Author Archives: cris

OFGEM has announced a £22 billion upgrade to the nation’s gas and electrcity networks, but National Grid says it’s not enough. There’s no doubt that if we increase our use of electricity, in particular by using electric cars, we’re going to need much more distribution capacity. Equally, as long as we remain committed to fossil […]

The Environment Agency has published guidance on purchasing, surrendering and trading CRC carbon allowances. Allowances must be purchased, paid for and surrendered by 31st July. Why anyone would want to trade is not clear as there is no limit on the number of allowances that can be purchased, the price is guaranteed to be the […]

In 2008 the government committed itself to requiring companies to report GHG emissions annually by April 2012, or account to Parliament for not doing so. Defra has just accounted to Parliament, explaining that ministers will make a decision “as soon as possible”. Is the government afraid that GHG reporting, like other environmental measures, will cost […]

The government today announces a competition to stimulate investment in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), including £125m for research and £1bn capital funding. Fossil fuel power stations – gas, coal – account for the majority of our electricity and for a very large proportion of CO2 emissions. New nuclear power stations, which produce no CO2 […]

Introduction Opening the Consultation The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published its latest consultation on the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme on 27th March 2012. The proposal document is accompanied by an impact assessment and a report from KPMG on the costs incurred by participants in setting up and managing compliance with […]

DECC has today published its latest consultation on simplifying the CRC. Maybe that means it won’t be abolished despite George Osborne’s hints! We have until 18th June to respond and there will be information sessions in London and Manchester – dates to be announced. I’m off to read the documents now. I’ll let you know […]

There was so little in the budget about the Carbon Reduction Commitment that the Chancellor decided to repeat most of it in three different places. Here’s what he actually said: “…the Government will consult on simplifying the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) energy
 efficiency scheme to reduce administrative burdens on business. Should very significant administrative savings […]

Four former directors of Friends of the Earth, Jonathon Porritt, Tony Juniper, Charles Secrett and Tom Burke, have written to the Prime Minister urging him to halt Britain’s nuclear power programme. We’ve heard anti-nuclear protests from the environment lobby for years, but this letter and the accompanying document make a number of strong commercial points. […]

We reported in November that ATH (Resources), a coal mining company, had appealed against being included as a full participant in the Carbon Reduction Commitment energy saving scheme. The decision of the DECC adjudicator has now been published. ATH operates the biggest conveyor in Europe and the electricity that this consumes brings the company up […]

Last week we had Vince Cable and the CBI calling for the Carbon Reduction Commitment to be scrapped in case it stifles economic growth. This week the airline industry – and the Americans and the Chinese – are lining up against the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. (EU ETS). The EU ETS has been around since […]