- The announcement of Orla Stevens as Certas new managing director was reported by Business Plus, with Stevens taking up the role two-and-a-half years after joining the DDC subsidiary as commercial director, having previously held senior positions at SSE Airtricity, Bank of Ireland, Vodafone, O2 and Car Trawler. Speaking on the appointment, Stevens said “I’m delighted to be appointed managing director and to lead the company as we continue to work together to connect people and businesses to the most progressive energy solutions available”. https://businessplus.ie/news/orla-stevens-certa/
- Detailed by RTé, Bord Gais Energy and Corio Generation have agreed to explore opportunities to supply Ireland’s electricity market with offshore wind power. The agreement represents Bord Gais Energy’s entry into offshore wind and will play a role in its ongoing commitment to expand its renewable energy portfolio. Corio has a global pipeline of more than 30GW and is developing the 450MW Sceirde Rocks wind farm off the west coast of Ireland. Bord Gais Energy and Corio will continue to assess the emerging opportunities in the offshore wind sector in Ireland. https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2024/0521/1450385-bord-gais-energy-teams-up-with-corio-generation/
- Reported by Business Plus, Mercedes is bringing the Smart 3 SUV Coupé to the Irish EV market, and is now available in selected Mercedes-Benz dealerships. The smart 3 is the second smart EV model that its manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz, and Chinese auto maker, Geely say it “will be the new premium intelligent all-electric auto brand". https://businessplus.ie/motoring/mercedes-bring-the-smart-3-suv-coupe-to-the-irish-ev-market/
- According to the Belfast News Letter, Belfast City Airport has become the first airport in Northern Ireland to provide electric vehicle charging points for passengers thanks to a new partnership with leading local electric vehicle infrastructure company Weev. Twelve parking bays with EV Charging facilities have been installed in the short stay car park at the airport, providing passengers with the opportunity to charge their vehicle while travelling, with a Rapid Charger installed to enable those collecting passengers to gain a charge for up to 100 miles, in less than 30 minutes. https://www.newsletter.co.uk/business/belfast-airport-becomes-first-in-northern-ireland-to-install-ev-charging-points-4635309
- The Guardian reports on research by the Australian Automobile Association that has found that 8 out of 10 cars that were tested underperformed against their marketed efficiency rates, with the Suzuki Swift 2023 recorded the highest discrepancy in fuel consumption. The small car uses 6.3 litres of fuel per 100km in the AAA’s real-world testing – 31% more than the lab-tested advertised rate of 4.8 litres. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/22/australia-car-fuel-petrol-efficiency-consumption-testing-aaa
- Forbes have detailed that the G7 may be ready to act on fossil fuel subsidies, as G7 finance ministers meet this week on the shores of Lake Maggiore, in Italy to step up and take the urgent action necessary. In 2009, the G20, which includes all the world’s major economies, called for a phase out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies in all countries. It reaffirmed this pledge again in 2012. At COP26, COP27 and COP28, countries agreed to accelerate efforts to phase-out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mariamendiluce/2024/05/22/are-g7-finance-ministers-finally-ready-to-act-on-fossil-fuel-subsidies/?sh=241ca49c1165
- According to Reuters, British power generator and network operator SSE, posted a lower annual adjusted operating profit on Wednesday, partly due to lower energy prices. British energy prices fell last year compared with the record highs hit in 2022 across Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Adjusted profits at the company's thermal power division fell by 29% to 736.1 million pounds as "energy commodity prices normalise down during the second half of the year from the peaks reached in 2022/23," the company said. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/sses-annual-profit-falls-lower-energy-prices-2024-05-22/
