Energy Matters - October 2025

Welcome to our October 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.

Stay connected: Follow our Energy & Resource Management showcase page on LinkedIn here.

Energy Spotlight

DESNZ Announces Energy Trends for UK April to June 2025

Globally for the first 6 months of 2025 renewable energy overtook coal as the world's leading source of electricity. 

In the UK, the share of generation from renewable sources reached a high of 54.5 per cent of all electricity generation in the second quarter of 2025. Low carbon generation was 69.8%.

The DESNZ (Department for Energy Security & Net Zero) quarterly statistical report released at the end of September for the quarter April to June 2025 reported on the 2024 outturn of the Clean Power 2030 targets for the first time. Notably it reported that energy production during the second quarter of 2024 was up 1 per cent on 2024's near record low, with increases in both oil, gas and wind and solar output offsetting falls in nuclear and bioenergy. Total final energy consumption was 3.2 per cent lower than in the second quarter of 2024, with a 15 per cent fall in domestic consumption.

Electricity

The UK's Plan for Change aims to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower through clean sources producing at least 95% of Great Britain’s generation. In addition to this overarching target, the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan states that in a typical weather year, the 2030 power system will see clean sources produce at least as much power as Great Britain consumes in total, reducing the carbon intensity of electricity generation to well below 50gCO2e/kWh in 2030.

DESNZ 2024 outcome metrics are as follows: 

1. Clean sources produce at least 95 per cent of Great Britain’s generation. In 2024, 73.8 per cent of GB’s power system generation came from low carbon technologies, up 5.5 percentage points from 2023. 
2. Clean power sources produce at least as much power as Great Britain consumes in total. Low carbon generation met 63.6 per cent of qualifying GB demand in 2024, up 2.1 percentage points from 2023.
3. Carbon emissions intensity of Great Britain’s electricity generation is well below 50g CO2e/kWh by 2030. In 2024, Carbon intensity of the GB power system dropped 19 per cent to 105g CO2e/kWh

 District energy property issues – is it more than just pipes?

Harriet Murray Jones, Sarah Orchard and Ffion Benham summarise some of the key issues raised in our recent Points of Connection webinar – Property is it more than just pipes. The article covers key property rights, liability and landlord and tenant issues.

Read the article here.

Quick Links Carbon Capture Storage / Usage District Energy Electric Vehicle Infrastructure  Electricity Energy Efficiency  Energy Sector Reform Hydrogen Solar and Battery

 Carbon Capture Storage / Usage

Carbon storage industry gains momentum with landmark appraisal well

North Sea Transition Authority 14 October 2025

The UK’s carbon storage industry has reached an important milestone with the drilling of an appraisal well on the Hewett field, in the Southern North Sea, for the Bacton CCS project.

Two carbon capture projects ready for construction

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 25 September 2025

Two carbon capture projects in North Wales and North West England have signed contracts, ready to begin construction and securing hundreds of jobs.

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District Energy

OFGEM consultation- Heat networks regulation: fair pricing protection guidance

OFGEM 29 September 2025

OFGEM are consulting on a fair pricing and cost allocation guidance framework for heat networks. 

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Electric Vehicle Infrastructure 

Duracell to invest £200m into national network of ultra-fast EV chargers

Fleet News 14 October 2025

Duracell is investing £200 million over the next decade developing a nationwide network of ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

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Electricity

Renewables overtake coal as world's biggest source of electricity

BBC News 7 October 2025

Renewable energy overtook coal as the world's leading source of electricity in the first half of this year - a historic first, according to new data from the global energy think tank Ember.

National Electricity System Operator sets out revised timeline for overhauling how energy projects connect to the grid

NESO 1 October 2025

NESO announced the updated timeline for overhauling Great Britain's electricity grid connections process. This plan will fast-track clean energy projects.

Norfolk to Essex Pylons plan moves into next stage of reviews

BBC News 26 September 2025

Plans for a 114-mile network of pylons have moved into a new phase of reviews, led by the Planning Inspectorate. National Grid wants to build the electricity network through Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, running from Norwich to Tilbury.

National Electricity System Operator open consultation on new transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan

National Electricity System Operator 23 September 2025

The transitional Regional Energy Strategic Plan is the first publication in the journey towards transforming and improving local energy infrastructure, developing bespoke plans for Scotland, Wales and nine English regions.

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Energy Efficiency 

Net-Zero Council launches sector-based guidance

Broadway Initiative 20 October 2025

The Net-Zero Council has launched sector-based guidance to help businesses and investors develop Transition Plans that will help to capture the economic opportunities of decarbonisation.

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Energy Sector Reform

Government publishes clean energy jobs plan

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 19 October 2025

Government publishes first ever national plan to recruit workers needed for clean energy mission, with over 400,000 extra jobs by 2030.

Ed Miliband defends clean power goal after energy bills rise

BBC News 14 October 2025

Ed Miliband has said the government's drive to deliver clean power is "the best way" to bring down energy costs, amid calls from opposition parties to scrap green levies.

OFGEM consultation - Reselling gas and electricity: Maximum Resale Price direction

OFGEM 9 October 2025

OFGEM are seeking views on reselling gas and electricity, and whether the Maximum Resale Price protects consumers, enables investment, and provides fair pricing.

Labour plans new law to ban fracking permanently

BBC News 1 October 2025

The Labour government is planning to pass a new law that would ban fracking for shale gas permanently in England, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has announced.

Government consult on continuing the Warm Home Discount Scheme

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 25 September 2025

This consultation aims to secure the continuation of support for around 6 million households for winter 2026 to 2027, and into the next scheme period, after current regulations expire on 31 March 2026.

OFGEM confirms plans to introduce lower standing charge tariffs

OFGEM 24 September 2025

OFGEM announces a new requirement for suppliers to offer at least one lower standing charge tariff to their customers.

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Hydrogen

Hydrogen Infrastructure Strategic Planning: policy statement

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 7 October 2025

Government’s view on how the National Energy System Operator is envisaged to carry out strategic planning for hydrogen infrastructure.

“World’s first” Hydrogen fired Power station planning application approved

SSE 25 September 2025

Proposals for the world’s first hydrogen fired power station were accepted for consideration by UK Government’s Planning Inspectorate. SSE and Equinor submitted the Development Consent Order for Keadby Next Generation, located to the south of the Humber estuary in North Lincolnshire.

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Solar and Battery

Government approved the UK’s biggest solar farm

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 14 October 2025 

Tillbridge Solar Farm is the 17th nationally significant clean energy project approved by the government since July 2024.

Super battery projects that maximise renewable-generated power enter next phase of OFGEM’s green power storage scheme

OFGEM 23 September 2025

OFGEM has confirmed the 77 projects entering the final assessment stage of a government-driven ‘super battery’ support scheme designed to secure investment, promote growth and stop green energy going to waste.

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