Berlin prepares intervention as Germany’s gas storage buffer hits historic low
Germany is preparing market incentives to accelerate storage injections, marking a shift from its previous reluctance to intervene. Storage was only about 53% full at the beginning of September, the lowest level for the time of year in 15 years. The proposed measures could reduce winter supply risk, but their effectiveness will depend on tender […]
Westminster directs Ofgem to prioritise ‘social value’ in grid procurement
New statutory guidance asks Ofgem to give greater weight to domestic capability, jobs, skills and supply chain resilience when regulating network investment. Network procurements should retain at least a 10% social value weighting and work towards 20%, but the policy is not a mandatory UK content rule. Its impact will depend on Ofgem’s implementation and […]
EPA scraps core power plant carbon rules, targets future federal authority
The US Environmental Protection Agency has finalised the repeal of most of the Biden administration’s 2024 carbon standards for coal and gas generation. It has separately proposed removing every remaining federal greenhouse gas performance standard… You must be a Premium Subscriber to read this. You must be a Premium Subscriber to view this content. You […]
Volvo begins building 700 km electric trucks despite infrastructure lag
Volvo has started series production of a heavy electric truck capable of a claimed 700 km per charge, extending battery-electric technology into long-haul operations. The FH Aero Electric can accept 700kW megawatt charging, taking its battery from 20% to 80% in approximately 50 minutes. Range is becoming less of a barrier than charging access, grid […]
UK government prepares to acquire Speciality Steel UK after rejecting private rescue
The government will develop a proposal to acquire Speciality Steel UK, but the company has not yet formally been nationalised. Ministers rejected the preferred private sector bid after concluding it offered insufficient stability, certainty and… You must be a Premium Subscriber to read this. You must be a Premium Subscriber to view this content. You […]
Saudi pipeline attack disables the Gulf’s most important escape route
Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline is expected to remain substantially offline for several weeks after drone attacks damaged infrastructure in two regions. The line had become indispensable because it bypasses the heavily disrupted Strait of Hormuz; flows of up to 4mn barrels a day may now be at risk. For the UK, the immediate threat is […]