Innovations

Rewire-NW project

The Rewire-NW project was launched in spring 2020. Led by Pure Leapfrog, the project is developing plans to create a range of business models to implement locally-focused energy projects, leading the town of Warrington towards Net Zero. Rewire-NW is a forward-looking and innovative project that aims to connect Warrington using...

Home supply and services

Consolidation in the energy market predicted to continue

It has been a turbulent time for the retail energy market, experiencing a period of consolidation with mergers and supplier exits. This supplier consolidation is expected to continue in the near term. If suppliers fail to shift their business models for the new world it is likely to continue, according...

Announcement

FAQs

How can I access my subscription products? You will find all your subscription products in your customer portal. The link to the login page can be found at the top of the website, in the right-hand corner.  Alternatively, please click here: https://portal.cornwall-insight.com/IdaXLogin. If you already have an account, please enter...

Low carbon generation

CfD pathway becomes clearer for generators

With the announcement last week of the key dates for CfD Allocation Round 4 (AR4), our head of Assets and Infrastructure James Brabben looks at what lies ahead for prospective bidders. So, we have the dates for AR4…nearly! Whilst most of the key dates have been provided, there is still the...

Announcement

Daily Bulletin, I love you 4,000

We have just passed a notable landmark with our 4,000th issue of the Daily Bulletin being published today. Things started with the first Daily Bulletin on 13 September 2005 – the main news on that day was E.ON UK applying for planning to build a CCGT at Drakelow. It never progressed beyond planning, but the second story, negative reaction to tariff...

Net zero corporates and ESG

More details required for large-scale solar rollout in EU

Last week, our 'Financing net zero forum' gathered to discuss the role of private capital for the next wave of solar across Europe. Joining the meeting chair, Cornwall Insight's Daniel Atzori, were our guest panellists from a leading developer and the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA). With the European Commission...

Announcement

Energy market and net zero transition learning and development: Role-relevant career development training

We’re well over halfway through the calendar year and are now beginning to see more of the government’s thinking and policy-shaping around what needs to change to meet the 2050 net zero target. For example, the flurry of documents issued towards the end of 2020, including the Energy White Paper...

Net zero corporates and ESG

Data critical for sustainable investments

On 24 June, attendees to our 'Financing net zero forum' tuned in to hear the expert panel discussions on the role of data in sustainable investment. Joining the meeting chairs, Cornwall Insight's Daniel Atzori and Emma Bill were our guest panellists from Mercatus and Victory Hill Capital Group LLP. For investors to make...

Net zero corporates and ESG

Net zero business forum charts energy policy impacts for large businesses

Last Thursday (24 June), we held our latest ‘Net zero business forum’ with attendees from large energy consumers, suppliers, TPIs and advisors. Every two months, the forum addresses the energy policy and regulatory challenges faced by businesses as they look to decarbonise their operations, with extra insight every month from our Energy:...

Commercial and market outlook

Evaluating the benefits of local coordination mechanisms in power supply

In March, Cornwall Insight launched its new Energy Spectrum Europe publication in collaboration with the Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne (EWI). Below is an extract of our Energy Perspective article from our latest issue, written by Konstantin Gruber and Nils Namockel from EWI. Local forms of coordination are...

Announcement

Cornwall Insight starts the year with a win

We are delighted to announce that we have won a bronze award in the Financial Times UK’s Leading Management Consultants for the Energy, Utilities and Environment sector. This is the second consecutive year we have achieved this honour. With thousands of different management consultancies in the UK and only 203...

Low carbon generation

Cornwall Insight and the UK EfW market

As the UK has continued its evolution towards decarbonisation, one of the lesser talked about success stories has been in energy from waste (EfW).  EfW in the UK has grown to around 50 operational plants processing around 12mn tonnes of residual waste (but with capacity to potentially process nearly 14mn...

Commercial and market outlook

Editor’s Pick | AEMC progresses five-minute and settlement reforms

Australia’s Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has approved changes to the National Electricity Rules which will improve wholesale market operations under five-minute settlement and rationalise settlement arrangements. The determination issued on 8 August supports the AEMC’s decisions in November 2017 to align operational dispatch and financial settlement at five minutes and...

Low carbon generation

Scottish government calls for auction system review after CfD AR3 results

On 20 September, BEIS announced the results of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 3 (AR3). The auction results cleared at record low prices with 2023-24 delivery year prices at £39.65/MWh and 2024-25 prices at £41.61/MWh. The results drew criticism from the Scottish government despite projects in remote islands...

Commercial and market outlook

Cornwall Insight’s Brexit considerations for the energy sector

The Supreme Court ruling on the prorogation of Parliament has re-focused attention on the UK’s stated departure date from the European Union of 31 October. Across the country and throughout the economy, businesses are trying to determine what the various scenarios associated with Brexit mean for them and the respective...

Home supply and services

Editor’s Pick | GB retailers set sights on international markets

Cornwall Insight retail market analyst Molly Lloyd examines suppliers moving into international markets and discusses some of their potential motives for doing so. The GB energy retail market has long been characterised by entries and acquisitions from suppliers outside these shores. The oil and gas majors in the 1980s and...

Low carbon generation

Record low clearing prices in Contract for Difference Allocation Round 3

Record low clearing prices in Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 3 indicate the continued and rapid cost reductions for offshore wind resulting from competitive auctions. Prices below £40/MWh (in 2011-12 money) are extremely low in the context of previous auctions. Even when converted to 2018 money, these equate to...

Energy storage and flexibility

Frequency Response weekly auction trial summary report

National Grid ESO is now in the process of trialing weekly procurement of frequency response services. Cornwall Insight will be reporting and analysing on every stage of this trial, as it highlights the potential future for the procurement of balancing services to come.  The trial will test closer to real-time...

Home supply and services

Power to the People? The rise of municipal energy companies continues…

London has become the latest municipal authority to take a position in the energy market through the launch of the “London Power” white-label partnership with Octopus Energy. Our Energy for Londoners Feasibility Study, commissioned by the Greater London Authority (GLA) in 2017, advised on the pros and cons of establishing a fully-licensed...

Energy storage and flexibility

Five things we learned in our new Flexible PPA Market Report

Cornwall Insight has been examining the fast-developing market for flexible asset Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with a new report, The Flexible PPA Market Report, specifically launched to cover this. Through our leading market research and regulatory expertise, complemented by in-depth discussions with a range of market participants, the report encapsulates...

Energy storage and flexibility

Is flexibility evolving? The latest from our customer flexibility event

On Thursday 26th September, Cornwall Insight held its customer flexibility event, presenting a comprehensive overview of our research covering flexibility in the GB electricity sector. The presentations encompassed a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from analysis of recent Balancing Mechanism trends to proposed network reforms and progress under Project TERRE....

Power and gas networks

Saudi oil attacks raise prospect of higher energy bills

Confirmation from the Saudi Arabian energy minister that drone strikes had reduced the country’s oil output by around half is set to resonate across the energy markets, given that the country is responsible for around 10% of the world’s oil production. Early trading on Monday has seen the price of...

Home supply and services

Editor’s Pick | Australia’s Retailer Reliability Obligation implemented

A new mechanism to support energy system reliability came into effect on 1 July in Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM). The Retailer Reliability Obligation (RRO), if triggered, requires suppliers and some large energy users to hold contracts with or invest directly in generation or demand response. It has been introduced...

Low carbon generation

Wholesale gas and electricity prices surge amid perfect storm of adverse news

Wholesale energy prices in the GB market and across Europe rose sharply on Tuesday amid a series of adverse developments affecting production and flows across the Continent. In France, news emerged of problems with components to a key supplier of equipment to EDF’s reactors, raising concerns over shutdowns to address...

Regulation and policy

Library of Switching Programme documents continues to expand

Cornwall Insight recently published the latest update to our quarterly Faster Switching Service, which has been revised to accommodate Ofgem’s latest proposals for the content of the enduring version of the Retail Energy Code (REC), and plans hold a separate Retail Code Consolidation Significant Code Review. With these, the number...

Commercial and market outlook

Editor’s Pick | H119 energy switching up 17%

Some 5.8mn electricity and gas switches were reported in the first six months of 2019 (H119), up from 4.97mn a year early. Energy UK reported on 22 July that electricity switching in June was 440,323. While the figure was down 9% year-on-year, the H119 total of 3.047mn was up 10%...

Energy storage and flexibility

Frequency Response weekly auction trial summary report

In line with National Grid ESO’s System Needs and Product Strategy (SNaPS) the ESO is now in the process of trialing weekly procurement of frequency response services. Cornwall Insight will be reporting and analysing on every stage of this trial, as it highlights the potential future for the procurement of...

Commercial and market outlook

Editor’s Pick | Is ESB’s market dominance still a concern?

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB). It doesn’t take too long venturing into the Irish energy sector before one encounters this company. Founded in 1927, the former monopoly provider was responsible for rural electrification in 1946. ESB group companies own the network and participate in generation and supply markets. In the...

Commercial and market outlook

Editor’s Pick | CEER addresses energy communities’ regulation

On 25 June 2019, the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) issued a report entitled Regulatory Aspects of Self-Consumption and Energy Communities. Following the introduction of recognised terms Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) and Citizen Energy Communities (CECs), or collectively Energy Communities, CEER has developed a regulatory approach to analyse these energy...

Regulation and policy

Life is a SoLR-coaster you just got to ride it

On Tuesday 13 August Solarplicity became another in an ever-growing line of suppliers to fall ill to the tough market conditions and exit the market either voluntarily or through the Supplier of Last Resort process (SoLR). Exiting the market is becoming a more common occurrence, this being the third exit...