Policy & Regulation

Engineers slam UK government for ‘scant and ill-designed’ energy storage policies

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:10:00 GMT

The UK government has been accused of failing to provide sufficient support for electricity storage technologies by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

The institution’s head of energy, Tom Fox, said the need for energy storage was urgent “as the UK ramps up its dependence on power generation from intermittent renewable energy sources like wind”.

He added: “For too long we’ve been reliant on using expensive ‘back-up’ fossil-fuel plants to cope with the inherent intermittency of many renewables. Electricity storage is potentially cleaner and once fully developed is likely to be much cheaper.”

But he said government incentives and policies to support the development and deployment of electricity storage technologies are “scant and ill-designed” and claimed that the potential value of storage to the UK power network is “not well understood by Westminster”.

The UK currently has 2800 MW of electricity storage capacity in the form of pumped hydro-electric storage. According to the country’s transmission operator National Grid, it will need 8000 MW of electricity storage capacity by 2025 if the penetration of wind power in the network is 30 per cent.

In a policy statement issued today, the institution calls on the government to adopt three recommendations:

• Carry out a detailed analysis to estimate the realistic requirements for electricity storage across the whole UK power system and its corresponding value to the nation;

• Develop policy frameworks that reward the value of electricity storage in the UK’s power markets;

• Encourage and support UK development of storage technologies for exploitation in world markets by advancing the commercial-scale demonstration of electricity storage technologies in the UK, thereby creating technical value that UK companies can export overseas.

Chile’s biggest dam put on hold after investor pulls out

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:31:00 GMT

Chile’s biggest hydroelectric dam project has received a further setback after one of its investors said it lacks political support to go forward with the venture.

The project has also received negative publicity after protests over plans to flood 14,000 acres of Patagonia wilderness.

Santiago-based power company Colbun SA (COLBUN), which holds 49 per cent of the 2750 MW HidroAysen, said last night it wants to indefinitely suspend plans to seek environmental permission to build transmission lines to the capital.

Empresa Nacional de Electricidad SA, known as Endesa, owns the remaining 51 percent.

Local media report that Brazil’s Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA (ELET6), known as Eletrobras, is in talks to invest in the project.

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Europe delivers final warning to Poland on electricity rules

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:05:00 GMT

Poland has been warned by the European Commission to integrate the EU's third electricity market opening directive into national law within two months or face court action.

"To date Poland has not informed the commission of all the necessary transposition measures for fully transposing the electricity directive," the EC said.

All 27 EU countries had to transpose the EU's third electricity and gas market opening directives into national law by March 3, 2011, but 13 have failed to do so, and face being referred to the European Court of Justice.

The EC said it is still analysing the measures notified by other EU countries that have only partially transposed the directives, but did not provide further details, reports Platts.

The EU's third gas and electricity market opening directives are intended to overcome the remaining barriers to achieving a single EU energy market.

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Pakistan selects Chinese power firm to build wind farm

Thu, 31 May 2012 10:49:00 GMT

United Energy Group Ltd has announced plans to invest $3bn in a wind farm project in Pakistan.

The Chinese company said it had already obtained approval from the Pakistan government to construct the project, which is set to have a capacity of 500 MW.

Pakistan, which suffers chronic shortages of electricity, is offering clean energy producers higher rates for renewable power as it seeks to boost production, while diversifying energy supply away from oil and gas.

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Bosnia seeks partners for coal plants construction

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:08:00 GMT

Bosnia's top power utility Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH) is to invite bidders to participate in the construction of two new coal fired plant units.

The new plants will generate a combined capacity of 750 MW.

The construction cost for the 450 MW unit at the Tuzla plant and another 300 MW unit at Kakanj plant is estimated at $1.66bn.

The two coal fired power plants currently have a combined capacity of 1165 MW and output of around 6000 GWh a year.

Reuters reports that the new facility will help extend the unit's lifespan by another 15 years, increase output and reduce emission of harmful gases and put it in line with the European Union environmental standards.

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Greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2010

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:28:00 GMT

Greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2010 as a result of both economic recovery in many countries after the 2009 recession and a colder winter, according to figures released today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Greenhouse gas emissions of the European Union’s 27 member states increased by 2.4 per cent – or 111 million tonnes CO₂ equivalent – between 2009 and 2010.

This can be partially explained by the fact that there was a sharp 7.3 per cent �decrease of emissions between 2008 and 2009.

The EEA says the EU remains fully on track to meet its Kyoto target. The long-term reduction trend continued, since EU-27 greenhouse gas emissions still remained 15.4 per cent below 1990 levels in 2010. Emissions in the 15 Member States with a common commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (EU-15) in 2010 were 11 per cent below the Kyoto Protocol base year. These consolidated figures confirm earlier estimates for the EU, published by the EEA in October 2011.

EEA Executive director Jacqueline McGlade said that “this rebound effect was expected as most of Europe came out of recession.”

“However, the increase could have been even higher without the fast expansion of renewable energy generation in the EU.”

As in previous years, the growth in the use of renewable energy sources continued in 2010 with a 12.7 per cent increase of total consumption of energy from renewable sources. In addition, gas prices fell markedly in 2010 and EU total consumption of gas used for energy purposes went up by 7.4 per cent. The higher share of gas led to an improved carbon intensity of fossil fuel consumption in many Member States.

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Ignoring environmental fears will stall shale boom says IEA

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:57:00 GMT

The shale gas boom could be “halted in its tracks” unless the energy industry wins public trust on the environmental and social issues surrounding it, the International Energy Agency warned today.

Speaking in London today, IEA executive director Maria van der Hoeven said: “The technology and the know-how already exist for unconventional gas to be produced in an environmentally acceptable way.

“But if the social and environmental impacts are not addressed properly, there is a very real possibility that public opposition to drilling for shale gas and other types of unconventional gas will halt the unconventional gas revolution in its tracks. The industry must win public confidence by demonstrating exemplary performance; governments must ensure that appropriate policies and regulatory regimes are in place.”

The IEA today issued what it dubbed the ‘Golden Rules’ to bring about a ‘golden age’ for unconventional gas. These are: full transparency; measuring and monitoring of environmental impacts and engagement with local communities; careful choice of drilling sites and measures to prevent any leaks from wells into nearby aquifers; rigorous assessment and monitoring of water requirements and of waste water; measures to target zero venting and minimal flaring of gas; and improved project planning and regulatory control.

IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol said: “If this new industry is to prosper, it needs to earn and maintain its social license to operate. This comes with a financial cost, but in our estimation the additional costs are likely to be limited.”

He said applying the ‘golden rules’ could increase the cost of a typical shale gas well by around 7 per cent, but, for a larger development project with multiple wells, investment in measures to reduce environmental impacts may in many cases be offset by lower operating costs.

Shale gas has transformed the energy industry in the US and many countries around the world are keen to jump on the bandwagon. In Europe, Poland is the biggest pro-shale nation – unsurprising given the country holds the largest European reserves.

However, concern over ‘fracking’, the process by which the gas is extracted, have resulted in bans on exploration in several countries, including France, Germany and Bulgaria.

UK again cuts solar feed-in-tariffs

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:39:00 GMT

The UK government yesterday unveiled an overhaul of its solar feed-in-tariffs.

From 1 August, the tariff for a small domestic solar installation will be 16p per kilowatt hour, down from 21p, and will be set to decrease on a 3 month basis thereafter, with pauses if the market slows down.

All tariffs will continue to be index-linked in line with the Retail Price Index and the export tariff will be increased from 3.2p to 4.5p. The government claims that the new tariffs should give a return on investment of over 6 per cent for most installations.

Tariffs have already been cut once this year: in April they were slashed from 43p to the existing 21p. The government tried to implement this reduction last December but was taken to court by solar companies who objected because a consultation period on the cuts was still ongoing. The government lost the case.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said yesterday that he wanted to send “a very clear message that UK solar continues to be an attractive proposition for many consumers considering microgeneration technologies”. He added: “Having placed the subsidy support for this technology on a long-term, sustainable footing, industry can plan for growth with confidence.”

Alan Aldridge, chairman of the Solar Trade Association said: “Despite the currently slow market, the industry can have some confidence that the new tariffs are tight but workable. Householders should be reassured the new tariffs will provide more attractive returns than can be found elsewhere today. The STA is now keen to work with government to get this positive message out.”

Germany has ‘Herculean task’ to make energy policy work says new environment minister

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:52:00 GMT

Germany’s move away from nuclear in favour of renewable energy has been described as a “Herculean task” by the country’s new environment minister Peter Altmaier.

Altmaier took up his post on Tuesday after Chancellor Angela Merkel last week fired his predecessor, Norbert Roettgen, after he took the blame for a heavy regional election defeat for the Christian Democrats party.

He said that Germany’s new strategy – decided in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster last year – was “a Herculean task, but it is achievable”.

He was speaking as Merkel met with the leaders of 15 other European states to thrash out her energy blueprint and its implications on other countries. Their agenda was believed to include talks on wind and solar power, grid upgrades and possible sites for storing nuclear waste.

The push to significantly boost renewable power has met with industry opposition in Germany, with transmission companies in particular stating that they cannot keep pace with the urgency to integrate wind and solar power into the grid.

Call for UK to renationalise electricity sector

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:20:00 GMT

The UK government should renationalise its electricity industry if major power companies continue to resist its changes to the British energy market.

That’s the view of Alistair Smith, chairman of the power division of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, who was speaking in the wake of the publication of the government’s draft Energy Bill yesterday.

The Bill aims to kick-start investment in a host of low carbon generation but many companies in the power sector have criticised it because they feel it lacks clarity and, in turn, undermines investor confidence.

However, Smith has given the Bill his full backing, saying it is “essential if the UK is to maintain a secure energy supply, while at the same time cutting carbon emissions at an affordable cost to the consumer”.

He said: “Although this Bill effectively kills off the idea of a truly open UK electricity market, this legislation is necessary in order to encourage companies to build a balanced electricity generating mix, with the correct proportion of baseload nuclear power along with the right balance of intermittent forms of renewable energy such as offshore wind power backed-up by reliable gas-fired generation.”

And he added: “If these reforms are rejected by the power industry because they don't like certain elements, it may be time for the government to consider re-taking control of this essential element of our national infrastructure. The UK needs certainty now if we are to avoid jeopardising our security of supply in the relatively near future.”

For the full story on the launch of the Energy Bill, go to http://www.powerengineeringint.com/articles/2012/05/uk-publishes-draft-energy-bill-but-industry-still-wary0.html

UK publishes draft Energy Bill but industry still wary

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:35:00 GMT

The UK government today published its long-awaited draft Energy Bill, which outlines how it plans to reform the British electricity market.

Energy secretary said the Bill was “a game-changing agenda and a world leading agenda” and maintained that without the reforms the UK would be unable to “keep the lights on”.

But the draft Bill has received a mixed welcome from business leaders and trade groups.

The intention of the Bill – which encompasses the government’s Electricity Market Reform (EMR) – is to stimulate investment in low carbon generation technologies and, in turn, secure energy efficiency and climate change targets for the UK.

It aims to do this via four mechanisms. Firstly, Contracts for Difference will replace existing subsidies with the intention of stabilizing returns for generators at a fixed level known as a strike price. If the market price is higher than the strike price, then the excess money will be clawed back from generators. The contracts will differ for each type of energy source. The first strike prices are due to be published within in 2013.

Secondly, a Capacity Market will be established to ensure there is sufficient reliable capacity to meet demand, particularly as a back-up to intermittent forms of renewable energy, and thirdly an Emissions Performance Standard will provide a regulatory cut-off point to prevent construction of new coal plants which emit more than 450g/kWh.

Finally, a Carbon Price Floor will place an initial value on the price of carbon of around �16/tCO2 in 2013, which will rise to �30/tCO2 by 2020.

The government has appointed the UK’s transmission operator National Grid as the delivery body for the reforms, which it will start to implement in 2017 and have fully operational by the late 2020s.

At a press conference today, Davey and energy minister Charles Hendry stressed that the object of the Bill was to ramp up energy investment in the UK. “This Bill is about growth,” said Davey, while Hendry added: “We need to secure twice the [energy] investment this decade as we raised in the last decade.”

Since it was announced in 2010, the EMR has made slow progress through Parliament, leading many in the power industry to accuse it of deterring, not encouraging, investment.

But Davey said he welcomed opposition from the industry: “I am pleased that there may be some criticism. It shows that we have got it right,” he said, adding that “if government was pleasing industry all the time then the consumer should be worried.”

And criticism was exactly what the publication of the Bill drew from some quarters of industry. Corin Taylor, senior economic adviser at the UK’s Institute of Directors, said that he felt the reforms “may fail to deliver”.

“We need to see a technology-neutral approach adopted as soon as possible, so that the cheapest low-carbon energy sources are prioritised, but the Bill confirms that the government will try to pick energy winners for at least another decade,” he said. “We hope that the contracts for difference framework will succeed, but it looks like an overly-complex way of delivering much-needed investment in Britain's energy infrastructure.”

Matt Bonass, a climate change lawyer in Bird & Bird’s energy team, said that the Bill’s impact on investment and project development “remains a concern, as it is presented for pre-legislative scrutiny only at this stage”.

“While this gives more time for debate on the details, it will do little to provide investors with the certainty they are looking for. Further, while the draft Bill sets out the broad themes of Electricity Market Reform, the devil remains in the detail and there is still considerable uncertainty as to the final form of any secondary legislation, for example on CfDs and the capacity market.”

He said there can be a long lead time between primary legislation and secondary legislation, “so uncertainty is likely to continue for some time yet. The great enemy of investment is uncertainty, and there remains much of that in the Bill.”

Neil Bentley, deputy director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, said it was vital that the government delivered the Bill’s mechanisms “as a matter of urgency”.

“The clock is ticking to create the market certainty that will unlock billions of pounds of private sector investment,” he said. “We are still some way from having a detailed picture of how the electricity market will look in the future, on which the success of these reforms depends. With major investors waiting in the wings, these details are needed as soon as possible.”

India in bid to double renewable capacity

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:21:00 GMT

India intends to more than double its renewable power capacity to almost 53 GW by 2017.

Under proposals revealed in its latest five-year energy plan, the government wants to add 29 GW of renewable power between now and 2017. In the previous five-year plan, 12 GW was added.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy revealed that in the next five years it wants to add 15 GW of wind power, 10 GW of solar power, 2 GW of biomass and biofuels and another 2 GW of hydropower.

Agency says German power plants must be prevented from shutdowns

Mon, 21 May 2012 14:18:00 GMT

State-owned Dena Energy Agency says that utilities operating in Germany should not be permitted to close unprofitable gas fired power plants to safeguard supplies.

German daily Handelsblatt reported that while the government can legally force utilities to keep plants online, operators must be compensated for doing so.

Head of the agency Stephen Kohler told the newspaper that Germany should create “capacity markets” by identifying the generators needed and paying those companies that can build or operate them at the lowest cost.

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US votes to heavily punish Chinese solar makers

Fri, 18 May 2012 09:01:00 GMT

The US has voted to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese solar panels, with duties expected to range between 31 and 250 per cent.

The decision was taken after the US commerce department found China had dumped solar products on the US for less than the cost of manufacture.

There were fears the move could lead to a trade backlash from China and even possibly a broader US-Chinese trade war.

China has protested in the past at American accusations of unfair pricing and threatened to take America to the international trade court or WTO.

Chinese government subsidies helped drive down the price of solar panels by 80 per cent over the last five years, and by 40 per cent in the last year alone. The price drops drove some US solar panel makers – such as Solyndra – to collapse.

"Today's decision is expected to have an impact on the US marketplace for Chinese manufacturers since it will begin to remove the advantage they have had as a result of their illegal trade practices," the Coalition for American Solar Panel Manufacturing said in a statement. The statement went on: "However, it will not disrupt solar growth or solar installations in the United States."

Jigar Shah, who heads the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy, told reporters the ruling will mean higher prices for consumers and will set back the adoption of solar.

Suntech, the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels, which also operates a panel plant in Arizona, denied it sold below its cost of production.

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US solar industry fears Chinese retaliation

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:36:00 GMT

A decision on whether to impose anti-dumping measures on Chinese solar manufacturers is expected to be made shortly by the US Department of Commerce.

The US solar-power industry is anxiously awaiting the decision as part of an investigation into accusations that Chinese solar-panel makers receive unfair government subsidies and sell their products in the U.S. at prices below the cost of production.

Seven US solar firms brought the complaint to the Commerce Department in 2011 and filed a similar complaint with the International Trade Commission, which has been conducting a separate investigation.

The market turmoil caused by a glut of manufacturing capacity, particularly from China has forced several solar-panel makers out of business.

China's Ministry of Commerce has criticized the U.S. investigations, causing US firms who sell into the Chinese solar market to worry that Beijing will retaliate with tariffs on US products.

Chinese firms supplied 46 per cent of global shipments of solar cells and panels in 2011, or more than 10,800 MW, while US suppliers shipped about 3 per cent, or about 780 MW, according to research by Paula Mints, an analyst at Navigant Consulting.

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EU state aid threat to UK electricity reform

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:23:00 GMT

UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry has conceded that part of the government’s Electricity Market Reform plans could fall foul of European Commission state aid rules.

A cornerstone of the EMR – which is designed to stimulate growth in low carbon power generation – is a contracts-for-difference mechanism, by which operators of new plant get a guaranteed price for the electricity they generate. That price would differ between types of generation, be it nuclear, gas or a form of renewables.

But Hendry told the UK’s Energy and Climate Change Committee that the mechanism which the industry wanted was undeliverable under EU rules.

“We have put forward a package which we believe most complies with EU requirements, while industry has other thoughts, and we will try to find a balance that gives certainty and comfort to investors,” he said.

Committee chairman Tim Yeo was aghast: “There will be serious alarm politically if it appears that some interpretation of EU state aid rules prevents Britain from having the best market structure,” he said.

“Why on earth does this rather important aspect of our quite sensible market reform run foul of the European Commission?”

“We are putting it forward in a way in which we believe it won’t fall foul of those rules,” replied Hendry.

Earlier the minister had outlined how the race was on to find new backers to replace RWE and E.ON in the Horizon nuclear project. In March the companies bailed out of the programme to build two new nuclear reactors in the UK, citing financial constraints in their native Germany.

Hendry said the decision by the firm’s was “certainly disappointing, but I don’t think it derails the government’s nuclear programme”.

He said the sale of Horizon “needs to happen soon” and it would not matter to the government if a buyer came from within or outside the EU.

Any potential investor needs to meet al of our safety and security concern. They must have experience of nuclear generation.

“What we are looking for are companies with experience and expertise in the sector,” he said, adding that there was no objection in principle to players from Russia, Japan or China coming in to the UK market.

The committee, which was meeting to discuss the future of nuclear new build in Britain, heard evidence from Volker Beckers and Tony Cocker, the chief executives in the UK of RWE and E.ON respectively, and Beckers stressed that there was “no question of the decision being reversed”.

Cocker said that the decision to withdraw from Horizon was not influenced at all by any concerns over the UK government’s plans for electricity reform, stating: “We believe the investment framework in the UK is one of the best in Europe – or the best in Europe.”

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UK electricity reform will cause energy ‘train wreck’

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:05:00 GMT

The UK government’s Electricity Market Reform will lead to a “train wreck” in the country’s power sector, according to six of the country’s leading renewable energy firms.

The companies say the EMR is “unworkable” and claim that instead of stimulating investment as intended, it will deter financial backing for low carbon technologies.

The EMR is the cornerstone of the coalition government’s plans to boost growth in low carbon energy and involves setting a carbon price floor and replacing existing subsidies with long term contracts.

But the six companies – SSE, Ecotricity, Fred.Olsen Renewables, RES, Natural Power and Good Energy – say the reforms are “extremely complicated, introducing new risks and uncertainty, as well as diverging from other well understood European support mechanisms”.

In a letter to UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey, they welcome the need to move to a secure and decarbonised electricity system”, but state that the contracts for difference that will replace existing subsidies are flawed and as such, will deter investment in renewable generation and “threaten the build up of supply chains and jobs in the UK”.

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Renewables company breaks �6m barrier

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:48:00 GMT

Leading renewable energy company Eco Environments has seen its turnover grow to more than �6m ($9.6m) – compared to �1.3M last year.

The company, which has its head office in Liverpool, has also seen its headcount increase from 12 to 50 during the past 12 months.

A combination of high take up of solar panels by domestic customers and a number of significant commercial contract wins saw the company achieve turnover of �6.4million, exceeding its forecasted revenue expectations.

However, with the Government’s feed-in-tariff incentives being slashed again from July 1, Eco Environments’ plan moving forward is to put greater focus on the commercial side of its business and the wide range of renewable energy technologies offered by the company.

Mike Clarke, Eco Environments’ Managing Director, said: “Solar PV and feed-in-tariffs have dominated the news agenda for the last couple of years, but the focus going forward will be far more about energy efficiency in the face of ever rising energy costs.

“Eco Environments is not a provider of solar panels; it is a business which offers customers the full range of renewable energy solutions of which solar panels happens to be one.”

The company designs, installs and commissions technologies including solar PV, wind turbines, solar thermal, air source heat pumps and energy efficient lighting.

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'Steel city’ ponders district heating from steel plants

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:10:00 GMT

The steel city of Sheffield in the UK is pondering the use of its most famously associated commodity, in a district energy initiative.

Engineers believe that excess heat from steel plants could be used to heat the city, significantly reducing the city’s CO₂ emissions.

According to a statement, steel could help provide a green alternative for heating Sheffield’s homes and businesses, alongside other renewable energy sources, reports the Engineer.

Experts from Sheffield University’s engineering faculty believe that the many steel plants located just outside the city centre could be connected to Sheffield’s existing district heating network to provide an extra 20 MW of thermal energy.

‘It actually costs the steel plants to reduce the temperature of the flue gas and to cool the water used during steel manufacture,’ said Prof Jim Swithenbank, who played a key role in developing the first phase of Sheffield’s district heating system in the late 1970s.

‘Recovering this heat and transferring it to the district heating network reduces the cost of heat production, improves energy efficiency and is beneficial to the environment, making a win-win situation for the steelworks and the city.’

Sheffield already has the largest district heating system in the UK, powered through an energy recovery facility that burns the city’s non-recyclable waste.

Each year this generates 21MW of electricity, enough to power 22,000 homes, and 60MW of thermal energy in the form of super-heated steam, which is pumped around the city in a 44km network of underground pipes.

This provides space heating and hot water to more than 140 public buildings and 3000 homes across the city, reducing the city’s CO₂ emissions by 21000 tonnes a year.

While some UK cities are now using their waste incineration plants to generate electricity, few connect such facilities to a district heating system.

‘The analysis we’ve carried out in Sheffield could be mirrored across other UK cities,’ said Prof Vida Sharifi, who led the research. ‘Heating buildings is responsible for half the energy use in the UK.

The government has estimated that if district heating were used across the UK in areas with high heat demand, it could supply around 5.5 million properties and contribute a fifth of the UK’s heating needs.”

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Power CEO says European energy policy is self-destructive

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:33:00 GMT

The new CEO of Franco-Belgian Solvay, has accused Germany, France and Belgium of acting in isolation on nuclear and gas policy and failing to come up with a coherent strategy to keep Europe’s companies competitive.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu says European failure to replicate the US approach is seeing the continent lose ground.

Soaring energy costs and the failure of the continent’s governments to be “rational” about nuclear power and shale gas, the head of one of the world’s biggest chemicals groups has warned.

The chief executive of one of Europe’s largest power groups told the FT that the continent’s political leaders were paying “zero attention to competitiveness” when deciding energy policy.

Natural gas in the US is three times cheaper than in Europe because of its decision to exploit shale gas through the environmentally-controversial process of “fracking” – the high-pressure injection of water and chemicals to free up trapped gas.

“The fact that energy is cheap in the US, and probably will be for a long time, is changing the game,” Mr Clamadieu said. “Electricity’s getting more and more expensive in Europe, and some of the decisions that have been announced regarding nuclear energy production will certainly move the price in the wrong direction. For industry this is really a concern.”

He added that US industry’s advantage on energy prices also meant “you can’t just close the book and say we’ll never look at whether Europe has shale gas”, despite vocal environmental opposition.

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