Will Heinzelmann

£15bn For Solar & Green Tech - It is a Win for UK Households Some thoughts on critical comments to this morning’s announcement about new funding support for households to install solar, batteries and heat pumps. I feel like some of the commentary this morning has focused on two unhelpful narratives: 1️⃣ “This just increases our reliance on China.” Yes, a large share of PV panels on the market are manufactured in China (alongside other countries). That doesn’t automatically mean we are “locked into” reliance forever, and it ignores the reality that many of the products we already use daily - phones, laptops, TVs - come from the same supply chains. If we want UK‑manufactured solar at scale, there is a cost to that, and we need an honest conversation about price, industrial strategy and what “sovereignty” really looks like, rather than singling out solar as a special case. 2️⃣ “This won’t help people with their bills.” Once installed, solar, batteries and heat pumps reduce how much electricity a household needs to buy from the grid, which cuts bills and increases independence from volatile international energy markets. This also helps the wider system: less peak demand and more distributed generation take pressure off an already stretched grid and support more stable pricing over time. Saying it won’t help bills is at best incomplete, at worst misleading. This is before even getting into the benefits of meeting rising household energy demand without simply pushing more strain onto outdated infrastructure. 🫠 The Politics game What frustrates me most is seeing politicians dismiss these measures while glossing over how energy markets, infrastructure and investment actually work. They either don't understand these systems or don't have the public's best interest in mind. My real concern is almost the opposite: that the plan may not go far enough, and that we still lack: - Robust standards for installations and installers (MCS does not go far enough) - A serious, practical and affordable approach to retrofit quality - Thought‑through solutions for homes that aren’t currently suitable for these technologies I would be curious to hear others’ thoughts, especially from people working in housing, retrofit and energy systems. Photo: Our solar we installed last summer in the recent icy and snowy weather.

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Navigating energy market risks ? Read the latest blog from our Sally Phillips C&S Director on options to manage the risks

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The Government’s latest REMA update confirms a reformed national pricing model for the UK’s electricity market⚡ This latest FAQs article from Drax Energy Solutions breaks down what that means, from the new Strategic Spatial Energy Plan to transmission charging reform and business impacts. Find out more👉 http://bit.ly/47ejABE

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Energy costs and affordability is one of the UK’s most pressing challenges. And yet the Small Supplier Licence Exemption loophole not only undermines market fairness, it’s contributing to the rising costs of electricity businesses and households are facing all over the country. In total, we estimate that exempt supply is adding up to £200 million a year onto bills - money that could be spent on renewable investment, grid upgrades, or targeted support for those struggling with bill payments like a social tariff. Closing this loophole is not about stifling innovation. It’s about restoring fairness and accountability in the market - and ensuring that every pound paid by the British public on their energy bills is being effectively utilised. Thanks to Adam John and Utility Week for covering this. https://lnkd.in/eWmVRTNF 

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This is a critical point from Richard on the energy security provided by heat pumps displacing gas boilers and the same of course applies to heat networks! This week I had a great conversation with representatives from a community energy org developing local renewables. The P442 code change will enable us to use local existing electricity networks to wire locally generated renewable power to heat pump energy centres supplying the Bristol Heat Network. In the same week we've had a flurry of enquiries from large existing building owners wanting to replace their gas boilers by connecting to the heat network. What could be more positive for energy security than building owners transitioning from a gas supply to efficiently generated heat, supplied by a trusted partner, using electricity from local community-owned turbines!

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The UK cannot afford to ignore these findings; it’s a direct call to action. At Aurora, we’re committed to tackling grid connection bottlenecks and ensuring that clean power targets aren’t just promises, but measurable, deliverable outcomes. With the 2050 deadline fast-approaching, we need to translate urgency into impact.

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Pleased to be part of the Elexon team making data available via our Smart Data Repository (SDR). The SDR will make data available to support the industries evolution from later this year

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More than 42% of the UK’s electricity now comes from renewable sources – and that number's growing☀ Drax Electric Vehicles ⚡ latest article of the Missed Information series dispels the myth that the electricity used to charge EVs is dirty. Read it here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eVJKycM8

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With grid connections now playing a more pivotal role than ever in major project decisions, Scottish Renewables' Grid & Networks Conference couldn't be more timely.    This event will bring experts together to unpack how strategic energy planning is reshaping project development, from connections reform to network charging.    Join us on February 26 in Glasgow for fascinating sessions, insights from key stakeholders and dedicated networking.    🔗 Secure your place today and join us on February 26:   https://lnkd.in/et2Cvwd9.      Event Partner: Hitachi Energy, OW Ocean Winds and SSEN Transmission Session Sponsors: SLR Consulting and Green Cat Renewables Ltd Event Supporter: Scottish Partnership in Energy and Engineering Research & Innovation (SPEERI) Official Media Partner: reNEWS - Renewable Energy News #SRGRID26

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My brain like to receive information visually. I can't seem to paste the image in this post...so I will just reference it. Figure 1.2 (page 16) is an excellent visual representation of a complex set of information on our energy system. Reducing our depence on oil has a material impact on losses in final energy consumption. Every pound we spend on decarbonisation can deliver double or even quadruple that value through better health, greater energy efficiency and avoided climate costs. It’s encouraging to see how making Net Zero work is ultimately an investment in people and the wider economy.

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Under all of the National Energy System Operator's scenarios in #FES2025, a minimum of at least 250TWh of gasses would be required annually, across natural gas, hydrogen and biomethane. Against a backdrop of around 700TWh of gas in the system annually today, what is evident from NESO's findings is both that the gas system will need to evolve and that the gas system will remain integral to our Net Zero energy system in 2050. A throughput of circa 40% of current gas supply, or much higher under some scenarios, will mean we will still need much of our extensive gas infrastructure which we have today, working in conjunction with electrification to decarbonise our economy in a way that works for consumers. It is particularly pleasing to see the NESO's leadership in the report when it comes to biomethane, with their forecast of 64TWh of biomethane by 2050 a huge step forward from previous FES' and from the government's basis of 30-40TWh as per their 2023 Biomass Strategy. We can and we should go further than this, based on the Green Gas Taskforce research by Alder BioInsights which shows that up to 120TWh of sustainable production could be available by 2050. But this is a huge step forward for the development of green gas. What we need to see now, which NESO have rightly highlighted, is certainty around a long term support mechanism for biomethane to replace the Green Gas Support Scheme when it closes in 2028. And good to see all of this picked up by Utility Week as well! https://lnkd.in/eXWxeeF7 #netzero #greengas #hydrogen #biomethane

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New Animated Tool from Climate Trace can help you motivate clients to do energy efficiency / emissions reduction projects... With the addition of pollution data (not just CO2), you can help your clients see their "Pollution Report Card" from an independent third-party... and the data is openly available to the public. Feel free to start using this tool to educate your high emitting clients... I doubt they will want to be perceived/linked to cancer-causing pollution... and that might be the attention they need to approve your energy/emissions projects. 😃 I think this approach is valuable... because the threat of getting cancer has a more direct & immediate impact on individuals (compared with the longer-term view climate change requires before an individual will "take action"). As a team of AEE members work with Climate Trace, more announcements/tools will be coming, but I wanted you to get the "sneak peak". Thanks to AEE members for working with Climate Trace (on additional tools to be announced in the coming months): John Puskar, Thomas Wenning, P.E., Bill Kent, C.E.M., Albert Williams, Association of Energy Engineers, WattTime.org, Gavin McCormick

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The UK energy market is about to change like never before – are your clients prepared? From 2026, Ofgem’s Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) will move every electricity consumer to half-hourly settlement. This change replaces broad estimates with accurate, 30-minute consumption data. For businesses, it brings new challenges, but also a wealth of opportunities to cut costs, increase efficiency, and future-proof their operations. For TPIs, MHHS isn’t just another regulation – it’s a chance to deliver unparalleled value: ✅ Pinpoint accuracy – Clients are billed only for what they actually use. ✅ Actionable insights – Spot trends, highlight inefficiencies, and recommend improvements that drive measurable savings. ✅ Smarter contracts – Gain access to flexible, time-of-use tariffs that reward greener and cheaper energy choices. ✅ Future-ready solutions – Enable clients to integrate EV charging, battery storage, and other intelligent technologies. At Business Utility Services, we see MHHS as a pivotal moment for the industry. Our role is to ensure our partners are equipped with the expertise, tools, and support to turn half-hourly data into a competitive advantage for their clients. The energy landscape is shifting fast – let’s work together to make sure your clients stay ahead. 📩 Partner with Business Utility Services today and prepare for MHHS with confidence. #MHHS #HalfHourlySettlement #TPI #EnergyPartnerships #BusinessEnergy #businessutilityservicesltd #EnergyEfficiency #NetZero #helpingyousave

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4 July 2025, UK energy markets open the day with upward momentum in gas and a marginal uplift in power, despite wider signs of market uncertainty heading into the weekend. The NBP Day-Ahead gas contract is priced at 78.00p/therm, reflecting a mild uptick from yesterday’s close as near-curve prices post small gains. Power markets also edged higher with the UK Day-Ahead baseload at £61.92/MWh, although price action remains modest and liquidity remains thin early in the session. These moves come after a week of relatively muted volatility, a stark contrast to the disruptions we’ve grown accustomed to this year. Weather forecasts continue to play a central role. Temperatures across Northwest Europe are currently trending 1.17°C above the seasonal norm through to 6 July, before flipping to 0.85°C below normal from Sunday. The UK's National Gas predicts a demand increase to 144 mcm today, driven partly by a modest 6 mcm rise in gas-for-power usage. Despite this, power system fundamentals are tilting more balanced with wind generation performing well and expected to hold until early next week, before giving way to stronger solar output. LNG remains a background support: send-out levels are stable at 9 mcm/day, led by South Hook and the Isle of Grain. Dragon terminal remains offline. Meanwhile, European storage injection rates have slowed nearly 20% day-on-day, the lowest since late May, leaving EU gas stocks at 59% full. This reduced storage pace could resurface as a bullish driver if summer heatwaves raise cooling demand. Looking at broader markets, carbon prices are slightly up with EUA Dec-25 at €72.06/tonne. Brent crude softens to $68.80/bbl, and the UK ETS has nudged up to £48.50/tonne. Currency markets saw the pound ease to €1.1589 against the euro, while inching higher versus the dollar at $1.3652. In the power curve, front-month UK baseload contracts are largely stable, with the Aug-25 contract offered at £73/MWh and minor movements across seasonal strips. On the peak side, Day-Ahead prices have dropped sharply to £43.52/MWh from £67.70/MWh, reflecting weaker peak demand expectations and the impact of stronger renewable availability. As we move into the second week of July, all eyes are on how temperatures will evolve and whether they spark a renewed round of volatility. For now, the market appears to be catching its breath, but don’t mistake calm for certainty.

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This week @Net Zero Industry Wales and @Acre launched a Clean Energy Investment Prospectus for Wales, including a number of RWE's energy projects.   It makes for an impressive read, and you can view it in full here: https://lnkd.in/e599-rDu (Welsh version also available). The Prospectus clearly sets out the scale and ambition of investible projects across Wales, positioning the nation as a key contributor to the UK’s clean energy transition.  Please take a look!

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💡 Is your current PPA strategy built to weather today’s volatile energy market? With negative electricity prices becoming more frequent in the UK, energy generators are facing new challenges in protecting their revenue. But what’s behind this trend—and how can you stay ahead? Here’s what you need to know: ➡️ Surplus Supply Meets Low Demand – High renewable output during off-peak times is pushing negative prices. 🔗 Inflexible Generation Adds Pressure – Traditional plants can’t always adapt quickly, worsening oversupply. 💡 Smart PPA Strategies Matter – Flexible PPAs like our Standard Baseload PPA help you hedge wisely and avoid negative price exposure. 👉 Read the full blog by Daniel G. and explore how our UK PPA Team can help you optimise your revenue:https://lnkd.in/e37APZH4 #EnergyTransition #TotalEnergies #RevenueOptimisation

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DBT/DESNZ's has published a call for evidence on how to develop the GB corporate PPA (CPPA) market, explicitly positioning CPPAs as a market-led route to competitive, clean power. The question a sensible one. If corporates are willing to contract for low-carbon output, CPPAs can help unlock new generation while relying less on taxpayer-funded support. And CPPAs can improve cost predictability for industry, which matters for competitiveness in electricity-exposed sectors. The paper also points to some worthwhile policy levers. It recognises that credit requirements and contracting complexity are real barriers to CPPA development, and it flags state-backed guarantee models used in other jurisdictions. This suggests government is at least open to interventions that reduce friction and widen participation, at some direct cost (or socialisation of risk). But what’s perhaps missing is an explicit framework for deciding how far to lean on CPPAs (as compared to CfDs). When is it better value-for-money to remove CPPA barriers (e.g., via credit-risk mitigation or standardisation) rather than expanding subsidies (e.g. via CfDs)? A simple CBA would look at the fiscal costs of both approaches and choose route which requires least government cash (and/or transfer of risk). A more complete (but complex) CBA would factor in competitiveness impacts, for example asking whether supporting CPPAs can lead to greater competitiveness in - say - GB datacentres, and then go on to assess consequent economic growth benefits. It's not obvious that the call for evidence asks for input on this question - but it would seem to pretty important for the overall direction of policy... https://lnkd.in/e37r35kU #EnergyPolicy #EnergyMarkets #CorporatePPAs #IndustrialStrategy #Investment

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The Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) is a highly significant reform programme 👀 It will affect the commercial, regulatory and policy aspects of the UK power industry, and could have a fundamental impact on all power consumers... Drax Energy Solutions latest article looks at what REMA is, and why it's important for businesses. Read it here 👉 http://bit.ly/3G2f4v2

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