A £500,000 fund aimed at raising the skill set of domestic heating engineers so they can install and maintain renewable heating systems has been set up by Energy Secretary Edward Davey today.
The voucher scheme will be backed up by an apprenticeship initiative that will encourage people coming into the industry to develop the necessary expertise to work on these systems and gain relevant qualification credits. Based on the results of this initiative, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will look to increase funding and support for the supply chain.
Giving consumers and installers reliable information is an important part of helping them make decisions about their heating system. The Energy Savings Trust is also publishing today guides for consumers covering a range of low carbon heat technologies.
Read the full press release on GOV.UK
The Government has today published a Call for Evidence on the balance of competence between the United Kingdom and the European Union on energy.
The Foreign Secretary launched the Balance of Competences Review in Parliament on 12 July 2012, taking forward the Coalition commitment to analyse and examine the UK’s relationship with the European Union.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change is leading on the area of the review covering energy and is seeking views from individuals and groups with an interest or experience in energy policy and its application on how the competence is used and what that means for the UK.
The public call for evidence on energy will run for three months from 24th October 2013 to 15th January 2014. Following the call for evidence, a report on the current balance of competence on energy and what this means for the national interest will be published in summer 2014.
Read the press release in full on GOV.UK
Take part in the call for evidence
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey said:
“I am saddened to hear of INEOS’ plans to place petrochemicals business into administration, particularly because of the impact it will have on the workforce and local community.
“While respecting INEOS’ right to make this decision, it is regrettable that both parties have not managed to negotiate a fair and equitable settlement that delivers a viable business model for the plant.
“Even at this late stage, I urge INEOS to continue dialogue with the workforce, and Government will offer help and support with this.
“INEOS have informed us that the refinery will stay open and the management wish to restart full operations as soon as possible.
“We stand ready to help with discussions between the management and the union to ensure this can happen.
“Fuel supplies continue to be delivered as usual and there is no current risk of disruption to supplies.
“I continue to work very closely with the Scottish Government, and other colleagues across Government to share information with them.”
The UK is on track to reduce emissions by 34% by 2020 as a result of Government reforms to move to a low-carbon economy. Secretary of State, Edward Davey, today set out the Government’s assessment of progress made in reducing emissions across each sector of the economy, and formally responds to each of the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendations.
The UK is the first country in the world to provide investors with certainty over funding levels for low-carbon generation through to 2021, and today Government published for consultation details of how its reforms to the electricity market will be implemented.
This will bring on new low-carbon forms of power generation including from renewables, new nuclear and gas and will make a major contribution to meeting carbon budgets. Record levels of investment have already been made by the private sector in new energy infrastructure with an estimated £35 billion invested since 2010, and it is estimated that a further £110bn is needed between now and 2020.
- Find the full press release and the reports on GOV.UK