OfGEM RIIO ED2

Ofgem’s consultation for the Electrical distributors' price control (RIIO ED2) closes soon. OfGEM set price controls on the companies that run the gas and electricity networks in Great Britain to ensure that current and future consumers get the network services they require at a fair price. In December 2019, OfGEM published their decision on the Framework that would inform their design of the five-year price controls for electricity distribution, (RIIO-ED2) that will start in April 2023. Through RIIO-ED2 OfGEM are actively seeking to drive efficiency through innovation and competition with a funding pot available to electrical distributors to develop future-facing strategic innovation challenges. All major stakeholders are invited to comment on the detailed sector methodology that we will be used to apply this framework and help to set these price controls. Gleeds have supported one of the major stakeholders in their response, if you want to have a say, please respond soon as OfGEM are closing the consultation period shortly.

Energy recovery facility to heat homes

A district-heating network connected to an energy recovery facility in Cardiff had secured £15m in Government funding to start its first phase of works, with the project potentially saving more than 5,000 tonnes of carbon annually. The Cardiff City Heating Network will use the heat generated at Viridor’s Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) at Trident Park and will cost circa £26.5m. The project has been backed by an £8.6m loan from the Welsh Government and a £6m grant from the UK Government. The network will transfer heat from the ERF, which diverts around 350,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste from landfill every year, to businesses and homes across the city. As part of the first phase of the project, heating will be provided to several large buildings, including County Hall and the Millennium Centre. The ERF generates enough electricity to power around 68,448 households and will now provide low-carbon heat to homes and businesses. The network could be operational within two years of installation works commencing.

Floating PV Farm

The largest floating solar park outside of China recently came online on a sand extraction lake near Zwolle, the Netherlands. The array boasts more than 18 hectares of surface area and consists of 72,000 solar panels generating an estimated 27MW of capacity. Energy generated will be offered directly to local businesses and homes. To minimise the biodiversity impact of the project, only one cable to shore has been installed. So-called ‘bio-huts’ have been fitted, These structures provide shelter and food for fish and other wildlife.

 

Previous Newsletter