Damian's energy dispatch

UK

Confusion reigns over wind-farms
The BBC and others report that local communities are to be given greater powers to block wind-farms, but also offered greater incentives for new developments. The news appears to come as a surprise to the Department of Energy and Climate change who insist that planning laws (which have already been used to block multiple developments) have not changed. Either way Business Green reports the increased costs could de-rail many onshore wind developments. 

Ofgem given more power to investigate energy market
Ofgem could be given powers to hand unlimited fines to energy companies found guilty of manipulating the market. The powers, which come as part of new European rules on energy market trading known as REMIT, will be introduced to parliament shortly. The development comes amidst an ongoing European investigation into Oil price manipulation and a Ofgem inquiry into the gas market. 

Report warns on higher energy costs 
The government's statutory consumer body, Consumer futures, has warned the government's projections about how much consumers will save from its energy efficiency measures could be 'optimistic'. The body warned that the government's overall reforms could therefore save consumers far less than ministers claim and that some - especially households with electric heating - could pay more. 

EDF signs deal with unions and contractors
French energy giant EDF has signed a deal with the unions and contractors involved in building it's new nuclear plant, Hinkley point C. The deal is theoretical at this stage though as protracted negotiations continue over how much consumers will pay for power from the project. 

World

China to cut coal use in industrial regions
Concerned about mounting pollution China is cut it's coal use in major cities and industrial regions - banning the expansion of industries such as Steel in those regions. The country has also recently acted to ban the import of low-quality coal. However reports that the Chinese leadership was thinking of adopting an overall cap on emissions look to be wide of the mark. 

Poland to fight barriers to shale - as Chevron looks to leave
Poland's Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has promised to be ruthless with ministers who get in the way of a package of measures designed to help the oil and gas industry. His intervention comes after a string of high profile US firms gave up on hopes of extracting gas from Poland's significant shale reserves. Indeed the last remaining oil giant in the country - Chevron - is also rumored to be planning its early departure. Officials also admitted to difficulties in the already delayed plans for a new nuclear power plant. 

Climate

What's new on ice sheet melt?
Science Journal Nature is to publish a major review of the latest scientific evidence on the melting of ice sheets - which causes sea level rise. Carbon Brief's analysis concludes "overall, the figures demonstrate what scientists have learned from the last few years of scientific advances - that Antarctica and Greenland are losing mass and driving up sea levels, increasingly fast as time goes on.