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 26 July 2008
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)
 
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What's New

You can find news, hot topics and information about the latest energy issues here, along with links to BERR Energy Press Notices, speeches, and new publications:

22 July 2008: Draft criteria and process for siting potential new nuclear power stations published

The detailed criteria and process for assessing where new nuclear power stations could safely and securely be built across England and Wales have been set out by the Government today.

The consultation on the Strategic Siting Assessment outlines the process the Government will use for identifying suitable sites for new nuclear power stations. The Government is proposing to invite third parties to nominate sites which it will then assess against a range of criteria.

21 July 2008: North East set to be manufacturing hub for offshore wind

Expansion in offshore wind could create up to 30,000 new jobs in manufacturing and bring £3 billion of investment to the North East, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks will say during a visit to Gateshead and Northumberland.

17 July 2008: Report highlights energy progress

BERR publishes the fifth annual report on progress towards the goals of the 2003 Energy White Paper today.

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said: "In the 2003 White Paper, we identified energy security and climate change as two of our key policy challenges. Five years on, these issues have emerged as among the foremost challenges of the 21st century for governments around the world.

"The goals set out in the 2003 White Paper are still entirely valid, and this annual report sets out our progress against them. Five years on, of course, we have also built on those goals, not least through the 2007 Energy White Paper, and in many areas we are going further and faster."

The full goals were (and remain): reducing carbon emissions, ensuring reliability of supply, maintaining competitive markets and combating fuel poverty.

30 June 2008: Next steps on carbon capture readiness and UK demonstration competition

The four bidders that have pre-qualified in the Government's carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration competition were named by Business Secretary John Hutton today. He also announced publication of a consultation on the legislative framework for CCS, including carbon capture readiness.

26 June 2008: Tenfold renewables increase to propel UK toward low carbon future

Green energy blueprint to create 160,000 jobs

A national renewable energy blueprint designed to slash carbon emissions dramatically, reduce the UK's dependency on oil and gas and claim a valuable share of global green business opportunity was set out by Business Secretary John Hutton today.

26 June 2008: Energy Statistics

Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices publications are published today 26 June by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform. Energy Trends covers statistics on energy production and consumption, in total and by fuel, and provides an analysis of the year on year changes. The June edition of Energy Trends also includes articles on: "Renewable energy in 2007", and "Regional and local use of road transport fuels 2006". Quarterly Energy Prices covers prices to domestic and industrial consumers, prices of oil products and comparisons of international fuel prices.

18 June 2008: RAB says UK's proposed renewable energy target is achievable

The Renewables Advisory Board has reported that the UK could generate 14% of its total energy from renewables by 2020 if a set of identified radical policy changes are put into effect quickly. Recommendations include accelerating grid studies, streamlined consenting processes, early introduction of revised support mechanisms and, most importantly, strong political leadership.

16 June: 2008: Biomass power station to be built in Lincolnshire

The Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, has today given the go ahead to Helius Energy plc to construct a 65 MW biomass power station near Stallingborough in North East Lincolnshire.

13 June 2008: Wind power takes off with new agreement on radar and aviation

A landmark agreement has been reached between Government and industry which aims to remove aviation and radar barriers to the major expansion of wind energy that has been outlined by Business Secretary John Hutton.

12 June 2008: Hutton tells global nuclear investors to build in Britain

The UK is a leader in a new global nuclear investment 'league table' and looks set to attract the world's leading energy companies to build its next generation of nuclear power stations, research commissioned by Business Secretary John Hutton has found.

30 May 2008: Help with fuel bills for the poorest consumers / Results of the Heat Call for Evidence now available

Raft of new Government measures to help vulnerable consumers and especially the elderly make their homes warmer and more energy efficient announced.

28 May 2008: Increased oil production starts at home

Business Secretary John Hutton outlined plans for increased North Sea oil production today, as he gave the green light for two new field developments, changes to the North Sea licensing system and announced record interest in the latest licensing rounds.

6 May 2008: Severn tidal power feasibility study: BERR appoints contractors

Work to determine the potential of a tidal energy generator in the Severn Estuary is continuing with the appointment of a consortium led by consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff who will manage the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

5 May 2008: Volcano gas technology could be the key to unlock more North Sea oil

Cutting edge technology from the United States that uses gas from an extinct volcano to extract more oil from mature fields is to be examined by UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks.

29 April 2008: Grangemouth - Hutton praises fuel industry, calls for talks to resume

UK Business Secretary John Hutton will visit Scotland today for talks following the two day industrial action by Unite workers at the Ineos Grangemouth site. The strike action ended today at 7am.

11 April 2008: 100,000 households could be lifted out of fuel poverty by an extra £225 million to help with rising fuel bills

Households struggling to pay their fuel bills are set to receive significant extra help with the cost of warming their homes. The money is being provided by domestic energy suppliers in a deal brokered by Energy Secretary John Hutton following last month's Budget.

7 April 2008: Hutton waves ahead tidal energy project in the Humber

The UK is continuing to lead the world in marine renewables technology as the Secretary of State for Energy, John Hutton, grants planning permission for a prototype tidal stream generator to be tested in the Humber Estuary near Grimsby.

31 March 2008: Next step taken towards new nuclear power with start of justification process

The nuclear industry has been invited today to bring forward new reactor designs for a Justification Decision, an important stage in getting the first new nuclear build started in the UK.

31 March 2008: April overhaul for microgen grant scheme & planning rules

An overhaul of the Government's Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) will see more generous grants for schools and public buildings, while the £10 million support still available to householders will be extended until 2010 for new applications.

27 March 2008: Energy Statistics

Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices publications are published today by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Energy Trends covers statistics on energy production and consumption, in total and by fuel, and provides an analysis of the year on year changes. Quarterly Energy Prices covers prices to domestic and industrial consumers, prices of oil products and comparisons of international fuel prices.

27 March 2008: Fuel Poverty Advisory Group Annual Report

The Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (FPAG) today published its Annual Report for 2007. In it, FPAG welcomes the Government’s recent announcements in the Budget about the expansion of the energy suppliers’ social programmes and about prices for prepayment customers.

25 March 2008: Bevin Boys to be awarded Badge of Honour by Prime Minister

The Prime Minister will today award the first Bevin Boy Badges to a group of 27 Bevin Boys, invited to Downing Street for a special presentation ceremony.

6 March 2008: New nuclear programme - Hutton welcomes next steps for NDA sites

Plans for sites owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to be made available to developers were welcomed today by Business Secretary John Hutton.

10 January 2008: UK government invites new nuclear power into the energy mix

Building blocks for low carbon future outlined with publication of the Nuclear White Paper and Energy Bill

Energy companies were invited today to bring forward plans to build and operate new nuclear power stations as part of the UK’s strategy for a secure, diverse, low carbon energy mix.

The Government’s response to its nuclear consultation, in the form of a White Paper, was published alongside the Energy Bill which sets out a range of measures to address the twin challenges of tackling climate change and securing energy supplies.

Earlier press releases can be found on the Central Office of Information (COI): News Distribution Services website.

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