US Prepares to Adopt Natural Gas as the Fuel of the Future

A growing dependence on natural gas will see the US introduce 27 new storage sites by the end of 2016, states a new report by international energy analysts GlobalData. The report explains that as the US plans to generate up to 80% of its electricity through gas-fired plants by 2035, the working capacity of its … Read more

Saving Water With Wind Power

The power sector is the one of the world’s biggest consumers of water, but one source – wind power – uses very little water to produce electricity. All fossil fuels and nuclear need significant quantities of water to pump crude oil out of the ground, remove pollutants from power plant exhausts, flush residues after fossil … Read more

8 Member States Drag Their Feet on EU Internal Energy Market

Eight Member States are being slow to take the necessary measures to complete the internal EU energy market by 2014. To achieve this, timely and complete transposition of EU legislation on the single market of gas and electricity into national law is crucial. Opening energy markets for competition is key to competitiveness of the EU … Read more

Petrol and Gas Production Down in the UK But Low Carbon Energy Grows

UK primary energy production fell by a record 14 per cent in 2011 to 136.3 million tonnes of oil equivalent, following sharp falls in output from the UK Continental Shelf as a result of maintenance activity and slowdowns. On an annual basis, petroleum was down by 17 per cent, with gas production down by 20 … Read more

Offshore Wind Energy Drives European Energy Programme for Recovery

A mid-term review of the European Energy Programme for Recovery has found that offshore wind energy is the strongest performer of the three areas selected for funding in terms of investment, creating jobs and putting investment in place quickly. The Eur4 billion European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR) was launched in 2009 in response to … Read more

Energy Innovation Centre Announces Access to £29.2 Million of Funding

The Energy Innovation Centre has revealed access to £29.2 million of funding for innovators and companies looking to bring new ideas for tomorrow’s energy industry to market. Available from February 2012, the funding can be accessed via the Energy Innovation Centre and investments will be selected by five of the UK’s leading electricity distribution companies … Read more

Consumers Need Evidence That Northern Ireland Electricity Prices Are Fair

Following a series of significant increases in energy prices and within the context of Northern Ireland having the highest levels of fuel poverty in the UK (double that in Great Britain), the Consumer Council is urging the Executive and the Regulator to re-examine the McIldoon Report and ensure that energy policy and regulatory frameworks provide … Read more

EU Meets 2010 Renewable Electricity Goal But Ambitious 2030 Target Needed

The EU achieved its 2010 target of 21% of electricity consumption from renewable sources, according to latest analysis by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). In 2010 renewable energies produced between 665 Terrawatt hours (TWh) and 673 TWh, hitting the 21% target given consumption was around 3,115 TWh to 3,175 TWh. If renewable electricity production … Read more

UK Energy Firms Could Owe Millions in Compensation

Four million complaints were received last year by the UK’s ‘big six’ energy companies – British Gas, EDF Energy, Eon, Npower, SSE and Scottish Power – and tens of thousands were still unresolved after eight weeks, according to a new Which? investigation. A Which? survey reveals that 40% have had a problem with a gas … Read more