29/09/2025
Welcome to our September 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
Green Heat Network Fund Round 10 – A Reminder to Consider Subsidy Control
With applications for Round 10 of the Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) due to close at midnight on 7 November 2025, now is a good time for applicants to consider the subsidy control rules in the Subsidy Control Act 2022 (the Act).
GHNF is a capital grant programme to support organisations in the public, private, and third sectors to deliver heat network projects in England across the financial years 2022/23 to 2027/28. The programme aims to incentivise the heat network market to transition to low carbon heat sources. GHNF funding may be awarded both for the commercialisation and construction of new low- and zero-carbon heat networks and for the retrofit and expansion of existing heat networks.
Given the commercial nature of a heat network, any developer of a new network, or operator of an existing heat network who is awarded GHNF funding almost certainly will be in receipt of a subsidy. It makes no difference if the developer or operator is a public sector body, or an organisation owned, or part-owned by a public sector body, as the subsidy control rules focus on the commercial nature of the activity being funded rather than on the identity of the recipient.
Successful applicants are advised to check that their GHNF funding award complies with the Act. If the compliance requirements are not met, an applicant could be at risk of having to repay the funding with interest if it is successfully challenged as being an unlawful subsidy.
You can read more about this in our article here.
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Carbon Capture Storage / Usage
CCS Europe calls on UK and EU to co-operate on carbon capture
CCS Europe 3 September 2025
CCS stress that it is time to fast-track cooperation on CCUS as part of the ongoing discussions on linking the EU and UK Emissions Trading Systems (ETS).
District Energy
Vattenfall aims to connect over half of Bristol to district heating
Vattenfall 15 September 2025
Vattenfall, which is constructing the district heating network as part of the Bristol City Leap programme, has unveiled its vision for over half of all Bristolians living, working and learning in the city to be kept warm by the Bristol heat network by 2050.
Ofgem Heat networks regulation: consumer protection guidance
Ofgem 5 September 2025
Ofgem are seeking views on draft guidance on protections for heat network consumers.
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
UK firms to pay electric company car drivers more towards charging costs
Edie 2 September 2025
HMRC has implemented new advice on how businesses should reimburse staff for charging their company-owned electric vehicles (EVs). Companies have been advised to increase reimbursement for both home and public charging.
Electricity
Energy Network Association updates Queue Management user guide
Energy Networks Association 3 September 2025
The Open Networks Project Queue Milestones User Guide has been updated to reflect the requirements of TMO4+. These milestones apply to distribution generation connections for generation projects of 1 MW or more and demand projects of 5 MVa or more, where the application date is on or after 1 October.
Energy Efficiency
Department for Transport 15 September 2025
Funding will help businesses and academia develop real-life technology that reduces carbon emissions from shipping.
SBTi release first draft of its Power Sector Net-Zero Standard
Science Based Targets 2 September 2025
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has released the first draft of its Power Sector Net-Zero Standard for public consultation, open until November 3, 2025.
Government names successful projects in its Warm Homes Skills Programme
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1 September 2025
The Warm Homes Skills Programme, will provide up to 9,000 subsidised training opportunities for installers and retrofit professionals. In Phase 1 of the Programme, successful projects have secured a share of up to £8m covering retrofit/insulation courses.
Energy Sector Reform
Great British Energy vision outlined by UK government
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 16 September 2025
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has set out his vision for Great British Energy. Under its objectives, the company will drive clean energy deployment across the whole of the UK, as a developer, investor, and owner of clean energy projects – working in conjunction with the private sector, devolved governments, local authorities and community energy groups.
Energy Sector Digitalisation Plan sets out new path for digitalisation in energy
National Energy System Operator 1 September 2025
The plan will set out a roadmap to improve the energy’s sector existing digital public infrastructure.
Government consultation on modernising environmental permitting for industry
Defra 26 August 2025
The consultation sets out a wide variety of regulatory reforms to support innovation in emerging technologies, streamline permitting and provide the regulatory certainty our businesses need to succeed, grow and invest, while maintaining essential environmental and health protections.
Hydrogen
Energy company uses gas network to transport hydrogen
SGN 3 September 2025
In a UK first, SGN used a representative 30km stretch of the LTS pipeline, which runs between Granton near Edinburgh and Grangemouth, was safely repurposed to carry hydrogen.
Nuclear
UK and US sign nuclear deal on energy security
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 15 September 2025
The new agreement between the US and UK governments will make it quicker for companies to build new nuclear power stations in both countries, for example by speeding up the time it takes for a nuclear project to get a licence from roughly three or four years to around two.
Solar and Battery
Fidra Energy reaches financial close on the UK's largest battery energy storage facility
National Wealth Fund 10 September 2025
Fidra Energy, a European battery energy storage system has announced it has secured up to £445m of new equity investment from EIG and the National Wealth Fund as it reaches financial close on the project in Doncaster.
Wind
UK Government approves 1.5GW offshore windfarm
BBC News 31 August 2025
The Morgan Offshore Wind Project will see 96 turbines built more than 20 miles (32km) off the Fylde coast which developers said will produce 1500MW - enough electricity to power nearly two million homes every year.
