Regen welcomes the decision made by the Secretary of State today (6 April) to make the Electricity System Operator (ESO) an independent, publicly owned body responsible for electricity and gas.
Responding to the government’s decision on the proposals for a Future System Operator, Madeleine Greenhalgh, policy lead at Regen and the Electricity Storage Network, commented:
“We welcome the decision by the Secretary of State to make the Electricity System Operator (ESO) an independent, publicly owned body responsible for electricity and gas. This is a very positive step for achieving net zero, if the detailed implementation matches the ambition set out.
The ESO is an integral cog in the GB energy system and has been a core driver of net zero ambition – this decision presents an opportunity for the new body to fill the current void in overall oversight and planning of energy system which is hindering decarbonisation progress. An energy system based on renewable generation and flexible assets functions in a fundamentally different way to a fossil fuel-based system and this transition requires clear planning and implementation.
As the new body is developed over the coming years, it will be vital that decarbonisation is its core purpose, that it is given powers as a system architect to drive the energy transition and that it can ensure all parts of the energy system are focused on the same goals. It will also need to work effectively with central, devolved and regional government.”
- Read our response to the original consultation here.