On Energydesk today
Conservative party conference live-blog
Energy bills remain the theme of the moment. Today Conservative Energy Minister, Michael Fallon, is quoted telling an event hosted by Energy UK that putting green costs on energy bills is 'unfair'.
Should public money be used to fund PhDs in fracking? Or why science funding matters.
As the UK's National Science Research Council announces funding for a doctorate in fracking Alice Bell asks whether public money should be used in this way and whether it matters.
If you only read three (other) stories
1) Energy company revolt over price freeze continues
The boss of one of Britain’s biggest energy companies, Scottish Power, has threatened to scrap billions of pounds of investment in new power stations and electricity networks if Ed Miliband’s plan to freeze utility bills goes ahead.
Perhaps more alarming for the Labour leader though is a warning from one of the smaller energy companies that they don't have the resources to cushion consumers from price rises.
2) "Climate change, it's not all bad"- Paterson.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson caused controversy for comments perceived as playing down the threat of global climate change, writes The Independent's Tom Bawden.
“I think the relief of this latest report is that it shows a really quite modest increase [in temperatures], half of which has already happened. They are talking one to two-and-a-half degrees.”,” he said.
The Indie reports though that Professor Myles Allen of Oxford University, one of the lead authors of the report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said: “This is not consistent with the report at all, which says that, under a business-as-usual scenario, the temperature will have risen by between 3.2C and 5.4C by the end of the century, compared to pre-industrial times."
3) Shell chief call for greater oil investment
Peter Voser is expected to use a speech in London warn against a tail off in oil and gas exploration, reports The Telegraph. “The coming decades will see a historic change in human society and the global economy,” Mr Voser will say.
“Billions of people are emerging from poverty in China, India and other emerging economies. They’re buying fridges, cars and washing machines, and all the consumer goods we take for granted in the West.”
UK
Green levies on energy bills unfair - Fallon
“Piling further costs and green levies on to energy bills is unfair to consumers,” said Mr Fallon at a reception by industry body Energy UK at the Conservative Party Conference.
SSE raises dividend despite loss
Big six energy supplier, Scottish and Southern is to boost its dividend to shareholders despite an expected loss in it's retail division. The company blamed higher gas prices and lower demand for the loss.
International
Poland warned new plants could break the law
COP host Poland could be breaking EU law if it goes ahead with the construction of two new units at its Opole power plant, Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard suggests.By failing to assess the units for their ability to incorporate carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, Poland is acting in direct violation of EU regulations - she warned.
BP looks to Rosneft deal
BP - which owns a fifth of the Russian oil giant - is looking to become the first oil major to enter into a long term deal to buy Rosneft crude oil.
US shutdown to impact oil industry
Companies seeking permits to drill on federal lands from the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) may be left out as the department halts onshore permitting operations.
China solar shares boost
There are signs of recovery for the crisis hit Chinese solar panel manufacturing sector - shortly after the government announced tax breaks for the industry. Analysts suggest moves by companies to install their own panels may be partly responsible for a rise in share values.
Written by Damian Kahya
