In this week’s blog, we consider the recent refusal of planning permission for the construction of a 208MW open cycle gas turbine (OCGT) “peaker” power plant in Co Meath. While the project would assist in ensuring and maintaining the security of supply in the region, the plant was intended to run on distillate oil so ultimately was refused planning permission due to its impact on greenhouse gas emissions. This raises the interesting dilemma that the need for increased flexibility to accommodate the integration of renewables on the network and the drive for decarbonisation of generation don’t always go hand in hand.
Related thinking
Low carbon generation
Energy System Reform: Ofgem shares plans for Britain’s energy system
Against the backdrop of record high and volatile energy prices, Ofgem set out on 8 July its view on key aspects of the GB energy system where it considers significant reform is required to deliver a resilient, low cost, low carbon energy sector. Recent developments in the energy market, such...
Low carbon generation
What’s in store? Our analysis of the co-location development pipeline
Amid underlying volatility in wholesale power prices, opportunities for access to wider flexibility revenue streams, and the impact of price cannibalisation, the case for co-location for renewable energy assets is growing. As part of Cornwall Insight’s Renewables Pipeline Tracker service, a case study is included in each report’s release based...
Commercial and market outlook
Capacity, reform, and unlawful strategies: 5 things that happened yesterday
Capacity, reform, and unlawful strategies: yesterday was a busy day for energy geekery. The developments encapsulate the shorter and longer term challenges and uncertainties present in the energy market presently: Read the full article here
Commercial and market outlook
Two thirds of energy industry professionals think the market needs to be drastically reformed
A survey conducted of over one hundred leading energy market professionals from across the investment and advisory community, by Cornwall Insight, from the attendees of its Financing Net Zero forum, has shown nearly two thirds (63%) of people working in the energy industry1 believe the UK market needs to be...
Low carbon generation
A collection of resources on net zero – Net Zero Week 2022
For Net Zero Week 2022, we released a range of resources to help you on your journey to net zero. For convenience, we have put them all together in a handy Resource Report. To read the full collection of resources, please log in to your account or sign up for...
Energy storage and flexibility
Five key trends from the flexible asset PPA market
On 20 May, we published our sixth edition of our Flexible Asset PPA Market report. This is our biannual survey and analysis of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) market for flexible assets in GB, seeking to understand the market size, active offtakers and optimisers in the space, latest market trends,...
E-mobility and low carbon
Key take-aways from the Low-carbon hydrogen roundtable
Recent announcements from the UK Government have made it clear that the role for low-carbon hydrogen in the UK energy system is set to increase rapidly across the next decade. There was significant focus on low-carbon hydrogen in the Energy Security Strategy, including the doubling of the hydrogen capacity target...
Home supply and services
Windfall taxes are not the only solution to the energy crisis
The energy market is in a state of transition, with geopolitical concerns threatening to undermine energy security and subsequent wholesale energy rises pushing up bills. It is inevitable that policymakers will look at how best to deliver an affordable energy system for consumers. The temporary, targeted energy profits levy, or...
