Platinum Jubilee – How has electricity changed during the Queen’s reign? When Queen Elizabeth first came to the throne, Britain was still using gas lamps on the streets. Seventy years on, most things have been electrified and we’re nearly at the point where we can operate our electricity system for short periods on 100% low carbon electricity. That’s a pretty amazing achievement! Today, we consume six times as much electricity as we did seven decades ago, as electricity increasingly powers our lives. From phones to laptops to electric vehicles, our need for leccy has grown exponentially. Where we get our electricity from has also changed over time as advances in new technologies have allowed Great Britain to draw on an increasingly diverse mix of technologies. Did you know that one turn of a wind turbine can power your home for a day? And who would have thought that by 2022 half of our electricity would regularly come from low carbon energy like wind, solar and nuclear? By 2035 we’ll have gone even further by operating a 100% zero carbon electricity network all the time. Britain's Gas Grid to Accept 20% Hydrogen Blend by 2023, Preparations Underway Britain's gas grid will, from 2023, start accepting a blend of up to 20% hydrogen as part of the UK's effort to decarbonize its infrastructure. The Energy Network Association (ENA) published an elaborate plan on how the country's five gas grid companies will meet the government's target as a replacement for up to a fifth of the natural gas currently used. Based on ENA's report, the country's gas-powered plants will be able to use blended gas to generate cleaner electricity. https://www.pipeline-journal.net/news/britains- gas-grid-accept-20-hydrogen-blend-2023- preparations-underway Octopus and Ilke launch clean energy scheme with no bills for householders UK power supplier Octopus Energy has joined forces with housebuilder Ilke Homes to develop a renewable scheme that aims to guarantee home buyers no energy bills. The joint project between Octopus and Ilke, which builds prefab homes in factories, is designed to wean the country off fossil fuels in what the companies say is a first for the UK market. https://www.ft.com/content/b81307f1-94cc-4b0f- 9b64-1ac072dfe9dd Kremlin says no more gas cuts to European customers expected The Kremlin said on Thursday it does not expect Gazprom to cut gas supplies to any more European customers, adding that its scheme to make buyers pay for their gas in roubles was functioning as intended. https://financialpost.com/pmn/business- pmn/kremlin-says-no-more-gas-cuts-to- european-customers-expected Ofgem publishes full report following six-month review into networks’ response to Storm Arwen Storm Arwen saw nearly 1 million homes in Britain lose power in November 2021, with nearly 4,000 homes having to cope in appalling conditions without power for over a week. Ofgem has published its findings following a six-month review launched in December 2021 to establish what went wrong and what industry needs to change to provide a more effective response to severe weather events. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/ofgem- publishes-full-report-following-six-month-review- networks-response-storm-arwen Major gas storage site could reopen The UK’s largest natural gas storage site – Rough – could reopen to help bolster security of supply. Centrica has submitted a formal application to the North Sea energy regulator to reopen the huge site, five years after it was closed for economic reasons. Rough, which is located 18 miles off the east coast of Yorkshire, used to account for 70% of Britain’s natural gas storage capacity. Major oil-producing nations agree to accelerate their output over next two months to cool sharp rise in fuel prices Major oil-producing nations have agreed to accelerate their output over the next two months to cool a sharp rise in fuel prices. Members of the Opec cartel said they would step up their supply, amid a squeeze caused by Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine. The group, which includes Saudi Arabia and Iran, agreed to increase production by 648,000 barrels per day in July and August following a meeting of its ministers. https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/a rticle-10879639/Major-oil-producing-nations- agree-accelerate-output.html Put energy efficiency ahead of gas bill bailouts, says CBI chief Danker The head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has called on the Government to upgrade the UK’s leaky housing stock rather than spending billions on massive energy bills every year. Director-general Tony Danker said that the UK will need to invest around £5.2 billion every year until 2035 to properly insulate its homes, which lose heat faster than any in Europe. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/cbi- government-europe-confederation-of-british- industry-experts- b1004509.html UK Energy Minister to give evidence to MPs on grid connectivity in Wales Marking its final evidence session exploring Grid capacity in Wales, the Welsh Affairs Committee will be putting questions to Energy Minister Greg Hands. https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/162 /welsh-affairs-committee/news/171251/uk- energy-minister-to-give-evidence-to-mps-on- grid-connectivity-in-wales/ ----- Locational pricing 'could save £30bn by 2035' Reforming the UK electricity market so that wholesale prices reflect local supply and demand conditions could save consumers £30bn by 2035, according to a new report. The study by Energy Systems Catapult also said that moving to locational pricing would more accurately reflect the real-time challenges of managing supply and demand on a low carbon grid. In turn that would encourage more efficient operation and the right balance of investment in generation, grid distribution, and technologies that provide flexibility and storage. Read more Nuclear plant faces more delays The Hinkley Point C power station in Suffolk has been delayed again for around a year with costs also rising further. Developer EDF said the forecast date for starting generation was now June 2027 with projected costs of £25bn-£26bn. EDF blamed factors including the impact of the Covid pandemic on supply chains. "The risk of further delay of the two units is assessed at 15 months, assuming the absence of a new pandemic wave and no additional effects of the war in Ukraine," it said in a statement. Read more UK inflation hits 40-year high of 9% as energy bills soar Prices are rising at their fastest rate for 40 years as higher energy bills hit millions of households. UK inflation, the rate at which prices rise, jumped to 9% in the 12 months to April, up from 7% in March. The surge came as millions of people saw an unprecedented £700-a-year increase in energy costs last month. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61483175 Energy switching drops to a new low April saw the fewest switches recorded in a single month since 2012, according to a new report https://www.energylivenews.com/2022/05/19/ene rgy-switching-hits-a-new-low/ The surreal, but also real, problem of Britain's gas glut The UK energy system is drowning in natural gas. There is so much of the stuff in this country that for the time being at least no-one is quite sure what to do with it. If at this stage you're wondering whether I've lost my mind or that you're reading an article from a year or two ago: no. https://news.sky.com/story/the-surreal-but-also- real-problem-of-britains-gas-glut-12614797 Quarterly price cap 'could drive down energy bills' Analysts have said frequent reviews of the price cap level could reduce bills by 5% https://www.energylivenews.com/2022/05/19/qua rterly-price-cap-could-drive-down-energy-bills/ Comparison site Energy Helpline collapses as it becomes the latest casualty of the energy crisis Comparison site Energy Helpline has become the latest casualty of the energy crisis after collapsing into administration. The 20-year-old website provides a free energy switching service to help customers find the best gas and electricity deal. https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/art icle-10736433/Comparison-site-Energy-Helpline- collapses-administration.html