AtkinsRéalis has secured a design contract for the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk, encompassing key elements of the project.

AtkinsRéalis has been awarded a design contract for key components of the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk, in support of the project’s development.

The contract covers the design of critical elements of the proposed nuclear power station, including the Conventional Island, Balance of Plant, Heat Sink, and concept design for permanent roads and networks to facilitate construction and long term operation.

AtkinsRéalis has been involved in various aspects of the Sizewell C project since 2014, contributing to site establishment, enabling works, detailed earthwork design and concept designs for various aspects of the facility.

They are also responsible for the overarching design and engineering management of civil works at the proposed plant.

Upon its completion, the planned Sizewell C nuclear power station is predicted to produce sufficient electricity to meet the energy needs of six million homes for 60 years.

Image: Sizewell C

Renewable energy generation hit a Q3 record in Europe, driven by wind and solar power, according to a new report

Renewable energy generation achieved a record high in the European electricity market for the third quarter, according to a report by EnAppSys, an energy data analyst.

The report analysed trends in the European electricity market from 1st July to 30th September.

Renewable power generation during this period increased by 12% compared to Q3 2022, driven largely by substantial wind generation, which reached 95TWh, exceeding the 84TWh recorded in the same quarter of the previous year.

The report highlighted a sustained decline in wholesale prices, primarily driven by lower gas prices, abundant wind power and reduced electricity demand.

Negative prices were observed, especially in the early part of the quarter.

While prices remained generally stable from July onwards, a surge in electricity prices occurred in late August due to rising gas prices linked to an announced strike by Australian LNG workers.

Notably, total power demand in Europe continued to decline from Q1 2023, reaching 7% lower than in Q3 2022.

Gas-fired generation fell by 27% to 103TWh, marking the lowest level in recent quarters.

Nuclear generation slightly increased compared to Q3 2022, but coal and lignite generation saw a significant decline of approximately 38% compared to the same period.

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm has generated its first power, with the installation of the initial turbine among the 277 turbines located 130 kilometres off the UK coast

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm, set to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm, has achieved a significant milestone by producing its first power.

Located 130 kilometres off the coast of Yorkshire in UK waters, the Dogger Bank Wind Farm consists of 277 turbines with a combined capacity of 3.6GW, spread across three phases named Dogger Bank A, B, and C.

The project is being hailed for its potential to bolster energy security, create jobs, reduce electricity costs, and contribute to achieving net zero emissions.

The inauguration of the project’s first offshore wind turbine at Dogger Bank A has enabled the transmission of power to the UK’s national grid, utilising high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology, a UK wind farm first.

Each rotation of the massive 107-metre-long blades on Dogger Bank’s operational turbine can generate enough clean energy to power an average British home for two days.

Once fully operational, Dogger Bank is projected to provide clean energy equivalent to powering six million homes annually.

Dogger Bank is being developed and built by the UK’s SSE Renewables in a joint venture with Norway’s Equinor and Vårgrønn (a joint venture of Eni Plenitude and HitecVision).

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Offshore wind is critical to generating renewable, efficient energy that can power British homes from British seas.”

Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive of SSE, said: “There’s been lots of talk about the need to build homegrown energy supplies, but we are taking action on a massive scale.

“Dogger Bank will provide a significant boost to UK energy security, affordability and leadership in tackling climate change. This is exactly how we should be responding to the energy crisis.

“But it is also a landmark moment for the global offshore wind industry, with Dogger Bank demonstrating just what can be achieved when policymakers, investors, industry and communities work together to achieve something truly remarkable.”

Image: Dogger Bank

Ofgem has launched a consultation to address the rising issue of energy debt, with potential measures including a temporary adjustment to the price cap to mitigate energy company insolvency risk

Ofgem has initiated a consultation in response to the alarming rise in consumer energy debt.

Figures obtained by Ofgem this summer reveal that energy debt has reached a record high of £2.6 billion.

This concerning escalation is attributed to surging wholesale energy prices and broader cost of living challenges.

Under the current price cap regulations, energy suppliers can recover their efficient costs, including unrecoverable debt, through their service pricing.

However, as bad debt levels continue to rise, Ofgem is now considering introducing a one-time adjustment to the price cap.

This adjustment aims to mitigate the risk of energy companies going bankrupt or exiting the market due to insurmountable debt.

Analysis within the consultation suggests that such an adjustment could result in an average temporary increase of up to £17 per year (approximately £1.50 per month) in consumer bills.

This move is intended to offset the potential consequence of higher costs and deteriorating service standards for customers if energy suppliers find themselves in financial peril.

This was evident during the recent energy crisis when nearly 30 suppliers went out of business, leading to an additional charge of £82 for every energy customer to ensure households remained connected.

Tim Jarvis, Director General for Markets at Ofgem, said: “The scale of unrecoverable debt and the potential risk of suppliers leaving the market or going bust, which passes on even greater costs to households, means we must look at all the regulatory options available to us.

“Ofgem cannot subsidise energy or force businesses to sell it at a loss and suppliers must be in a position to offer high quality services to customers.

“We must consider the fairest way to maintain a stable energy market and we will do this in consultation with all our partners to ensure we are protecting the most vulnerable households.”

The energy market has become increasingly volatile, prompting energy experts to advise businesses to stay alert and consider greener energy options.

Businesses have been urged to remain watchful and explore greener technologies as the energy market continues to experience turbulence.

That’s according to commercial energy and sustainability consultancy Advantage Utilities which attributes this volatility to unforeseen outages and ongoing summer maintenance.

According to the consultancy’s latest quarterly analysis from commercial energy and sustainability consultancy Advantage Utilities, volatility has become the new norm in the energy sector.

While much of 2023 has seen a gradual easing of energy prices, the market has exhibited a saw-tooth pattern since early June.

Negative news has driven market prices sharply upwards despite bearish fundamentals, according to the report.

Commenting on the latest report, Advantage Utilities Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Grover, said: “Businesses must stay on top of the current energy market which remains extremely precarious.

“We’ve already witnessed volatile energy price changes in response to ongoing disruptions and that’s in spite of healthy gas storage levels. We also believe that energy prices will remain at current levels for a few years to come.”

Oil prices surged by 4% – experts have raised concerns that Middle East tensions stemming from the Israel-Gaza conflict could disrupt global oil supply chains

Oil prices experienced a significant jump, rising by 4% on Monday, as concerns emerged about the potential impact of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza on oil production in the Middle East.

The West Texas Intermediate, a key benchmark for US oil, surged to more than $86 (£70.5) per barrel, while the price of Brent crude also saw a notable increase in early Asian trading.

Neither Israel nor the Palestinian territories are major oil producers themselves – however, the Middle East region plays a crucial role in global oil supply, accounting for nearly a third of the world’s oil production.

The recent escalation of tensions began with a wave of attacks initiated by the Hamas militant group on Saturday.

Gas boiler usage witnessed a substantial winter decline, notably in rented households, falling from 72% in winter 2021 to 54% in winter 2022.

Gas central heating usage showed a notable decrease, especially in rented households, dropping from 72% in winter 2021 to 54% in winter 2022.

That’s according to a new government report which suggests during last winter there was a notable shift in home heating methods compared to the previous year.

The decline in the use of gas central heating was observed in owner-occupied households as well – from 82% to 60%.

The latest Public Attitudes Tracker also reveals that there was an increase in the use of alternative heating sources, including portable electric heaters (from 3% to 11%), solid fuel and wood heaters (from 1% to 7%), and natural gas heaters (from 1% to 4%).

Furthermore, the survey revealed that 41% of respondents paid significant attention to the amount of heat used in their homes during winter 2022.

This marked an increase compared to winter 2021 when only 27% reported being attentive to their heating costs.

The proportion of respondents who indicated they paid little or hardly any attention to their heating costs decreased from 25% to 15% during the same period.

These findings are likely influenced by rising energy prices and the overall cost of living, both of which have increased since winter 2021.

The UK experienced a record-breaking month for electricity smart meter installations in August, according to a report.

In August, 213,000 electricity smart meter installations were reported, reflecting a 9% increase from August 2022.

This figure surpassed the previous high for the year in March, which stood at 212,000 installations.

The growing trend of smart meter adoption is attributed to rising energy costs, as households use these devices to manage consumption and monitor bills.

To date, 1.576 million electricity smart meter installations have been completed in 2023, with East England, East Midlands and Southern England leading in installations.

Ministers are considering postponing the 2026 ban on oil-fired boilers, prompted by growing opposition from Conservative MPs and concerns about the impact on off-grid rural communities.

Ministers are reportedly contemplating a potential delay to the 2026 ban on oil-fired boilers.

The reconsideration comes in response to mounting opposition from Conservative MPs and escalating worries about the ban’s implications.

The proposed 2026 ban on oil-fired boilers is aimed at curbing carbon emissions and encouraging the adoption of greener heating alternatives.

However, this ban presents a particular challenge for approximately 1.7 million homes in off-grid rural areas across the UK.

These communities heavily rely on oil-fired boilers for heating, making them especially vulnerable to the policy change.

The ban could force homeowners in these regions to transition to more expensive heating solutions, primarily heat pumps, potentially imposing significant financial burdens.

Organisations like the Countryside Alliance have voiced their opposition, emphasizing that the ban could disproportionately affect rural communities.

Their concerns centre on the exacerbation of economic disparities and the risk of fuel poverty.

A source from Downing Street informed The Times that there is an ongoing discussion regarding various net zero policies, including the potential ban on gas boilers.

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “We have consulted on new regulations to phase out boilers in homes and non-domestic buildings off the gas grid from 2026. We will confirm our plans when we publish our response to the consultation in due course.

“We are fully focused on meeting our aim of 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028, having offered grants of £5,000 and £6,000 towards the cost, totalling £81 million in vouchers to installers in the first year of our Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

“But we recognise that not all properties will be suitable for a heat pump and no one will be forced to install one.”

Experts have warned that the lack of clear regulatory guidance is discouraging most landlords from investing in energy efficiency upgrades.

Certain policy shifts unveiled by the Prime Minister yesterday could result in renters collectively facing an additional £1 billion in energy expenses.

The ongoing gas crisis has shed light on the importance of a well-insulated home, even with an efficient gas boiler.

In cases where the building’s fabric cannot effectively retain heat, energy bills can remain high.

This issue is particularly pressing for renters who rely on their landlords to maintain their living spaces.

According to the Social Market Foundation’s research, a significant portion of landlords appear to be in a state of indecision, reluctant to undertake energy efficiency enhancements without a clear understanding of the regulatory framework.

The think tank said the recent announcement regarding the withdrawal of support for insulation costs is likely to exacerbate this reluctance, ultimately placing the financial burden on renters to cover the costs.

Image: patpitchaya / Shutterstock