Monthly Archives: March 2012

Searching for Plan B with Nuclear

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Story courtesy of BBC News

It was, we’re told, “late last night” that Horizon Nuclear Power – made up of two German firms, RWE Npower and E.On – informed the Assembly’s Environment Committee that their Director of Project Development wouldn’t, after all, be turning up to give evidence this morning.

It was early this morning that the Enviornment Committee – and everyone else – found out quite why Horizon had pulled their witness. If you look at the prior written evidence, there’s no hint of a u-turn on building Wylfa B but with the two firms saying that raising finance for power projects has become difficult, they’ve called a halt to plans to invest in Anglesey as well as Oldbury near Bristol.

E.ON talks in terms of working on “other strategic projects that will allow us to deliver earlier benefit for customers and our company, rather than the very long term and large investment new nuclear power calls for”.

It was never a done deal. It’s just that when you start talking in terms of a potential 5,000 construction jobs and up to a 1,000 energy jobs at the plant from 2020, it had all started to feel very real indeed to the people of Ynys Mon.

Horizon say they’ve been “very pleased to enjoy broad public and political support, in particular from the communities around our sites” If you want an idea why they got that broad support, why the promise of investment was regarded as vital by that public and those politicians, take a look at this map. You’re urged to “mouseover” (a new verb on me) various parts of the UK to discover how far under (or over …) the UK average that ‘neighbourhood’ is performing. Anglesey is well under the average, just about as far under the average as the map allows.

Horizon add that the level of support they’ve had “continues to make nuclear new build an attractive proposition in the UK.

“We have made good progress in developing our sites, in particular our lead site at Wylfa, and a strong organisation capable of delivering nuclear new build in the UK.

“We will now focus on consolidating the progress made and working with our shareholders as they investigate the opportunities for new ownership.”

What this means for the UK Government’s nuclear programme, take a look at Robert Peston’s blog here.

What about Wales? We’ll be talking to the Welsh Secretary in Cardiff later today. The Minister for Energy, she says, briefed her, though when exactly, we don’t yet know. I’ll update during the day as responses come in but Mrs Gillan has already said that while “obviously disappointed by this news, … I remain convinced that Wylfa is the prime site for the next generation of nuclear power stations”.

“Anglesey has nearly 50 years of experience of the nuclear industry and has developed skills that are second to none. This gives me confidence that the site at Wylfa will be attractive to other investors. ‪ ‪

The Welsh Government shares the disappointment. There’s no hiding that today’s decision is “a blow”. But they also share the confidence that “Anglesey remains the best option in the UK for a nuclear development. There is live and significant interest in the site, and the First Minister has asked for the full support of the UK Government as we work with Horizon to deliver this investment and secure jobs for workers at Wylfa in the future.”

The interest may indeed be both ‘live’ and ‘significant’ but how long might it all take to bear fruit – if its comes to fruition at all?

The GMB union says the UK Government’s energy strategy is “in tatters”, adding: “We need an urgent discussion involving Government, the industry and unions about where we go from here.

“David Cameron announced a partnership in nuclear with France during a recent visit to Paris. This is nonsense. Britain is going to be a bit player in what is a growing global industry. It simply isn’t good enough for Government to sit back and hope it’s all going to come good”.

WWF Cymru – not, as you might expect, part of that “broad public and political support” of Horizon’s plans – welcome the announcement. It is, they argue, good news if the economics “doesn’t stack up.” Their challenge is to the Welsh Government:

“Just two weeks ago we called on the Welsh Government to do more to drive forward renewables, instead of pushing forward with its unfortunate change of policy to support nuclear power. We hope today’s news will prompt Carwyn Jones to refocus his government’s efforts to support clean, safe and affordable renewable energy production.”

They are alone, so far, in recognising today’s news as good. The overwhelming political consensus? This is bad, very bad but Anglesey remains the best option for nuclear development and that should now be shouted from the Senedd’s – and from Westminster’s – rooftops.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-17548784

E.ON launches apprenticeship scheme

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Energy giant E.ON has announced a £100,000 package to start the recruitment of 100 young jobseekers into energy-efficient apprenticeships.

Unemployed people in England and Wales aged between 16 and 24 will be trained as external wall insulation installers, one of the skills needed to deliver the Government’s Green Deal energy efficiency programme.

Don Leiper, director of new business at E.ON, said: “Green Deal is about helping people to become more energy-fit at home, cutting their energy bills and carbon emissions.

“But it’s also about developing greater skills in our workforce and building up the capacity of smaller businesses to meet customers’ needs for the future.

“Our investment unlocks the potential to get young people into training and energy jobs but, more than that, it helps smaller business to gear up for Green Deal and invest in their staff with the confidence that contracts will be there for the longer term.”

E.ON’s investment will support the initial energy recruitment and training costs to get the scheme off the ground. Apprentices will earn a working wage from their employer throughout the 12 months of college, followed by on-the-job training.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jJIspLXrQEruTpMJMmIzqgdMjoxg?docId=N0127971332841376547A

Vacancy – Marketing Assistant: Renewable Energy

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Due to continued growth they are looking to recruit an experienced Marketing Assistant to join their existing Marketing Team.

Reporting to the Marketing and Communications Manager the successful Marketing Assistant will be responsible for performing a range of administrative and marketing support duties related to the daily operation of the marketing department.

Full Job Details

Green energy ‘should be promoted as career’

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Promoting Green Energy Careers in Scotland

SCOTLAND will not have the skilled workforce it needs to meet renewable energy targets for 2020 unless it is promoted as a worthwhile  career, education experts have warned.

MSPs on Holyrood’s energy committee were told attempts to attract workers to the industry were being hampered by mixed messages in the media, a lack of promotion of the career path in schools, cuts to college funding and courses that did not equip people with the skills they needed.

The Scottish Government aims to generate the equivalent of 100 per cent of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020 by developing offshore wind and tidal energy.

Giving evidence to the committee as part of its inquiry into the target, Linda Greig, director of business and sponsorship at Carnegie College, said colleges did not have enough awareness of the kind of energy jobs available in the renewables industry, which was not being seen as an “attractive” career path.

Creating Energy Jobs is essential for the future

“Trying to get the throughput from schools is tremendously difficult,” she said. “We are not seeing enough women coming into engineering. It is still seen as a ‘dirty trade’.

“We’ve got a real job to try and influence parents.”

Turning to the courses on offer, Ms Greig referred to recent comments by Dr Peter Hughes, chief executive of Scottish Engineering, who described some of them as “Mickey Mouse”.

She said: “He is absolutely right. In order to deliver the kind of quality programmes we are talking about, that allow young people to be in an industrial environment, see employers coming in, you need the venue, you need the resource, the kit, the staff.

“It is very, very expensive. I think there are only a few centres that can deliver that kind of programme.”

Source: http://www.scotsman.com/news/green-energy-should-be-promoted-as-career-1-2200846#

UK Energy Plans in ‘tatters’ after NPower and EON nuclear plant withdrawl

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Source: Telegraph 

Britain’s long-term energy policy lay “in tatters” on Thursday after   two of the ”big six” energy companies pulled out of plans to develop new   nuclear plants.

In a ”devastating blow” for the Government’s energy policy, RWE npower and   E. ON announced they would end their joint venture to build nuclear power   plants in Britain.

The decision means that the ”Horizon” project, which would develop   reactors at Wylfa in North Wales and Oldbury-on-Severn, Glos, is now   effectively dead.

The German-owned companies, which operate fossil fuel and renewable generation   in Britain, admitted they were looking for a new owner for the Horizon   Nuclear Power.

The decision was made amid the global economic crisis and significant costs of   the project, they added.

Unions said the “devastating blow” to the government’s energy plans   had thrown ministerial plans to generate adequate power into chaos. Energy analysts said the Government did not have a Plan B and needed to move   fast to attract new funding for the project or the entire policy was in   jeopardy.

But environmental groups seized on the news as evidence that nuclear power,   which provides just under a fifth of UK electricity supplies, was not a   viable option for the country’s future energy mix.

The government admitted the decision was “clearly very disappointing”.

Thursday’s announcement was made in a joint statement issued by the two   companies following a “strategic review, separately carried out by both”.

“RWE npower and E. ON UK said today that they would not proceed to   develop new nuclear power projects in the United Kingdom through the Horizon   joint venture,” it said.

“RWE and E. ON will now focus on finding a new owner for Horizon Nuclear   Power.

“Both parties will endeavour to ensure that Horizon’s assets and work on   development can be taken up quickly by other potential investors.”

The companies insisted their joint venture company Horizon’s development   projects were viable for another investor to develop nuclear sites.

They also confirmed they were committed to investing in energy schemes in the   UK.

RWE npower said a strategic review in light of the global economic crisis and   the accelerated phase-out of nuclear power in Germany, coupled with   significant costs of running the joint venture, had led to the decision.

E. ON said its decision had been made against the backdrop of the group’s   wider financial constraints, but said it would be continuing to invest in   Britain.

Volker Beckers, chief executive of RWE npower, said: “We remain convinced   that Horizon’s development projects represent excellent sites for new   nuclear power stations in the UK, and we would like to express our sincere   thanks to the Horizon employees for their hard work in bringing the projects   to this stage of development.

“It is because of the strength of support for our development work,   particularly on the island of Anglesey, that we continue to believe that   nuclear power has an important role to play in the UK’s future energy mix.”

Tony Cocker, chief executive of E. ON UK, added: “E. ON has decided to   focus its investment in the UK on other strategic projects that will allow   us to deliver earlier benefit for customers and our company, rather than the   very long term and large investment new nuclear power calls for.

“Our commitment to the UK remains as strong as ever and as our track   record shows, with over £1 billion of investment in the last year alone, we   will continue to select the right projects in which to invest.”

Last year, the Government gave the green light to eight sites, including Wylfa   and Oldbury, for a new generation of nuclear reactors, which ministers say   are needed to reduce UK carbon emissions and keep the lights on.

Unions say the project could be worth as much as £3 billion into the UK supply   chain and generate 5,000 energy jobs for the project on Anglesey.

They added it could also have sustained the Springfields Fuel Plant in central   Lancashire for decades and safeguard more than 1,000 nuclear jobs, apprenticeships  and energy graduate recruitment

Gary Smith, of the GMB union, said the “devastating blow” now left   the government’s energy strategy “in tatters”.

“It is really bad news in terms of construction jobs and the potential   employment that would have been created in the UK manufacturing supply chain,”   he said.

“New nuclear is an essential component in keeping the lights on in the   UK. We can’t keep extending the lifespan of existing nuclear stations and   renewables cannot fill the gap on their own.

“The Government must act, and now. We need an urgent discussion   involving Government, the industry and unions about where we go from here.”

Greenpeace’s policy director Doug Parr said the energy strategy was now “crumbling”.

“Not even the billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money they have offered   as incentives to the German and French nuclear industry are enough to make a   new generation of power stations economically viable,” he said.

“The Government must now recognise it’s high time to invest in making   homes energy-efficient and delivering a coherent renewable energy strategy   that will provide … clean, safe and cheaper power … (and) also create   much-needed jobs for the UK economy.”

The Nuclear Industry Association admitted it was a “consequence of the   commercial realities”.

“The nuclear phase-out decision in Germany and other global pressures   have had a serious impact on the companies’ ability to proceed with the   Wylfa project,” a spokesman said.

“The companies have made clear that the decision is not a reflection on   either the quality of the Wylfa site or on the investment opportunities that   nuclear newbuild in the UK offers.

“We are confident that other investors will emerge to carry on the   Horizon project.”

A Welsh Government spokesman described it as “extremely disappointing news”.

“The First Minister has made it clear that Anglesey remains the best   option in the UK for a nuclear development,” he said.

“There is live and significant interest in the site, and the First   Minister has asked for the full support of the UK Government as we work with   Horizon to deliver this investment and secure jobs for workers at Wylfa in   the future.”

Charles Hendry, the Energy Minister, also admitted the “withdrawal is   clearly very disappointing”,

“But the partners have clearly explained that this decision was based on   pressures elsewhere in their businesses and not any doubts about the role of   nuclear in UK’s energy future.

“The UK’s new nuclear programme is far more than one consortia and there   remains considerable interest.

“Plans from EDF/Centrica and Nugen are on track and Horizon’s sites   offer new players an excellent ready-made opportunity to enter the market.”

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/nuclearpower/9173253/UK-energy-plans-in-tatters-after-Npower-and-E.-ON-nuclear-plant-withdrawal.html

 

Power Giant creates 50 jobs in Inverness

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POWER giant Scottish and Southern Energy will jump-start the Highlands energy industry next month by creating 50 new roles at its Inverness base.

The energy jobs  will provide work in the company’s transmissions, renewables and corporate divisions, at its Highland headquarters in Henderson Road.

SSE plans to begin filling the roles from April 1, and has pledged further employment and training opportunities in the future, including giving young people a chance to start their careers in the energy industry.

Jim McPhillimy, SSE’s managing director for group services, said: “The Highland region has always been very important to us since the early ‘Hydro’ days and we have significant development opportunities in the region planned for the future.

“We are determined to leave a lasting legacy and our move to significantly expand our presence in the Highlands is a signal of our intent.”

SSE revealed it is working with HIE, Highland Council and Inverness College to pilot a 12-month training programme for 16-22 year-olds in the region, giving them hands-on experience and a chance to start a career with the company.

Source: http://www.highland-news.co.uk/News/Power-giant-creates-50-jobs-in-Inverness-22032012.htm

Oil & Gas UK seeks agency to help improve public perceptions

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The mouthpiece for the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry is on the hunt for agency support, amid fears that public perceptions could be clouding the Government’s policy-making.

Oil & Gas UK, the industry’s trade association, is inviting shortlisted agencies to pitch next week for a brief to broaden public understanding of the industry’s activities.

The brief, seen by PRWeek, reveals that Oil & Gas UK’s board believes that the industry is ‘widely misunderstood’ and ‘recognises that positive public perception can create “safe space” for politicians to make positive policy choices in relation to the industry’.

It also asks for agencies to come up with suggestions on how to widen public engagement, with those appointed required to present to the Oil & Gas UK board in Aberdeen on 25 May. The brief also refers to a ‘surprise’ tax increase on the industry in last year’s Budget. The budget allocated for the ‘initial programme of work’ is £45,000.

The move comes after Bell Pottinger Public Affairs was called in by Oil & Gas UK last November to deal with European safety regulations following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Trisha O’Reilly, director of comms at Oil & Gas UK, said that the new search was ‘another step’ in the development of the organisation’s PR effort, which had previously focused on more targeted groups including the Government and media.

‘It’s very important that people understand the contribution that the industry makes to our economy and in everyday life,’ said O’Reilly.

‘The UK still supplies the lion’s share of the oil and gas that we use in this country.’

Two recent Ipsos Mori polls found that 44 per cent of respondents considered the industry in favourable terms, although there was an ‘underestimation’ of the role of oil and gas as a primary source of UK energy.

Oil & Gas UK represents more than 200 members, including exploration and production operators.

Source: http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/1124498/oil-gas-uk-seeks-agency-help-improve-public-perceptions/

Sustainable energy sector could create 20,000 jobs by 2020

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More than 20,000 additional energy jobs  could be created in the sustainable energy sector by 2020, according to an analysis by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The sector currently supports 10,000 jobs and this figure could treble by 2020. It expects that 13,000 jobs could be created and supported in renewable energy and energy efficiency and 7,000 jobs could be indirectly created by enhancing business competitiveness.

“The sustainable energy sector offers significant benefits to Ireland, including creating jobs, increased competitiveness and future proofing against upward price trends,” said Prof J Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEAI.

“The transition to sustainable energy is well under way, but the pace needs to accelerate for Irish society to truly benefit.

“Ireland has significant and growing strengths in the areas of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies; now business and policy makers must work together to deliver on the export potential that exists within these key areas,” he said.

Opportunities in sustainable energy

The figures were announced at the SEAI’s annual Energy Show in the RDS in Dublin which showcases the top sustainable energy products, services and innovations in the industry. Four thousand people are expected to attend this year’s Energy Show, which is themed ‘Open up to Smart Energy Solutions.’

Pat Rabbitte, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, also launched an impact report on Better Energy Workplaces 2011 which said the Irish state’s €11m investment to support 85 organisational energy upgrades will be repaid in energy savings in one year.

“Sustainable energy is becoming the norm in Ireland and with that change comes many economic opportunities and jobs,” said Rabbitte.

“Irish enterprises adopting sustainable energy practices are reducing costs, becoming more competitive, securing jobs and as a result are delivering real benefits in all sectors of our economy,” he said.

Source: http://www.siliconrepublic.com/clean-tech/item/26443-sustainable-energy-sector/

Renewables employment ‘should rise’

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The renewable energy sector supports the equivalent of 11,000 full-time energy jobs in Scotland, according to a report.

The study, by industry body Scottish Renewables, said that as the industry was relatively new, employment in it should rise over the years.

It published the research as the body which represents the oil and gas sector of the energy industry said Scotland will depend on oil for “decades to come” to meet its energy needs.

Oil and Gas UK also cautioned that there were “considerable difficulties” with the timescale for the Scottish Government’s target of producing 100% of electricity demand from green sources by 2020.

In its report on employment in the green energy sector, Scottish Renewables said the industry supports the equivalent of 11,136 full-time energy jobs. It added: “These numbers are expected to grow over the year ahead and beyond, as this relatively new industry continues to expand.”

The report claimed renewables could be a “major source of investment” at a time of slow economic growth, adding that an expanding green energy industry could also play a “key part” in tackling youth unemployment.

It said with more than 20 gigawatts of renewable projects in development, the sector “has the potential to grow quickly over coming years, creating more opportunities for employment”.

It added: “At a time of slow economic growth, the sector will be a major source of investment, providing a much-needed injection of capital to drive forward the economy.

“Likewise, it will be an important source of new jobs for those leaving education and training, making the industry a key part of our response to rising youth unemployment.”

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said the report by Scottish Renewables “clearly illustrates the scale of jobs and investment in renewables, with new, skilled jobs being created and supported now in communities across Scotland”.

Small town solar revolution has created jobs galore

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 solar panels price germany house

Solar energy policies in Germany have resulted in an energy jobs boom and  have driven down the price of power on the EPEX Power Exchange. More  people work in Germany’s solar energy sector than in its coal and  nuclear sectors combined. (Don’t tell this year’s GOP candidates – they somehow think clean energy and green jobs is all just talk.) But there’s a lot more to get excited about than just jobs (even though those are pretty sweet).

Solar Energy Is (or Can Be) Community Energy

Solar energy can allow “the little guy” to power the country (well, a lot of little guys). “A small-town energy revolution is going on in Germany, with more than 100 rural communities becoming 100% renewable,” Craig Morris of Renewables International writes. The result? Money for electricity goes back into one’s own  community, rather than out to some mega energy company. Even if that  electricity were to cost you a bit more, it would go back into services  and people in your community who would improve your life in other ways.

“Yes. Germany is replacing central-station plants that can only be run by large corporations with truly distributed renewable  power. While Germany’s Big Four utilities make up around three quarters  of total power generation, they only own seven percent of green power.  Roughly three quarters of renewable power investments have been made by  individuals, communities, farmers, and small and midsize enterprises.”

This is how clean energy can help individual citizens, of course, but it’s not necessarily how it’s done everywhere (i.e. in the U.S.).

“The US is slowly switching to renewables, but it is nearly completely shutting out the little guy, with only two percent of  installed wind power capacity not owned by giant corporations. And when  it comes to solar in the US, almost everything is utility-scale plants.  The changes in Germany are driven by the little guy, whereas the  renewable industry in the US is controlled by some of the world’s  biggest multinational companies.”