Recent Energy suppliers that have ceased trading

[Highland Mule]

I think Vince is counting any land that has had animal manures applied as being animal based. Am assuming no artificial fert, think I read they are banking on clover etc, be interesting to see how they go long term with maintaining yields.

interesting assumption. I wonder what the gas: diesel ratio looks like for a low yielding unfertilised “harvest” vs a more intensive fertilised one. I’d be willing to bet the greenwashing isn’t as bright if all aspects are considered.

I’m fed up with folks claiming the high ground because they burn diesel to make green energy.

 

[Exfarmer]

I think Vince is counting any land that has had animal manures applied as being animal based. Am assuming no artificial fert, think I read they are banking on clover etc, be interesting to see how they go long term with maintaining yields.

If they keep feeding the digestate back to the grass it should be good, however I suspect the clover will overwhelm the grass and yields will suffer.
He is of course running a two pronged attack as he is trying to convert the country to veganism and if he can maintain a credible operation it gives ammunition against those who believe that animals are essential to the countryside

 

[delilah]

interesting assumption. I wonder what the gas: diesel ratio looks like for a low yielding unfertilised “harvest” vs a more intensive fertilised one. I’d be willing to bet the greenwashing isn’t as bright if all aspects are considered.

I’m fed up with folks claiming the high ground because they burn diesel to make green energy.

Have just tried checking back on here, couple of the links now 'page not found', which could mean a number of things.....

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/ecotricity-and-sparsholt.309192/

 

[sjt01]

I think most of the AD plants actually use very little animal manure in real terms, certainly not looking at the vast acreage of maize around and the precious few cattle.
Perhaps @sjt01 would like to comment

Very few of the big AD plants use any animal manure. Our takes 50% by weight, less by energy content. We are locked in by FITs and RHI to feeding crops to pay off the investment until they come to an end. After that, with PV generating far more daytime electricity than AD per acre, we intend to use PV for our own power in the day, and use the AD plant to generate enough gas to run the CHP when PV is inadequate, and when we need heat. That will pretty much be achieved with manures and the poorer quality silage on top of the clamp.

 

[Exfarmer]

Very few of the big AD plants use any animal manure. Our takes 50% by weight, less by energy content. We are locked in by FITs and RHI to feeding crops to pay off the investment until they come to an end. After that, with PV generating far more daytime electricity than AD per acre, we intend to use PV for our own power in the day, and use the AD plant to generate enough gas to run the CHP when PV is inadequate, and when we need heat. That will pretty much be achieved with manures and the poorer quality silage on top of the clamp.

The way export prices are going, thr AD will pay without a FIT soon

 

[BrianV]

UK to Norway sub-sea green power cable operational​

Published
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IMAGE SOURCE, NATIONAL GRID
Image caption, Specialist barges were used to construct North Sea Link
The world's longest under-sea electricity cable, transferring green power between Norway and the UK, has begun operation.
The 450-mile (725km) cable connects Blyth in Northumberland with the Norwegian village of Kvilldal.
At full 1,400 megawatt capacity it will import enough hydro-power to supply 1.4 million homes, National Grid said.
National Grid Ventures president Cordi O'Hara said it was a "remarkable feat of engineering".
He added: "We had to go through mountains, fjords and across the North Sea to make this happen.
"North Sea Link (NSL) is also a great example of two countries working together to maximise their renewable energy resources for mutual benefit."
National Grid said the €1.6bn (£1.37bn) joint venture with Norwegian power operator Statnett would help the UK reduce carbon emissions by 23 million tonnes by 2030.
-----
Isn't this a prime example of UK stupidity, £1.37 Billion would surely of have paid for several reservoirs & hydro electric plants being built in the UK rather than us now paying Norway for suppling it's electric for ever. Why is it our idiotic politicians seem to believe imports are far more important than home supplies.

 

[HatsOff]

Isn't this a prime example of UK stupidity, £1.37 Billion would surely of have paid for several reservoirs & hydro electric plants being built in the UK rather than us now paying Norway for suppling it's electric for ever. Why is it our idiotic politicians seem to believe imports are far more important than home supplies.

For comparison, Hinkley is costing £23B. Severn barrage approx £100B.

 

[Highland Mule]

For comparison, Hinkley is costing £23B. Severn barrage approx £100B.

And not many more opportunities left for hydro in the U.K. either - any easy wins have been done already.

The last “big” one was Glendoe - 100MW with 20% utilisation for £160M

 

[Exfarmer]

And not many more opportunities left for hydro in the U.K. either - any easy wins have been done already.

The last “big” one was Glendoe - 100MW with 20% utilisation for £160M

A 100 MW is not that big either. Sounds a lot thats all, but it is reliable

 

[renewablejohn]

For comparison, Hinkley is costing £23B. Severn barrage approx £100B.

Were do you get the seven barrage figure of 100B from. Last estimate I heard it was half the price of Hinkley.

 

[renewablejohn]

And not many more opportunities left for hydro in the U.K. either - any easy wins have been done already.

The last “big” one was Glendoe - 100MW with 20% utilisation for £160M

Thats just wrong. Plenty of hydro still available to be done if only EA would allow it.

 

[Steevo]

Interesting insight on the current situation from Vegan Vince.

​ ​ We are in the middle, or perhaps just the start, of another winter energy crisis in Britain. I’m sure you are aware of this. Ten supply companies have gone bust in the last few weeks as wholesale prices for gas and electricity have rocketed in price - rising four or five-fold since the start of the year. When this happens companies that have not bought the energy they need in advance (known as hedging) tend to collapse. Not buying what you will need is a gamble on future prices. Many suppliers take this gamble and many more will fail this winter. Three failed on the afternoon I wrote this. It really is an exceptional situation. Ecotricity buys the energy we need in advance - to protect ourselves and our customers. It’s the proper way to do things. We’ve been in energy supply long enough to have been through several crises just like this. We are Britain’s oldest independent energy supplier, with 25 years under our belts. We’re protected to the maximum possible by our hedging - for electricity that means being 90% covered for the 12 months ahead. The other 10% is not available in advance and for that we are exposed. Costs related to this have risen four-fold in September alone. All of this means we still have an exposure to the crazy prices on the energy market– but nothing like many other suppliers (collapsed, or still trading) have experienced. The gap is sufficiently large that we are unable to absorb it, and need to adjust our energy prices to compensate. I’m sorry about that – we have no real choice. The triggers for this crisis might be interesting to know how this imperfect storm came about: It began with two nuclear power stations not coming out of scheduled maintenance at the end of summer, leaving a shortfall in electricity production. This comes at the same time as the UK had its lowest wind speeds for 60 years, making our wind energy production lower than expected. On top of that, one of the cables that connects our country to Europe to bring power when we need it, burned down. The country then turned to gas to make up the shortfall, as demand and prices rocketed globally, and Russia turned down pipeline supplies by as much as 25%. This means Britain is experiencing record high prices for gas and electricity – higher than anywhere in Europe. Eventually – but we don’t know when, all these factors will each return to normal. It could be in the next few weeks, or it could take all winter. The increase we need to make is of about £4 per week for a typical electricity customer and £1 for gas - gas can be more completely purchased ahead of time, hence we have a smaller exposure. This change will take place from 5th November. That’s one month from now. Should things return to normal (or closer to normal) before then, we will adapt accordingly and reduce, or remove this emergency price increase, before it takes place. Our energy trading team are monitoring forward market prices for the remaining 10% of our electricity supply and we will revert to pre-crisis pricing as soon as we can. I am truly sorry that we need to do this, these events are well beyond our control - though there is so much we could do as a nation to avoid these periodic crises - we’ve just published one such example: We’ve launched our Green Gas plan for Britain and shared it earlier this week with the Secretary of State, George Eustice. By announcing our first green gas mill – we’re showing how Britain could make all the gas we need for our homes from the country’s available grassland. This would solve our dependence on global markets for our energy supply and pricing – and reduce emissions, as green gas is carbon neutral. There’s more info on our website – it’s an exciting prospect. As always, I’m genuinely happy to hear from you with any questions or comments and I’m so very grateful for your support for our work - by being with us. Thank you. Dale Vince Ecotricity Founder​

Dare I ask what the increased rates will be?

 

[Steevo]

Thats just wrong. Plenty of hydro still available to be done if only EA would allow it.

Another example of how our regulatory system is tying our arms behind out back. Can't be "green" because they block the renewable energy schemes or make them unviable.

 

[Steevo]

interesting assumption. I wonder what the gas: diesel ratio looks like for a low yielding unfertilised “harvest” vs a more intensive fertilised one. I’d be willing to bet the greenwashing isn’t as bright if all aspects are considered.

I’m fed up with folks claiming the high ground because they burn diesel to make green energy.

I was approached regarding one of their green gas "mills" - they wanted the farmer to grow herbal leys, and would pay on a per tonne delivered basis at a fixed (contracted) price. i.e. all risk taken by the farmer.

Strangely enough.....I walked away from it.

 

[delilah]

Dare I ask what the increased rates will be?

He says in that email that it will be a £5/week increase for the average customer, going up from November so will have to wait till the bill after that to see what it looks like.

 

[HarryatBalancedEnergy]

Dare I ask what the increased rates will be?

Interesting insight on the current situation from Vegan Vince.

​ ​ We are in the middle, or perhaps just the start, of another winter energy crisis in Britain. I’m sure you are aware of this. Ten supply companies have gone bust in the last few weeks as wholesale prices for gas and electricity have rocketed in price - rising four or five-fold since the start of the year. When this happens companies that have not bought the energy they need in advance (known as hedging) tend to collapse. Not buying what you will need is a gamble on future prices. Many suppliers take this gamble and many more will fail this winter. Three failed on the afternoon I wrote this. It really is an exceptional situation. Ecotricity buys the energy we need in advance - to protect ourselves and our customers. It’s the proper way to do things. We’ve been in energy supply long enough to have been through several crises just like this. We are Britain’s oldest independent energy supplier, with 25 years under our belts. We’re protected to the maximum possible by our hedging - for electricity that means being 90% covered for the 12 months ahead. The other 10% is not available in advance and for that we are exposed. Costs related to this have risen four-fold in September alone. All of this means we still have an exposure to the crazy prices on the energy market– but nothing like many other suppliers (collapsed, or still trading) have experienced. The gap is sufficiently large that we are unable to absorb it, and need to adjust our energy prices to compensate. I’m sorry about that – we have no real choice. The triggers for this crisis might be interesting to know how this imperfect storm came about: It began with two nuclear power stations not coming out of scheduled maintenance at the end of summer, leaving a shortfall in electricity production. This comes at the same time as the UK had its lowest wind speeds for 60 years, making our wind energy production lower than expected. On top of that, one of the cables that connects our country to Europe to bring power when we need it, burned down. The country then turned to gas to make up the shortfall, as demand and prices rocketed globally, and Russia turned down pipeline supplies by as much as 25%. This means Britain is experiencing record high prices for gas and electricity – higher than anywhere in Europe. Eventually – but we don’t know when, all these factors will each return to normal. It could be in the next few weeks, or it could take all winter. The increase we need to make is of about £4 per week for a typical electricity customer and £1 for gas - gas can be more completely purchased ahead of time, hence we have a smaller exposure. This change will take place from 5th November. That’s one month from now. Should things return to normal (or closer to normal) before then, we will adapt accordingly and reduce, or remove this emergency price increase, before it takes place. Our energy trading team are monitoring forward market prices for the remaining 10% of our electricity supply and we will revert to pre-crisis pricing as soon as we can. I am truly sorry that we need to do this, these events are well beyond our control - though there is so much we could do as a nation to avoid these periodic crises - we’ve just published one such example: We’ve launched our Green Gas plan for Britain and shared it earlier this week with the Secretary of State, George Eustice. By announcing our first green gas mill – we’re showing how Britain could make all the gas we need for our homes from the country’s available grassland. This would solve our dependence on global markets for our energy supply and pricing – and reduce emissions, as green gas is carbon neutral. There’s more info on our website – it’s an exciting prospect. As always, I’m genuinely happy to hear from you with any questions or comments and I’m so very grateful for your support for our work - by being with us. Thank you. Dale Vince Ecotricity Founder​

There are other suppliers who are having to do similar in this market with increasing rates. It uncertain if there will be more that follow suit and do the same.

Have Ecotricity given you the option to look for an alternative supplier? Although if the increase is only £4 per week I think it may be worth staying put depending on your current rates.

 

[Steevo]

There are other suppliers who are having to do similar in this market with increasing rates. It uncertain if there will be more that follow suit and do the same.

Have Ecotricity given you the option to look for an alternative supplier? Although if the increase is only £4 per week I think it may be worth staying put depending on your current rates.

The hiccup seems to be they don't offer a fixed rate.....so you are at the mercy of the variable changes and cannot stay act to fix the rate before it rockets (as everyone was predicting a few weeks back).

As you say, jumping ship to another variable tariff now just means you could be hit with a price rise after joining if unlucky....and many fixed rate deals now reflect the increased prices so are also pretty uncompetitive.

 

[delilah]

Have Ecotricity given you the option to look for an alternative supplier? Although if the increase is only £4 per week I think it may be worth staying put depending on your current rates.

Yep it's a standard thing on the bills, something about they are obliged to make you aware that you can move ?
Tbh, Vegan Vince would have to be way out on the money before I considered moving, on a domestic account its not a life altering amount of money, and I like the guy and what he has done.

 

[capfits]

See we are not only on the hook via Ofgem and our electricity bills, but also as tax payers.
Looks like every bulb account on average is going to get £1000 free cash doled out by tax payer
Proper market failure....

 

[horizontal]

See we are not only on the hook via Ofgem and our electricity bills, but also as tax payers.
Looks like every bulb account on average is going to get £1000 free cash doled out by tax payer
Proper market failure....

Why didn’t the auditors and lenders see it happening- the auditors charge bulb around 260,000 a year in fees so surely they must look at the stress testing done by the business and also look at the balance sheet which was woeful before energy prices rocketed. Bulb have lost a lot of money over the past couple of years if you look at their accounts at companies house. It really infuriates me.