Weekly Debrief

Government-backed venture moves on to commercial footing to tap surging interest in unproved energy source

Government’s first published land use framework maps how land is used and how it can be adapted to meet changing needs About 7% of England’s land – an area roughly two-and-a-half times the size of Cornwall – will need to be given over to nature, forests and renewable energy, to meet the UK’s environmental targets, new data shows. But there will still be enough land to grow the food needed, and to house a growing population, according to the government’s first land use framework, published on Wednesday. Placing a high priority on restoring peatland, all but 13% of which is degraded across England, but this will not include an outright ban on development such as wind or solar farms. Encouraging the “multi-use” of land, for instance with livestock grazing alongside wind and solar farms, and wildlife protection and nature restoration on arable land. Encouraging local authorities to put nature reserves in urban areas as well as in the countryside. Grouse moors to come under closer scrutiny and tighter regulation, which will go further than EU rules. No new “right to roam” is included in the framework, but there will be a consultation on “making landowner liability more proportionate”, which could open up areas for public access. A national soil map will be published. A new land use unit will be established. Government planning for changes to the UK’s landscape under global heating of 2C above preindustrial levels, and of much higher heating of 4C. Continue reading...

The government has big ambitions for AI and clean power - and reforms required to support data centres could have positive ripple effects on the energy transition, writes techUK's Katie Davies

The elusive power source is gradually moving closer to becoming a reality

Also in today’s newsletter: Fervo Energy secures $421mn for next-generation geothermal project

Plans to double tariffs on steel imports and boost domestic steel production through electric arc furnaces confirmed as part of new £2.5bn Steel Strategy

NESO confirms changes to rules that mean millions of households and offices with an EV charger, heat pump or battery can save money by helping balance the electricity network

Upgrades to air defence radar systems will help unlock record breaking offshore wind capacity.

The partnership with ILIOS will help ensure that West Burton becomes a leading centre of fusion energy innovation.

Kingspan, a global leader in high-performance building envelope systems, has partnered with Zestec Renewable Energy, a wholly owned business within Octopus Energy Generation funds, to deliver a groundbreaking solution for […]

Griff Thomas, Executive Director of Energy Transition and External Affairs at United Infrastructure and Managing Director at GTEC Training As the push to decarbonise the built environment accelerates, hybrid heating […]

Company suggests certainty over future tax regime is helping unlock one of UK North Sea’s biggest developments

Ocean Winds has been a vocal critic of UK transmission charges that aim to recoup costs but unfairly impact the business case for some prime offshore wind projects

Turmoil in oil and gas markets is pushing governments to seek alternatives

Qair has secured planning consent for the onshore infrastructure of the Ayre offshore wind farm, a 1 GW floating wind project.

FutureOn has delivered tools to help offshore wind and low-carbon energy teams make more informed design decisions.

Partnership is set to rollout 1,000 new electric vehicle charging bays across more than two dozen UK shopping centres owned by Landsec

Good Energy buys Scottish solar panel business, as it continues to expand its clean tech installation services nationwide

The Energy Secretary outlines measures to protect consumers and make Britain energy secure.

World Forum Offshore Wind report also points to super-sized models of the future and a five-year low in installations last year

Tom Elliott, Senior Energy Transition Advisor at Energy Systems Catapult Great British Energy aims to turn the energy transition into a major economic opportunity for the UK. This is a […]

Someone suggested Fraunhofer’s Powerpaste as a solution to the safety and cost challenges of hydrogen at sea after I wrote about the new DNV maritime hydrogen safety guidelines that make it even more uneconomic. It is an understandable instinct. If compressed hydrogen is dangerous and expensive, perhaps changing its form ...

Investors are concerned that proposed changes to subsidies and new taxes could impact one of Ørsted’s most important markets.

Following three consecutive years of revenue growth and expanding international demand for efficient offshore power delivery, Verlume is evolving its leadership structure to support its next phase of global expansion transitioning from technology commercialisation to global scale-up. After founding Verlume and leading the company as CEO for 13 years, Richard Knox will transition into the […]

The country is a canary in the coal mine for dealing with the strains of a boom in energy demand

Environment Agency provides details on historic funding programme, which is set to deliver new flood barriers, coastal defences, and natural flood management measures

Guidance for energy suppliers on how to apply discounts to domestic tariffs from 1 April 2026, related to the RO to Exchequer scheme and closure of the ECO and GBIS schemes.

Energy-Storage.news proudly presents our webinar with GridBeyond, 'Beyond Arbitrage: Financial Strategies for Energy Storage Assets.'