Weekly newsletter - Monday 2nd of August 2010

Energy politics

The majority leader in the US Senate has said the senate will not pass a full climate bill in its current session. Mr Reid acknowledged that it would not be possible to muster the number of votes needed. President Obama has been criticised by advocates of climate legislation for failing to take a strong lead on the issue. Read more.

At home Energy Secretary Chris Huhne delivered his first annual energy statement to the commons. In the statement he outlined measures to improve energy efficiency and boost renewables in order to create an affordable, secure, low-carbon future. Controversially Mr Huhne announced that new nuclear projects would be allowed to go ahead but without government funding. Full article here.

Tehran recently announced that Iran has launched a programme to develop a nuclear fusion reactor. Fusion power is the holy grail of power generation being far more efficient and environmentally friendly than any current method. So far viable fusion power has eluded scientists for decades. Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, said it would take the institute 20 or 30 years to produce a comercially viable fusion plant. Read more here.

How much did your gas usage rise by last winter?

British gas this week announced that its residential arm posted a first half operating profit of £585m, a 98% increase on last year. As the country experienced the coldest winter for 30 years gas usage rose by 8% and gas reserves at the Rough facility in the north sea fell to record low levels. Read more.

Earlier in the year official figures reported that British households wasted £500 million on heating costs. Lack of adequate roof insulation and cracks in walls were the big sources of heat loss. Having extra insulation installed including having cavity walls filled is easy to do and can vastly reduce waste but it is thought that many don’t realise the benefits. Read more.