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Energy policy

22/3/2023 News

UK budget extends energy subsidies and supports carbon capture and mini-nuclear reactors – but overlooks energy efficiency and renewables

Jeremy Hunt’s first budget as UK Chancellor of the Exchequer brought welcome relief to hard-pressed energy consumers, froze the fuel duty cut, and promised to pump billions into carbon capture and storage projects as well as support the development of small nuclear reactors. However, there was no support for energy efficiency initiatives or significant renewable energy infrastructure investment, despite lobbying by numerous industry and non-governmental organisation groups, writes New Energy World's Brian Davis.

Solar

Head and shoulders photo of Carl Hogg set against a blurry background of green trees and foliage

25/6/2025 Comment / Carl Hogg

What will new homes with solar do for the UK’s decarbonisation goals?

With the government recently confirming new homes will have solar panels by default, the UK’s second biggest rooftop solar installer, Good Energy, indicates that it could provide a meaningful contribution to the country’s zero carbon power goals. Carl Hogg, Services Managing Director at Good Energy, explains.

Energy policy

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves holding red box in Downing Street

3/12/2025 News

In the Autumn Budget, UK government aims to reduce fuel poverty, introduces charges for EV drivers, but keeps the North Sea Energy Profits Levy

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget will raise taxes to record levels over the next five years, introducing electric vehicle (EV) road charging, but also promises to reduce energy bills by £150 from next April. However, North Sea oil and gas operators were disappointed to see no relief on the Energy Profits Levy (EPL).

Net zero / decarbonisation / energy transition

Wind turbines, solar panels, energy storage facility, all in a sunlit field

2/11/2022 News

Historic ‘turning point’ as fossil fuels show peak or plateau, says the IEA

The global energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing profound and long-lasting changes that have the potential to hasten the transition to a more sustainable and secure energy system, according to the latest edition of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook (WEO). The report has found that, for the first time, global demand for each of the fossil fuels shows a peak or plateau across all WEO scenarios, with Russian exports in particular falling significantly as the world energy order is reshaped.

Fossil fuels

Head and shoulders photo of Juliet Phillips standing in front of bush with lots of orange coloured flowers

5/3/2025 Comment / Juliet Phillips

Europe’s capacity markets deepen exposure to volatile global gas prices

The inclusion of gas-fuelled power stations in European countries’ energy capacity market mechanisms mean that energy systems are being locked unnecessarily into fossil fuels – and consumers into potentially higher prices – for years to come, argues Juliet Phillips, Energy Campaigner at Beyond Fossil Fuels.

Electricity markets

Close up view of small battery energy storage systems stacked up in cuboid formation, with control unit with dials and knobs top located in the top right of the stack

EI Member only

14/1/2026 Feature / Jo Southernwood

Beyond the meter: turning electricity purchasing into a competitive advantage

As electricity grids continue their trajectory towards greater decentralisation, a new mandate is emerging for energy managers. They must evolve from being passive, price-accepting consumers to become active market participants. This fundamental shift is not just about cost-cutting, it’s about transforming energy from a fixed operational liability into a managed, flexible and strategic asset, writes independent sustainability consultant Jo Southernwood AMEI.

Energy prices

Head and shoulders photo of Baroness Taylor of Bolton against dark grey background

18/6/2025 Comment / Baroness Taylor of Bolton

Zonal pricing should lower the cost of UK electricity by encouraging generators and consumers to come together – report

Following an inquiry into energy grid and grid connections, the UK Parliament’s House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee suggests that regional zonal pricing should enable better use of existing grid capacity and lower the cost of electricity, provided that the transition and its risks are managed well. Chair of the 12-member Select Committee is Baroness Taylor of Bolton.

Solar

14/5/2025 News

Solar power surges to a record 597 GW in 2024, pushing global capacity beyond 2 TW

The world installed nearly 600 GW of solar in 2024 and could be installing 1 TW of solar power annually by the end of the decade, according to a new report from SolarPower Europe. Meanwhile Europe and Great Britain reached record levels of solar power generation this March and April, respectively.

Energy policy

22/3/2023 News

European Commission proposes EU electricity market reform

The European Commission (EC) has proposed to reform the European Union’s (EU) electricity market design in order to accelerate a surge in renewables and the phase-out of gas, make consumer bills less dependent on volatile fossil fuel prices, better protect consumers from future price spikes and potential market manipulation, and make the EU’s industry clean and more competitive.

Geopolitics

30/3/2022 News

Putin’s call for payment for Russian gas in Rubles gathers momentum

President Vladimir Putin’s announcement on 23 March that ‘unfriendly’ countries purchasing Russian gas would have to pay in Rubles instead of Euros or US Dollars looks set to impact intraday market volatility and exacerbate the energy supply crunch.

New Energy World™

Search results:

UK budget extends energy subsidies and supports carbon capture and mini-nuclear reactors – but overlooks energy efficiency and renewables

What will new homes with solar do for the UK’s decarbonisation goals?

In the Autumn Budget, UK government aims to reduce fuel poverty, introduces charges for EV drivers, but keeps the North Sea Energy Profits Levy

Historic ‘turning point’ as fossil fuels show peak or plateau, says the IEA

Europe’s capacity markets deepen exposure to volatile global gas prices

Beyond the meter: turning electricity purchasing into a competitive advantage

Zonal pricing should lower the cost of UK electricity by encouraging generators and consumers to come together – report

Solar power surges to a record 597 GW in 2024, pushing global capacity beyond 2 TW

European Commission proposes EU electricity market reform

Putin’s call for payment for Russian gas in Rubles gathers momentum