of a GigaPlant "would place the UK in a strong position to service automotive and energy storage markets".

"The scalable production of lithium ion cells is key to electrifying vehicles and would drive new manufacturing revenues and new employment, and can be built on AMTE's focus on the supply of specialised cells, thereby continuing the country's tradition of excellence in battery cell innovation," he added.

UK household energy bills to soar by £32 per month

Survey by says comparethemarket.com puts price on extra domestic energy used by families confined to home and staff working remotely.

British households’ energy bills are set to rise by a third, with an average increase of £32 per month, as consumers use more energy while confined to their homes.

During the nationwide shutdown, usage of home appliances including dishwashers, washing machines, ovens, televisions and lighting has soared, according to new research from the price comparison site comparethemarket.com.

The website found that almost three-quarters (72%) of the 2,000 consumers they surveyed reported increased energy use during the lockdown, with almost half of people (48%) saying more members of the household were working from home.

The extra usage could lead to a 37% rise in energy bills, according to the price comparison site, which it calculates would push up household bills by £32.31 per month on average, or £387 over a year.

If households continue to work from home over a longer period of time, the website estimates the average annual cost of a combined gas and electricity bill could rise from around £1,034 to £1,421.

Higher energy bills were a concern for almost half of those surveyed (44%), who worry that working from home could lead to unaffordable bills.

Consumers are currently saving money usually spent on eating out and travel, said Peter Earl, head of energy at comparethemarket.com, but increased time indoors will lead to greater energy usage.

“Many are understandably worried about how they will manage this increased cost, particularly if they are a high energy consumption household,” he said.

Around a third of households (36%) say that they are turning down their central heating during the day, and over a quarter (27%) are limiting how much lighting they use.

The price comparison site recommends consumers contact their energy provider or consider switching supplier to find a better deal.

As many as 15m UK households are on their suppliers’ least-competitive standard variable tariff, according to energy regulator Ofgem, which costs on average £362 per year more than the cheapest fixed tariffs available on the market.

Ofgem’s latest price cap for households on standard variable tariffs, which is designed to guarantee a fair price for energy customers, was lowered on 1 April, and will remain in place for six months.

However, the latest price cap was calculated before recent falls in wholesale energy prices to 10-year lows.