09 November 2005: WWF commissioned ILEX together with a consortium of consultants from across Europe to evaluate the environmental effectiveness of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The purpose of the report is to provide an independent analysis of the national allocation plans (NAPs) in six key Member States: UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands. This ILEX report focuses on the evaluation of the total number of allowances (or caps) allocated by different Member States.

Our report has been published on the WWF website alongside a report from the Oeko-Institut which reviews structural aspects of the NAPs in each of these countries.

Click here to access the report on the WWF website.

Click here to access the report on the ILEX website.

ILEX report for UKOOA on "Storage, Gas Prices and Security of Supply"

09 November 2005: The ILEX report "Storage, Gas Prices and Security of Supply" was commissioned by the UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) to review current UK gas storage, provide an analysis of the different types of storage in use and to assess the likely provision of gas storage by the end of the decade.

While the market has successfully triggered investment in new "bite-sized" on-shore storage to cope with the normal variations in seasonal demand, ILEX has identified several factors blocking potential investment in larger longer-term "strategic" storage as insurance against unforeseen major supply disruptions.

At the root of the problem lies what ILEX calls the "storage paradox": When gas prices are low, nobody wants storage; when gas prices are high, nobody can afford to build new storage.

Click here to access the report on the UKOOA website.

Click here to access the report on the ILEX website.

Spanish Wind Report - October 2005

2 November 2005: The ILEX Spanish Wind Report is the definitive guide for companies seeking to invest or be involved in wind generation in Spain. It covers the legislation and regulation of the sector, potential forthcoming changes to the market, and also wholesale price and tariff projections for wind farms in both the tariff and the market options.

The report also includes a detailed analysis of the regulatory changes that the recently published White Book review could bring about.

For more information, please follow this link

Updated Irish Electricity Market Report

5 October 2005: The energy market on the island of Ireland is changing rapidly, with full retail market opening in the Republic and development of the Single Electricity Market for the whole island progressing rapidly. ILEX has published a report outlining the current market structures in Northern Ireland and the Republic, examining the impact of recent and forthcoming changes and forecasting electricity prices until 2025.

For more information, please follow this link

The problem with carbon

31 August 2005: Understanding the development of power prices in relation to other fuel prices has become more difficult following the introduction of carbon emissions trading. The relationship between gas, coal, carbon and power is not only key to understanding future movements in power and carbon prices but is also key for risk management in multi-commodity utilities.

The following article, recently published by Platts in Power UK, examines the impact of carbon on power: The problem with carbon.

ILEX can provide detailed analysis to prepare your company of these risks which is important for adequate calculations of value-at-risk (VAR) and profit-at-risk (PAR).

Treatment of CHP in Phase II of the EU ETS

22 August 2005: ILEX was commissioned by Defra to provide a range of options for allocation to CHP in Phase II of the EU ETS. The report compares the way that different member states treated CHP in Phase I, highlights the implications of the UK NAP for CHP and suggests principles for allocation in Phase II.

Our report has been published on the Defra website alongside the current consultation on options for Phase II:

Click here to access the report on the Defra website

Click here to access the report on the ILEX website

Market rules for Irish electricity market

22 August 2005: In July 2005, ILEX was retained by the Commission for Energy Regulation and the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation to assist with the development of the Trading and Settlement Code for the Single Electricity Market in Ireland. The work involves developing the market rules for the SEM, within the economic, technical, financial and legal frameworks.

ILEX will be leading the work during 2005 and early 2006 with our fellow consultants Electrowatt-Ekono Consulting and Nord Pool Consulting. We will be working closely with CER, NIAER, the System Operators, industry and other interested parties in this exciting stage of the All Island Project.

Carbon price projections and The Carbon Report

15 July 2005: Over the last 6 months, ILEX has used its extensive experience in European energy markets to develop EURECA, the power sector module of our EU ETS model. The output and conclusions from these models have been summarised in the ILEX Carbon Report, including background to the ETS, our central scenarios for Phase I and II, carbon price projections and sensitivity analysis.

For more information, please follow this link

Updated UK gas, electricity, carbon and renewable price projections

27 June 2005: Oil prices are at an all time high, as are gas, carbon and electricity prices.

Industry and government are struggling to understand the reasons behind the upward pressure on prices and associated fundamental changes in the energy markets.

ILEX has just updated four of its core reports which cover our projections for gas, electricity, renewables and carbon prices out to 2025 for the UK.

Our reports are accepted by many in the energy and financing communities as definitive studies which provide powerful tools to aid in-depth understanding of the energy markets.

For more information on the reports, please read our flyers:

If you would like further information regarding the reports, including full contents tables and pricing, please contact one of the following, either via calling +44 (0)1865 722660, or via the link:

Projections of wholesale electricity prices in France

25 June 2005: The energy market in France is changing: liberalisation has begun with 4.5m sites now eligible to choose supplier, EdF becoming a publically limited company, and over-capacity of generation due to end by 2008.

ILEX has published a report examining these changes and forecasting electricity prices until 2025.

For further information, please click here

New updated ILEX website

5 May 2005: The ILEX website has been comprehensively updated, with a more streamlined structure and better access to information on what we do and public reports that we have published. New features include a search facility, contact details of all our Directors and Principals, and links to our other offices.

If you have any comments regarding the new website, please contact us on

Renewables Obligation Review 2005

21 April 2005: ILEX has been commissioned by the DTI to assist the review by assessing the options for, and implications of, extending the UK's Renewables Obligation eligibility rules to energy recovery from mixed wastes.

Our report has been published alongside the DTI's Preliminary Consultation and is available on the DTI website: http://www.dti.gov.uk/renewables/renew_2.2.5.htm

ILEX is recruiting

15 April 2005: ILEX is looking to recruit a Senior Consultant specialising in Distributed Generation.

For more information, see our Current Vacancies section

ILEX appoints new Head of Iberia

2 April 2005: ILEX is pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Taylor to head up our Iberian office, based in Madrid. Steven has extensive background in the Spanish energy market, having worked for Energi E2 in strategic planning and business development, and prior to that for PricewaterhouseCoopers in their energy strategy division based in Spain.