heat

  • 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

    2021’s most exciting ‘Charts of the week’

    Some of our team have looked back throughout 2021 and picked their most exciting 'Chart of the week'. Read about their choices and click through to read the full 'Chart of the week'. To do so, you need a free Cornwall Insight account which is easy to create here. Green...

  • Heat networks

    Heat and buildings strategy: Key points

    On 19 October, the government released the Heat and Buildings strategy outlining how the government will tackle the decarbonisation of the built environment to help meet the UK net zero ambition. Our experts have taken a quick look at the strategy and highlighted the key points. Heating The strategy makes...

  • Heat networks

    Reallocating electricity policy costs to incentivise low carbon heating technologies

    Funding the cost of decarbonising the power system has mainly been through the consumers' electricity bills. In fact, in 2020-21 these costs amounted to a whopping £10bn. But is this method of raising revenue for decarbonisation still fit for purpose when faced with the need to decarbonise the nation's heat?...

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    How nuclear energy can help the UK reach its net zero goals

    This article was originally written in Energy Spectrum on 21 March 2021. To find out more about a subscription to Energy Spectrum, please contact Nick on n.palmer@cornwall-insight.com. There are several challenges to reaching net zero, where its proponents believe nuclear could add value. Some of tomorrow’s main issues concern: How to provide low...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Heat pumps and peak power demand in North-West Europe in 2030

    In March Cornwall Insight launched its new Energy Spectrum Europe publication in collaboration with the Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne (EWI). Below is an extract of our Energy Perspective article from our latest issue, written by Nils Namockel from EWI.  Heat pumps powered by green electricity...

  • Low carbon generation

    Let markets run or regulate to accelerate: a false choice or key net zero decision?

    Earlier this week Cornwall Insight convened a group of industry leaders from across the energy and investment space to discuss business preparedness for net zero, and what more can be done to unlock capital to make net zero a reality. The session, hosted by our non-executive chairman Volker Beckers, is...

  • Net zero corporates and ESG

    Major energy policy and regulatory changes discussed in our December Net Zero Business forum

    On 10 December 2020, Cornwall Insight hosted its Net Zero Business Forum. Held four days before the release of the UK government’s Energy White Paper, the focus was on the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan, the Spending Review and the National Infrastructure Strategy. Head of Relationship Development Robert Buckley and Head...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Why standards matter for heat network customers | Energy Spectrum Nutwood

    Written by David Watson, Heat Trust For the 500,000 customers living and working on heat networks today, there is no Ofgem protection. Most lack the sort of basic consumer protection the rest of the market take for granted. Whilst the Heat Trust’s voluntary scheme makes a tangible difference to those...

  • Power and gas networks

    Understanding the backdrop of the UK hydrogen economy

    We are delighted to publish our research note on the hydrogen sector: 'Understanding the backdrop of the UK hydrogen economy'. Serving as a primer for our upcoming series of hydrogen insight papers, we chart the UK’s progress in developing a hydrogen industry. In our paper, we cover essential developments in...

  • Regulation and policy

    Ofgem faces RIIO-2 balancing act for net zero

    The regulator recently issued the draft determinations for the RIIO-2 price control for the transmission and gas distribution networks and the electricity system operator (ESO). These price controls will run for five years from April 2021. Shortly after, it also set out the next stage of detail – the “sector...

  • Low carbon generation

    Parties pledge a “revolution in renewables” in draft Programme for Government

    This article was originally published on 14 July 2020 in our ‘Energy Spectrum Ireland’ publication.  The leaders of the Green Party, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael signed off the draft Programme for Government (PfG) on 15 June. According to the PfG, energy will play a “central role in the creation of...

  • Energy storage and flexibility

    The future of power prices: Black swans and dragon kings

    Understanding the long-term trajectory of the wholesale market is critical to new generation assets and their investment viability. Here at Cornwall Insight, we support market participants in assessing the potential outlook for wholesale power markets through our long-term market Benchmark Power Curve service. We’ve just updated our latest curves out...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Editor’s Pick | Regen assesses decarbonised heat market stimuli and pathways

    Regen, in association with Wales and West Utilities, has published a research paper exploring the challenge of decarbonising heat in the UK. The Decarbonisation of Heat paper was published on 9 March. Problem In comparison to other European markets, the UK is still highly dependent on natural gas to provide heat...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Editor’s Pick Ireland | SEAI: Transport takes the largest share of energy in Ireland

    Energy-related CO2 emissions fell by 1.2% in 2018, according to the latest publication of Energy in Ireland, an annual report by the SEAI which presents the key trends in energy production and consumption. Published on 12 December 2019, the report shows how Ireland's energy system is evolving in response to...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Energy policy: a growing schism between Scotland and the UK

    Scottish Public Finance Minister Kate Forbes announced the Scottish Budget 2020-21 in a statement on 6 February. This revealed a significant package of funding to accelerate Scotland’s transition to a net zero economy. With the UK Budget due to be announced on 11 March, the Scottish government has presented tax...

  • Heat networks

    Editor’s Pick | Scotland leading the way on UK heat networks

    This article was originally published on 29 November 2019 in Energy:2030 Issue 23 Scottish Renewables published a piece of research on 11 November, in-light of the Scottish Government’s proposed Heat Networks Bill. The research looked to identify and quantify potential heat network projects in Scotland’s seven cities. The Heat Networks Bill, which will...

  • Low carbon generation

    Does net zero mean zero gas?

    The electricity industry has been experiencing fundamental change for the past decade, during which time structural changes to the gas industry have been rather more limited. However, this will have to change in the coming years as the move towards net zero sees decarbonisation intensify. Few would dispute that the...

  • Low carbon generation

    Danger Zone: Ireland’s emissions pathway

    The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) released the terms and conditions for the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) on 7 August. DCCAE has recently been active in the environmental space, announcing the following since the beginning of June: €500 million Climate Action Fund; Sectoral Planning Guidelines...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    This week’s Energy Spectrum overview | 29 May 2018

    Energy Perspective In this week’s Energy Perspective, we look ahead to this summer, a period that we believe could prove to be ground-breaking in terms of testing some long-held theories about flexible power systems. With the electricity market in rapid in transition we explore a range of emerging market phenomena...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    This week’s Energy Spectrum overview | 16 April 2018

    In this week’s Energy Perspective, we review the BEIS consultation on the next phase of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO3). We argue that although at first glance proposals for ECO3 give the impression that it is business as usual, there are some key changes taking place going into this next...

  • Announcement

    Tim Rotheray | 12 Days of Christmas

    Our 12 Days of Christmas series is timed to coincide with issue 600 of Energy Spectrum. It commemorates 12 years of our weekly publication, which first debuted in 2005. It offers perspectives from senior industry figures on the past 12 years and discussion on where the energy market could be...