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UK N2EX peak-load discount reaches record in May

  • : Electricity
  • 25/05/22

Peak-load power on the UK's N2EX day-ahead spot market has cleared at its widest discount to the base load this month, driven by rising solar generation and falling national demand.

The N2EX has cleared at £75.92/MWh ($85.66/MWh) for base load so far this month, while peak-load hours have delivered at £70.23/MWh. This is on track to be the widest peak-base discount on record in the UK, surpassing the peak discount of £4.40/MWh in August last year — which came amid record low peak demand for the month and unseasonably strong wind output.

UK solar generation has averaged 7GW in peak hours so far this month, up from 6.2GW last month and 4.7GW in May last year. In these hours, solar has accounted for around 22.5pc of domestic generation, the highest share for any month on record.

Embedded solar output during peak hours for the remainder of the month is currently forecast at 6.1-10.4GW, peaking on 23 May and bottoming out on 24 May. And national demand is forecast to range 16.0-22.4GW over the same period, with peak demand ranging 14.1-23.9GW.

Solar output is on track to generate more power than gas-fired units during peak-load hours for the second time on record after August last year. Gas-fired generation has been 6.2GW in peak-load hours so far this month, around 800MW below solar. In comparison, peak-load gas burn was just 50MW below solar in August last year.

The rise in solar generation has also continued to weigh heavily on the UK's net imports in the hours around midday. Net imports during base-load hours have stood at 3.9GW so far this month, down from 4.3GW in April and well below 4.8GW in May last year. Imports have only been around 4.6GW in settlement periods 27-28, between 13:00-14:00 local time, below 5.9GW during the same interval last year and 5.1GW in 2023.

A decline in peak-load demand compared with previous years has also weighed on power prices in these hours. UK national demand has been 22GW so far in May, the lowest for the month aside from May 2020. But demand in peak hours has been around 200MW lower than in May 2020 at 21.7GW, while late-night and early morning demand has been 1GW above 2020 levels.

This has largely been driven by a rapid increase in embedded solar for self-consumption in recent years, which could accelerate further with the recently passed Great British Energy Act, allocating £200mn for rooftop solar and other renewable energy schemes in 7,000 schools, hospitals and community buildings. The bulk of solar installations in the UK are between 0-4kW, totalling 1.4mn as of March and equivalent to 4.2GW, or 23pc of the UK's total solar capacity, government data shows. Some 73pc of the new solar installations in March were on residential buildings, adding a total of 68MW.

And 3.3GW between transmission and distribution-connected solar projects won contracts for difference in the last allocation round held last year. Almost 1.1GW of this is due on line in 2026-27 and 2.2GW in 2027-28.

N2EX monthly peak-base spread £/MWh

May solar output GW

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25/07/14

Southeast Asia targets regional power grid by 2045

Southeast Asia targets regional power grid by 2045

Singapore, 14 July (Argus) — Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have announced their target to establish the Asean power grid by 2045, and reaffirmed their commitment to enhance energy interconnection. The bloc aims to establish the regional power grid to ensure a secure and interconnected low-carbon regional energy future, according to a joint statement released following an Asean foreign ministers' meeting last week in Malaysia. As part of this, members will also sign an enhanced memorandum of understanding for the development of the Asean power grid, and endorse the terms of reference of a subsea power cable development framework this year. The Asean power grid is a cross-border initiative aimed at helping the region source and share electricity, especially against the backdrop of rising energy demand because of economic growth. The group also acknowledged the progress of the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore power integration project (LTMS-PIP), as well as the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines power integration project (BIMP-PIP). The LTMS-PIP is being enhanced under its second phase to double the capacity traded to 200MW, Singapore's Energy Market Authority announced last year. The group also reaffirmed its commitment to enhance energy interconnection by accelerating the establishment of a trans-Asean gas pipeline, Asean petroleum security agreement, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage. The Asean Centre for Energy on 11 July secured NZ$200,000 ($119,800) from New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to support the implementation of the Asean plan of action for energy co-operation (APAEC). The APAEC serves as the region's blueprint for energy co-operation and the document sets out strategies and action plans to enhance regional connectivity and market integration. The grant from New Zealand will support activities and initiatives related to the Asean power grid, renewable energy and regional energy and policy planning. More details were not provided. By Prethika Nair Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

DOE to halt wind transmission line: US senator


25/07/11
25/07/11

DOE to halt wind transmission line: US senator

Houston, 11 July (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration has pledged to halt an 800-mile transmission line designed to deliver wind power from Kansas to eastern states, according to a US senator. US energy secretary Chris Wright has said he "will be putting a stop" to the Grain Belt Express transmission line, senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) said on Thursday via the X social media platform. Hawley has made repeated calls for the Department of Energy (DOE) to cancel a $4.9bn conditional loan awarded to the project in the waning days of former president Joe Biden's administration. The senator has called the project an "elitist land grab harming Missouri farmers and ranchers". Whether Wright pledged to rescind the loan or take other action to stop work on Grain Belt Express was not immediately clear from Hawley's statement. Neither the senator's office nor DOE immediately responded to requests for additional information. Hawley's statement is "bizarre", according to Invenergy, the Chicago-based developer behind the project. The company said that the transmission line has already received approvals from all four states that it will traverse, acquired 1,500 agreements with landowners tied to construction and announced "significant" supply chain agreements for materials sourced domestically. "Senator Hawley is attempting to kill the largest transmission infrastructure project in US history, which is already approved by four states and is aligned with the president's energy dominance agenda," the company said. The Grain Belt Express would deliver wind power from Kansas to converter stations in Missouri and Indiana, with the Missouri station connecting to grids overseen by the Associated Electric Cooperative and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), while the Indiana station links with the PJM Interconnection. Invenergy plans to build the project in two phases, with the first delivering 2,500MW into Missouri and the second ferrying another 2,500MW to the PJM region, which includes the District of Columbia and 13 states in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic. DOE in November 2024 awarded the project a conditional loan of up to $4.9bn to help finance the initial stage as part of Biden's larger push to decarbonize the electricity sector. Invenergy intends to start construction on the first phase next year. Ultimately, the line would supply 15mn MWh/yr to Missouri, with 60pc of the capacity allocated to MISO and the remainder to the Associated Electric Cooperative. Another 15mn MWh/yr would flow into the PJM markets. Altogether, the line would supply enough electricity to cover the demand of more than 2.8mn households. Landowner groups in Missouri have long targeted the Grain Belt Express, but have failed to stymie the project through a challenge to its use of eminent domain . Opponents have since continued their efforts against the project, and Missouri attorney general Andrew Bailey, a Republican, last week called on state utility regulators to rescind the line's permit on grounds that Invenergy relied on "deceptive" information to secure its approval. By Patrick Zemanek Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Canada focuses on new US deadline, diversifying trade


25/07/11
25/07/11

Canada focuses on new US deadline, diversifying trade

Calgary, 11 July (Argus) — Canadian prime minister Mark Carney reiterated his plan to diversify trade with countries "throughout the world" following another round of tariff threats, and another deadline, from US president Donald Trump. Carney's comments on social media late on 10 July came hours after Trump said Canada could expect a 35pc tariff on all imports , effective 1 August, repeating earlier claims that the northern country was not doing enough to stop fentanyl from crossing into the US. Canada has said these claims are bogus but in late-2024 still committed to spending $900bn (C$1.3bn) on border security measures over six years. "Canada has made vital progress to stop the source of fentanyl in North America," Carney wrote on X. The prime minister said he is now working to strike a new trade deal before the 1 August deadline. Trump and Carney last month agreed they would work toward a broad trade agreement by mid-July, with Canada at the time targeting 21 July to finalize a deal. The 35pc tariff would be separate from tariffs set for specific sectors, which include a 50pc tariff on copper imports. It is not clear if any imports currently covered by the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) would be affected by Trump's latest tariff threats. Carney has advocated the need to shore up trade partnerships with "reliable" countries since being sworn is as prime minister in March, saying the old relationship with the US "is over". The energy-rich nation needs to build more infrastructure to unlock this potential, and with a surge in public support, is trying to entice developers with a new law to fast-track project approvals . But those are multi-year efforts and Canada is still trying to reach a deal with the US to keep goods moving smoothly. The two economies are highly integrated with $762bn worth of goods crossing the US-Canada border in 2024, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative. Canada on 29 June rescinded a digital sales tax (DST) that would have collected revenue from the US' largest tech companies, after US secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick said the tax could have been a deal breaker in trade negotiations. That show of good faith — which seemingly got nothing in return — was criticized within Canada and contrary to Carney's repeated "elbows up" mantra in the face of Trump's threats. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

China mandates renewable power use for industry


25/07/11
25/07/11

China mandates renewable power use for industry

Beijing, 11 July (Argus) — China's leading economic planning agency the NDRC and national energy administration NEA have set renewable power consumption goals for energy-intensive industries for this year and next, with green electricity certificates (GECs) serving as the key mechanism to achieve these targets. The new legislation sets renewable power consumption targets for the steel, cement, polysilicon and electrolytic aluminium production sectors, as well as for data centres, with the average ratio across all provinces set at 38pc in 2025 and 39pc in 2026. Data centres have a unilateral target of 80pc, while targets for other key industries vary by province. Provincial governments will this year assess the ratios set for the electrolytic aluminium sector. Yunnan and Sichuan provinces have the highest targets, needing to source 70pc of their industrial power use from renewables, owing to the high proportion of hydropower in their generation mixes. Provinces with concentrated wind and solar power projects, such as Gansu and Guangxi, have targets above 50pc. In contrast, Fujian province has the lowest ratio at 25.2pc. The targets follow an announcement by the NEA in March aiming to boost China's renewable power use , although the latest document does not specify penalties for failing to meet goals. Demand for GECs will rise as companies look to meet the new targets, with GECs being the key mechanism to achieve these goals. Market prices have risen since the announcement — Argus assessed 2025 vintage wind/solar GECs at Yn7.80/MWh ($1.09/MWh) on 10 July, up by Yn0.30/MWh from earlier in the week but down slightly from the assessment last week. 2024 wind/solar GECs were assessed at Yn3.10/MWh, also slightly lower week on week. Power utility association CEC expects Chinese power demand to grow by 5-6pc on the year in 2025, the organisation said this week in its annual industry report . Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Japan’s Sumitomo to invest $10bn in UK clean energy


25/07/10
25/07/10

Japan’s Sumitomo to invest $10bn in UK clean energy

Tokyo, 10 July (Argus) — Japanese trading firm Sumitomo has agreed to invest a total of £7.5bn ($10.2bn) by 2035 in key clean energy projects in the UK. The agreement was made with the UK's Department for Business and Trade's Office for Investment on 9 July. The £7.5bn total includes investments Sumitomo made before this deal. The investments will be focused on key offshore wind and hydrogen projects. Sumitomo is also actively exploring the commercialisation of next-generation technologies such as fusion energy and energy management with storage solutions, the firm said. Sumitomo did not disclose more details on what projects it will invest in, when requested for comment. Sumitomo is currently involved in a low-carbon hydrogen production project at the Bacton gas terminal in north Norfolk, CO2 storage in the North Sea and the Peak Cluster CO2 shipping project. The trading house has also invested in offshore wind power businesses. Sumitomo chose to partner with the UK because of the government's support for clean energy businesses, said the firm, and it intends to enhance its collaboration with the UK to develop its clean energy portfolio. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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