Two nuclear power stations to have life extensions

EDF Small Business has announced the launch of a sustainability grant for its Powering Local Businesses initiative, in partnership with Enterprise Nation and with support from Square, a leading business technology and payments platform, to help small businesses overcome the upfront cost of investing in greener technologies and practical sustainability improvements.

Fidra Energy has secured funding for its West Burton C battery energy storage project in Nottinghamshire.

The Earlham and Orwell concept has commenced its assessment phase for a ‘gas-to-wire’ offshore gas power station and data centre coupled to carbon capture.

UK vehicle makers are accelerating investment in sustainable production with on-site factory renewable energy generation rising by more than a third last year to reach record levels, according to new analysis from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

As the PM in waiting readies himself to deal with the pressures of leadership, the economy and England’s loss at the World cup, he will not be short of proposals from various ‘think tanks’, from the same to the, well, not so sane.

So it is done. Andy Burnham has appointed his first cabinet and made the changes. Other than the revolving door of Premiership, changes that will directly affect the sustainability market are chiefly the appointment of John Healy as Chancellor and, of course, Miatta Fahnbulleh as Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, whilst Ed Miliband has been neatly pushed aside to be become Foreign Secretary.

The application window for Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 8 (AR8) has been opened.

The latest biannual Environmental Performance Index (EPI) created by Yale and Columbia University ranks countries on their commitment to sustainability.

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) have increased climate finance in low-and middle-income by 21 per cent to $103bn last year, according to their new annual report while MDB climate finance across all countries of operation rose 19 per cent to a record $163bn.

As a result of Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, receiving information on electricity grid security from whistleblowers, the National Energy System Operator (Neso) has hired an external law firm to investigate.

Power generation infrastructure is coming under increasing strain as rising electricity demand, ageing equipment and long replacement lead times heighten the risk of costly outages, according to a report by commercial property insurer FM.