The introduction of coordination between offshore wind generation projects appears to be becoming an imperative to delivering the UK’s aspirations towards Net Zero whilst minimising the impact on affected communities and the environment. However, the current framework for delivery of the offshore transmission network in the UK is not suited to delivering the complexities of … Read more

Wider forces have wreaked havoc in global energy markets in 2021, but UK policy has caused additional complications in the UK. In this podcast, Paul Butcher, Director of Public Policy looks at: Read more

As we set out in our briefing on the global energy crisis here, there has been a crisis around the world with record natural gas, coal and electricity prices. The causes are a combination of post-pandemic recovery, extreme weather events and fractious geopolitics, which have increased demand and compromised supply. We also argued that the … Read more

Have policymakers left us in energy limbo rather than transition? As winter fast approaches for the Northern Hemisphere, crisis increasingly describes the state the global energy system has reached; right now it’s easy to confuse graphs of energy markets with illustrations of the latest crypto-currency fad. Natural gas, coal and electricity prices around the world … Read more

In this podcast, Paul Butcher, our Director of Public Policy, looks at: the unprecedented nature of the current situation for natural gas, coal and electricity the consequences we are seeing for industry and consumers what caused the crisis, including: the ‘series of unfortunate events’ the surprising consequences of the pandemic and new ways of working … Read more

5 November 2021 was Climate Law and Policy day at COP 26 in Glasgow. I was lucky enough to speak on an expert panel hosted by the EBRD on “Reallocating International Capital and the Role of Law”. Wearing my McDonald Clan tartan tie, and beamed in via Zoom, I delivered an abridged version of the … Read more

There is an ongoing global energy crisis with record prices for natural gas, coal and electricity. One aspect specific to the UK, particularly for the large number of energy suppliers that have ceased trading this year (21 as of the date of this briefing), is the supplier of last resort mechanism that has kicked in. … Read more

There is an ongoing global energy crisis with record prices for natural gas, coal and electricity. One aspect specific to the UK, including in relation to the large number of electricity suppliers that have ceased trading this year (21 as of the date of this briefing), is the default tariff cap introduced in 2019. Also … Read more