Latest news with #DepartmentForEnergy
Bloomberg
20 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Contested UK Oil Fields Get New Guidance for Environment Permits
Two controversial oil and gas fields in the UK — led by Equinor ASA and Shell Plc — will now have the opportunity to re-apply for environmental permits after the government published a guidance on how it will asses the climate impact of fossil fuel projects. While the state gave no indication of whether the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects could gain approvals, it said the long-awaited document provides 'greater clarity and stability' for the industry, according to a statement from the the UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The Independent
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
MP: Grenfell-style mistakes could be repeated over battery storage regulation
The Government risks repeating the mistakes of Grenfell unless safety regulations on battery storage units are brought forward, an MP has warned. Liberal Democrat John Milne said there were 'alarming parallels' with the systemic failure which led to the west London tower block fire. Currently there are no laws which specifically govern the safety of battery energy storage systems (Bess), according to the House of Commons library. However, individual batteries could be subject to product safety regulations. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Milne accused the Government of being 'too complacent' as he called for enforceable regulations for the design and construction of the storage systems. The MP for Horsham said: 'The Grenfell disaster was the end result of many failings by both individuals and companies, but at its heart it was a failure of regulation. 'The rules left things wide open for exploitation by cost-cutting developers, and that is exactly what happened. 'Just as with lithium-ion batteries, a new technology, in this case cladding, was being used at scale for the first time without proper understanding of the risks. The time to act is now.' He continued: 'The Government itself has responded to all questions from myself and others to say that it considers the present regulatory regime to be robust. I am tempted to say pride comes before a fall. 'In the last few weeks a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman has stated that battery fires at storage sites are rare in the UK, we already have high standards in place that require manufacturers and industry to ensure batteries are safe throughout their lifespan. 'This is just too complacent. 'Fires as a result of cladding were also incredibly rare, but that did not save 72 lives at Grenfell.' Mr Milne said the industry would benefit from clear guidance, before adding: 'Any guidance needs to cover-off a number of areas, including transport of batteries to the site, design and construction, fire-fighting, ongoing inspection and decommissioning. 'In the short term, if the Government is for any reason still reluctant to regulate, perhaps it could issue clear national guidelines which are capable of being updated annually. 'Enforcement might then take place through the insurance industry, who would be likely to insist that any new applications followed such guidelines, as no project can go ahead without insurance, it is enforcement by the back door. 'Grenfell was a wholly predictable tragedy. A similar fire at Lakanal House in Camberwell, which killed six people, should have made us understand the risk, but the warning wasn't heeded and history took its course. 'We can't go back in time to stop Grenfell, but we can act now to avoid making the same mistake again with battery energy storage systems.' Elsewhere in the debate, Conservative MP for Mid Buckinghamshire Greg Smith said there should be minimum distances between battery storage sites and housing. Mr Smith said: 'This is not a debate about the principle of energy storage, although I am in principle opposed to such schemes taking agricultural land and challenging our food security, but today's debate, which is deeply concerning, and what this House must urgently address, are the real, growing, and too often overlooked safety implications of these installations, particularly when placed in close proximity to villages, and rural road networks ill-equipped to support them.' He added: 'At the very least the Government should introduce clear national guidelines on the siting of Bess installations, including minimum separation distances from residential properties, fire resilience standards, mandatory site-specific risk assessments and restrictions on placing these facilities on, or near, rural roads.' SNP MP for Aberdeen North, Kirsty Blackman, said developers should pay towards fire mitigation measures. She said: 'If we're saying to those organisations that are creating the battery storage sites, you will need to pay for the fire safety assessment, you will need to consult the local fire and you will need to pay for the training of those local fire teams in tackling fires at battery energy storage sites, I think that would be the most reasonable way forward. 'Ask them to pay for that training, because it's them that are going to be making a huge profit off it.' Energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh said: 'It is often claimed that there is no regulation in this sector because there is no specific law addressing battery safety. This is simply untrue. 'The safety and standards of batteries are assured throughout their life cycle. The Government is therefore confident that the safety risks posed by grid-scale batteries are relatively small and well managed.' She added there is 'scope to strengthen' the planning process.
Telegraph
04-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Bill for switching off wind farms hits £500m
Payments related to switching off wind farms in 2025 so far are equivalent to £3.3m a day – or £136,000 per hour. A row is growing in the energy industry over how to tackle the issue, with the Government currently looking at options to reform the market. One idea being considered is a break-up of the existing national market into different regions, or zones, that would see each part of the country pay a different price for electricity based on local supply and demand. This would mean the amount paid to wind farms in Scotland when there is too much power being generated would fall dramatically. It would also probably result in higher energy prices for households in London, southern England and the Midlands, given that these are areas where renewables are in short supply. Wind farms that were curtailed on Tuesday included the Seagreen offshore wind farm in the North Sea – the largest of its kind in Scotland – which was switched off for nearly three quarters of the time it was meant to operate last year. Investment fears Wind farm developers Scottish Power and SSE have argued that reforming the market will make it far harder to predict future revenues and could create huge uncertainty – potentially holding up major investment decisions on new schemes. This would also put the Government at risk of missing its 2030 clean power target, which requires huge amounts of generation capacity to be installed in the next five years. On Wednesday, a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman said: 'The National Energy System Operator's independent report shows we can achieve clean power by 2030 with cheaper electricity, even factoring in constraint payments. 'Through our clean power action plan, we will work with industry to rewire Britain, upgrade our outdated infrastructure to get renewable electricity on the grid and minimise constraint payments.' A spokesman for Neso, which manages the electricity grid, said: 'Neso takes its role to deliver a safe, secure and reliable national electricity network at least cost to consumers, extremely seriously. 'We are constantly looking for new ways to reduce costs associated with balancing electricity supply and demand on a second-by-second basis, as these costs are passed on to consumers in their electricity bill.'
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Will we see 'noisy heat pump' rows as Ed Miliband lets homeowners put them right next to neighbours?
Homeowners no longer need to get planning permission to install a heat pump less than one metre away from a neighbour's property, the government has said. As Labour battles to boost the number of heat pumps installed across Britain amid its net-zero drive, it eased the planning restriction. Before the announced change, homeowners needed planning permission if they wanted to install a heat pump within one metre of their neighbour's property amid concerns over noise. In locations where homes are close together or terraced, the former rule would often delay heat pump installations. The change relates to the installation of air source heat pumps. Most ground source heat pump installations already fall under permitted development rules and do not require additional planning consent. Air source heat pumps sit on the outside wall of a home and look similar to the air conditioning units seen outside many industrial buildings. The planning changes also included a relaxation of the rules for the size and number of heat pumps households can install. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, led by Ed Miliband, heat pumps typically have sound levels 'similar to a fridge'. However, some people have previously complained about heat pump noise, saying they can sound similar to industrial fan units found by restaurant kitchens. The government department said it commissioned independent research last year which concluded that noise complaints from air source heat pumps were rare and that heat pumps were generally perceived as being very quiet. For many homeowners concerns remain about the high cost of heat pumps, despite grants being available. Homeowners who want to make the leap from gas boiler to heat pump already have access to grants worth up to £7,500. Even with the grants, critics claim heat pumps remain an option that only a minority of households can afford. Thomas Clarke, who runs Asset Plumbing & Heating in London, told This is Money the planning rule easing will help his customers and business. He said: 'Previously, there would often be long delays and many customers had to pay extra for an architect in order to get a heat pump fitted. The easing of the planning rule is helping to streamline the process.' Clarke told This is Money that the government should provide more help to small and medium sized businesses to ensure they can afford to train up apprentices. He said a shortage in the number of people trained to install heat pumps was driving up the cost of installations for households. David Broom, new build partnerships director at Kensa, told This is Money: 'The changes will make it easier for households to install air source heat pumps without needing planning permission. 'Any move that removes barriers and helps more people switch to efficient, low-carbon heating should be welcomed.' He added: 'For ground source heat pumps, the good news is most installations already fall under permitted development, meaning they won't require planning consent. 'While these updates are a step in the right direction and should help boost uptake, more still needs to be done to make heat pumps accessible to every household. 'The most effective next move would be for the government to implement the long-awaited Future Homes Standard. This would end gas boiler installations in new developments, unlocking a market for around 200,000 heat pump installations each year.' A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson told This is Money: 'The energy shocks of recent years have shown the urgent need to upgrade British homes and our Warm Homes Plan will make them cheaper and cleaner to run, rolling out upgrades from new insulation to solar and heat pumps. 'We are helping more people get a heat pump, providing £7,500 towards the cost, and they are three times more efficient than gas boilers, enabling families to save around £100 a year by using a smart tariff. 'All heat pumps installed have to comply with strict sound emission limits.' How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Miliband sets out proposals for solar canopies above car parks
Supermarkets, offices and shopping centres could be required to install solar panels over their car parks under plans being considered by the Government. The plan to create 'solar carports' would generate energy to power homes, businesses and electric vehicles. The call for evidence from Ed Miliband's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will consider making solar panels mandatory for new car parks but also explore extending that to existing parking lots. It will also examine the cost of installing the panels above parking spaces. Officials believe that mandating the installation of solar panels in canopies over car parks would unlock 'underutilised' space, create shaded parking spots and more charging points for electric vehicles. Energy Secretary Mr Miliband said: 'Right now, the sun is shining on hundreds of thousands of car parking spaces across the country which could be used to power our homes and businesses. 'We want to work with businesses and car park operators to turn our car parks into solar carports to save families and businesses money with clean, homegrown British energy.' The Government estimates that an 80-space car park could save around £28,000 per year in electricity bills by installing solar carports and using all electricity generated.
