11 May, 2023 – Octopus Energy’s Kraken platform has been chosen to manage Masdar’s £1 billion investment into grid-scale batteries in the UK. This international cooperation will enable Masdar to expand the rollout of renewable technologies across the UK, driving cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy.
4 May, 2023 – The first solar farm in the UK to feed electricity directly into the transmission network has been energised. The array will generate over 73.000MWh per annum, the equivalent of powering 17,300 homes, whilst displacing 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
3 May, 2023 – Octopus Energy announces a short-term 5-point relief plan to help with grid connections. Octopus suggests prioritising renewable projects that are further along to allow faster connection. This is likely to unlock and speed up the development of new wind and solar farms and accelerate the planning process for low-carbon energy infrastructure.
3 May, 2023 – University of Nottingham’s faculty of engineering researchers have received £2 million in funding for a smart energy grid project. The project will develop a microgrid that utilises energy storage technologies, storing PV power in batteries or via electrolyser which can be converted into, and stored as hydrogen.
28 April, 2023 – The largest ever standalone battery has been officially put online based in Dundee, Scotland. The 50MW battery storage system is a joint venture by SUSI and Eelpower and will help to decarbonise energy through balancing the National Grid and therefore allowing the integration of more renewable technologies.
27 April, 2023 – Sumitomo Electric, a Japanese firm, is to establish a large factory in the Scottish Highlands which will manufacture subsea high-voltage cables. The purpose of these will be to connect offshore wind turbines in Scottish Waters and in other areas of Europe.
27 April, 2023 – A new report by the Aldersgate Group states that the UK must install 200GW of low carbon technology in the next 12 years if it is to reach the 2050 net zero goal of the heavy industry sector. This will also help reduce the sector’s reliance on costly fossil fuels.
27 April, 2023 – Scottish Water have invested £5 million to install 8,448 solar panels at its Balmore Treatment Facility, which is their most energy intensive site. The installation will abate an estimated 1,100 tonnes of CO2 annually, contributing to 19% of the site’s electricity demand.
26 April, 2023 – Applications have now been opened for energy and trade businesses to claim 20% back on their wholesale energy bills as part of the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme. The scheme aims to help the most affected businesses to claim an additional discount between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
21 April, 2023 – The Moray West Offshore Wind Farm has secured £2 billion in investment and is the first UK offshore wind farm to be funded by a corporate power purchase agreement to enable its commercialisation. It is expected to be fully operational by 2025 and produce enough energy to power 1.33 million homes.
