Pixie Chart of the week | UK buildings heat loss amongst worst in Europe

Net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a target which increasingly demands policymakers in the UK to address the issue of decarbonising heat. While much attention has been given to low-carbon heat generation through schemes such as the Renewable Heat Incentive, energy efficiency has been left on the sidelines for a number of years.

This week’s chart highlights the lack of thermal insulation and energy efficiency in households in the UK in comparison with other European nations with similar climates.

To keep reading, please log in to your account

Related thinking

Energy storage and flexibility

Out with the old, in with the new: T-4 Capacity Market clears at record price

On 21 February, the T-4 Capacity Market auction for Delivery Year 2026-27 cleared at a record high price of £63.00/kW/year, procuring 43,000.955MW of capacity. In this week’s 'Chart of the week', we explore the key takeaways from the auction.

Commercial and market outlook

Nobody said it was easy, but it’s time for us to part: VIC’s climate targets & coal

In 2017, the Victorian Government legislated a state target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Since then, short-term targets have been set in five-year increments, with the 2030 target being to cut emissions by 45-50% below 2005 levels. The Government is currently consulting on the 2035 target, which must...

Low carbon generation

Lower energy prices? More than just hot air

The Victorian Government launched Australia’s first offshore wind targets as part of its transition towards a net-zero emission future. According to the target, 9GW of offshore wind will be installed by 2040, nearly quadrupling the total wind capacity in VIC. In this Chart of the week, we dive into the...

Commercial and market outlook

Renewables share steadily increasing in European heating and cooling

In this week’s ‘Chart of the Week’, we look at statistics published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, showing that the share of renewables in heating and cooling is steadily growing.

Commercial and market outlook

Hogging the spotlight: the opportunity in the evening peak

As the duck curve steepens and renewable energy penetration increases in the NEM, we briefly examine revenue share by time of day and highlight the growing opportunity in the evening peak. Will this become the new normal, with revenues increasingly concentrated in just one part of the day? Or will...

Energy storage and flexibility

Seasonal frequency in the NEM: is VRE continuing to drive it?

Frequency control remains a challenge for AEMO. New PFR (primary frequency response) provisions established in March 2020 will help AEMO to control frequency more efficiently. However, is it yet to be seen how market participants will be incentivised to participate in PFR market. In light of the rapid growth of...

Commercial and market outlook

Is the NEM going off schedule?

Is the NEM getting harder to control with rising variable renewable generation and distributed photovoltaic growth? AEMO’s balancing of scheduled supply is critical to ensure the system remains stable and wholesale prices work efficiently. This Chart of the week briefly examines if the NEM is “on schedule” to meet this...

Commercial and market outlook

Round and round it goes, where the loop flow stops, nobody knows

A by-product of how market boundaries are defined, loop flows are phenomena in electricity markets that manifest as flows going in one direction across parts of a network loop and goes the opposite way in other parts of the same network loop. Regardless of whether the market design is nodal...