UK: What's New from BERR, Teesside, Sheringham Wind Farm

28 August 2008: Government gives consent to construct a combined heat & power station at Seal sands, Teesside

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has today given the go ahead to Thor Cogeneration Ltd to construct a 1,020MW gas-fired combined heat and power station at Seal sands, Teesside. He has also given deemed planning permission for the development having agreed planning conditions with Stockton on Tees Borough Council.

• Seal Sands combined heat and power station consent: press release

8 August 2008: Fourth largest offshore wind farm in UK is approved

The Government's plans for a low carbon future took another step closer today as Energy Secretary John Hutton announced the approval of the UK's fourth largest offshore wind farm.

• Sheringham Shoal wind farm approval: press release

UK: What's New from BERR

31 July 2008: Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2008

The Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2008 is published today (Thursday 31 July) by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Included with the Digest this year is the popular booklet “UK Energy in Brief, and the Energy Flow Chart.

Data for 2007 in Energy Consumption in the United Kingdom are also released on 31 July, on the internet. This publication brings together statistics from a variety of sources, providing a comprehensive review of energy consumption in the UK since the 1970s.

In addition, UK Energy Sector Indicators are also released on 31 July.

• Digest of UK Statistics 2008: press release 
• Digest of United Kingdom energy statistics 2008 webpage
• UK Energy in Brief: 2008 webpage
• Energy Flow Chart webpage
• Energy consumption in the United Kingdom webpage
• UK energy sector indicators 2008 webpage

24 July 2008: Severn tidal power feasibility study: List of proposals published

A list of 10 proposed projects that could provide clean, green energy from the tide in the Severn Estuary is being considered. The list has been published at an event to discuss the progress of the feasibility study in Cardiff attended by organisations such as environmental groups, local businesses and councils.

• Severn tidal power feasibility study: press release
• Tidal power: Severn Estuary webpage

23 July 2008: National Nuclear Lab given green-light

Business Secretary John Hutton today confirmed the Government will establish a National Nuclear Laboratory, and launch a competition to appoint a commercial operator to run the organisation.

• National Nuclear Laboratory: press release

22 July 2008: Draft criteria and process for siting potential new nuclear power stations published

The detailed criteria and process for assessing where new nuclear power stations could safely and securely be built across England and Wales have been set out by the Government today.

The consultation on the Strategic Siting Assessment outlines the process the Government will use for identifying suitable sites for new nuclear power stations. The Government is proposing to invite third parties to nominate sites which it will then assess against a range of criteria.

• Strategic Siting Assessment: press release
• White Paper on Nuclear Power 2008: Open Consultations webpage

21 July 2008: North East set to be manufacturing hub for offshore wind

Expansion in offshore wind could create up to 30,000 new jobs in manufacturing and bring £3 billion of investment to the North East, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks will say during a visit to Gateshead and Northumberland.

• Offshore wind expansion in North East: press release

17 July 2008: Report highlights energy progress

BERR publishes the fifth annual report on progress towards the goals of the 2003 Energy White Paper today.

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said: "In the 2003 White Paper, we identified energy security and climate change as two of our key policy challenges. Five years on, these issues have emerged as among the foremost challenges of the 21st century for governments around the world.

"The goals set out in the 2003 White Paper are still entirely valid, and this annual report sets out our progress against them. Five years on, of course, we have also built on those goals, not least through the 2007 Energy White Paper, and in many areas we are going further and faster."

The full goals were (and remain): reducing carbon emissions, ensuring reliability of supply, maintaining competitive markets and combating fuel poverty.

• Energy White Paper 2003: Annual Reports webpage

UK: What's New from BERR, Green Blueprint, Stats, Renewables Advisory Board, Lincolnshire Biomass Station

30 June 2008: Next steps on carbon capture readiness and UK demonstration competition

The four bidders that have pre-qualified in the Government's carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration competition were named by Business Secretary John Hutton today. He also announced publication of a consultation on the legislative framework for CCS, including carbon capture readiness.

• Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration competition/consultation: press release
• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) webpage

26 June 2008: Tenfold renewables increase to propel UK toward low carbon future

Green energy blueprint to create 160,000 jobs

A national renewable energy blueprint designed to slash carbon emissions dramatically, reduce the UK's dependency on oil and gas and claim a valuable share of global green business opportunity was set out by Business Secretary John Hutton today.

• Renewable Energy Strategy consultation: press release
• Renewable Energy Strategy consultation webpage

26 June 2008: Energy Statistics

Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices publications are published today 26 June by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform. Energy Trends covers statistics on energy production and consumption, in total and by fuel, and provides an analysis of the year on year changes. The June edition of Energy Trends also includes articles on: "Renewable energy in 2007", and "Regional and local use of road transport fuels 2006". Quarterly Energy Prices covers prices to domestic and industrial consumers, prices of oil products and comparisons of international fuel prices.

• Energy statistics: press release
• Energy Trends webpage
• Quarterly Energy Prices webpage

18 June 2008: RAB says UK's proposed renewable energy target is achievable

The Renewables Advisory Board has reported that the UK could generate 14% of its total energy from renewables by 2020 if a set of identified radical policy changes are put into effect quickly. Recommendations include accelerating grid studies, streamlined consenting processes, early introduction of revised support mechanisms and, most importantly, strong political leadership.

• Renewable energy target: press release
• Renewables Advisory Board website
• BERR: Renewables Advisory Board webpage

16 June: 2008: Biomass power station to be built in Lincolnshire

The Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, has today given the go ahead to Helius Energy plc to construct a 65 MW biomass power station near Stallingborough in North East Lincolnshire.

• Stallingborough power station go ahead: press release

13 June 2008: Wind power takes off with new agreement on radar and aviation

A landmark agreement has been reached between Government and industry which aims to remove aviation and radar barriers to the major expansion of wind energy that has been outlined by Business Secretary John Hutton.

• Wind power agreement on radar and aviation: press release

12 June 2008: Hutton tells global nuclear investors to build in Britain

The UK is a leader in a new global nuclear investment 'league table' and looks set to attract the world's leading energy companies to build its next generation of nuclear power stations, research commissioned by Business Secretary John Hutton has found.

• Global nuclear investors: press release

UK: What's New from BERR

30 May 2008: Help with fuel bills for the poorest consumers / Results of the Heat Call for Evidence now available

Raft of new Government measures to help vulnerable consumers and especially the elderly make their homes warmer and more energy efficient announced.

• Results of the Heat Call for Evidence can be found at: http://heatevidence.dialoguebydesign.net/
• Help with fuel bills/Heat Call For Evidence results press release

28 May 2008: Increased oil production starts at home

Business Secretary John Hutton outlined plans for increased North Sea oil production today, as he gave the green light for two new field developments, changes to the North Sea licensing system and announced record interest in the latest licensing rounds.

• Increased oil production: press release

6 May 2008: Severn tidal power feasibility study: BERR appoints contractors

Work to determine the potential of a tidal energy generator in the Severn Estuary is continuing with the appointment of a consortium led by consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff who will manage the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

• Severn tidal power feasibility study contractors: press release
• Tidal Power: Severn Estuary webpage

5 May 2008: Volcano gas technology could be the key to unlock more North Sea oil

Cutting edge technology from the United States that uses gas from an extinct volcano to extract more oil from mature fields is to be examined by UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks.

• Volcano Gas technology: press release

UK: What's New from BERR, Frangemouth, Hutton

29 April 2008: Grangemouth - Hutton praises fuel industry, calls for talks to resume

UK Business Secretary John Hutton will visit Scotland today for talks following the two day industrial action by Unite workers at the Ineos Grangemouth site. The strike action ended today at 7am.

• Grangemouth strike: press release

11 April 2008: 100,000 households could be lifted out of fuel poverty by an extra £225 million to help with rising fuel bills

Households struggling to pay their fuel bills are set to receive significant extra help with the cost of warming their homes. The money is being provided by domestic energy suppliers in a deal brokered by Energy Secretary John Hutton following last month's Budget.

• Fuel poverty help: press release
• Fuel Poverty webpages

7 April 2008: Hutton waves ahead tidal energy project in the Humber

The UK is continuing to lead the world in marine renewables technology as the Secretary of State for Energy, John Hutton, grants planning permission for a prototype tidal stream generator to be tested in the Humber Estuary near Grimsby.

• Humber Estuary tidal stream generator: press release

UK: What's New from BERR, Nuclear, microgen, stats

31 March 2008: Next step taken towards new nuclear power with start of justification process

The nuclear industry has been invited today to bring forward new reactor designs for a Justification Decision, an important stage in getting the first new nuclear build started in the UK.

• Nuclear Justification process: press release
• Justification of New Nuclear Power Stations webpage

31 March 2008: April overhaul for microgen grant scheme & planning rules

An overhaul of the Government's Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) will see more generous grants for schools and public buildings, while the £10 million support still available to householders will be extended until 2010 for new applications.

• Overhaul of Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP): press release
• Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) webpage

27 March 2008: Energy Statistics

Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices publications are published today by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Energy Trends covers statistics on energy production and consumption, in total and by fuel, and provides an analysis of the year on year changes. Quarterly Energy Prices covers prices to domestic and industrial consumers, prices of oil products and comparisons of international fuel prices.

• Energy statistics: press release
• Energy Trends webpage
• Quarterly Energy Prices webpage

27 March 2008: Fuel Poverty Advisory Group Annual Report

The Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (FPAG) today published its Annual Report for 2007. In it, FPAG welcomes the Government’s recent announcements in the Budget about the expansion of the energy suppliers’ social programmes and about prices for prepayment customers.

• Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (for England): sixth annual report 2007  (187KB)
• Fuel Poverty Advisory Group press notice: sixth annual report  (19KB)
• Fuel Poverty webpages

25 March 2008: Bevin Boys to be awarded Badge of Honour by Prime Minister

The Prime Minister will today award the first Bevin Boy Badges to a group of 27 Bevin Boys, invited to Downing Street for a special presentation ceremony.

• Bevin Boys badge of honour: press release
• Bevin Boys webpage

6 March 2008: New nuclear programme - Hutton welcomes next steps for NDA sites

Plans for sites owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to be made available to developers were welcomed today by Business Secretary John Hutton.

• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority sites: press release

UK: What's New from BERR, nuclear

10 January 2008: UK government invites new nuclear power into the energy mix

Building blocks for low carbon future outlined with publication of the Nuclear White Paper and Energy Bill

Energy companies were invited today to bring forward plans to build and operate new nuclear power stations as part of the UK’s strategy for a secure, diverse, low carbon energy mix.

The Government’s response to its nuclear consultation, in the form of a White Paper, was published alongside the Energy Bill which sets out a range of measures to address the twin challenges of tackling climate change and securing energy supplies.

• Nuclear White Paper/Energy Bill: press release
• Nuclear White Paper webpage
• The Future of Nuclear Power: The role of nuclear power in a low carbon UK economy website
• Energy Bill webpage

• Energy statistics: press release
• Energy Trends web page
• Quarterly Energy Prices web page

Earlier press releases can be found on the Central Office of Information (COI): News Distribution Services website.

UK: Meeting the energy challenge: a white paper on nuclear power

Meeting the energy challenge: a white paper on nuclear power

URN No: 08/525/A4

The Government published its Nuclear White Paper on 10 January 2008.

The White Paper set out the Government’s view that nuclear should be part of the UK’s low-carbon energy mix, that companies should have the option of building new nuclear power stations, and that the Government should take facilitative actions to enable this to happen.

Against the challenges of climate change and security of supply the Government believes that nuclear is an important part of our energy policy, alongside reducing our energy use, increasing renewables, and investing in new technologies.

The White Paper followed The Future of Nuclear Power: the role of nuclear power in a low carbon UK economy a public consultation on the future of nuclear power in the UK.

You can read the responses to the consultation by visiting the The Future of Nuclear Power consultation website.

Meeting the energy challenge: a white paper on nuclear power - full version

• Meeting the energy challenge: a white paper on nuclear power  (1022KB)

Meeting the energy challenge: a white paper on nuclear power - in sections

• Meeting the energy challenge: a white paper on nuclear power. Contents to overview  (231KB)
• Meeting the energy challenge: a white paper on nuclear power. Sections 1 to 3  (455KB)
• Meeting the energy challenge: a white paper on nuclear power. Annexes  (136KB)

Meeting the energy challenge: a white paper on nuclear power - Welsh language version of the forewords and executive summary

• Ymateb i her ynni: papur gwyn ar bwˆ er niwclear  (607KB)
  URN 08/526

Footnotes

• The footnotes containing full web links can be found on the White Paper on Nuclear Power 2008: footnotes webpage.

Analysis of Consultation Responses

Full document

• The future of nuclear power: analysis of consultation responses  (6597KB)
  URN 08/534

In sections

• The future of nuclear power [analysis of consultation responses]. An overview of the consultation process (262KB)
• The future of nuclear power: [analysis of consultation responses]. Dialogue by Design analysis report: written responses to the public consultation  (835KB)
• The future of nuclear power: [analysis of consultation responses]. Opinion Leader analysis report on the findings from the deliberative events with members of the public  (3782KB)
• The future of nuclear power: [analysis of consultation responses]. Henley Centre HeadlightVision analysis of outputs from the nuclear consultation stakeholder meetings  (1347KB)

Other information

• Impact assessment of the Government's white paper on nuclear power  (146KB)
  URN 08/533
• Simplified flow diagram of UK energy supply and consumption 2006: shows the role of nuclear  (21KB)
  URN 08/527
• Annex A: Dialogue by Design analysis report on the future of nuclear power. Collation statistics  (277KB)
  URN 08/535
• Consultation on funded decommissioning programme guidance for new nuclear power stations  (99KB)
  URN 08/637

Facilitative actions

The facilitative actions set out in the White Paper are intended to enable companies to:

• Make planning applications from 2010
• Begin building new nuclear power stations from 2013 – 2014
• Bring them into operation from 2017 – 2020

A chart from the White Paper showing the timetable is available on page 136 of the white paper.