Commercial and market outlook

Editor’s Pick | The costs of the net zero transition

This article was originally published in Energy Spectrum Issue 705 on 9 March 2020. For recent news and analysis on the energy market, find out more about our weekly publication, Energy Spectrum, here. As the scale of the net zero challenge becomes clearer, Cornwall Insight Non-Executive Director Sonia Brown considers how the UK...

Regulation and policy

Editor’s Pick | Net zero: an evolution

This article was originally published on 28 January 2020 in Energy:2030 Issue 25. Welcome to the last Energy:2030 in its current format. From March, this publication will be called Energy: Net Zero and will be renewed with a dedicated and fresh focus on the challenge of transitioning our energy sector...

Low carbon generation

Editor’s Pick | A marathon and a sprint? What next for onshore renewables?

This article was originally published in Energy Spectrum Issue 702 on 17 February 2020. For recent news and analysis on the energy market, find out more about our weekly publication, Energy Spectrum, here. In this week’s Energy Perspective, we take a look at the renewables pipeline and ask whether the volume of new...

Regulation and policy

The Queen’s Speech – more of a waiting game for energy

Following the victory of the Conservative Party in the 2019 General Election, the Queen’s Speech – the second one this year – took place on 19 December, setting out the new government’s priorities for the next five years. Notable in its absence was any mention of a new Energy White...

Announcement

2019: a year of firsts for Cornwall Insight

This Christmas, our CEO, Gareth Miller has taken a look at how much the team has achieved during 2019. It has been a year of many firsts for us, some of which are highlighted in our infographic below. DOWNLOAD THE INFOGRAPHIC HERE For this year's Chart of the Week highlights: The top...

Regulation and policy

Winding down: NGESO proposes virtual inertia specifications

By this time next year, intermittent generation may be able to provide virtual synchronous services to the industry under a new Grid Code modification proposal. Raised by National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO), GC0137 Minimum Specification Required for Provision of Virtual Synchronous Machine (VSM) Capability seeks to create requirements for...

Heat networks

Editor’s Pick | Scotland leading the way on UK heat networks

This article was originally published on 29 November 2019 in Energy:2030 Issue 23 Scottish Renewables published a piece of research on 11 November, in-light of the Scottish Government’s proposed Heat Networks Bill. The research looked to identify and quantify potential heat network projects in Scotland’s seven cities. The Heat Networks Bill, which will...

Regulation and policy

One in, one out: Code Consolidation SCR opens as TCR draws to a close

The number of Significant Code Reviews (SCRs) that Ofgem is progressing shows little sign of diminishing with the launch of the new Retail Code Consolidation SCR on 29 November. This came barely a week after Ofgem’s decision on its Targeted Charging Review (TCR) and, since this has not yet formally closed, it...

Commercial and market outlook

Editor’s Pick | The latest chapter in the ongoing network charging saga

This article was originally published in Energy Spectrum Issue 692 on 18 November 2019. With the publication of a decision on the Targeted Charging Review (TCR) Significant Code Review (SCR), Ofgem’s attempt to reshape electricity network charges to be fit for a world of decentralisation and electrification have entered their next phase....

Commercial and market outlook

10 Manifesto Energy Policies

With all the General Election manifestos now published, we have updated our infographic so you can easily see where the parties stand on certain energy sector issues. For further, more in-depth analysis and insight into what each of the parties are promising and how this could shape the future energy...

Commercial and market outlook

Network Charging Reforms Factsheet: Targeted Charging Review

Ofgem recently published its decision on the Targeted Charging Review (TCR) Significant Code Review (SCR) and issued a direction to the network companies to progress code modifications to give effect to the conclusions. There are two main elements to the review: Balancing Services Use of System (BSUoS) charges for embedded...

Commercial and market outlook

Editor’s Pick Ireland | Government’s €6 hike in carbon tax sees a mixed response

This article was originally published on 12 November 2019 in Energy Spectrum Ireland.  Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton and Minister of State Sean Canney have unveiled the details of Budget 2020. Issued on 8 October, the budget highlights the government’s decision to raise the price of carbon to...

Home supply and services

The competition is on in the domestic energy market

It is difficult to deny that the Big Six have faced significant competitive pressure in the domestic market over the course of the year. Despite the 11 domestic market exits recorded since January 2019, new entry, new propositions and revitalised sales channels have resulted in some of the highest switching...

Commercial and market outlook

Editor’s Pick | Letter on America: Massachusetts and Clean Peak

This article was originally published in Energy Spectrum Issue 691 on 18 November 2019. The energy policy narrative in Great Britain has treated incentivisation of renewables and flexible resources as separate activities, with inevitable lags and imperfect scaling of system flexibility to meet the new system demands created by variable, low carbon...

Home supply and services

Consumer energy customer event 2019: The energy market now in 4D

The annual retail customer event – Setting the course for net zero, was held on 19 November. Delegates heard from seven speakers discussing how finance, transport, heat, consumers and regulation could be utilised to help GB meet its 2050 net zero target. The event began with Gareth Miller Cornwall Insight’s...

Regulation and policy

Are IDNOs margins about to be squeezed?

Earlier this month, voting closed on a potential rule change that could have important consequences for the network charges faced by electricity Licenced Distribution Network Operators (LDNOs), including independent network operators (IDNOs). DCUSA proposal DCP266 The Calculation and Application of IDNO Discounts was raised by British Gas in March 2016...

Energy storage and flexibility

Editor’s Pick | Belgian capacity support to take novel form

This article was originally published in Issue 22 in Energy:2030. On 12 September, the Belgian Federal Commission for Electricity and Gas Regulation (CREG) issued a note on the implementation of a scarcity pricing mechanism in Belgium. Explaining that renewable generation may cause massive overcapacity in future with difficulties for generators relying...

Regulation and policy

General Election 2019 and impacts on the energy sector

While much of the 2019 General Election (GE) coverage has been focused on Brexit, the environment also has the potential to play a key role. Surveys such as BEIS’s Public Attitudes Tracker found strong support among the public for renewable generation, as well as concerns about climate change. The net...

Regulation and policy

JR goes in BG’s favour – should you be dancing?

On Wednesday, Ofgem’s default tariff cap hit the headlines as the Office of National Statistics announced that the lowering of the cap had contributed to UK inflation reaching a three-year low. However, it was a decision issued later in the day that will have greater significance to the industry. The...

Home supply and services

Editor’s Pick | All Hallow’s Eve in the retail market

This article was originally published in Energy Spectrum Issue 689 on 4 November 2019. Whether by accident or design last week’s last payment date for the 2018-19 Renewables Obligation (RO) followed nine days after Ofgem issued its proposals and impact assessment for ongoing monitoring of energy retailers. Halloween was always going to...

Regulation and policy

Is there an energy supplier heaven?

Hapless demise Toto Energy’s exit of the market on 23 October pushed the number of suppliers leaving the market in 2019 alone up to nine. Alongside this, Gnergy has been issued with a Final Order, while both Nabuh Energy and Breeze Energy find themselves subject to Provisional Orders, meaning that...

Energy storage and flexibility

Editor’s Pick Ireland | Do all roads lead to hydrogen?

This article was originally published on 12 November 2019 in Energy Spectrum Ireland.  On 3 October, Hydrogen Mobility Ireland published its report: A Hydrogen Roadmap for Irish Transport, 2020-2030, which outlines how government and policy makers can facilitate the uptake of hydrogen fuelled vehicles. Hydrogen is viewed as the cleanest fuel...

Energy storage and flexibility

A pivotal play?

On the 4 November, EDF Renewables UK agreed to acquire Pivot Power. Pivot Power is a UK start-up which aims to build 50MW batteries connected to the Transmission Network and provide rapid Electric Vehicle (EV) charging nearby. The firm announced plans in 2018 to develop up to 2GW of batteries connected...

Low carbon generation

Guess who’s back? The Capacity Market and what happens next

On 24 October, the European Commission (EC) announced its decision to approve the GB Capacity Market (CM) after an investigation which lasted several months. While this is a positive outcome for holders of capacity agreements, the ~£1bn ‘back-payment’ bill comes at a difficult time for suppliers, who are facing up...

Regulation and policy

Editor’s Pick | From little acorns: Ofgem’s state of the market report

This article was originally published in Energy Spectrum Issue 686 on 14 October 2019. Ofgem published its State of the Market 2019 Report on 3 October, giving us a comprehensive overview of the retail and wholesale energy markets and much more besides. Now in its third year, the report sees Ofgem diligently...

Low carbon generation

Editor’s Pick | IRENA investigates future market enabling technologies

This article was originally published on 30 September 2019 in Energy:2030. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) published an Enabling Technologies: Innovation Landscape report in early September, highlighting innovations in emerging technologies. The report builds on an extensive report called Innovation Landscape for a Renewable-powered Future: Solutions to Integrate Variable Renewables,...

Low carbon generation

Does net zero mean zero gas?

The electricity industry has been experiencing fundamental change for the past decade, during which time structural changes to the gas industry have been rather more limited. However, this will have to change in the coming years as the move towards net zero sees decarbonisation intensify. Few would dispute that the...

Low carbon generation

Renewables Obligation Mutualisation Looms again

The end of October marks the end of the annual Renewables Obligation (RO) compliance period, where electricity suppliers that have not already fulfilled their obligation must make payments into the ‘late payment fund’. As we saw last year the spate of supplier exits from the market created a shortfall in...

Low carbon generation

Editor’s Pick | Talkin’ bout a revolution: What next for the CfD?

This article was originally published in Energy Spectrum Issue 685 on 7 October 2019. The Contract for Difference (CfD) results for Allocation Round 3 (AR3) once again provided some striking results for the industry to ponder. In this Energy Perspective, we reflect on the success and consider what the results mean for...

Regulation and policy

Progress or Regress? – The Vulnerability Conundrum

On 25 September Ofgem released its Vulnerable Consumers in the Energy Market: 2019 report. The report shows how well suppliers are doing in supporting those customers who need extra help. The results are mixed, with some good progress being made, but there are clear challenges that still need to be...