06/06/2024
Welcome to our May / June Energy Matters Newsletter.
The energy sector is a rapidly changing market with daily updates on technological advances, regulatory reviews, policy updates, funding decisions. In each edition of our Energy Matters Newsletter, we aim to provide a user-friendly, summary update of some of the key issues we are seeing across the renewable energy and resource management sectors.
If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised, please contact a member of our energy team.
Energy Spotlight
With the General Election announced for 4 July 2024, policy pledges around renewable energy are being made and the debate around onshore wind is back on the political agenda.
RenewableUK recently announced that the UK had hit the 15,000MW of operational onshore wind capacity. while it is a major landmark on the UK’s transition away from fossil fuels and towards its Net Zero targets, there is however, potentially more opportunities for the sector.
The Planner also reported in its article ‘Political parties urged to lift restrictions on onshore wind farms’ how researchers at Exeter University’s Environmental Intelligence Centre and Friends of the Earth had identified 219,800 hectares of land considered most suitable for new onshore wind developments and 295,000 hectares with potential for new solar sites. Some of these sites can be used for both. Enough to generate 130,421GWh of solar power and 95,542GWh of onshore wind.
For onshore wind to be viable there needs to be a fundamental changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). As acknowledged in a report published in May ‘House of Commons Library - Planning for onshore wind’ Renewable energy developers have long argued that the planning rules introduced in 2015 imposed a ‘de facto ban’ on onshore wind and that the changes made in Sept 2023 “only constituted a slight softening at the edges” and do not go far enough.
The report also highlights the advice from BEIS Committee in April 2023 (Decarbonisation of the power sector) that onshore wind should be returned to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime if the government’s changes to the NPPF do not result in a substantial increase in the amount of onshore wind development.
Even with the political will and changes to NPPF, we still need to see the changes and improvements to the grid connection process and grid capacity which currently remain one of the biggest challenges for renewable energy projects. Earlier this month Ofgem published an update on reform to the electricity connections process to change to a first ready approach. But clearly longer term support and investment will be needed.
It will be interesting to watch over the next few weeks how the pledges from political parties will impact the energy sector and if it is likely we will see a fair wind blowing for the wind sector once again.
Overview Quick Links
Carbon Capture Usage / Storage
Electricity Grid and Infrastructure
Hydrogen
Hydrogen Heating Town pilot update
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 9 May 2024
The government has decided not to progress work on a hydrogen town pilot until after 2026 strategic decisions on the role of hydrogen in decarbonising heat. This follows careful consideration of the future of the work in light of the decision in December 2023 not to proceed with the hydrogen village trial in Redcar.
Ofgem publishes electricity and hydrogen co-location guidance
Ofgem | 23 April 2024
This guidance is for participants of the Renewables Obligation (RO), Feed-in Tariffs (FIT), Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO), and Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) schemes who are considering co-locating electricity storage facilities with their accredited RO or REGO generating station, FIT installation, or SEG installation.
EasyJet trials hydrogen refuelling at Bristol Airport
Edie | 15 April 2024
Bristol Airport has announced that an airside hydrogen refuelling pilot to power ground support equipment servicing aircrafts has been concluded successfully, marking it as the first trial of its kind at a major UK airport.
Solar
Solar projects must fit in with food security
Department for Energy and Net Zero | 15 May 2024
Energy Security Secretary has told Parliament that with growing geopolitical tension, the best agricultural land must be protected for food security. Solar will continue to play a key part in government’s plans for energy security and net zero, with suitable brownfield areas of lower quality land and rooftops prioritised as location.
Midcounties Co-operative to install solar panels across 29 sites
Edie | 26 April 2024
The Midcounties Co-operative, one of the UK’s largest independent co-operatives, has announced a partnership with Big Solar Co-op, in a bid to boost renewable energy adoption across offices, stores and operations.
Carbon Capture Usage / Storage
New plans to drive carbon capture industry forward
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 7 May 2024
A call for evidence launched today to explore new ways to transport captured CO2 that would enable more UK industries to adopt carbon capture technology
Net Zero
British Gas boss says all UK households should be forced to fit smart meters
Guardian | 8 May 2024
The boss of British Gas has called for households to face mandatory smart meter installations weeks after government figures showed that almost 4m meters are not working.
Britain’s climate action plan unlawful, high court rules
Guardian | 3 May 2024
The UK government’s climate action plan is unlawful, the high court has ruled, as there is not enough evidence that there are sufficient policies in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
G7 agree to end use of unabated coal power plants by 2035
Guardian | 30 April 2024
Ministers from the G7 countries agreed on Tuesday to end the use of unabated coal power plants by 2035 – but left the door open for those heavily reliant on coal to breach the deadline.
Energy Efficiency
£557 million for public buildings to switch to cleaner heating and save on energy bills
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 15 May 2024
More public buildings and businesses will benefit from over half a billion pounds in funding to help reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions. Schools, pools, and hospitals will be supported to make energy efficient upgrades, with over £557 million government investment.
Nuclear
Fusion energy facilities: new National Policy Statement and proposals on siting
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 8 May 2024
The purpose of this consultation is to begin the process towards designating a new fusion energy National Policy Statement.
Onshore and Offshore Wind
National Grid launches Viking Link, the next step towards a North Sea super-grid
National Grid | 18 April 2024
Delivering a major milestone in the UK energy transition and the next step in creating a North Sea grid, National Grid has today formally launched Viking Link, a record-breaking 475-mile-long land and subsea cable connecting British and Danish energy grids for the first time.
Political parties urged to lift restrictions on onshore wind farms
The Planner | 15 April 2024
Ahead of the forthcoming General Election, all political parties have been urged to commit to lifting the restrictions on onshore wind farms in England.
House of Commons Library | 17 May 2024
Research briefing paper into onshore wind.
Net Zero Cities
UK Government pressed for clarity on national climate adaptation plan to heatwaves
Edie | 1 May 2024
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has urged the UK Government to provide more detail on its plans to adapt the UK to climate change, warning that its current answer to heatwaves is a “missed opportunity”.
New protections to enable consumers to benefit from cheaper energy deals
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 16 April 2024
New proposals set out in a consultation will introduce minimum requirements for cyber security and grid stability, and minimum product standards for energy smart appliances to give consumers confidence to take up smart devices and make it easier for them to benefit from cheaper bills.
High Court to hear legal challenge over ‘roadblock’ to localised home energy efficiency standards
Edie | 15 April 2024
The High Court will host a judicial review of the UK Government’s mooted plans to prevent councils from setting building energy efficiency standards that go above and beyond national minimum requirements.
Electricity Grid and Infrastructure
National Grid shares proposals for green electricity projects in Lincolnshire and West Norfolk
National Grid | 23 April 2024
National Grid is inviting communities to comment on early proposals for two green electricity infrastructure projects, which will help deliver the UK’s energy security strategy and net zero targets.
Roadmap to RESP: Unlocking local ambition - Regen
Regen | May 2024
Regen has published a paper, sponsored by SSEN, which sets out new thinking on the role of Regional Energy Strategic Planners and how processes today, such as network and local area energy planning, can evolve to unlock regional net zero ambitions
Ofgem | 10 May 2024
Ofgem provides an update on reform to the electricity connections process following proposals from the electricity system operator (ESO)
District Heat / Energy
Step closer to protecting over 500,000 heat network customers
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 30 April 2024
The government have published a response to a consultation on consumer protections for homes and businesses connected to heat networks. Under new regulations to be introduced from next year, families and businesses connected to a heat network would receive greater protection such as compensation if they lose access to heating, fairer pricing, and clearer and easier to understand billing.
UK Emissions Trading Scheme Scope Expansion: Waste consultation (publishing.service.gov.uk)
UK Government | May 2024
The government launched a consultation on: UK Emissions Trading Scheme Scope Expansion: Waste consultation. The consultation includes section on how the UKETS can be used to support the growth of heat networks in the UK which use heat from waste heat sources including EFW plants. Closing date 18 July 2024.
Electric Vehicles
Delivering a smart and secure electricity system: implementation
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 8 May 2024
The UK Government is planning new consumer protection requirements for the providers of ‘smart’ or ‘flexible’ energy services, which enable homes and businesses to contribute to balancing the grid by changing the times they use appliances or charge electric vehicles (EVs).
Energy from Waste
Enfinium to invest £1.7bn on carbon capture solutions as part of net-zero transition plan
Edie | 2 May 2024
Enfinium, one of the UK’s largest energy from waste (EfW) operators, has published a climate transition plan, detailing how £1.7bn will be invested in carbon capture technology across its facilities to reach net-zero emissions by 2033.
UK Emissions Trading Scheme Scope Expansion: Waste consultation (publishing.service.gov.uk)
UK Government | May 2024
The government launched a consultation on: UK Emissions Trading Scheme Scope Expansion: Waste consultation. The consultation includes section on how the UKETS can be used to support the growth of heat networks in the UK which use heat from waste heat sources including EFW plants. Closing date 18 July 2024.
If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised, please contact a member of our energy team.
