UK's Rough gas storage loses clout as LNG flows in

Britain's largest gas storage site has lost some influence in supplying the
market this winter as more flexible sources such as liquefied natural gas
LNG) terminals have gained a bigger role covering peak-time demand. Centrica's Rough storage site off the east coast of Yorkshire can hold
around 70 percent of Britain's gas stocks and has been a key source of
heating gas on cold winter days. But since last winter, gas supply capacity at two of Britain's LNG terminals
has increased by 50 percent each, lifting the potential for more cooled gas
to enter the UK. 'Rough is still critical to the UK market but the increase in extra flexible
capacity has taken some pressure off,' said Andrew Horstead, head of
research at energy consultancy Utilyx. Key LNG supplier Qatar has also recently expanded production capacity by 7.8
million tonnes per year and is set to open another facility within one
month's time. 'Given the extra capacity coming on stream in Qatar, following delays from
last year, there's more supply available to the market and the UK is one of
the few markets that has the capacity to absorb it,' Horstead said.

Gas supplies at five-year low for early January

The amount of gas kept in storage in the UK is at its lowest level in five
years for so early in the winter, according to National Grid.

Last month, was the coldest December since 1890, and the UK's gas storage
facilities, which are among the smallest in Europe, are already more than
half empty as they cope with record demand. Domestic supplies of gas have
also been exported to the continent via the Interconnector under-sea
pipeline, because prices are higher there than in the UK.

As of Friday, the UK had enough gas in storage to meet in total about five
and a half days' consumption, given average winter temperatures, although
storage facilities can release only a fraction of this each day. These
facilities - mostly old gas fields such as Centrica's Rough reservoir off
the coast of Yorkshire - have in the past run down gradually during the
winter and restocked over the spring and summer. But analysts said that
suppliers have withdrawn stocks much earlier this year, with almost two
months of the winter left to run.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/jan/09/gas-supplies-five-year-low

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How Energy Use Dwarfs the Power Facebook and Twitter

Very few topics generate more buzz these days than news about social
networks. Just how big is Facebook, and what, exactly are our kids doing on
it every day? How will Apple create a network around music, and what's
Google doing about it?

It's easy to forget that the world's largest business energy
also represents the world's largest
network, a nexus of wires and pipelines, consumers and "content providers"
(a.k.a. energy producers) all tightly connected in a $7 trillion a year
enterprise.

It's a network that's always on, whether you're talking about the clock
radios and refrigerators that populate our homes, or the tankers and oil
wells that feed our morning commutes. Most importantly, it's a network that
can host surprising, even world-changing innovation that make our lives more
interesting, more productive, and more secure.

Companies around the world are starting to exploit the network
characteristics of energy. They're beginning to understand that their
organizations have an energy nervous system and an energy metabolism.
Businesses are innovating by mapping these networks, from the lights they
use in offices and stores to the wires and generators that power them.
They're using new software and new machines that help them deliver more
goods and services for less and less energy at even better prices.

Corporations are also hedging against the risks inherent in this vast
network. Up and down their energy and material supply chains, they're
mapping their vulnerability to price shocks and environmental impacts.
Companies like Walmart are collaborating, not just on their local grids, but
across the globe to drive new levels of energy efficiency and therefore
reduce risks to their bottom line.

http://in.reuters.com/article/idIN237855419720101221

Spot unchanged despite higher UK gas prices

UK spot power prices were unchanged Thursday despite higher UK
business gas prices and as demand
was forecast to drop Friday, sources said.

UK OTC power for next-day delivery was assessed at GBP49.60/MWh in base and
GBP55.50/MWh in peak, respectively up just 10 pence and unchanged from
Wednesday.

On the N2EX wholesale power exchange, the day-ahead power auction cleared 50
pence higher than Wednesday at GBP49.50/MWh.

"The price has not moved very much...there's a bank holiday on the Continent
but it's not smashed the [UK] price down," a trader at a large UK utility
said.

"The market is so over-supplied," a trader at a second utility said.
"There's very little to be made...it's just about closing positions." UK gas prices increased Thursday as colder temperatures were forecast to set
in Friday.
http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/8376438

Improving the Energy Efficiency of a Business

With the constant rise in energy prices it is becoming more important for
businesses to focus on improving their energy efficiency. There are many
ways to improve your business energy efficiency, some of which I'll explain
in this article. Before digging any deeper it is important to have a clear
understanding of what electricity efficiency is.

With the connected acceleration in activity prices it is acceptable added
important for businesses to focus on convalescent their activity efficiency.
There are abounding means to advance your business activity efficiency, some
of which I'll explain in this article.Before digging any added it is
important to accept a bright compassionate of what electricity ability is.
Activity ability in apparent English is the able use of activity by business
or households. Convalescent business activity ability is the ambition to
abate the activity burning aural all areas of a business, be it in the
assembly band or in the offices.

Simple examples of activity ability improvements are if you abate by one
bulk the baptize temperature of your boiler or insulate the bounds so the
architecture uses beneath heating and cooling. But convalescent business
activity ability goes far above that.First of all any bartering architecture
with over 50m2 accept to accept an Activity Performance Certificate to
actuate its electricity ability grade. The EPC allocate barrio in two
audible categories: Simple Architecture and Complex Building, this will
affect the blazon of EPC adjudicator you will need.

(For abundant admonition see assets box hotlink Activity Performance
Certificate).Install acute meters to accretion added ascendancy over your
ability burning and expenditures. This next bearing of electricity meters
were developed to put an end to estimated account bills and beat readings,
and accommodate barter and, business, activity suppliers with authentic
admonition on the bulk of electricity and gas getting used.According to a
analysis conducted by the Carbon Trust, businesses that installed acute
activity meters appear accumulation of 12% a year if accumulated with
burning abstracts and energy-saving advice.

http://business.blueable.com/business/improving-the-energy-efficiency-of-a-b
usiness/

UK gas rises on cold, power down on high supply

UK gas prices reversed
losses on Thursday as contracts edged higher after three days of losses on
the return of colder weather, traders said.

Gas for delivery on Friday rose 0.80 pence to 58.00 pence per therm at 1005
GMT, while the month-ahead price traded at
57.80 pence ($8.97 per mmBtu), up 1.10 pence.

"People might have gone short yesterday and are now taking some profit," one
gas trader said.

"Also, winter isn't over yet. I think people might have realised that we
could still get some cold weather and could
struggle with storage running low."

http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE7050QW20110106

Ofgem to fine National Grid Gas

via uk.finance.yahoo.com