24 November 2015

Energy News UK imported 45% of gas in 2014 The report highlights production in the future will

depend on conventional, shale gas and biogas.

Firms not taking up energy efficiency

‘due to high upfront costs’ Businesses are not installing energy efficient

technologies due to large upfront costs in the

short term and savings only seen in the long term.

‘$90bn invested in energy

efficient buildings in 2014’ A total of $90 billion (£60bn) was invested in

energy efficient buildings sector last year.

Paris climate march cancelled

amid security concerns A climate march in Paris which was expected to

attract thousands of activists has been cancelled

amid heightened security concerns.

UK energy efficiency schemes

need ‘policy predictability’ Policies for energy efficiency schemes in the UK

must be predictable.

www.tridentutilities.co.uk

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UK imported 45% of gas in 2014

The UK imported 45% of gas last year.

That’s according to a report from the Parliamentary Office

of Science and Technology (POST), which stated the nation

produced 37bcm of natural gas and biogas combined but

used 70bcm.

The report highlights production in the future will depend

on conventional, shale gas and biogas.

The UK produced 2.6bcm of biogas last year and is

expected to reach 7bcm annually by 2025.

That depends on government incentives and policy

support.

However, significant quantities of shale gas are “unlikely”

to be generated before 2020.

It also forecasts gas prices will remain low until early 2020s,

affected by European gas demand and costs of production

as well as new LNG supplies coming from Australia, Russia,

the US and “possibly” East Africa.

The number of jobs are also expected to fall to 340,000 by

2019 and investment in the sector is forecast to be reduced

by 80% to £2.5 billion by 2018.

The report, however, added gas could help the country

meet its emissions target.

It said: “Climate change targets are likely to be a key driver

of changes in gas use. Using gas can help to meet short and

medium term targets where it replaces oil or coal.

“However, building or installing too many new gas-using

units could create political, economic and behavioural

barriers to reducing emissions in future decades when cuts

in gas use will also be needed to meet carbon targets.”

The UK Government has announced coal-fired power

stations in the country will be closed by 2025 and will be

replaced with gas-fired power stations.

01 Energy News 24 November 2015 www.tridentutilities.co.uk

Firms not taking up energy efficiency ‘due to high upfront costs’

Businesses are not installing energy efficient technologies

due to large upfront costs in the short term and savings

only seen in the long term.

That’s according to a new report which states the payback

period for energy efficiency projects “varies greatly based

on the client’s energy consumption and the technologies

involved”.

It adds: “Energy-saving lighting with movement sensors

can have a payback period of less than three years,

whereas heating, ventilating and air conditioning

equipment and insulation can have a payback period of 10

years or more.”

Citing DECC the report by financial services firm

Standard & Poor’s said energy efficiency projects

in UK public buildings showed overall payback

periods of between four and seven years..

The report showed $90 billion (£60bn) was

invested in energy efficient buildings sector last

year.

02 Energy News 24 November 2015 www.tridentutilities.co.uk

“Heating, ventilating and air

conditioning equipment and

insulation can have a payback

period of 10 years or more.”

“Investors are becoming increasingly interested in low

carbon investment opportunities – such as

energy efficiency projects – which for their part are

looking to attract financing.”

‘$90bn invested in

energy efficient

buildings in 2014’ A total of $90 billion (£60bn) was invested in energy

efficient buildings sector last year.

That’s according to a new report which states the

International Energy Agency predicts the figure will grow

substantially in the next decade, especially as

policymakers target these kinds of projects as a cost-

effective way to reach climate change goals.

The report published by financial services firm Standard

& Poor’s adds: “Investors are becoming increasingly

interested in low carbon investment opportunities –

such as energy efficiency projects – which for their part

are looking to attract financing.”

Interest in energy efficiency has also led to growth in bonds

raised by companies such as Schneider Electric which

issued €200 million in (£131m) green bonds last month, it

states.

On renewable energy projects such as onshore wind and

solar the report adds they have “reached a maturity level in

the past 15 years”, enabling investors to make “timely and

full repayments on debt”.

However it adds energy efficiency projects like those in the

building sector are “less established and still raise

questions for investors about how they will be repaid and

the credit risk they face”.

03 Energy News 24 November 2015 www.tridentutilities.co.uk

Paris climate march cancelled amid

security concerns A climate march in Paris which was expected to attract

thousands of activists has been cancelled amid heightened

security concerns.

It follows last week’s terrorist attacks, which killed and

injured hundreds of people.

A spokesperson from Greenpeace told ELN the march was

due to take place on 29th November but the environmental

group was advised not to go ahead with it by the French

Government.

It was set to coincide with the United Nations climate talks

in Paris, when leaders are expected to set a global deal on

tackling climate change.

Jean-Francois Juilliard, Greenpeace France Executive

Director said: “The French authorities say they cannot

guarantee safety at the march and so it will not happen.

This is a source of huge regret but we must respect their

decision.

“Huge numbers were expected in Paris but those people

will not be silenced. We will find new, imaginative ways to

ensure our voices are heard in the UN conference centre

and beyond.”

French campaigner Nicolas Haeringer from 350.org

added: “The government can prohibit these

demonstrations but our voices will not be silenced.

“While our plans in Paris must change, the movement

for climate justice will not slow down. Around the

world, marches, demonstrations and civil disobedience

are all planned for the weeks and months ahead.

Together, we will continue to stand against violence and

hatred with our peace and resolve.”

According to the campaign group, more than 2,000

events, including 50 major marches, have been planned

worldwide as part of the Global Climate March next

weekend.

It added many of the events already planned in Paris for

the two weeks of the COP21 conference will go forward.

04 Energy News 24 November 2015 www.tridentutilities.co.uk

French campaigner Nicolas

Haeringer from 350.org

added: “The government

can prohibit these

demonstrations but our

voices will not be silenced.”

UK energy efficiency

schemes need ‘policy

predictability’

Policies for energy efficiency schemes in the UK must be

predictable.

That’s according to Joanne Wade, Director, Association

for the Conservation of Energy, who gave evidence at an

energy efficiency hearing at Westminster yesterday.

Speaking to the Energy and Climate Change Committee,

she said: “It’s no good changing policies every year.” She

added industry has “little trust” and consumers have next

to none “as they don’t know what is going on”.

On policy change, Ms Wade said she understands “the

need for flexibility” but there is also a need for notice.

Lawrence Slade, CEO, Energy UK said government hasn’t

“learnt from the past”. He added: “We try to keep jobs

and pay salaries etc. but if policy just comes to an end

when term closes then that means redundancies.”

Mr Slade also said the Green Deal needed trialling before

hitting the mass market.

05 Energy News 24 November 2015 www.tridentutilities.co.uk

“We try to keep jobs and pay

salaries etc. but if policy just

comes to an end when term

closes then that means

redundancies.”