The British Geological Survey (BGS) is delivering a £31m investment in two subsurface (underground) research field sites to deliver new geological evidence that will advance our understanding of the subsurface environment and underpin the development of new energy science.
Information on the marine licence application process for LPAs.
Energy Minister Richard Harrington confirmed today (11 October 2017) that up to £557 million will be made available for less established renewable electricity projects as part of the government’s Clean Growth Strategy, to drive economic growth and clean up the energy system.
Since 1990 the UK’s emissions are down by more than a third while the economy has grown by two-thirds. Low carbon generation provided more than half (52%) our electricity this summer, according to National Grid, while PwC analysis shows the UK decarbonising faster than any other G20 nation.
The Clean Growth Strategy, which will be published this week, will build on this success and ensure Britain remains a global leader in the move towards a low carbon economy. It will ensure the whole country can benefit from new technologies, jobs and businesses that are good for consumers, the environment and the economy.
As part of the strategy, developers will compete for up to £557 million of funding in Contracts for Difference auctions which drive down energy costs for consumers and increase business confidence. The latest auction saw the cost of new offshore wind fall by 50% compared to the first auction held in 2015 and resulted in over 3GW of new generation which could power 3.6 million homes.
Energy Minister Richard Harrington said:
The government’s Clean Growth Strategy will set out how the whole of the UK can benefit from the global move to a low carbon economy.
We’ve shown beyond doubt that renewable energy projects are an effective way to cut our emissions, while creating thousands of good jobs and attracting billions of pounds worth of investment.
The Clean Growth Strategy will look across the whole of the economy and the country. It includes ambitious proposals on housing, business, transport and the environment, as well as the power sector. It will also show how actions taken to tackle emissions have helped to reduce energy bills for households.
The next Contracts for Difference auction is planned for spring 2019.
The facilitation fund supports over 60 groups with 1400 farmer/land manager members. These case studies illustrate the range of approaches taken by the groups.
The Environment Agency and Office for Nuclear Regulation’s (the nuclear regulators) joint publication about their scrutiny of RWM’s work relating to geological disposal of radioactive waste.
Government policy for managing higher activity radioactive waste in the long term is through geological disposal.
The nuclear regulators provide regulatory advice to RWM about implementing geological disposal.
This report explains what the regulators looked at and the main comments provided to RWM. It also highlights areas for RWM to improve.
RWM is making good progress towards ensuring that it will have the right people, skills and systems in place by the time it applies for environmental permits and a nuclear site licence for a geological disposal facility.
The regulators will make sure that any future geological disposal facility meets their high standards for environmental protection, safety, security, radioactive waste transportation and safeguards.
For more information email the Environment Agency at geological.disposal@environment-agency.gov.uk.