13/03/2026
Welcome to our March 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.
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Energy Spotlight
What do recent announcements about the Warm Homes Plan and heat network zoning mean for local authorities?
In January 2026 the Government launched its flagship Warm Homes Plan (“Plan”). Local authorities will be a fundamental pillar of delivery on the Plan, which promises billions in investment to lift millions of homes out of fuel poverty, reduction of energy bills and use of clean energy.
One of the key policy components of the Plan is unlocking the potential of heat networks, targeting more than double England’s heat demand being met through heat networks by 2035, with such networks then providing a fifth of all heat by 2050.
January also saw the publication of the Government’s response to its 2023 consultation on heat network zoning (“Consultation Response”). This is the precursor to regulation which is expected to come into force later this year.
For local authorities in England, the forthcoming heat network zoning regulations (“Regulations”) may to lead to significant changes, including designation of local and/or regional authorities as “zone coordination bodies”. It will therefore be important for authorities to prepare for the upcoming changes and additional resourcing requirements and for those that are involved with existing or proposed heat networks in their administrative boundaries (whether as an owner, landlord, operator or customer) to consider how these heat networks fit within future zones.
There is, of course, a lot of detail that will only become clear once the Regulations are available, but we have set out some key points for local authorities to be aware of based on the Consultation Response in our full article.
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District Energy
Proposals for heat network zoning 2023: government response
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 21 January 2026
This consultation response sets out government’s approach to heat network zoning ahead of the introduction of heat network zoning implementation regulations in England in 2026
Consultation on Heat network technical standards
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 21 January 2026
This consultation seeks views on the introduction of regulatory heat network technical standards and a Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) to help heat network developers, contractors and operators demonstrate compliance with those standards.
Heat Networks Regulation: financial resilience
Ofgem 13 January 2026
Our financial resilience obligations aim to protect heat network customers by ensuring that heat networks manage their finances and assets responsibly.
Countdown to the launch of new regulatory rules for heat networks
Ofgem 6 January 2025
On 27 January 2026, new consumer protection rules will be formally launched to allow Ofgem to begin regulating heat networks in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
Heat networks regulation: consumer protection
Ofgem 13 January 2026
Guidance for the consumer protection rules and requirements set out in our heat network authorisation conditions.
Heat networks regulation: fair pricing and cost allocation
Ofgem 13 January 2026
Guidance on the fair pricing network and cost allocation for heat network suppliers and operators serving domestic and non-domestic consumers.
Energy Efficiency
England's largest land manager to help home-grown clean energy
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 28 February 2026
Consumers are set to benefit from more home-grown clean energy, with an increased number of renewable projects to be enabled on the public forest estate
Clean energy upgrades for hospitals and military sites
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 5 February 2026
82 NHS Trusts, 8 military sites and 1 prison will receive a share of £74 million to adopt clean energy technologies and improve their energy efficiency.
Improving the energy efficiency of socially rented homes in England
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 28 January 2026
This government document briefly summarises the responses to the consultation on ‘Improving the energy efficiency of socially rented homes in England’ which closed on 12 September 2025
Energy Sector Reform
New Contracts for Difference round deliver record number of Solar, Onshore wind and tidal projects
10 February 2026
Record solar, onshore wind, and tidal projects - building on last month’s offshore wind success - deliver Britain’s biggest-ever clean energy auction
UK and Europe sign historic pact to drive clean energy future
26 January 2026
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has today (Monday 26 January) signed a historic clean energy security pact – the Hamburg Declaration – with European allies to bolster energy security for families and businesses across the UK and Europe, in an era of global instability.
Government launches 'Warm Homes Plan'
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 20 January 2026
Government launches £15 billion ’Warm Homes Plan’ to help millions of families benefit from solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation that can cut energy bills
National Policy Statements for energy infrastructure now in force
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 6 January 2026
The 2025 versions of National Policy Statements 1, 3 and 5 came into force on 6 January 2026.
The National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation (EN-7) came into force on 18 December 2025.
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Grant boost to cover almost half the cost of installing EV chargers for households and businesses
Department for Transport 25 February 2026
Renters, flat owners, homeowners without driveways and businesses will be able to save up to £500 when installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points, thanks to an over 40% increase in chargepoint grant amounts announced.
Boost for British business as government slashes cost of electric lorries by up to £120,000
Department for Transport 6 January 2026
Hauliers and fleet operators will access discounts of up to £120,000 on new electric trucks thanks to an additional £18 million announced by the government to increase the Plug-in Truck Grant until March 2026.
Hydrogen
Cadent sets out plans for hydrogen pipeline between Humber and Nottinghamshire
Edie 12 January 2026
The UK's largest gas distribution network operator has unveiled plans to launch a hydrogen pipeline across the Humber, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire to provide industry with a low-carbon alternative to gas.
Wind
Record breaking auction for offshore wind secured
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 14 January 2026
Record 8.4GW of offshore wind secured in Europe’s biggest ever offshore wind auction (Contracts for Difference AR7) which is enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes.
Clean energy funding to be tied to stronger workers’ rights
4 February 2026
Offshore wind firms must sign up to a ‘Fair Work Charter’ to participate in government renewables auctions.
