September 6, 2022
A renewable-energy consultant told me of two engineers working in UK industry some years ago who discussed a tricky technical issue that could be addressed in one of two ways.
The first was easy and used more gas – the second cost a bit more but in the long run saved fuel and money. They selected the first – a choice my pal says was repeated often, over decades. Britain produced a lot of natural gas then. Perhaps like Hong Kong, the Berlin Wall and North Sea oil, we thought we’d have it forever.
With a better approach we might still have plenty, and you could argue the current crisis is payment for past profligacy. But we’re not the only country facing a winter with huge price rises and disruption.
Big bills and uncertain supply
In February it was reported UK gas imports would increase dramatically over 30 years, even if all North Sea reserves were exploited. Two weeks later, Europe’s over-reliance on gas from Russia was thrown into focus when it invaded Ukraine.
Energy bills are at their highest in 50 years and set to nearly triple by early next year, reaching well over £5,000 for the average household. Politicians, industry and consumer groups struggle for solutions in a fast-changing, unpredictable situation that’s included choosing a Prime Minister.
Profligacy wasn’t our only mistake. Centrica is seeking to reopen Rough, Britain’s biggest natural gas storage site, five years after the energy supplier closed the North Sea facility to additional gas. Some say this should kick off a push for a much bigger strategic supply reserve.
Calls for action include stepping up North Sea exploration and legalising fracking, while the Government is accelerating plans for new nuclear power as a reliable source of ‘green’ electricity, despite ongoing concerns over safety, cost and reliability.
Business leaders including the Network Rail CEO and ex-Shell chairman blame the UK’s ‘broken’ market on electricity being tied to global gas prices – they want a cap on domestic electricity wholesale prices for non-gas generators, and on domestically produced gas prices.
For now and the foreseeable future, gas remains a vital part of the UK energy mix.
Incentivise green energy investment and adoption
What looks unlikely is any abandonment of the Government’s legal commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Quite right – the long-term costs of energy from wind and solar are falling as technologies improve, and both are increasingly popular. Britain’s North Sea location has made it the global leader in offshore wind, while our rapid deployment of renewables has reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
Home battery storage works well and is fast becoming an established technology. Commercial- and utility-scale electricity storage are more difficult, held back by reliance on wind and sun intermittency, though progress is being made and several potential solutions are in development in the UK and elsewhere.
Efficiency a key element of strategy
Let’s not get too misty-eyed about our green future. Some say ministers have been consistently misled by lobbyists, to the point where we risk blackouts without adding generation capacity. We must of course address climate change, but a minimum prerequisite to maintain living standards and bring opportunity for all is a reliable, resilient energy supply.
That means removing obstacles to investment in renewables, including solar PV and onshore wind – less trumpeted by ministers than offshore wind. It also requires grid flexibility and crucially, energy efficiency. Producing more, greener electricity must come with better energy usage in households and industry.
Too many new homes are built ‘cheaply’ in ways that will prove very expensive in an era of high prices – all should feature solar PV, heat pumps and effective insulation at minimum. Take-up of heat pumps remains slow despite a fairly generous subsidy scheme.
Businesses too must get better at efficiency, in buildings and processes. Many feel pressure to do so from consumers and supply-chain partners, though challenges remain. Combined heat and power is an effective technology but CHP take-up is limited by a fragmented market that’s also capital-intensive, making it hard for new entrants. That said, organisations such as the Carbon Trust provide valuable help.
Transport part of solution
Looming restrictions on fossil fuels and market factors are prompting drivers to switch to EVs, while even the bus operator Go-Ahead Group says more should be done to encourage cycling, which cuts pollution and brings health benefits that could ease pressure on the NHS.
Utility price rises are prompting households, public bodies and businesses to explore alternative technologies and more productive energy use, but only those with sufficient resources will be in a position to act.
Spread the word
Any big change, including the UK’s transition to net zero, won’t happen without people so it’s crucial they know what can be done to make a better future. There’s a role for Government, but industry too should get on board, with firms highlighting good practice and telling their story.
Energy supply and pricing affects almost every aspect of modern life. We’re some way into a long journey to ensure adequate, reliable supply that doesn’t cost the earth and the phase we’re entering looks very challenging indeed.
*Peter, Director of Allerton Communications, is a corporate and financial PR adviser and former energy journalist.
March 24, 2025
Peter Curtain reflects on life outside the city
March 18, 2025
The modernisation of the electricity grid is progressing rapidly and will continue to advance. M&A will play a key role.
February 19, 2025
The Government faces many challenges, from enhancing European security to advancing AI and manufacturing. A crucial aspect of this is effectively communicating its environmental goals.
December 17, 2024
I braved the Christmas shopping and party crowds to join a group of people looking to make energy supply as reliable and efficient as possible.
November 28, 2024
Amid the hullaballoo about #netzero and its effects on the UK economy, I visited a group of low-carbon innovators to see how they’re making energy more sustainable and efficient for future generations.
April 14, 2024
Efforts are being made to tempt pension fund managers back to London equities. That includes a Government push to make pension funds publicly disclose how much they invest in UK businesses compared to those overseas.
March 19, 2024
Last week a Government scheme to promote heat pumps for homes was delayed by 12 months. Days later, the National Audit Office urged ministers to support the rollout ‘in a way that minimises the long-term costs to both taxpayers and consumers’.
A great privilege for our take on the UK ground-mounted solar market to appear in PV Europe magazine
March 6, 2024
Attending day 1 of Futurebuild 2024 yesterday I was struck by the large numbers and the buzzy vibe. And the crowd was bigger than it looked – the two or three events happening as I arrived were pretty packed. More here: https://bit.ly/49ZTAIv
January 8, 2024
Solar PV is taking off in the UK, and 2024 is shaping up to be the best year yet for the technology. Let’s look at some of the factors driving the transition.
September 18, 2023
As PR advisers working in the green economy, we’re as likely to be asked how to communicate an organisation’s sustainability as what it actually means.
What a brilliant night at Re-Tech Drinks – ‘Bringing together good people in Renewables and Technology the Southwest ‘re-tech’ community’. The event did what it said on the tin.
November 8, 2022
Allerton Communications is growing. We’re seeking a resourceful Digital Communications Executive to serve our low-carbon economy etc clients.
September 6, 2022
A renewable-energy consultant told me of two engineers working in UK industry some years ago who discussed a tricky technical issue that could be addressed in one of two ways.
March 8, 2021
Life and work are changing, and amid the shifting landscape, effective engagement with stakeholders is vital. The past year shows how much we can achieve away from the office. Now, as the economy starts to open up, customers, investors, staff and partners will be moving about as never before, and ultra-reliant on mobile communication.
February 17, 2021
For any company looking to make a difference in the green economy, it’s vital to think about communication. We would say this – we’ve been helping innovators in energy and sustainability to tell their story for more than 12 years.
December 31, 2020
Miracle on 34th Street is considered a must-see film at this time of year. (‘Christmas’ was omitted from the title for the May 1947 release.) The triple-Oscar winner is a seasonal box of delights that once opened, reveals profound truths about public relations – and they apply today. These address leadership, brand authenticity, mental health, […]
Which type of PR should come first in the life of a business – B2B or B2C? Peter Curtain* reports. Attention growth companies – want to get better known? First, start building a network – then, and only then, start addressing consumers.
April 21, 2020
Earth Day, a calendar date observed worldwide on 22 April to show support for environmental protection, is a great reminder of some of the campaigners who’ve alerted us to the urgent need to care for our planet.
April 16, 2020
The past four weeks look set to alter society for years, with huge impact on the economy. Peter Curtain reflects on these changes and offers some thoughts on communication in the post-coronavirus world 1. We’re all global now. A virus that emerged from live-animal markets in the regional Chinese city of Wuhan became big when […]
January 23, 2020
In this Financial Director article, Peter Curtain of Allerton Communications highlights the huge impact concerns about the environment are starting to have both on investment and the wider business world, and suggests how firms can act.
Regulatory news is a vital tool in investor relations. Also important is generating media interest and coverage. It’s great to excel at these channels – but they’re only part of the picture.
July 9, 2019
Allerton Communications, a boutique corporate and financial PR firm specialising in energy, sustainability and growth companies, is expanding.
Allerton's Peter Curtain shares his views on what press regulation proposals mean for PR
March 23, 2016
We’ve been catching up with some advisers on a visit to the Northwest of England and one thing is clear – investors are fighting hard for the best deals. As one professional told us: “There’s massive demand for quality assets among private equity investors. They have full-time teams scouting around the country, talking to potential […]
February 3, 2016
Peter Curtain of Allerton is proud to have joined the People & Communities Technical Committee of Watef, the Water Efficiency Network, and looks forward to making a contribution to this great initiative.
February 1, 2016
Energy Matters - read issue 11 of highly informative magazine on renewables, utilities and more from our client CKD Galbraith here.
January 29, 2016
Allerton Communications has been shortlisted along with our client CKD Galbraith in the industry-leading PR Moment Awards for our work producing Energy Matters. This is a great accolade and we're very proud.
November 30, 2015
Allerton Communications is praised in a key case study by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the prestigious professional and training body, for producing the Energy Matters magazine and e-zine for our client CKD Galbraith.
June 26, 2014
They used to say about banks that the best time to start one was 20 years ago – the point being, lenders make so much money, think what you’ve missed in the meantime. In rather the same way, I often advise companies to start effective communications as soon as they can – think what you can achieve when people understand your business.
May 19, 2014
There’s no shortage of advice on communications but here are 10 rules to help you get your message across to both investors and other important targets.
April 7, 2014
People get excited about stock market flotations because they are (or should be) an opportunity to make money – this applies primarily to new investors of course, but management and the original investors may also be out to cash in some of their holdings.
