From Energydesk
Can you freeze bills and tackle climate change at the same time? (cross post)
As the Prime Minister and Opposition leader clash again on energy bills we look at the options open to Mr Milliband, and anyone else, who may want to stabilise power bills and cut carbon emissions at the same time.
If you read three other stories
1) Coalition looks at rules to limit old coal
The coalition is looking at measures which would close old coal power plants - in order to head of a rebellion in the House of Lords over it's rejection of target to decarbonise the UK's power sector.
The idea is being pushed hard by Lord Teverson, the Lib Dem energy spokesman in the Lords.
“We want to end the loophole whereby the cost of coal is so cheap it may be worthwhile for coal to pay to comply with the European legislation and continue generating [24 hours a day] well into the future,” he said.
2) SSE to up tariffs by 8%
Energy supplier SSE said on Thursday it would raise its household charges for electricity and gas by an average of 8.2 percent next month.
The firm said raising prices was "the last thing the company wanted to do", and it pledged not to raise prices again before Autumn 2014 at the earliest.
SSE have published a handy infographic to explain what puts up your energy bill. We've got our own one here.
3) EU coal price falls further spurring coal use
European coal dropped to a record amid expectations that imports of the fuel from Colombia will increase after strikes that hampered supply ended.
The news comes as Germany's coal-fired power plants increased their dominance in the generation mix in the first nine months of the year as output from natural gas-fired power plants and wind turbines dropped, according to an analysis of data that German think tank Fraunhofer Institute (ISE) collected.
Germany is also due to increase the surcharge levied on bills for Renewable energy next year - raising pressure on the government over the Energiewende.
And the rest of the news from the UK
UK could miss Renewable targets - as offshore wind plans shelved
The UK's green energy sector is failing to follow the trajectory needed to meet legally-binding European renewables targets by the end of the decade, new EU research has warned.
It comes as a consortium of offshore wind developers have written to the Department of Energy and Climate Change to say that the new subsidies on offer are too low and need to extend beyond 2020. Ministers, however, say very little new offshore wind is now wanted by 2020. The Times reports that Government officials reiterated that forecast offshore wind capacity was unlikely to total more than eight gigawatts by 2020.
And Carbon Brief reports that the 2,000 solar farms, trailed yesterday, is also pretty unlikely. Instead existing sites are likely to be expanded and, of course, the government may not hit the top end of its target.
UK will need to prove case for nuclear aid
The EU has decided not to include Nuclear in it's state aid guidelines. "This simply means that state aid notifications by member states will continue to be assessed directly under (EU) treaty rules and the standard in this field will be determined by the Commission's case practice," said the EU's competition commissioner.
The news comes as The Times reports that a Chinese state owned firm is due to take a 49% stake in the Hinkley nuclear project - reportedly allowing the scheme to go ahead in the next few weeks.
And the rest of the world
US to shut nuclear safety agency due to shutdown
Resident inspectors at the nation's 100 nuclear reactors in 31 states will remain in place to address immediate safety and security issues, but the agency's daily reactor status report will not be available, said NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane.
Shell to frack in Turkey
Royal Dutch Shell's Turkey branch and the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) are to begin drilling Turkey's first wells for shale gas exploration in the eastern province of Diyarbakir this month, officials from the Ministry of Energy said on Tuesday.
EU to force shale drillers to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA's)
The European Parliament today voted to revise EU legislation on environmental impact assessments (EIAs). The news has prompted warnings from Conservative MEP's that EU 'red tape' could threaten fracking in the UK.
Greenpeace boss offers himself as Guarantee for release of activists
In a letter to Putin Kumi Naidoo offers to move to Russia as bail guarantee.
