Author: Graham Foster

The construction site located behind Sizewell beach in England’s East Anglian region is bustling with activity. Here, two nuclear reactors are set to begin operations by the middle of the next decade, providing enough electricity to power around six million homes. What makes this site remarkable is not just its size, but also that it serves as a near replica of another facility located 280 miles away at Hinkley Point C. Construction for Hinkley Point C started in 2016, a full eight years ahead of the Sizewell C project. Building identical plants forms part of a larger strategy to solve…

The UK government has introduced new subsidies for Drax, the nation’s largest power station, amid ongoing discussions about the sustainability of the wood pellets used as fuel. On Monday, Drax announced it has reached a contract with the government that guarantees a minimum electricity price of £113 per megawatt hour for the period from 2027 to 2031. This new arrangement will allow Drax, which provides about 4% of the UK’s electricity, to continue operating its biomass power station in Yorkshire once the current subsidies come to an end. In a recent statement, the government indicated that it has cut Drax’s…

Shares in BP saw a significant rise of nearly 7% in early trading on Monday. This surge came after news that the activist hedge fund Elliott Management acquired a stake in BP, raising expectations for potential changes within the oil giant. Although the exact size of Elliott’s stake remains unknown, its involvement has spurred discussions about a possible reshaping of BP’s strategy and management. Analyst Biraj Borkhataria from RBC Capital Markets noted that Elliott’s participation likely indicates an upcoming demand for a change in leadership, particularly aiming at the chair position. The shares climbed to 462p, a notable increase from…

Carrie Zalewski, Vice President of Markets and Transmission at the American Clean Power Association, emphasizes the importance of improving the connection between gas and electric systems to ensure a reliable energy supply. For many years, effectively coordinating gas and electric systems has been a key focus in maintaining the reliability of the electric grid. The recent Winter Storm Elliott has heightened this focus even more, highlighting the pressing need for better cooperation as initiatives like NARUC’s Gas-Electric Analytical and Reliability Standards gain traction. A promising solution already emerging in U.S. wholesale markets is energy storage. Energy storage plays a vital…

Last year marked a significant milestone in the global energy transition, with investments surpassing $2 trillion. However, a detailed analysis reveals that while traditional sectors like solar and wind energy are thriving, newer technologies are struggling. One area facing challenges is industrial decarbonization technology. This part of the energy transition is essential but saw a notable drop in investment last year. We’ll take a closer look at LanzaTech, a company that exemplifies some key issues in this field and potential paths forward. LanzaTech, based in the US, has created a method to convert waste gas into ethanol, leveraging a unique…

Nuclear energy is making a comeback as countries focus on low-carbon solutions to tackle climate change. Currently, around 60 nuclear reactors are being built globally, with an additional 110 in the planning stages. The process of turning uranium ore into fuel for these reactors involves several steps: mining, conversion, and enrichment. Experts predict that by 2040, the demand for uranium could reach 130,000 tonnes. However, the supply of uranium seems to be tightening, particularly for Western nations. Uranium ore prices have risen significantly compared to five years ago, with processed uranium prices surging even more sharply since Russia’s invasion of…

The U.S. Department of Energy is shifting its focus towards strengthening the electricity grid and increasing energy generation. DOE Secretary Chris Wright detailed this strategy on Wednesday, emphasizing the necessity to address rising energy needs during a briefing outlining the department’s goals under the current administration. Wright stated, “We must encourage the development of energy infrastructure while eliminating unnecessary hurdles that slow down progress. Current federal policies often make it too easy to halt projects and overly challenging to complete them.” According to Wright, the department will concentrate on adding energy resources rather than reducing them. He also noted that…

Scotland’s offshore wind sector may face a slowdown if developers don’t perform better in the upcoming UK renewable energy subsidy auction, according to Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes. She stressed the need for more accessible opportunities for Scottish developers, who face significant bureaucratic challenges and transmission costs that undermine their competitiveness in the auction process. Last year, only one new Scottish entrant secured subsidies. Forbes expressed disappointment that so few Scottish projects were successful in the Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocations, highlighting the desire for increased participation. The UK government has been open to discussions on this topic, she noted.…

TotalEnergies’ CEO, Patrick Pouyanné, has announced that he is “ready” to boost the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to Europe. He emphasized the need for the European Union to establish a long-term agreement for LNG, which would enhance energy security amid rising concerns about reliance on Russian gas. Pouyanné highlighted that a favorable licensing system for European companies could fulfill the growing demand for US oil and gas, as put forth by former President Trump. This move would also help shield Europe from potential price hikes in the future. As the largest energy exporter from…

Dive Brief: The Trump administration has placed a hold on the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. A memo shared with state transportation directors on Thursday stated that “no new obligations may occur” until further guidance is provided. NEVI was part of the bipartisan infrastructure law passed in 2021, aimed at boosting electric vehicle adoption. States were expected to create EV charging infrastructure plans to access these funds; however, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has now halted the approval of these plans. Although most of the funds have already been allocated to state transportation agencies, according to Ryan…