Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit to test rocket for satellite launch system July 10, 2019 Richard Branson’s satellite launch firm Virgin Orbit is reportedly set to release a rocket from a modified Boeing 747 aircraft in mid-air today in a key test of its satellite launch system. The so-called drop test, which will take place over California’s Mojave Desert, is the penultimate test before the company offers commercial satellite launch [...]
Ofgem warns Solarplicity over late payments, may revoke licence July 10, 2019 Ofgem has again said it may revoke energy supplier Solarplicity’s licence after the company was warned over missed payments to renewable energy generators. It is the second time Ofgem has warned Solarplicity for not paying the so-called feed-in-tariff to (FIT) generators. Read more: Regulator Ofgem won’t extend ban on energy supplier Solarplicity In early May [...]
Watchdog warns of ‘real risk’ of repeat to no-deal Brexit ferry fiasco July 10, 2019 The government could waste even more taxpayer money due to its lack of preparation for a no-deal Brexit, a top watchdog has warned, after the Department for Transport (DfT) blew £85m on botched ferry contracts. The DfT’s lack of preparation risks cornering the government into further high-risk procurement contracts, parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said [...]
BMW reveals it will build electric Mini in Oxford in boost for UK’s car industry July 9, 2019 In the summer of 1959, the first Mini rolled off the production line in Oxford and hit Britain’s streets. While initially a response to the Suez crisis fuel shortage, its diminutive size made it a style icon, helped it symbolise the swinging sixties and shook up Britain’s car industry for good. Fast forward 60 years, [...]
London Victoria derailment causes commuter chaos July 9, 2019 An engineering train derailed overnight, causing rush hour havoc at London Victoria station as train services were delayed or cancelled. Read more: Revealed: These are London’s most stressful Tube stations Holidaymakers were unable to travel to Gatwick on Victoria’s Gatwick Express service while train operator Southern warned commuters of severe delays and a reduced service. [...]
Blast off: Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic plots public listing July 9, 2019 Space may be the final frontier, but Virgin Galactic is readying itself to overcome a fresh obstacle before launching into the great unknown: a stock market listing. Sir Richard Branson’s space-tourism venture is planning to go public as part of a deal with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Read more: Fifty years on from the [...]
Tube delays: Commuters endure rush hour misery amid Northern Line delays July 9, 2019 Commuters suffered a miserable rush hour commute this morning, with the Northern Line suspended along the Bank branch due to the same problem that caused huge delays yesterday. A signal failure at Kennington meant there was no service running southbound between Camden Town and Kennington on the Bank branch of the Tube line. Read more: [...]
Eddie Stobart first half profits will be ‘at lower end’ of board expectations amid accounting error July 9, 2019 Haulage giant Eddie Stobart expects first half adjusted operating profit to come in at the low end of expectations, it said this morning. Shares fell 1.9 per cent this morning. The forecast follows a slowdown in some sectors and the firm’s decision to exit “a problematic contract” earlier this year. The firm said the shortfall [...]
Electric vehicle projects to receive £40m in government funding July 9, 2019 The government is to inject nearly £40m into a number of transport projects to push ahead electric chargepoint infrastructure in the UK. Twelve engineering projects, including those that will create underground and wireless charging systems, will receive £37m between them to invest in improving electric vehicle infrastructure across the country. Read more: BMW to hit [...]
Wind sector set to add enough capacity to power Britain each year July 8, 2019 The world is set to add enough wind turbines to more than power Britain’s at peak demand each year, new analysis shows. Consultancy Wood Mackenzie today said that global wind producers are expected to bring 71 gigawatts (GW) of capacity online each year until 2023. Read more: The answer to the UK’s renewable energy future [...]