1 December, 2022 – The winners of a £9.2 million UK Government training scheme for 9000 training courses have been revealed. This scheme will help to upskill workers in the energy, heating and buildings industries to aid with the installation of energy efficient solutions for homes.
28 November, 2022 – A support package of £1 billion will be available under the new ECO+ scheme from Spring 2023 for 3 years. 80% of this funding will be available to the least energy-efficient homes (EPC rating band D or lower). This will help households to reduce their energy bills with energy-efficient solutions.
25 November, 2022 – SSE state that 2 gas-powered power stations may still have to operate post-2030. They believe that more must be done over the next 3 to 4 years in terms of low-carbon alternatives in order to phase out unabated gas.
25 November, 2022 – Both former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss have declared their support for the amendment to the Leveling Up bill. The amendment to the bill was tabled this week by Conservative MP Simon Clarke and will make the deployment of onshore wind much easier across the UK.
24 November, 2022 – Analysis reveals that 78% of farms across England do not have onsite renewable energy technologies. An estimated £1.1 billion in additional revenue could be made if all farms in England had onsite renewables within the period of 2023-2025.
23 November, 2022 – Waitrose has completed a series of 5 heat pump installations in stores across the UK and aims to install at least another 10 in 2023. On top of this, more efficient refrigeration systems and LED lighting are in the process of being deployed. Waitrose aims to be net zero by 2035.
18 November, 2022 – Various British car manufacturers have expressed their disappointment at the decision to tax electric vehicles from 2025 after the Autumn statement announcement from the Chancellor. This will mean EVs face the same vehicle excise duty as petrol and diesel cars.
17 November, 2022 – Planning permission has been approved for a 75,000-panel solar farm in southern Scotland. The site will be situated near the old Chapelcross nuclear plant, supporting 60 jobs during its construction, and will produce enough energy to power a town the size of Annan for the next 40 years.
17 November, 2022 – Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced that the average energy bill in a UK household will rise to £3,000 in April 2023, rising from the current average of £2,500. Further financial assistance for households has been approved, however, this will still result in millions facing higher bills.
17 November, 2022 – A temporary 45% tax on excess profits will be introduced from January 2023 for power-generating companies as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sets out new legislation in the Autumn Statement. Windfall tax will be increased from 25% to 35% for oil and gas companies and extended by 2 years until 2028.
