Business Gas

Our monthly analysis of the UK gas and power markets is now available - May12

Our monthly analysis of the UK gas and power markets is now available on line for the month of May 2012. The service is intended to keep you up to date with all the major news in Europe’s gas and power markets. It is also designed to keep power executives focused on market activity in an easy to digest format.

http://www.catalyst-commercial.co.uk/blog/latest-news/energy-market-report-may12/


Video - 4 Bizarre uses for Wind #Energy

Wind power has many amazing applications.

These include offsetting carbon emissions, providing wind turbine jobs, appearing in adverts for energy companies to show how eco-friendly they are, and giving angry people something to complain about in local newspapers. 

You might not think that the uses of wind power go much further than that. After all, while wind farms might be a great idea, obviously there are a limited number of things you can stick a windmill on top of, right?

http://www.catalyst-commercial.co.uk/blog/latest-news/4-bizarre-uses-for-wind-energy/


UK and US to Fund Development of Floating Wind Turbines

Britain’s energy secretary Ed Davey and his American counterpart Steven Chu are set to announce a joint venture between Britain and the US to accelerate the development of new floating wind turbines technology.

Floating Wind Turbines

Floating offshore wind turbines should provide the cost effectiveness the “Wind Industry” needs to gain recognition amongst investors and establish itself as a leading renewable energy resource for Britain and other countries around the world.

Traditional offshore wind farms must be located in waters less than 200 feet deep. Studies revealed that wind speeds are consistently stronger above deeper waters.

Floating wind turbines will enable the possibility to tap into winds that are located in deeper waters. Not to mention that once the technology is fully deployed such turbines should cost a lot less than their conventional siblings.

Speaking on the matter, Ed Davey said: “Turbines will be able to locate in ever deeper waters where the wind is stronger but without the expense of foundation down to the seabed or having to undertake major repairs out at sea,”

UK to tap Iceland's volcanoes for new #electricity source

The Government is to enter negotiations to tap the power of Iceland's volcanoes to pump low-carbon electricity into the UK, it emerged last night. Energy minister Charles Hendry is to visit Iceland next month to discuss connecting Britain to its geothermal-energy resources, it was reported.

UK #Renewable Energy Generation Up & #Emissions Down

As we get ready to publish our latest UK energy market report the DECC released last year’s energy statistics. Even though figures did not match the predicted targets Renewable energy generation expanded significantly and carbon emissions fell in 2011.

Renewable energy generation registered an increase of 35% in comparison to the previous year (2010). Back then renewables accounted for 6.8% of all electricity supplied in the UK. Last year it was responsible for 9,5%, only 0,5% short of the illusive 10% mark that had been predicted.

Overall low carbon generation rose about 4% accounting for 28.4% of all electricity generation in 2011. Offshore wind and hydroelectric generation registered the biggest increases followed by onshore wind and thermal renewables (including co-firing).


Budget 2012, A Gas-fired Future

As usual the annual Budget announcement was polemical. This time the biggest controversy was in the energy and environment sector where the announcements to support expansion of fossil fuels, especially gas, were not welcomed by environmentalists.

Budget 2012, A Gas-fired Future

While George Osborne’s defends the Budget 2012 announcements that will support the construction of new gas-fired power plants in Britain by saying: “Environmentally sustainable must always be fiscally sustainable.”

The Greenest Government Ever?

While the Coalition Government claims to be the “greenest government ever” public opinion says otherwise. A recent poll conducted by YouGov which was commissioned by Greenpeace revealed that only 2% of the British public believes that David Cameron has been successful in his pledge to lead the “greenest government ever“.

Is The Future of Energy #Thorium?

Safer, cleaner, sustainable and many times more effective than any other energy resource on Earth. Meet Thorium, a naturally occurring, slightly radioactive metal, capable of producing immense amount of energy, in a safe, environmentally friendly and very economic manner.

Readers of our blog need no further introduction to Thorium since we talked about it a couple of times before. Back in September 2010 we published “Is Fossil Fuel Dependence Over?” and “Top 5 Energy Resources“.

Since then Thorium research has gained some important ground and countries like the United States and China are already funding programs to deploy small nuclear reactors powered with Thorium.

In scientific terms these so called small nuclear reactors are known as Molten-Salt Reactors or LFTR (liquefied Fluorine Thorium Reactors). These reactors are ten times safer than current nuclear reactors simply because they have a self-controlled safe configuration. In short, if the energy supply to the nuclear power is cut down completely a Molten-Salt reactor would shut itself down immediately without the need to circulate water inside the reactor to prevent a meltdown.

UK #Electricity Power Cuts Unlikely

Electricity Power Cuts Unlikely

Weak demand and new gas-fired power plants coming on-stream by 2016 should keep the lights on in Britain for the rest of this decade.  UK Power cuts predicted to the end of this decade will be avoided thanks to increased energy efficiency, the economic recession, renewable energy resources and a new generation of gas fired power plants.

UK Power Cuts

The good news comes from an influential new white paper published by analyst firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).

http://www.catalyst-commercial.co.uk/blog/latest-news/electricity-power-cuts-unlikely/

Business #Energy Market Report March 2012

Energy Market Report March 2012

Our monthly analysis of the UK gas and power markets is now available on line for the month of March 2012. The service is intended to keep you up to date with all the major news in Europe’s gas and power markets. It is also designed to keep power executives focused on market activity in an easy to digest format.
Energy Market Report March 2012
Your find our March 2012 report here and all historical energy reports can be located here.