The UK’s energy politics moved fast this quarter. Ministers ruled out a move to zonal power prices, which would have seen wholesale prices vary around the country based on regional supply and demand. Instead, they opted to accelerate planning and grid build-out, with major implications for where projects go and who pays for them. The government also agreed to go [...] The post Introduction first appeared on Electric Insights.| Electric Insights
Back in 2016, Britain had its first ever zero-coal hour. Then, 8 years later, the last coal-fired power station shut forever. However, we are still heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Gas has been burnt to provide electricity every hour of every day since the 1980s. Phasing out gas is the next step on the road to clean power, and a [...] The post Getting to zero fossil fuel electricity first appeared on Electric Insights.| Electric Insights
Ever since Britain had an electricity market, power prices have followed demand. High during the day when people are working, low overnight when they sleep. This summer, that logic has turned on its head, as supply of renewable electricitybecomes a bigger factor than demand. The Economy 7 tariff was introduced back in 1978, giving households lower prices for power consumed [...] The post Power prices turned upside down first appeared on Electric Insights.| Electric Insights
The UK, Western Europe, Japan and parts of China saw their warmest June on record in 2025. Rising temperatures place growing strain on both public health and power systems. Across the world, 500,000 heat-related deaths occur each year, with 1,300 excess deaths in the UK alone last summer. The heat also lowers people’s productivity, with hot days (above 28°C) costing [...] The post What do heat waves do to the power system first appeared on Electric Insights.| Electric Insights
Natural gas heats eight in ten UK homes and provides one third of our electricity. Half of the gas we consume is imported, one-quarter of which arrives by ship in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG), primarily from the US. The colossal $750 billion US–EU energy pledge will reshape global gas markets, with implications for UK energy prices and [...] The post Global LNG trade first appeared on Electric Insights.| Electric Insights
Britain saw its cleanest-ever quarter for electricity production. The average carbon intensity fell below 100 g/kWh for the first time in the three months to June. This marks a symbolic waypoint on the road to the government’s Clean Power plan, which targets “well below” 50 g/kWh by 2030. Power sector emissions have now fallen to the point where they are [...] The post Capacity and production statistics first appeared on Electric Insights.| Electric Insights
This quarter was defined by record-breaking solar output and the lowest ever carbon emissions. Solar power broke all hourly, daily, and monthly records. At 1 PM on 10 May, it supplied more than 40% of Britain’s electricity demand for the first time. That month also saw both the cleanest day on record (averaging 28 grams of CO2 per kWh of electricity consumed), and then the lowest ever instantaneous carbon intensity of just 6 g/kWh. June then extended the run of milestones, with solar power ...| Electric Insights
2025 got off to a turbulent start. Spain and Portugal suffered Europe’s largest blackout in over a decade, sparking considerable debate over the causes and solutions. The US imposed, then partially revoked, tariffs on all countries. Stock markets and oil prices slumped over fears of a global recession and reduced trade. Natural gas prices in the UK have fallen by [...] The post Introduction first appeared on Electric Insights.| Electric Insights
UK is being held back by its creaking planning system. Examples are abundant, from spectacular delays and cost overruns of HS2 to the nationwide shortfall of 4 million homes. The power sector faces similar challenges. New projects are waiting more than 10 years for a grid connection, which threatens to derail our energy transition. Britain has made strong progress on [...] The post Will planning reform help the UK meet its clean power targets? first appeared on Electric Insights.| Electric Insights
Solar PV has raced from a green fringe technology to a global front-runner. The world spent close to half a trillion dollars on solar panels last year, more than every other generating technology combined. Since 2010, solar PV has leapt from just 7% to over 70% of all new power capacity added globally. Even Britain, more famous for drizzle and [...] The post The sunniest start to spring increases solar power 40% first appeared on Electric Insights.| Electric Insights
