Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 23/05/23.
Report: NAO Report: Support for innovation to deliver net zero – Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
19 May 2023. This report examines whether the government is set up to deliver value for money from its approach to investment in research and innovation to deliver net zero in the UK. In doing so, and in keeping with our statutory remit, the report does not question the merits of the government’s policy objectives or challenge areas set out in the Framework:
Link: https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/support-for-innovation-to-deliver-net-zero/
Open consultation: British Industry Supercharger: Capacity Market consultation and EIIs government response – Department for Business and Trade
18 May 2023. British Industry Supercharger: consultation on capacity market exemption and government response to the 2022 review of the energy intensive industries exemption scheme (Ells). This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 29 June 2023:
News: Ofgem launches policy review on reforming the electricity connections system – Ofgem
17 May 2023. Ofgem has launched a policy review to speed up low-carbon energy schemes connecting to the electricity transmission grid. In an open letter to the energy sector they set out potential options on short-, medium- and long-term reforms to make the connections regime fit for net zero transition:
Open consultation: Price-based competitive allocation for low carbon hydrogen: call for evidence – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
17 May 2023. Evidence sought to inform the UK’s transition to price-based competitive allocation for low carbon hydrogen production. This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 2 August 2023:
Open letter: Future reform to the electricity connections process – Ofgem
16 May 2023. This open letter sets out Ofgem’s position on electricity connections reform. With the government’s recent ’Powering up Britain’ publication promising to deliver the new nuclear, offshore wind and solar generation essential to achieve our decarbonisation goals, ensuring these assets can connect when and where they are needed will be crucial in achieving net zero, delivering affordability for consumers and maintaining security of supply:
Link: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/open-letter-future-reform-electricity-connections-process
News: Ofgem review eyes ‘zombie’ projects blocking low carbon connections – Business Green
16 May 2023, Stuart Stone. Regulator signals intention to shake up ‘not-fit-purpose’ grid connection regime:
News: Imported gas to cost UK households £6,000 each as prices continue to soar – The Independent Online
15 May 2023, August Graham. The average home could be buying foreign gas worth around £500 a year unless efforts are made to reduce dependency on gas, says a new analysis:
Link: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/imported-gas-britian-expenditure-eciu-b2338810.html
News: National Grid needs ‘tens of billions’ to hit net zero goals, boss warns – City AM
14 May 2023, Jessica Frank-Keyes. Britain’s electricity network needs tens of billions of pounds of investment to hit net zero goals, National Grid boss John Pettigrew has warned:
Link: https://www.cityam.com/national-grid-needs-tens-of-billions-to-hit-net-zero-goals-boss-warns/
News: A Global Renewables Market Update Q1 2023 – Future Net Zero
12 May 2023, Jessica Woolls. The report is a comprehensive analysis of North American and European renewable energy markets, current PPA pricing developments, policy movement, and trends shaping the global renewable energy landscape:
Link: https://www.futurenetzero.com/2023/05/12/a-global-renewables-market-update-q1-2023/
News: Renewable energy projects worth billions stuck on hold – BBC News Online
11 May 2023, Esme Stallard & Justin Rowlatt. Billions of pounds’ worth of green energy projects are on hold because they cannot plug into the UK’s electricity system, BBC research shows:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65500339
Briefing: Exploring Social Tariffs For Energy – Child Poverty Action Group
10 May 2023, Antonia Keung and Jonathan Bradshaw, Social Policy Research Unit
University of York. A social tariff that reduces the cost of fuel for low-income households could, in principle, more than halve the fuel poverty rate. This achieves much more than the existing cost-of-living payments. It would cost more than the existing cost-of-living mitigations being paid to social security recipients, but it would be much more cost-effective:
Link: https://cpag.org.uk/policy-and-campaigns/briefing/exploring-social-tariffs-energy
News: Households could be offered competitive deals again as price cap eases – City AM
10 May 2023, Nicholas Earl. Households could benefit from the prospect of fixed tariffs below the price cap in the retail market later this year, as the energy sector shows signs of competitiveness again, predicts Cornwall Insight:
Link: https://www.cityam.com/households-could-be-offered-competitive-deals-again-as-price-cap-eases/
Open consultation: Strategy and Policy Statement for energy policy in Great Britain – Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
10 May 2023. Views sought on a Strategy and Policy Statement for energy policy in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). This consultation closes at
11:45pm on 2 August 2023:
News: UK public wants oil giants to pay for climate damage, poll suggests – The Independent Online
4 May 2023, Danny Halpin. More than three quarters of UK adults believe it is wrong for oil and gas companies to make record profits without taking responsibility for damage to the environment, new polling suggests: