Vic(toria) Parrett

CfD renewables auction (AR7) 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥: we don't yet where price will settle

AR7 needs to secure at least 8.4GW of offshore wind, acc experts

This extra UK power gen would ⬇️ gas imports over 3️⃣❎ as much as any new North Sea licences
eciu.net/media/press...

Ecotricity came out strongly against zonal pricing, along with the vast majority of the renewable energy sector.

The right decision and a relief to finally have it(!) The UK will only reduce costs for billpayers by maintaining a healthy and investable renewable energy industry that can build govt's Clean Power 2030 goals. This decision will save and build jobs across industry - now let's build out the grid!

Bill Gates quoted in the FT "for the first time in decades, the number of kids dying around the world will likely go up this year...because of massive cuts to foreign aid".

US withdrawing funding from the global vaccine alliance is the latest blow.

Some energy bits as I go through the SR

- DESNZ easily one of the biggest winners 16% avg growth in capital budget excl. Sizewell investment
- Despite small numbers in the speech Warm Homes gets it's full £13.2b promise

𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗳𝗗 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟳

With the CfD AR7 timeline announced last week, around 𝟴.𝟱 𝗚𝗪 of offshore wind capacity meet the current eligibility criteria:

Reform’s green energy assault in Lincolnshire ‘puts 12,200 jobs at risk’ Party intends to block projects despite net zero industries contributing nearly £1bn to local economy, analysis shows Reform UK’s plans to obstruct green energy projects in Lincolnshire put at risk almost £1bn in local investment and more than 12,000 jobs, analysis suggests. No 10 said it would fight any attempt by the party to dismantle or block renewable investment in the area, after its deputy leader, Richard Tice, said Reform-controlled councils and its mayors would be able to block what he called “net stupid zero” infrastructure, including solar farms, pylons and battery storage systems. Continue reading...

Reform’s green energy assault in Lincolnshire ‘puts 12,200 jobs at risk’

At at this point in the energy transition and with the extent of investment required I don't think the politics can of this can be ignored. Zonal would be such a radical change for the energy sector it would severely risk undermining the success of CP30 and level of public support for renewables.

I don't envy anyone involved given the rising temp of the conversation but with a decision carrying such significant political risk for the Government, advisors and politicians need to fully understand the leap of faith they would be taking and the likely consequences of this announcement.

With all the recent press on the energy debate around zonal pricing, I've written a new blog for @renewableuk.bsky.social about the political and economic risks associated with going for zonal which anyone in govt or advising needs to know before pressing go.
www.renewableuk.com/news-and-res...

🚨Some major errors & misleading claims from experienced presenter Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4 Today, when discussing British Steel with Treasury Minister James Murray

I hope these are corrected on tomorrow's programme, and Robinson sticks to the facts in future.

Here's what he got wrong... 🧵

It’s a truly absurd argument to suggest net zero is over because the government has taken control of a single steel plant. If anything it increases the chances of the site being transitioned to cleaner technology.

NEW: Govt data CONFIRMS our estimate that UK greenhouse gas emissions fell by 4% to 371MtCO2e in 2024

As we said earlier this month, this took UK emissions to lowest level since 1872 – with coal use at its lowest since 1666 (!)

Our analysis: www.carbonbrief.org/...

More people would watch that tbf

FACTCHECK: Why Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is wrong about UK's net-zero goal

In which I take a look at the evidence contradicting Badenoch's speech, from the science on the 2050 target to fact gas is causing high electricity prices + much much more

www.carbonbrief.org/...

📢ANALYSIS: UK emissions fell 3.6% in 2024 to lowest since 1872

🏭Coal lowest since 1666, when Great Fire ravaged London
🚗EVs pushed oil down despite more traffic, saving £1.7bn
🌇Gas down on "cleanest ever" power
📈📉Since 1990, CO2 -54% / GDP +84%

www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/9

Energy price cap analysis: gas adding 7x more to bills than renewables Analysis of the new energy bill price cap shows seven times the cost of schemes that support renewables

Energy price cap analysis: gas adding 7x more to bills than renewables

Analysis of the new energy bill price cap shows seven times the cost of schemes that support renewables.
eciu.net/media/press...

The Times have 4 articles on the landing page about Meghan's new Netflix show. The Telegraph only have 3. I really do feel there are stories the newspapers might be missing... or getting buried at least.

The UK’s net zero economy now generates £83.1 billion in GVA and has grown 10% in the past year, new report has found.

Commenting on findings, Louise Hellem, Chief Economist at the CBI Economics said: “It is clear, you can’t have growth without green."
eciu.net/media/press...

Sounds more like a fish disco 🪩

Think Reform’s net-zero announcements may well be their first big mistake since their rise in the polls. There would definitely be scope to criticise specific climate measures, but trying to actively reverse shift to renewables lands well on wrong side of British public opinion.

A big win for green growth, and the result of a lot of hard work between the offshore wind industry and government to get this over the line. 🌊🍾

I know 2 people who’ve had bags stolen at Euston only in the last few months. Surely there’s a way to crack down if it’s that regular and blatant.

Big oil spent $445m in last election cycle to influence Trump and Congress, report says Investments ‘likely to pay dividends’, analysis says, as Trump unleashes dozens of pro-fossil fuel executive actions

Big oil spent $445m in last election cycle to influence Trump and Congress, report says

Investments ‘likely to pay dividends’, analysis says, as Trump unleashes dozens of pro-fossil fuel executive actions.
@dharna.bsky.social

A new report published today by Public First also calls for the clean energy sector to be a central focus of the industrial strategy, identifying it as the ‘first priority’ and a key enabler to meeting the Govt’s goals.

Find out more ⬇️

www.publicfirst.co.uk/industrial-strategy-commission.html

Oh I so need to give this a go. Friends & colleagues down south seem so suspicious when I tell them about butter pies. Morrisons used to make the best ones (only available in north west stores) but stopped a few years ago - a devastating day for food and culture.

Opinium poll of 2,000 British adults:

Overall, the majority of the British public think Elon Musk is having a negative impact on British politics (53%)

with only 12% thinking he is having a positive impact

and 16% thinking his is having a mix of positive and negative impact

Is this remotely useful? We're all using product. You can be realistic about the impact of individual change without absolving responsibility for a system we all operate within.

DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker: Renewable energy, Spring 2024, UK

I do get some optimism though from public attitudes towards the transition (at least in the UK) remaining highly supportive of clean energy across voters. And while we may focus on the economic benefit point, sustainability is generally the larger reason for support. (www.gov.uk/government/s...)

Sad to see increasing visible disasters while Trump & others continue to vilify renewables on the grounds of cost and spurious environmental reasons. All this when we know and can see the cost to us (£$, livelihoods, nature) of not acting is far far higher than any transition cost will ever be.