European energy: UK leads the way in generation capacity liberalization

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UK energy: nuclear option key to supply diversity

With increasing demand for energy, restricted supply, and Kyoto targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet, the case for building new nuclear plants, once dismissed as a last resort, is rapidly regaining force. The importance of the nuclear role as part of a diverse generation portfolio must not be underestimated.

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Powergen: keeping costs consumer based

Powergen has rolled out increased meter reads in East Anglia putting a stop to estimated billing. Datamonitor believes the scheme will result in an increase in metering costs and a fall in call center and billing costs leaving a zero sum gain financially. However Powergen could significantly increase customer satisfaction and customer retention rates.

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Signs of progress in NWE gas market liberalization

Recent signals from France and Germany suggest a genuine effort is finally being made to push through energy market liberalization. The French gas regulator has reiterated its determination to realize nationwide competition, while in Germany the new Eurohub market starts trading shortly. However, as Datamonitor's Andrew Hill explains, considerable obstacles still need to be overcome...

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RWE: barking up the wrong tree

RWE [RWE.F], one of Germany's leading energy utilities, believes that it can help the country meet its tough carbon-emissions targets by building "next-generation" lignite-fired power stations. In Datamonitor's opinion, this has no grounding in reality as it would require absolutely unrealistic levels of improvement on the currently existing technology.

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Vattenfall: emissions trading clarity needed to drive green power plant development

Vattenfall has updated its vision of the carbon free power plant of the future, where carbon dioxide emissions are collected, liquefied and stored underground. It is likely that more firms would be experimenting in this manner were there greater security in EU emissions trading, which is the mechanism that companies would use to recover their additional costs.

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CO2 emissions: Germany implements reductions

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E.ON: nuclear future hangs on pressing politics

E.ON chief Wulf Bernotat recently stated that the lives of German nuclear power plants could be extended if the Christian Democratic Union were to win the snap elections that have been called for later this year. Germany now joins the UK in having to reconsider this aspect of its energy policy: the nuclear question is one politicians in both countries need to tackle directly.

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Vattenfall: going Dutch for 'super league' dreams

In line with its European expansion plans, Sweden's Vattenfall looks set to add the Netherlands to its growing presence outside its core Nordic market and to beef up its existing assets in Germany and Poland, according to Platts Commodity News. However, the company needs to remember that different markets require different entry strategies.

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European emissions trading: German exemptions will undermine entire scheme

Berlin is proposing to give unlimited carbon emission permits to power stations built after 2008 for their first 14 years of operation. While this will provide a clear investment signal to German utilities, and make nuclear phase-out more palatable, it is potentially ruinous for Europe's beleaguered emissions trading scheme.

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