Energydesk
Fracking and flaring
The Independent and Guardian both reported on plans by the UK’s fracking companies – Igas and Cuadrilla - to flare gas during exploration and even production. The notion of flames in the countryside is bound to cause concern – but what does it say about how fracking will be regulated in the UK? With the help of documents obtained under a Freedom of Information request we investigate.
How many sites will fracking happen at?
The episode trigged an argument between advocates and opponents of fracking about how many wells would be drilled. Cuadrilla - in a document sent to the government last year - suggested that by using new, as yet untried, technology they could limit the footprint to just 10 sites at a time with 80 wells running deep underground “like a fork” from each one under nearby properties.
Oddly this is half the number they say they hope for on their own site – but there they are talking about job creation. An analysis by energy journalist Tim Probert based on sources with knowledge of the plans suggests 120 sites may be more likely. One thing seems clear – little is yet known for sure.
UK
Number 10 energy advisor quits
Utility Week exclusively report that yet another advisor at No.10 has quit. Ben Moxham was understood to be frustrated that climate change “has slid down the agenda”.
Peter Lilley – the future of the Conservative policy?
The PM’s new advisor, and member of the energy and climate change select committee – Peter Lilley – has been embroiled in a bitter war of words on the merits of shale gas and dismerits of action on climate change. The Major era cabinet minister is also on the board of an oil and gas company. Writing in The Guardian Bob Ward asks if Mr Lilley’s increasingly strident views reflect the future direction of tory party policy on energy and climate.
US shale for the UK
Exxon Mobil and Qatar have signed a deal allowing US shale to be exported to the UK in future, should the ‘Golden pass’ export terminal be approved for export by the US government. However the project is 13th in the list to be approved, and exports would only happen if the UK market were offering higher prices than those currently available in Asia.
EU & World
Coal renaissance stutters.
Deutsche Bank has predicted that EU coal use will fall by almost a quarter by 2020 due to the closure of plants which fail to meet the block’s acid rain regulations. The analysis suggested that global demand for coal may also fall.
EU tariffs could bankrupt Chinese solar
The EU is planning on imposing tariffs of almost 70% on Chinese solar panels as part of the ongoing trade-war over so-called solar panel “dumping”. However the industry in China already in trouble the Wall Street Journal reports that the tariffs could mean many firms going out of business.
Climate
Following the recent debate over whether the world is warming up by as much as might be expected – thanks to rising Co2 emissions – a new study looks at ocean warming. It suggests the slightly lower rate of atmospheric warming may be due to a higher rate of oceans warming.
