Electricity generated by solar panels on fields and homes outstripped all other single sources of energy yesterday afternoon, in what looks to be a historic first. The UK isn't known for being a sunny place, and in terms of renewables it has more of an association with wind energy. Yet for around three hours, solar … Continue reading On Sunday afternoon, UK solar generated more electricity than any other single source
Europe is facing a gas problem that can’t be solved with LNG
Gas networks in NW Europe (but not the UK) are generally divided into L-gas (low calorific gas) and H-gas (high calorific gas). The dependence on one large field for L-gas is becoming apparent, and with this field facing production restrictions, problems may occur before the L-gas networks can be converted into H-gas networks. Using H-gas in L-gas networks is unsafe, and many domestic/commercial appliances can only work with a certain range of gas.
Great Britain: her natural & industrial resources (circa 1942)
Thoughts on the UK's natural and industrial resources, circa 1942.
The core of energy policy in 2017
Energy policy is fundamentally about 'balancing' the trilemma - something that symbolises the need for affordable energy, secure energy, and environmentally friendly energy.
A watershed moment for energy
According to the IEA's World Energy Investment report, published earlier this week, investment in electricity overtook investment for oil and gas for the first time ever. This is important, as we are currently at a crossroads for our energy transition. Investments today will have reverberating impacts 10, 20, 30 years to come, as certain networks will become committed to certain energy sources. Yet there is a reluctance to make these decisions, as the backdrop to electricity overtaking O&G investment is a 12% drop in global energy investment.
The British ‘price cap’ in the past
A look back at the British experience of price regulation in the past and how I think the policy landscape shifted back to price regulation
What does the next French President mean for British energy policy?
France faces a crossroads in its politics. What does this mean for UK energy?
Gas comes full circle
[Featured image source] Town gas - then and now The Empire Exhibition was held in Wembley, 1924, North London. In a poster advertising that exhibition, the muck and soot of coal was transformed into a clean and glowing figure of a healthy man - representing natural gas. As recent as 60-odd years ago, British society … Continue reading Gas comes full circle
Thoughts on the Israeli economy 6/7
Gas sector? Note: this was written in 2015 What is currently not a driver of the Israeli economy is export-based trade of natural resources. Historically, given its small size and not ideal location, Israel was not been blessed with raw materials or naturally occurring resources in abundance. However, this is potentially about to change, with … Continue reading Thoughts on the Israeli economy 6/7
A united energy union? Perspectives on the trilemma for Germany & Poland
What does German and Polish energy policy mean for 'the Russian threat'? Poland and Germany have taken separate paths towards an energy transition - that of ‘energy security’ for Poland, and ‘sustainability’/minimal environmental impact for Germany; both Germany and Poland’s transitions could threaten Russia’s own energy policy - which is partially reliant on exporting a … Continue reading A united energy union? Perspectives on the trilemma for Germany & Poland