Supplier Reaction to the Government Energy Review

Publication Date	January 2007
Publisher	Datamonitor
Product Type	Report
Pages	13
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	DAT04331

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Summary

Introduction

Uncertainty surrounding the UK's future energy policy framework continues to hamper investment and undermine the UK's drive to curb carbon emissions. This brief assesses the opinion of key energy industry stakeholders on whether new nuclear builds are the solution and how they should be funded. The brief also assesses the attitude energy executives to Europe's flagship Emissions Trading Scheme.

Scope

An overview of industry opinion on the measures set out in the Energy Review designed to cut UK emissions in the short and long-term.
An in-depth analysis of how different stakeholder groups believe the UK should fund the construction of a new fleet of nuclear power stations.
Examination of the differing attitudes toward the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and its future impact in the UK energy sector.
Assessment of the impact that the Energy Review report has had on shaping industry attitudes and opinions.

Highlights

Utilities are the greatest proponents of a nuclear power driven cut in UK carbon emissions. While regulators are less enthused by the prospect of new atomic builds, this option garners the greatest consensus amongst all stakeholders. The future price of carbon remains, however, a key intangible in the profitability of nuclear power plants.

The UK energy industry favours state support of some kind for nuclear builds, particularly towards clean up costs, but the degree to which the Government should be involved varies garners little consensus. While regulators favour a 'managed' market approach, network operators are more enthusiastic about direct state involvement.

UK regulators are bullish on the need for a uniform ETS allocation process to ensure the UK is not disproportionately penalised. They are also the most sceptical stakeholder group towards the ETS mechanism in general, especially regarding the need for the UK, as a mature economy, to bear the brunt of emission curbs.

Reasons to Purchase

Identify the varying attitudes of energy industry stakeholders to the future of nuclear power generation in the UK.
Gain insight into the perceived strengths and weaknesses of Europe's Emissions Trading Scheme and the future direction of carbon prices.
Evaluate the success of the Review report in shaping industry attitudes toward future UK energy policy.

Content

Catalyst
Summary
Methodology
- AnaLYSIS
- Nuclear is perceived to be the long-term solution to carbon abatement
- With nuclear builds a distant ambition, stakeholders favour the immediate emission reductions provided by increased efficiency
- Longer-term, however, new nuclear builds are viewed to be the UK's most effective option for reducing carbon emissions
- Utilities are the greatest proponents of a nuclear power driven reduction in UK carbon emissions
- New nuclear plant will not be built without the state's assistance
- Stakeholders favour state support for nuclear builds, particularly towards clean up costs, but direct intervention is not desirable
- Regulators are keen to be involved in creating an environment in which new nuclear power stations can be built without subsidy
- A rise in carbon prices is expected, but ETS question marks remain
- Stakeholders expect the price of carbon to rise, but are sceptical that the collective political will exists to make the ETS a success
- Regulators are bullish on the need for a uniform ETS allocation process to ensure the UK is not disproportionately penalised
- With concerns surrounding supply security still paramount, carbon remains low on the agenda for major energy users
- The Energy Review failed to set a clear policy framework agenda
- Stakeholders who have engaged the Review report are generally less positive towards the UK's short-term drive to curb emissions
- Longer-term support for new nuclear builds has not received a notable fillip from the release of the Energy Review report
- Utilities perceive the Energy Review report to lack the sufficient substance to drive future investment decisions
Appendix
- Extended methodology
- Datamonitor Consultancy
- Ask the analyst
List of Figures
- Figure 1: How should the UK tackle carbon emission reduction in the short-term?
- Figure 2: How should the UK tackle carbon emission reduction in the long-term?
- Figure 3: Differing long-term perceptions toward UK carbon emissions reduction, by stakeholder
- Figure 4: How involved should the Government be in new nuclear builds?
- Figure 5: How involved should the Government be in new nuclear builds? (by stakeholder)
- Figure 6: Attitudes toward Europe's Emissions Trading Scheme
- Figure 7: Attitudes toward Europe's Emissions Trading Scheme (by stakeholder)
- Figure 8: What do you believe to be the greatest challenge facing the UK energy sector? (by stakeholder)
- Figure 9: The differing short-term perceptions of those who have and have not engaged the Energy Review
- Figure 10: The differing long-term perceptions of those who have and have not engaged the Energy Review
- Figure 11: Survey stakeholder groups