Regulation and policy

Is your organisation ready for the Labour government? 

The new government is wasting no time rolling out its ambitious plans for a net zero electricity system by 2030. In the last few days, we’ve seen announcements on Onshore Wind restrictions, the National Wealth Fund, and the launch of a Mission Control for clean energy.  The proposals are expected...

Announcement

Cornwall Insight refreshes its look for a net zero future

Cornwall Insight is updating its look continuing in our commitment to innovation, clarity, and excellence in the energy sector. As we support our customers in this ever-evolving energy landscape, the refreshed brand will make our offerings easier to understand, clearer to navigate, and more user-friendly, ensuring everybody gets the most...

Commercial and market outlook

The Price of Power: How Elections Impact Wholesale Energy Costs

Introduction With the election looming and the parties battling it out for Number 10, we’re casting our eyes on what lies in store in the wholesale energy markets following the election period, even before the victory celebrations have ended and new policy can be implemented. While each of the parties...

Low carbon generation

Japan Power Market Outlook – Q2 2024

The Japan Benchmark Power Curve is a comprehensive power price modelling service, providing market and technology-specific forecasts in partnership with Shulman Advisory. It delivers long-term 30-year price forecasts, informed by significant market, policy, and regulatory expertise, along with direct access to our experts. This summary report provides an overview of trends for the Japan Power...

E-mobility and low carbon

Is Europe’s EV uptake stalling? EV Country Attractiveness Index findings

In the first quarter of 2024, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales and public charge-point installations have continued to grow across Europe. The new financial year has also seen many countries implement new subsidies to spur further growth. Amid this, conversations continue around the influence of cheap Chinese imports across European...

Low carbon generation

Save it for later: the role of LDES in Ireland’s future power system

In its transition to net zero, Ireland’s power system will undergo fundamental changes as it shifts from a reliance on thermal generation from imported fossil fuels to generation from indigenous, intermittent, renewables. Among these changes is the growing need for flexibility to help maintain system stability. This includes the provision...

Home supply and services

Reforming Energy Bills: What’s on the Table?

There has been much speculation in the energy industry over what reforms to household energy bills could potentially be introduced, particularly with Ofgem due to announce its Q3 (July – September) 2024 Default Tariff Cap figures on Friday (24th). With so many areas under review, we’ve put together an overview...

Home supply and services

A regulatory shift for non-domestic suppliers

It is well established that the domestic supply sector is more heavily regulated than the non-domestic market, with one of the biggest differences being the level of consumer protection in place. That is not to say there are no protections in place for non-domestic consumers as we have seen several...

Heat networks

Evolving Business Models for Heat

Heating is responsible for nearly a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and therefore decarbonising heat is an essential stage in the transition to net zero. While they currently only provide 3% of total UK heat, heat networks could provide a mechanism for decarbonising heat. Zoning could help remove...

Commercial and market outlook

The latest quarterly updates from our Benchmark Power Curves

Long-term, technology-specific power price forecasts are crucial for making sound investment decisions. But with the rapidly changing market landscape, obtaining credible, comprehensive insights can be a challenge. That's where Cornwall Insight's Benchmark Power Curves step in to deliver the forecasting expertise you need.  Backed by our deep market knowledge and...

Low carbon generation

Blowin’ in the Wind: Is offshore wind the answer to Ireland’s net zero future?

As Ireland works towards achieving net zero by 2050, there is a pressing need to develop additional renewable energy capacity. Offshore wind is likely to be a particularly important sector and, thanks to Ireland’s large offshore exclusive economic zone, presents a valuable opportunity for the Irish economy. Cognisant of this...

Low carbon generation

A year of progress: Low-carbon Hydrogen Policy Index findings

Since publishing the previous iteration of the Low-carbon Hydrogen Policy Index in April 2023, the global hydrogen market has continued to grow and develop as both national governments and industry stakeholders have sought to expand the role of hydrogen in their decarbonisation plans. See what changes have happened since the...

Announcement

Latest FCAS price curves Q1 2024

Cornwall Insight Australia released the latest Frequency Control Ancillary Service (FCAS) price curves for Q1 2024. The new Very Fast FCAS markets have 3 more months in the books, and as they settle into a reasonably stable quarter, clearer trends have emerged. This release, we re-calibrate our FCAS market curve...

Regulation and policy

How effective were the UK’s energy bill support schemes? 

Introduced during a period of record high energy prices, the UK Government's energy support schemes came to an end on 31 March this year. Evaluating emergency measures such as these purely on their value for money is difficult, as the policy was intended to serve multiple purposes.   At the time...

Regulation and policy

Government Announces Record Budget for Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6

The government has released the budget and reference prices, along with the auction parameters, for the upcoming Contract for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 6 (AR6). As recently reported, there were considerable questions outstanding about the parameters which will be used in the auction and significant pressure was placed on AR6...

Regulation and policy

Two years on: How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reshaped the UK’s energy landscape

Two years ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. As well as causing widespread devastation and displacement, resulting in a humanitarian crisis, the ensuing conflict also had a wide range of consequences for the energy sector such as causing a structural change in European gas...

Energy storage and flexibility

Revenue Stacking for Flexibility: A Deep Dive into GB Electricity Flexibility Services 

In the ever-evolving landscape of the energy sector, the role of flexibility services in ensuring a stable and resilient electricity grid has become increasingly vital. As the demand for renewable energy sources continues to grow, flexibility service providers play a crucial role in balancing supply and demand, optimising grid performance,...

Low carbon generation

Battery storage in Japan: An up-and-coming market?

This paper includes exclusive insights from Cornwall Insight’s Japan Benchmark Power Curve. In this insight paper, we discuss the demand and challenges accompanying Japan's changing energy mix. Aiming to address whether, as the transition to net zero creates greater need and opportunities for faster dispatch electricity storage, could Japan represent...

Low carbon generation

Latest developments in the TPI space

We recently published our 2023 Annual TPI report which provides an independent review and analysis of the market for TPIs, and the services provided by them. The report also looks at the current challenges and opportunities for TPIs, such as regulatory changes, competition with suppliers, and diversification of services. 2023...

Low carbon generation

Is Germany going green? Charting Germany’s energy transition (2nd edition)

This paper includes exclusive insights from Cornwall Insight’s North West Europe Benchmark Power Curve. The first edition of this report was published in June 2023. Using exclusive insights from our new North West Europe Benchmark Power Curve, our insight paper assesses the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges on Germany’s...

Low carbon generation

Is Germany going green? Charting Germany’s energy transition (2nd edition)

This paper includes exclusive insights from Cornwall Insight’s North West Europe Benchmark Power Curve. The first edition of this report was published in June 2023. Using exclusive insights from our new North West Europe Benchmark Power Curve, our insight paper assesses the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges on Germany’s...

Low carbon generation

Learning curves and the many moving parts of the CfD Auctions

Learning curves are an important part of the toolbox of energy system modelling, representing the benefits of learning by doing and the economies of scale. The learning rate describes how as production doubles capacity cost reduces, so a learning rate of 15% would imply that as production doubles, costs would...

Commercial and market outlook

What to look out for in 2024

Cornwall Insight experts provide their predictions for the year ahead in this handy infographic. We have collated some predictions from across our knowledge base to provide a quick snapshot of what to look out for in the GB energy market in 2024. The key highlights include the global discussion on...

Low carbon generation

Q4 2023 All-Island Power Market Outlook to 2030 overview

This report provides an annual overview of trends for the All-Ireland Power Market out to 2030 using outputs from Cornwall Insight’s latest forward curve for the All-Island (AI) Single Electricity Market (SEM) covering Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This publication is based on comprehensive market and asset-level power...

Low carbon generation

GB Power Market Outlook to 2030 Q4 2023

This report provides an annual overview of trends for the GB Power Market out to 2030 using outputs from Cornwall Insight’s latest Benchmark Power Curve (BPC) for the British Electricity Market covering England, Scotland and Wales. This publication is based on comprehensive market and asset-level power price modelling that delivers...

Regulation and policy

Calm after the storm although transition begins to lag | 2023 year in review

This year saw a return to relative calmness after the energy shocks of last year, while governments are playing an increasing role as the rate of new renewable generation lags. Spot pricing was subdued compared to last year, with no significant unexpected outages that caused sustained price spikes. Higher levels...

Announcement

Offshore wind now appears in latest ISP

The ISP also forecasts that greater flexible gas generation is needed From Cornwall Insight Australia's Energy Market Alerts service Offshore wind officially appears in the draft 2024 ISP due to state-based offshore wind targets. Figure 1 below from our latest Energy Market Alert, shows the variance in forecast generation between...

Power and gas networks

Considerations for forecasting non-commodity costs for large users

Electricity non-commodity costs, also known as Third Party Charges (or TPCs), are faced by the vast majority of end consumers that use electricity. They represent a significant proportion of the energy bill for domestic, SME and large industrial user types; however, their applicability and scale can vary depending on the...

Net zero corporates and ESG

Race to net zero: Rebuilding investor confidence in the UK

In our recent insight paper “Race to net zero: Rebuilding investor confidence in the UK”, published on 30 November, we discuss how increased macroeconomic pressures and rising international competition for capital have impacted the UK’s ability to secure investment in renewables and maintain momentum towards net zero. We also investigate...

E-mobility and low carbon

Paving the way: EV Country Attractiveness Index findings

Following the previous iteration of the EVCA Index, published in September 2023, the EV market has continued to grow across Europe. From October 2022 to October 2023, the EU, Norway, and the UK have seen a combined 29% year-on-year increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales. Cornwall Insight have partnered...