Welcome to our top picks of the latest energy regulatory and market developments in the
This week we look at
As part of its full year financial results,
This figure represents nearly double the level of capital investment made by
To fund the plan,
As part of the announcement,
Public Accounts Committee calls for gas decommissioning plan by
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has published its report into the decarbonisation of home heating. The report includes recommendations for the
Though DESNZ increased grants for air source and ground source heat pump from Ł5,000 to Ł7,500 in
The report welcomes DESNZ's decision in
More widely on decarbonisation, the PAC report called for DESNZ to produce a fully costed gas network decommissioning plan over the next year, voicing concerns that a limited upfront understanding of the costs of decommissioning will result in taxpayers footing any additional costs. The report noted that this had previously occurred in the nuclear sector, where taxpayers had to cover the cost of decommissioning seven nuclear assets to the sum of Ł10.7 billion.
The report recommends that DESNZ "should, by
The report also pushed DESNZ to clarify its approach to town-level trials of hydrogen home heating, following its recent termination of local pilots after fierce local opposition. DESNZ has said that hydrogen "may have a role to play in heat decarbonisation", but without a definitive report the PAC fears that this "uncertainty for industry to plan and invest on a wider scale could hamper overall progress" to decarbonise the housing sector.
Regen report explores regional level needs to reach net zero targets
In its recent report, "Roadmap to RESP", the not-for-profit consultancy Regen has explored how the role of Regional Energy Strategic Planners (RESPs) and local area energy planning can help to achieve regional net zero targets.
Regen stated that strategic planning of the energy system at a local, regional and national level is needed to deliver against the
Broadly, RESPs will be responsible for producing consistent regional plans, aligning local and national plans and enabling wider input and collaboration on local and regional energy goals. More narrowly, the report envisions RESPs having the specific responsibilities of:
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developing plans showing a region's current and future demand and providing consistent standards for data;
- guiding on shared standards and processes for local area energy plans; and
- mapping existing and significant stakeholder relationships to understand who to engage with and having a hands-on approach to resolving conflicts between stakeholders.
- the creation of an industry-wide 'in-development' register to support better targeted energy system investment;
- trialling a regional board structure to set common regional objectives; and
- including more opportunities for regional feedback on investment plans and enhanced clarity in the anticipatory network investment process.
In noting that the RESP system may take some time to establish, Regen made some interim recommendations including:
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government financial resource and guidance for all local authorities to deliver a local decarbonisation plan;
The report emphasises that unlocking regional value in the interim is important to allow RESPs to "hit the ground running".
Electrifying the Future: ChargeUK's 12-Point manifesto for accelerating EV infrastructure and investment
ChargeUK has published its election manifesto titled "Our Electric Future: ChargeUK's manifesto for the next Government". The manifesto pinpoints 12 areas of focus for improved Electric Vehicle (EV) rollout in order to meet net zero targets. As a priority, ChangeUK has called for more EV chargers, EV affordability and the maximisation of private investment.
ChargeUK is a trade association which was launched earlier this year and represents companies involved in the rollout of EV infrastructure. The body has committed to investing Ł6 billion in EV charging by 2030.
The manifesto highlights the need to reduce obstacles to the expansion of the number of EV chargers. Some of the measures that are suggested to support an expanded rollout include incorporating EV chargers within Permitted Development Rights and including renewable electricity in the governments Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
ChargeUK also recommends that the government equalises VAT at 5% for both public and private charging to reduce the cost of EV ownership for the general public, working to lower the cost of electricity and working with National Highways to improve infrastructure such as charging signage.
A "world-first" green hydrogen trial has been announced at Worthing crematorium. Supported by the government's
The project, named "HyCrem" involves running one of three cremators on 100% green hydrogen, instead of fossil gas. Cremation is an energy-intensive process, with nearly all crematoria using natural gas. Green hydrogen offers a sustainable alternative, as it is produced using electricity from sustainable sources and does not release carbon emissions when burnt, like natural gas.
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