GLEG

Photovoltaic Development Partners has submitted plans to the Planning Inspectorate for an 840MW solar facility in Oxfordshire, UK. Once completed, the Botley West project will become the largest solar farm in the country, with the capacity to power 330,000 homes—equivalent to supplying electricity for every household in the county.

In 2019, Oxfordshire County Council declared a climate emergency, and the region’s electricity grid remains one of the most carbon-intensive in the UK. This project is expected to significantly boost green energy production, create jobs, enhance biodiversity, and provide grazing areas currently used for intensive agriculture.

The UK has reached a significant milestone in green energy by becoming the first country to produce hydrogen on a large scale while capturing carbon emissions. The H2Boost project, led by the Biorenewables Development Centre at the University of York, aims to support the UK’s climate goals by providing a sustainable energy source.

Traditional hydrogen production often results in carbon dioxide emissions, creating environmental concerns. However, the H2Boost initiative utilises a process called ‘dark fermentation’ to convert processed organic waste into hydrogen. This method employs bacteria and algae to capture carbon emissions, creating a closed-loop system that reduces waste.

From 11th to 22nd November, Azerbaijan will host COP29 – the United Nations 29th annual global climate change conference.

This annual conference, known formally as the 29th Conference of the Parties, gathers government officials, business leaders, and civil society groups with a shared mission: to advance commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement. Central to this agreement is the goal of keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C, with an aspirational target of limiting warming to 1.5°C.

Now Trump has won the presidency again, his policies on energy could have some noticeable effects on European energy prices, driven by several key areas:

Boosting U.S. Oil and Gas Output: Trump plans to increase oil and gas production, partly by opening more areas for drilling and cutting regulatory restrictions. This additional U.S. supply could push global oil prices down in the short term, which might lower Europe’s energy import costs. However, oil prices largely depend on global supply and demand, so even if U.S. production increases, major producers (like OPEC) might reduce their output to prevent prices from falling too low. This balancing act could limit the price drop Europe would experience.

UK Energy Market Summary to Friday 1st November 2024

The UK government has published its response to the recent consultation on the Climate Change Agreement (CCA) scheme. In this post, we’ve outlined the key takeaways from the consultation and explained how these changes are designed to encourage ongoing energy and carbon savings across industries while supporting competitiveness and advancing the UK’s net-zero objectives.

Europe Prepares for Winter With Strong Gas Storage, but Market Volatility Remains

As Europe heads into winter, gas storage levels are robust, reaching approximately 96% of total capacity. Ukrainian storage facilities contribute an additional 40 terawatt-hours (TWh), around 4% of the European Union’s storage potential, further strengthening supply. Despite these high reserves, current storage levels are slightly below last year’s records due to increased demand in October 2023, though analysts indicate this will not hinder the market’s ability to meet winter demand.