EWS IN BRIEF Octopus to build power cable to Morocco Octopus Energy has entered into a deal to build the worlds largest subsea power cable between Morocco and the UK. The supplier has formed a partnership with power project Xlinks to lay four 3,800km-long cables between Morocco and Devon, which will connect with a 10GW renewable energy farm in the north African desert. The cables are designed to provide 3.6GW of green power to the UK for an average of 20 hours a day, which could give sufficient year-round power for seven million heat pumps. Scheduled to become operational in 2027, Xlinks is expected to deliver power at 48/MWh, making it comparable with offshore wind. Hinkley Point nuclear power station delayed until 2027 The date for generation to start at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset has been put back by another year. Developer EDF announced on 20 May that the first reactor at the 3.2GW plant, which is the first to be built in the UK for nearly 30 years, will begin generating power in June 2027 a year later than previously stated. The French-owned company also said the projected price for Hinkley Point C has increased by another 3bn, to 26bn. Building Safety Act heralds fundamental reform Competency requirements and more stringent regulation central to changes The Building Safety Act has completed its passage through parliament, heralding the most fundamental reform of construction regulation in living memory, according to CIBSE. The act, which was drawn up in response to 2017s Grenfell Tower disaster and Dame Judith Hackitts subsequent report, received Royal Assent on 28 April. The 282-page act introduces a raft of building safety measures overseen by a new Building Safety Regulator. The regulator will be responsible for the regulation of all buildings, with new statutory roles for designers and contractors on all projects. The act imposes legal responsibilities on all those designated as principal contractors and Windfall tax to fund energy bill cuts The UK government has announced a package of measures for households to mitigate soaring energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis, including a 400 discount on energy bills for all households, partly paid for by a 5bn windfall tax on oil and gas companies. The 15bn support package, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, will also see pensioners eligible for a winter fuel payment receive a one-off payment of 300, while six million people on disability benefit will receive a 150 payment. Eight million of the lowest-income families will also receive a 650 one-off payment. In a U-turn on previous government policy, the Chancellor announced a temporary 25% windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies. Household energy bills will rise by a typical 800 a year in October, according to regulator Ofgem, with the energy price cap set to increase to 2,800 a year as gas prices continue to be volatile following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Chancellor said he was urgently evaluating the scale of profits made by electricity generators, including renewable energy operators such as windfarms. ELIZABETH LINE OPENS IN TIME FOR PLATINUM JUBILEE Atkins joins pro-nature risk forum Atkins has become a member of the Forum of the Taskforce on Naturerelated Financial Disclosure (TNFD), a recently established international initiative to help push global finance towards more naturepositive outcomes. The TNFDs core mission is to develop and deliver a risk management and disclosure framework, which will enable organisations to report and act on evolving nature-related risks, with the ultimate aim of supporting a shift in global financial flows. designers, which go well beyond 2015s CDM Regulations, according to CIBSE. Clients will be subject to statutory duties to satisfy themselves that those they employ to undertake work are competent, both individually and organisationally. The act introduces new liabilities for manufacturers supplying products or providing information on their suitability. The new regulator is also responsible, under the legislation, for professional standards and registration of building control ofcers, both in the public and private sectors. In its commentary on the act, CIBSE said it is the most fundamental reform of regulation across the construction and residential property sectors in living memory. The act also reduces leaseholders liabilities for costs of remediating unsafe cladding. The last section of the Elizabeth Line ofcially opened last month The last section of the Elizabeth Line nally opened in London last month, just in time for the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Twelve trains per hour will initially run on the central London stretch of the line, between the mainline Paddington station and Abbey Wood in the south-east of the capital. It was known as Crossrail until it was renamed in honour of the Queen in 2016. Construction of the line involved the boring of 42km of tunnels through central and east London, and the creation of 10 new stations on the 41-stop line. 6 June 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE June 22 pp06 News.indd 6 27/05/2022 13:15