Energy: Carson McDowell-competition in the sector
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011Dorit McCann outlines the local relevance of UK and EU judgements. UK and EU competition law prohibit two main types of anti-competitive activity: (i) arrangements between two or more undertakings which have the object or effect of preventing, restricting or distorting competition and which appreciably affect trade in the UK or the EU; and (ii) abuse of a dominant position in a market by one or more undertakings. Investigation and enforcement of competition law The Utility Regulator has concurrent powers with the Office of Fair Trading to investigate and take enforcement action in relation...[full story]
Energy: Fracking explored
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011Stephen Dineen explains fracking and the increasing controversy surrounding it. Gas production companies need to be transparent, according to incoming American Gas Association President Ronald W Jibson. The Questar Corporation CEO told agendaNi that producers need to be willing to show what their frack method is: “They all have their own recipe and they need to be open about what’s in that frack load and then maybe change that.” Gibson believes that “if there are harmful products there, they [the producers] may need to change that,” and that producers need to work with environmentalists...[full story]
Energy: Renewable planning
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011Planning reform could help to increase electricity generated from renewables to 40 per cent by 2020. agendaNi reports. PPS18 was released in 2009 in order to prepare for an increase in renewable energy applications stemming from the European Union’s 2020 targets (to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent on 1990 levels, to generate 20 per cent of energy from renewables and increase energy efficiency by 20 per cent.) The Strategic Energy Framework’s target to generate 40 per cent of electricity and 10 per cent of heat from renewables by 2020 adds more pressure to bring about...[full story]
Energy: McGrigors–ROC re-banding
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011Richard Murphy of McGrigors LLP discusses the mood in the market with the ROC Re-banding proposals for Northern Ireland. Hot on the heels of the ROC re-banding consultations in Great Britain, the recently published Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) ROC banding consultation has met with a broadly positive response in the local market. Whilst the document is still only consultative at the time of writing this article, it does provide specific insights into a transitional regime for UK renewables, starting in April 2012 and ending in March 2017. During this period the...[full story]
Energy: Translink-new Antrim station
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011Translink’s leading the way in energy efficiency with new state-of-the-art station. Sustainability is a key priority for Translink. Most recently, the 2010-2011 Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme ranked Translink as the highest scoring organisation in Northern Ireland and the highest ranking transport organisation in the UK. A mandatory scheme run by the UK Government’s Environment Agency, it encourages large private and public sector organisations to reduce their carbon footprint by developing and implementing energy management strategies and included more...[full story]
Energy: North sea supergrid
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011North Sea states are making progress in plans for a connected offshore grid, due to strong government support. Political will is crucial for developing offshore energy, European energy representatives have emphasised. As part of the Open Days conference, agendaNi attended a seminar on supergrids in the North Sea and English Channel, hosted by the Norwegian mission to the EU. While not a member state, Norway co-operates closely with the EU on energy and produces as much oil as the entire union. In contrast, it generates virtually all its electricity from hydro plants. Friends of the Supergrid...[full story]
Energy: Veridis-energy from waste
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011An overview of plans for Northern Ireland’s first major energy from waste project. Veridis Energy believes that its proposed energy from waste (EfW) plant on the outskirts of Belfast provides a ‘win-win’ solution for diverting waste from landfill. Despite encountering many obstacles, Jim Lynas and Harry McCourt have remained committed to their vision of creating Northern Ireland’s first major EfW designed to accept the residual fraction of municipal, commercial and industrial wastes which can not be recycled or composted. This shared vision would make a valuable contribution to...[full story]
Energy: Bryson Energy–tackling fuel poverty
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011Bryson Energy’s aim is to ‘energy proof’ homes across Northern Ireland. Bryson Energy, part of the Bryson Charitable Group, Northern Ireland’s leading social enterprise, is committed to tackling fuel poverty and its long-term aim is to ‘energy proof’ homes across Northern Ireland. Bryson Energy is the European energy agency for Northern Ireland and is part of a large network of over 380 energy agencies working across Europe committed to reducing energy usage in the home. Operating as a social enterprise, it is one of the largest and most successful energy agencies delivering...[full story]
Energy: Phoenix–fuelling the future
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011The NI Natural Gas Association is calling for policy changes to encourage more people to upgrade their heating systems. When Phoenix Natural Gas first brought natural gas to Northern Ireland in 1996, the company believed that strategically their investment would be best facilitated by empowering the indigenous workforce already in place to create its very own natural gas industry to support the gas network roll out to homes and businesses throughout the Greater Belfast area. This was a departure from how the gas industry in Britain had developed. It was this decision that in turn created...[full story]
