Latest news - Regen

19 December 2024 Ofgem calls for input on the long duration electricity storage Cap and Floor scheme

In October 2024, the government published a response to an industry consultation around the introduction of a new cap and floor revenue guarantee mechanism for Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES)…

18 December 2024 Raising Transmission Impact Assessment threshold must be priority for NESO and Ofgem

Following our letter to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero expressing concerns that the current requirement for projects over 1 MW to align with Clean Power…

16 December 2024 Last chance to nominate for the Green Energy Awards!

The countdown is on! Nominations for the Green Energy Awards close at midnight this Wednesday, December 18. This is your chance to shine a spotlight on groundbreaking projects, trailblazing individuals…

12 December 2024 New NPPF could go further to accelerate deployment of renewables

Regen welcomes the publication of the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), but we’re disappointed to see several missed opportunities that could have accelerated the deployment of renewable energy and…

12 December 2024 Toxic constraint coverage could damage Clean Power Plan

At a glance Constraint costs have risen in 2024 (Jan to Sept) to over £1 billion. This is a problem that must be addressed. Media narratives incorrectly simplify the issue…

10 December 2024 Regen responds to NESO’s Connections Reform Phase 3 Consultation

Regen has been closely engaged in the reform of the connections process, drawing on the expertise of its 200 member organisations. We held a working group on the consultation proposals,…

6 December 2024 Community energy for a just transition: breaking the stereotype

As the UK government ramps up its efforts to enable new community-owned energy projects via GB Energy and the Local Power Plans, questions are (rightly) being asked about how to…

3 December 2024 Regen leads coalition calling for a commitment to local energy

The Clean Power 2030 plan marks a significant change for the energy sector, and we warmly welcome the commitment to accelerate clean power in the UK. However, with the focus…

29 November 2024 Why we must not overlook the immense value of ‘local’ power

Regen has been working with local authorities and community organisations involved in Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living programme to understand the value of local and community energy, and present a…

18 November 2024 Empowering MPs to counter myths about renewables

Our myth-busting guide on onshore renewable energy emerged from a simple but pressing question: how can we better support MPs in responding to public concerns around renewable energy technologies? …

12 November 2024 Does the Clean Power Plan for 2030 spell the end of the zonal pricing debate?

The Clean Power Plan entails a massive increase in capital investment, plus the ability to harness all types of flexibility Last week the National Electricity System Operator (NESO) published its…

7 November 2024 Assessing transmission network planning timelines for NESO

Over the summer of 2024, Regen worked closely with the (then) Electricity System Operator, to develop some analysis and evidence to support their wider work to reform the connection process…

7 November 2024 Is the ‘Local Power Plan’ part of the ‘Clean Power 2030 Plan’?

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) advice to the UK government on delivering Clean Power 2030 is a landmark moment for the UK’s energy transition and a step change in…

6 November 2024 Clean Power 2030

On Bonfire night, the National Electricity System Operator (NESO) released its highly anticipated “Clean Power 2030” advisory report to the government, marking a pivotal moment in the UK’s clean energy…

31 October 2024 Changes to G99

The ENA’s Strategic Connections Group has been looking at revising queue entry requirements to reduce congestion and introduce robust due diligence as a requirement for applications, to reduce speculative applications…

30 October 2024 Autumn Budget 2024 round-up

Today’s Budget reaffirms the government’s ambition to become a ‘clean energy superpower’, confirming that, having commissioned advice from NESO on Clean Power 2030 delivery, it will publish its own “more…

30 October 2024 Reinvigorating shared ownership for a fast and fair transition

The UK government has set an ambitious target to achieve clean power by 2030. Alongside this, it has also outlined ambitions to unlock 8 GW of local and community-owned clean…

28 October 2024 We need clarity and direction on REMA

Looking back and looking forward It’s a bit too early to talk about REMA in the past tense. We’re still waiting for a positive outcome and policy direction, but after…

25 October 2024 What will the new Strategic Spatial Energy Plan mean for planning?

Purpose and scope of the SSEP The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will set out a strategic blueprint for GB’s energy system, addressing the spatial requirements for future electricity generation…

21 October 2024 Is your project ‘needed’ for clean power?

The outlines of a very different landscape for developing projects and getting a grid connection, driven by the government’s ‘Clean Power Mission’, are now starting to become clear. (Full disclosure:…

15 October 2024 The ‘need’ for local in Clean Power 2030

Clean Power 2030 is the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) flagship plan to deliver the government’s manifesto commitment to decarbonise the power system before the decade’s end.…

11 October 2024 Our verdict on Labour’s first 100 days

It’s fair to say that Ed Miliband and his team hit the ground running on the ‘clean power mission’, bringing much-needed momentum to the sector. Just a few days in,…

9 October 2024 Empowering people, places and the energy system: our responses to the RESP

The Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESP) framework represents a step-change in the planning and delivery of our energy system – one that has strong support across industry, local authorities and…

30 September 2024 Insights from National Grid’s ‘Intro to the development of community-owned renewables’ webinar

This event forms part of a series of six events (two online and four in-person) that Regen is delivering for National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) as part of its programme…

26 September 2024 How the global offshore wind industry can help ensure a just transition

My summer internship with Regen has been an incredibly educational, enjoyable and eye-opening experience, offering me deeper insight into the offshore wind industry. Coming directly from a renewable energy engineering…

24 September 2024 Regen responds to NPPF consultation

We’re pleased to see that the consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) acknowledges the need to improve the planning system to better address climate change and support renewable…

12 September 2024 Why retrofit programmes need to be more strategic at a local level

There exists a paradox in the retrofit market. On the one hand demand is too low to drive business development. On the other, customers struggle to find competent installers. How…

6 September 2024 Pioneering modelling will help ensure fairer energy network planning for net zero

Energy network companies have a key role to play in delivering a just transition to a clean energy system. Over the coming decades, they will invest billions to upgrade the cables and…

3 September 2024 CfD AR6 analysis – offshore energy

After last year’s disappointment with AR5, which failed to secure any bids from offshore wind developers, today’s news of a successful AR6 auction will be welcomed by the industry as…

2 September 2024 Insights from Northern Powergrid’s Community Energy Conferences

Regen has partnered with Northern Powergrid as part of our ongoing programme of supporting DNOs with their community energy programmes. For this year’s event, we teamed up with Community Energy…

22 August 2024 Electricity Storage Network responds to National Fire Chiefs Council consultation

The Electricity Storage Network (ESN) has responded to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) consultation on revised planning guidance for battery energy storage systems (BESS). This guidance supersedes previous guidance…

20 August 2024 The power of portraiture

In this introductory blog, Polly shares her thoughts on what she’s discovered so far and how she plans to respond to the residency theme: “celebrating changemakers”. Hello, I’m Polly — an…

9 August 2024 Regen’s priorities for the Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce

Regen welcomes the government’s quick and decisive action on onshore wind, including removing planning constraints in England and establishing the Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce. The Taskforce will be crucial in…

31 July 2024 Regen welcomes consultation on revised National Planning Policy Framework

Regen welcomes the publication of the consultation on a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), announced yesterday by the Department for Housing, Communities & Local Government. The proposed revisions strengthen…

31 July 2024 Labour ups the CfD budget

Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, has announced a significant jump in the budget for the next CfD allocation round from £1 bn to over…

18 July 2024 Takeaways from another busy week in Parliament

Ed Miliband’s speech to Parliament Today the new Secretary of State made a passionate statement to the House on energy. The key points were: There will be an onshore wind…

16 July 2024 ESO publishes new pathways to net zero

The Electricity System Operator (ESO) has this week launched the 2024 edition of the Future Energy Scenarios (FES) framework, a broad and deep analysis of the road to a net…

11 July 2024 Progressive market reform for a clean power system

The Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) has stimulated a vigorous debate around whether or not the GB electricity market is fundamentally ‘broken’. Our view – and that of our…

8 July 2024 Regen welcomes the removal of the planning restrictions on onshore wind

Regen is delighted that the government has removed the planning restrictions on onshore wind that have been in place since 2015. As well as onshore wind being extremely popular, with…

8 July 2024 Accelerating clean British power – our call to Labour for its first 100 days in government

Labour setting clean power as one of the central five missions of the new government is a genuinely exciting moment for everyone involved in the sector, signalling a shift to…

5 July 2024 Insights from National Grid’s 2024 East Midlands Community Energy Forum

This event forms part of a series of six events (two online and four in-person) that Regen is delivering for NGED as part of its programme of community energy support.…

27 June 2024 Fast and fair: Regen receives funding for vital just transition work

Regen has secured funding from the William Grant Foundation to deliver a programme of work focused on driving a just transition to a clean energy system. This will allow us to…

17 June 2024 Insights from National Grid’s 2024 South West Community Energy Forum

In response to requests from organisations and the calling of a general election, at last Friday’s event at the Exeter Phoenix we focused on topics including partnering with local authorities…

14 June 2024 Regen welcomes Labour manifesto pledges on planning reform

Improving the planning system will be essential to meet Labour’s pledge to “to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by 2030”, so we’re pleased to see…

6 June 2024 Regen welcomes Environmental Audit Committee recommendations on planning and community benefits

At the start of this year, I was invited to provide oral evidence at the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee inquiry into ‘enabling the sustainable electrification of the economy’.…

31 May 2024 Briefing: What do we mean by ‘clean power’?

With less than five weeks to run until voters go to the polls, energy has become a predictable battle ground. Labour’s electricity decarbonisation target of 2030, five years sooner than…

31 May 2024 Smart solutions could create network capacity and enable new renewable generation on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight has significant potential for renewable energy generation and has succeeded in developing projects, mostly in solar power. However, due to electricity network constraints, it’s difficult for…

23 May 2024 Planning reform in the renewables sector: A crucial year

This year has seen a significant push for planning reform in the renewables sector. In January, I provided evidence at an Environmental Audit Committee inquiry, examining how the planning system…

17 May 2024 NIC progress review is a clear route map for accelerated energy policy

We were pleased to see the latest Infrastructure Progress Review from the National Infrastructure Committee (NIC), much of which aligns with Regen’s thinking. The clarity of advice is particularly welcome,…

14 May 2024 Investing in local grid infrastructure should be a national priority

While recent focus has been (rightly) on upgrading the national transmission network to make it ready for renewables, less thought has been put into investing in ‘local’ distribution networks –…

13 May 2024 Roadmap to RESP can set the course for a more dynamic and fair energy system

Ofgem’s announcement of Regional Energy Strategic Planners (RESPs) signals a step-change towards more substantial local and regional shaping of the UK’s net zero energy system. By delivering strategic energy planning…

8 May 2024 Electricity Storage Network responds to second REMA consultation

The Electricity Storage Network has responded to the second Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) consultation. Following two years of hard work led by DESNZ, there has been progress in…

8 May 2024 Time to focus on progressive market reform – Regen responds to second REMA consultation

Along with many organisations, Regen has submitted its response to the Review of Energy Market Arrangements (REMA) second consultation. Our response welcomes the publication of the second REMA consultation as…

19 April 2024 Barriers to community energy projects call for evidence: asking enough questions?

Having committed to a community energy consultation last year, this week the UK government delivered on this promise with the launch of its ‘Barriers to community energy projects’ call for…

12 April 2024 Accelerated planning: where are the renewables?

In March, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities published a consultation on an ‘accelerated planning system’. However, our initial excitement at this prospect quickly diminished when we saw…

8 April 2024 Somerset Energy Investment Plan – a roadmap to net zero

In May last year, Regen was commissioned by Somerset Council to develop a county-wide energy plan that would forge a roadmap to achieving its Climate Emergency Strategy objectives. These are…

28 March 2024 Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group (PRASEG) event on planning and communities

This week, I returned to parliament to speak with the Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group (PRASEG). I delivered the context setting presentation at the group’s event on planning regimes,…

28 March 2024 Playbook identifies patterns for network innovation success

Network innovation funding has enabled some great ideas to become a reality, from technology solutions to new markets and ways of doing things. However, a more radical step change is…

27 March 2024 How to unlock smart local energy systems for a net zero future

Smart local energy systems have the potential to bring about significant value, both for the places that implement them, and the wider UK. They bring together energy supply, storage, heat,…

26 March 2024 Consultation Response: Heat Network Zoning

Context It’s widely accepted that heat networks will play a vital role in reaching net zero. The Climate Change Committee sees as much as 20% of the UK’s total building…

22 March 2024 Net Zero Communities: Insights from the energy markets and connections webinar

This webinar forms part of a series of six events (two online and four in-person) that Regen is delivering for NGED as part of its community energy support. In response…

21 March 2024 Winners of the Green Energy Awards 2024 announced!

The Green Energy Award Winners 2024 Winners have been announced in six award categories at the annual Green Energy Awards, hosted by Regen. The awards are a leading national celebration…

15 March 2024 Regen awarded strategic funding for two network innovation projects

“We’re excited to be starting work on these two important projects. Both will look at innovative solutions to overcoming network constraints that are preventing the connection of renewable generation and…

12 March 2024 Second REMA consultation: A significant step forward, despite pre-election politics

Regen welcomes today’s publication and congratulates the REMA team for navigating the report through its final sign-off by government ministers. In contrast to what has been spun in the press,…

11 March 2024 Consultation response: Long Duration Energy Storage cap and floor scheme

Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have responded to the Department for Net Zero and Energy Security (DESNZ) Long Duration Energy Storage consultation on a new cap and floor scheme.…

7 March 2024 AR6: Is the government about to make another costly mistake?

Throughout the last decade, the UK government has missed several opportunities to hedge future energy prices by supporting a more rapid deployment of renewable energy under the Contracts for Difference…

7 March 2024 Consultation response: Amendments to AR7 and future CfD rounds

Government has proposed several positive changes to the current Contracts for Difference scheme that aim to address the complex challenges expected of the transition to net zero. However, the devil…

5 March 2024 Shaping the future of renewables and storage: Insights from industry leaders

To meet our targets to transform the energy system for net zero we need to build a lot more renewable generation and storage, as well as the necessary grid infrastructure…

1 March 2024 Heavy expectations and exciting opportunities for the Regional Energy Strategic Planners

Regional Energy Strategic Planners (RESPs) have a heavy weight of expectation on them. Network infrastructure and constraints are a key risk in the delivery of net zero. Ofgem is hoping these…

29 February 2024 Green Energy Awards Shortlist 2024

The Green Energy Awards 2024 Shortlist We are pleased to announce the shortlisted nominations for this year’s annual Green Energy Awards hosted by Regen. Octopus Energy, Vattenfall and Power Up…

29 February 2024 Powering heat pumps with ‘local’ wind could cut emissions and bills

Onshore wind is one of the cheapest energy sources available, and offers stable and predictable prices that protect consumers from the volatility and price spikes of gas. Yet solutions to…

27 February 2024 Unlock the potential of British wind – our response to Labour’s promise to end onshore ban

The restrictions on onshore wind introduced in 2015 have meant that we all pay more for our electricity, are more reliant on overseas sources of gas for our energy, and…

23 February 2024 Written evidence to ESNZ Select Committee on LMP and progressive market reforms

Following Regen director Johnny Gowdy’s appearance at the ESNZ Select Committee hearing on locational marginal pricing (LMP), Regen has now a submitted further written statement and evidence to the committee.…

19 February 2024 Consultation response: Ofgem’s ten-year review of Capacity Market rules

Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have responded to Ofgem’s ten-year review of the Capacity Market rules consultation. This consultation built upon the Department for Net Zero and Energy Security…

13 February 2024 Regen’s commitment to community energy and plans for the year ahead

Reflecting on Regen’s 20th anniversary at the end of last year, we were prompted to review our role in the community energy sector over the last two decades. The upcoming…

13 February 2024 Regen and ESN’s response to Transmission Constraint Licence Condition call for input

Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have responded to the Ofgem call for input on the Transmission Constraint Licence Condition, following a members’ workshop on the issue in mid-January. This…

9 February 2024 Net zero load growth on Scottish Islands: the Outer Hebrides

SSEN is currently engaging with Ofgem around potential additional funding to support investment in network cables supplying the Outer Hebrides, Inner Hebrides and Orkney. This is being explored through SSEN’s Hebrides…

7 February 2024 Regen evidence to Select Committee inquiry on power market reform

Johnny took the opportunity to argue the case for progressive reforms within the existing market structure – rather than radical reforms that could put vital net zero investment at risk.…

30 January 2024 The growth of GB’s interconnector capacity

Interconnectors are expected to play a significant role in a net zero electricity system, both by providing a means of exporting renewable capacity and by supporting security of supply, by…

23 January 2024 Regen talks constraints with ESNZ Select Committee

It was a big week for constraints last week. The ESO launched the Thermal Constraints Collaboration Project Our associate colleague Simon Gill published a new constraint report on behalf of Scottish Renewables…

17 January 2024 Who will pay for gas network decline and decommissioning?

Ofgem’s RIIO-3 sector-specific consultation raises important questions around how we prepare for the eventual decommissioning of the gas network and how we pay for the network through the transition. In…

15 January 2024 Consultation response: Sustainable Industry Rewards for offshore wind

To date, UK government’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme has been successful in incentivising investment in low carbon electricity generation. Based on a cost-competitive auction, the current mechanism has facilitated…

12 January 2024 How to leverage local and community energy for a just transition in Scotland

Local and community energy projects can create serious value for local places. Such projects allow for social and economic benefits from clean energy to be captured in local areas, with…

9 January 2024 Regen report to government informs Long Duration Energy Storage consultation

Our report, Scenario Deployment Analysis for Long-duration Electricity Storage, commissioned by the government and published alongside the consultation here, provides a comprehensive assessment of the role and impact of a…

21 December 2023 Celebrating 20 years of Regen

Twenty years ago, a group of people in the South West of England decided there was something in this renewables thing and the sector could do with some support. And…

20 December 2023 Building the dispatch model – a summer internship blog

Over the summer, I had the opportunity to develop Regen’s dispatch model – a high-level representation of the GB energy system that evaluates how different technologies will contribute to a…

19 December 2023 Hot off the press: a guide to community heat

Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to expand your community energy work, National Grid’s new community heat guide will help you navigate the landscape of community-owned low carbon…

11 December 2023 Regen and ESN’s response to Phase 2 of the government’s Capacity Market consultation

Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have responded to phase 2 of the government’s consultation focusing on the previous performance and near-term future of the Capacity Market. This consultation built…

5 December 2023 Fostering closer collaboration between energy networks and local authorities

Collaborating for Local Net Zero Planning and Delivery sets out how local authorities and energy networks currently work together to plan and deliver decarbonisation and outlines potential next steps to…

4 December 2023 Review of Electricity Market Arrangements: A Vision for Scotland

Scotland has long aimed to lead when it comes to decarbonisation. It plans to reach net zero by 2045, while delivering a just transition and eradicating fuel poverty by 2040.…

29 November 2023 Planning for decarbonisation at a local level

Local authorities are undertaking extensive decarbonisation planning to support their climate goals – whether developing Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) in Scotland or Local Area Energy Plans (LAEP)…

22 November 2023 Government publishes plans to half the lead-time for major transmission construction

Earlier this year, the UK’s Electricity Networks Commissioner published recommendations to government to accelerate the construction of major grid infrastructure to address the UK’s net zero and energy security objectives.…

22 November 2023 Regen responds to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement

Responding to the clean energy measures included in the Autumn Statement, Merlin Hyman, CEO at Regen, commented: The Autumn Statement contains some important measures to support investment in sustainable power.…

22 November 2023 Community benefits for transmission infrastructure: Regen’s view on the government’s plans

Regen is pleased to see the government announce wider community benefits as well as electricity bill discounts for communities living close to new electricity transmission infrastructure. Developing new electricity transmission infrastructure…

20 November 2023 Regen and SSEN Distribution working to develop thinking on Regional Energy Strategic Planners

Ofgem’s announcement of the Regional Energy Strategic Planner (RESP) is welcome recognition of the role of local areas in the energy transition, and the significance of the energy system for…

16 November 2023 Regen welcomes Ofgem announcement of Regional Energy Strategic Planners

The energy transition is likely to look different in Oxford than in Orkney, and Ofgem’s decision represents a positive step to plan for an energy system that better reflects local…

16 November 2023 Relief as government confirms increased administrative strike prices for offshore wind

CFD explainer Administrative Strike Price (ASP) The ASP sets the upper limit or reserve price for the forthcoming CfD allocation round. In the auction, bids must be below that limit…

10 November 2023 New oil and gas licences are just a distracting political stunt

Whether the industry needs or wants annual licence rounds is not clear. The Government, however, still claims that awarding more exploration licences will help to secure 200,000 oil and gas…

1 November 2023 Reforming grid connections: Preparing Britain’s electricity network for net zero

One thing that all low carbon energy projects have in common is the need for a connection to the grid. Connecting to the grid is now perhaps the biggest challenge…

26 October 2023 Consultation response: Hydrogen blending into the GB gas distribution network

Focusing on the key question of the transitional role of hydrogen blending, Regen’s response to the UK government’s consultation argues that limited and temporary blending could be used to provide…

11 October 2023 Consultation response: National Grid ESO Future Energy Scenarios

National Grid ESO’s Future Energy Scenarios (FES) represent a range of different, credible ways to decarbonise our energy system as we strive towards the 2050 target. The FES publications have…

11 October 2023 Regen calls for urgent action from government to rebuild UK’s offshore wind leadership

The UK has developed a world-leading position in offshore wind due to sustained government policy support. The success of our offshore wind sector has delivered billions of pounds of investment.…

5 October 2023 AR5: Tidal stream benefits from missing floating offshore wind bids

Since the release of the AR5 Contracts for Difference (CfD) results, the focus has been on the obvious lack of bids from fixed offshore wind projects. By now, the factors…

4 October 2023 Consultation response: Engaging domestic customers in energy flexibility

Domestic Demand Side Response (DSR) is an important element of future energy systems. Our past work estimates that 20-30 GW of domestic DSR will be needed by 2035, rising to…

29 September 2023 Regen sets out priorities for market reform in letter to REMA team

As the first consultation phase of the Review of Electricity Market Arrangement (REMA) draws to a close, Regen has written to the REMA team in DESNZ to thank them for…

28 September 2023 How are DNOs making use of flexibility on their networks?

22 September 2023 What does Sunak’s statement on net zero mean for the clean energy industry?

Much of the concern from industry about Sunak’s statement on his ‘new approach to net zero’ has been around the negative messaging and the impact on investors. Internationally, concern has…

8 September 2023 AR5: Urgent government response needed to rebuild leadership in UK offshore wind

Regen’s recommendations to government Make an immediate announcement that it intends to significantly increase support for offshore wind, and that it is still the UK’s ambition to lead in both…

31 August 2023 Heating our homes: Regen responds to UK Parliament’s inquiry

Summary Regen’s response to the inquiry’s call for evidence focuses on three key interdependent challenges at the centre of home heating that we have identified through our work: Customer journey:…

4 August 2023 The Electricity Networks Commissioner’s transmission report – going far enough?

Responding to the independent report from the UK’s Electricity Network Commissioner published today [04 August 2023], Merlin Hyman, CEO at Regen, commented:   “Ask anyone investing in renewable energy about…

24 July 2023 A bump in the road but not yet a car crash – time to reset and rebuild the UK offshore wind pipeline

The decision by Vattenfall to park its Norfolk Boreas project marks a turning point for UK offshore wind. After a decade of rapid cost reduction and inexorable industry growth, the…

18 July 2023 Insight paper: Improving locational signals in the GB electricity market

The current market reform discussion has put locational factors at its heart, with the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) consultation highlighting the need to provide efficient locational signals to…

7 July 2023 Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5: Getting ready for a summer full of sun, sand and the Celtic Sea

In its highly-anticipated developer webinar, The Crown Estate has presented its plans for the upcoming Celtic Sea leasing round, having taken onboard industry feedback. This fifth leasing round provides a…

6 July 2023 What is energy and how can turbines float? A six-year-old’s perspective

As far as most parents or carers are concerned, children and energy go hand in hand. Whether it’s due to a sugar overload or the inevitable 5am wakeup on a…

6 July 2023 Consultation response: Developing local partnerships for onshore wind in England

Regen has submitted a response to the government’s consultation on their approach to ‘Developing Local Partnerships for Onshore Wind in England‘. The consultation is seeking views on community engagement, community…

26 June 2023 Consultation response: Ofgem modelling future supply and demand

Response to Ofgem’s consultation on modelling future supply and demand From pioneering the Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES) process in 2015, to our annual work on network scenario analysis, Regen…

19 June 2023 Labour’s Local Power Plan

Labour’s Local Power Plan Regen welcomes the announcement of Labour’s Local Power Plan, supporting local authorities and communities with up to a billion a year in investment to deliver locally-owned…

19 June 2023 Consultation response: Ofgem future reform to the electricity connections process

Response to Ofgem’s future reform to the electricity connections process This response is based on our extensive engagement with clean energy developers and investors on the challenges facing low carbon…

12 June 2023 Briefing note: Developing Local Partnerships for Onshore Wind in England

Briefing note – June 2023 Developing Local Partnerships for Onshore Wind in England Insights for local authorities and community organisations: how to respond to the current consultation on developing local…

2 June 2023 Net zero load growth – an evidence case for the Isle of Wight

Regen has worked with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) and a wide range of stakeholders to collate evidence for investing in the electricity network that supplies the Isle of…

31 May 2023 Consultation response: Updating the National Policy Statements

Regen has submitted a response to the government consultation on the National Policy Statements (NPS). The NPS set out national energy policy and provide the legal framework for planning decision…

30 May 2023 Introducing non-price factors into the CfD: reviewing the proposed reforms

The current Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme has been extremely successful in lowering the costs of renewables generation. However, by under-valuing other important factors, such as supply chain development and…

26 May 2023 Regen submits response to community benefit for electricity transmission infrastructure consultation

Regen has submitted a response to the government’s open consultation on their recommended approach to community benefits for electricity transmission network infrastructure, led by the Department for Energy Security and…

24 May 2023 Preparing Britain’s electricity network for net zero

Achieving net zero means our electricity network must be able to connect gigawatts of new renewable generation and power millions of electric vehicles and heat pumps across the country. In…

Regen responds to the government’s Call for Evidence on the introduction of non-price factors into the Contracts for Difference scheme

22 May 2023 Regen responds to the government’s Call for Evidence on the introduction of non-price factors into the Contracts for Difference scheme

Regen has submitted a response to the government’s Call for Evidence on the introduction of non-price factors into the Contracts for Difference scheme. The Call for Evidence seeks views and…

17 May 2023 Local authorities call for collaborative partnerships to create regional energy system plans

The path to net zero will not be the same in Oxford as it is in Orkney. Local authorities have a key convening and leadership role in agreeing decarbonisation pathways…

11 May 2023 Briefing note: community benefits for transmission infrastructure

Regen Briefing Note – May 2023 Community benefits for transmission infrastructure Insights for local authorities and community organisations: how to respond to the current consultation on community benefits for onshore…

10 May 2023 Regen open letter to Ofgem on the future of distributed flexibility

For the past two months Ofgem has had an open call for input on the future of distributed flexibility. This has made us think long and hard about what flexibility…

4 May 2023 Behind the scenes of SOUNDING CONNECTIONS: an audio collage of democracy and energy dialogues

The Regen Art Lab’s artist residencies are Regen-funded, interdisciplinary collaborations between our clean energy experts and UK-based, early career artists. SOUNDING CONNECTIONS is the result of the programme’s second…

28 April 2023 Decarbonising power by 2035: Regen supports Select Committee recommendations to Government

Responding to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee’s report on the ‘Decarbonisation of the power sector’ published today [Fri 28 Apr], Merlin Hyman, CEO at Regen, commented: “The message…

6 April 2023 Devon Community Energy Network: Spring Gathering – our highlights

The Community Energy Spring Gathering is an annual gathering of community energy organisations, practitioners and enthusiasts from Devon and beyond. The Open Space event provides a key opportunity for the…

5 April 2023 Marine Energy Wales 2023 conference: time to “seas” the moment

Marine energy – a growing industry once again The Marine Energy Wales conference is an annual two day event bringing together industry leaders, researchers, academics and experts to network and…

5 April 2023 Independent report highlights opportunities to build on UK’s leadership in offshore wind

Responding to the independent report from Tim Pick, UK Offshore Wind Champion, published today, Grace Millman, Offshore Sector Lead at Regen, commented: “Today’s independent report from the Offshore Wind…

31 March 2023 New ‘energy security’ plans overlook low-cost, low-carbon, homegrown renewables

The government’s ‘Energy Security Day’ brought in a grand total of almost 50 net zero and energy-related policy documents from government. This includes an ‘Energy Security Plan’ and ‘Net Zero…

30 March 2023 Winners of the Green Energy Awards 2023 announced!

The Green Energy Award Winners 2023 Winners have been announced in six award categories at the twentieth annual Green Energy Awards, hosted by Regen and sponsored by Roadnight Taylor and…

30 March 2023 Regen responds to Energy Security Day measures

Responding to the net zero and energy security announcements published by the UK Government today [30 Mar], Merlin Hyman, CEO, Regen, commented: “Today’s Energy Security Day was a pivotal opportunity…

28 March 2023 Insight Paper: Could the government be about to gamble away the UK’s leadership in offshore wind?

The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is widely regarded as a great UK energy policy success. The scheme has supported investment while, at the same time, driving down cost and…

16 March 2023 Regen and ESN respond to Balancing Mechanism Inflexible Offer Licence Condition consultation from Ofgem

Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have responded to the Inflexible Offer Licence Condition consultation from Ofgem. This consultation built upon the Call for Input published in late 2022 on…

15 March 2023 First take on the Spring Budget: No strategy for net zero investment

Responding to the Chancellor’s Spring Budget announced today (15 March), Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive at Regen, commented: Chris Skidmore’s recent review made clear that net zero is the route to…

8 March 2023 Regen responds to Climate Change Committee report on power decarbonisation

Responding to the publication of the Climate Change Committee’s report on power decarbonisation published today [9 Mar], Merlin Hyman, CEO at Regen, comments: “The Climate Change Committee has today confirmed…

8 March 2023 Review of Energy Market Arrangements – Summary of Consultation Responses Published

Review of Energy Market Arrangements – Summary of Consultation Responses Published The UK government’s REMA team has published its summation of the consultation responses they have received, along with some…

8 March 2023 A call to arms for more women in the clean energy sector

The energy sector is widely regarded as one of the least diverse parts of the UK economy. A quick look at the statistics lays this bare. Only 27% of board…

7 March 2023 Regen and the ESN respond to the government’s Capacity Market consultation

Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have responded to the government’s consultation focusing on the future of the Capacity Market. This consultation built upon the Call for Evidence (CfE) published in…

3 March 2023 The future of local energy governance? Regen’s take on the new Ofgem consultation

The future of local energy governance? Regen’s take on the new Ofgem consultation On 1 March, Ofgem launched a consultation on ‘The Future of Local Energy Institutions and Governance‘. In…

28 February 2023 Regen submits response to onshore wind consultation

Regen has written the following response to the open consultation on reforms to national planning policy relating to onshore wind, led by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities…

23 February 2023 Green Energy Awards Shortlist 2023

The Green Energy Awards 2023 Shortlist Thank you to all who entered for the Green Energy Awards this year! We had a wide range of brilliant and worthy nominations from…

20 February 2023 Industry aligned on critical investment for energy sector

Two reports have been published today by energy trade associations – Renewable UK’s ‘Retaining the UKs leadership in renewables’ and Energy UK’s more prophetic ‘Storms Approaching: How to prevent an…

20 February 2023 Letter to Treasury on Maintaining Investment Attractiveness and the Electricity Generator Levy

7 February 2023 Briefing note: planning reforms for onshore wind

Regen Briefing Note – February 2023 Planning reforms for onshore wind Insights for local authorities and community organisations: how to respond to the current consultation on proposed changes to national…

6 February 2023 Making the most of Contracts for Difference to deliver wider energy system benefits

Making the most of Contracts for Difference to deliver wider energy system benefits As part of their recent consultation on changes to future rounds of Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme,…

26 January 2023 Exploring progress towards the Welsh Government’s energy targets and their future evolution

Exploring progress towards the Welsh Government’s energy targets and their future evolution: insights from our latest ‘Energy Generation in Wales 2021’ report In this blog, Regen’s Net Zero Project Manager…

25 January 2023 Regen’s Chief Executive gives evidence to the BEIS select committee

On Tuesday 24 January 2023, Regen’s Chief Executive, Merlin Hyman OBE gave evidence to the BEIS Select Committee on the subject of power decarbonisation and flexibility. The discussion highlighted the…

17 January 2023 Why a just transition is crucial to net zero

Why a just transition is crucial to net zero Over the last year, soaring energy prices as a result of the rising cost of gas has caused severe hardship for…

16 January 2023 Dr Charles Ogilvie OBE joins Regen’s board

Charles Ogilvie commented: “It’s pivotal time in the UK’s energy transition. Soaring consumer costs have been triggered by an unprecedented global energy crisis and there are difficult policy choices on…

13 January 2023 Regen responds to Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero Review

Responding to the Net Zero Review published today [13 Jan], Merlin Hyman, CEO, Regen, commented: “The publication of the Net Zero Review today should be a pivotal moment. An extensive…

6 January 2023 Electricity generator levy – less like a windfall tax, more like a super-tax

In Regen’s first insight paper of 2023, director Johnny Gowdy analyses the emerging details of the government’s new Electricity Generator Levy (EGL): “As more details of the new electricity generator…

4 January 2023 Regen brief: the onshore wind open consultation

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ has launched an open consultation on the relaxation of onshore wind planning regulations as part of wider reforms to national planning policy in…

23 December 2022 Regen responds to launch of open consultation on onshore wind development

See below comments from Regen on the government’s announcement of an open consultation on the relaxation of onshore wind planning regulations as part of wider reforms to national planning policy…

16 December 2022 Good news for net zero as Ofgem announces investment in key strategic projects

Regen welcomes the decision from the regulator, Ofgem, to approve transmission investment required to meet net zero and deliver the government’s 2030 offshore wind ambitions. The ‘Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment’…

13 December 2022 Industry calls for urgent action to address electricity network constraints

Energy industry calls for urgent action to address network constraints Six UK energy trade associations have urged the government to take immediate action to address electricity network constraints if the…

24 November 2022 Will the power grid be fossil fuel free by 2035? Learnings from our latest project with National Grid ESO

To really get to know someone, you’ve got to see them on their toughest days. Our project looking at a day in the life of 2035 decarbonised electricity does exactly…

18 November 2022 Exploring energy democracy through sound art: an introductory blog

In this introductory blog, Cameron shares his thoughts on what he’s learned so far and how he plans to respond to the themes in his work. It is an absolute…

18 November 2022 Regen Brief: the Electricity Generator Levy

Regen Brief: our take on the Electricity Generator Levy The Autumn Statement announced proposals for an Electricity Generator Levy, replacing the short lived idea of a ‘Cost-Plus Revenue Limit’ with…

17 November 2022 Regen responds to announcement of levy on electricity generators

Responding to the announcement of a levy on electricity generators in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement today (17 November), Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive at Regen, commented: “Regen supports the principle…

4 November 2022 Net Zero Review – a vital opportunity

As we transition our energy system to net zero, it is vital that we do so in a way that delivers benefits for people, businesses and communities. This is something…

2 November 2022 Regen’s key priorities and recommendations for REMA

Last month we submitted our response to the BEIS Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) open consultation. At over 80 pages long, it was easily the longest and most comprehensive…

20 October 2022 New report launched: Go West!

You can view the final publication, executive summary and key findings here. On Wednesday 19 October 2022, Regen launched a thought leadership report that explores and identifies the benefits to the UK…

13 October 2022 A day in the life of 2035: Second edition

A day in the life 2035 Second edition Published 13 October 2022 View the publication here. Our new and improved final report analyses how the future decarbonised energy system will…

12 October 2022 Regen’s response to BEIS’ REMA consultation

“The energy crisis has sharpened our focus on where we need to get to; as secure, resilient, and affordable net zero electricity system by 2035. Market reform can certainly enable…

12 October 2022 Early Insight Analysis for SSEN highlights growth in LCT pipelines

The energy crisis and economic turbulence have created a challenging environment for investment in many parts of the economy. However, Regen’s latest analysis suggests that investment in low carbon energy…

12 October 2022 Regen responds to the Energy Prices Bill

Responding to the Energy Prices Bill announced today (12 Oct), Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive at Regen, commented: “Regen and the renewable energy industry are fully behind ensuring that the benefits…

6 October 2022 A net exporter of energy by 2040?

The prime minister has ambitions to make the UK a net exporter of energy by 2040. Johnny Gowdy, Jonty Haynes and Jonathan Lamont suggest a way to make this happen…

30 September 2022 The Energy Innovation Summit 2022

Previously known as the Energy Networks Innovation Conference (ENIC), this year’s event has been rebranded to The Summit as part of a new collaboration with BEIS, Innovate UK, Ofgem and…

30 September 2022 Graphic of the month: Comparing Labour’s 2030 renewable electricity pledges against other net zero scenarios

Labour has set the political agenda with its plans for rapid growth in wind and solar. Comparing these against net zero pathways from National Grid and the CCC shows they…

23 September 2022 Regen responds to energy measures in the Chancellor’s mini-budget

Responding to the Chancellor’s Growth Plan announced today (23 Sept), Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive at Regen, commented: The focus of today’s mini-budget on tackling energy prices through both temporary support…

21 September 2022 Why are disabled people more vulnerable to rising energy costs and what should be done about it?

The energy crisis poses a devastating challenge for many this winter. Though the recent announcement of the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee has taken a small step in the right direction…

16 September 2022 Graphic of the Month: largest Contracts for Difference round confirms renewables are cheapest

Following the success of the latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) round, the results of which were published last month, Regen’s analysis shows exactly where the successful projects are located, and…

8 September 2022 Regen responds to Prime Minister’s energy support package

Response to the Prime Minister’s energy support package announced today (8 Sept) The scale and speed of support offered in Truss’ energy package announced today is welcomed and suggests the…

1 September 2022 eFuels – missing link, or costly distraction?

Over the last year, energy price shocks have been experienced across the world at a scale not seen since the seventies. Soaring fossil fuel prices driven by volatility in international…

26 August 2022 Solar farms and land use in a changing climate

26 August 2022 Regen responds to energy price cap announcement

The latest hike on the energy price cap signals a crisis facing the UK on a scale we are simply not prepared for. We are heading into a catastrophic winter.…

18 August 2022 Open Letter on RIIO-ED2 and Net Zero

RIIO-ED2 is vital to ensure the UK achieves net zero and works towards greater energy independence. However, the baseline of network investment in the RIIO-ED2 Draft Determinations falls well short…

17 August 2022 Seven solutions to the rising cost of transmission network constraint management

The costs of managing network constraints in our energy system are rising – to the tune of £1.2 billion in just the last 12 months. Rather than waiting years for…

3 August 2022 Open Letter: Electricity network barriers to net zero, energy security and lower customer bills

Electricity network barriers to net zero, energy security and lower customer bills Regen’s members inform us that almost all projects over 1 MW seeking to connect to the distribution network…

19 July 2022 Cutting costs and carbon through a local approach to decarbonise heat

This month we published our report on local delivery of clean heat, highlighting the role that local authorities could play in leading heat decarbonisation. Over the last few months, we…

18 July 2022 Regen welcomes the publication of Future Energy Scenarios 2022

National Grid ESO’s publication of the Future Energy Scenarios 2022 presents a range of pathways to net zero by 2050, enabling the whole energy system to plan for a rapidly…

15 July 2022 Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme

Regen’s response to the Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Scheme request for information: This response is based on our experience engaging with the Celtic Sea APPG, the Celtic Sea Cluster, key…

12 July 2022 Unpacking the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements

We are expecting the government to publish a consultation document on its Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) before the summer recess. It is also clear the government is considering,…

8 July 2022 Why we need to support and champion tradeswomen in decarbonising heat

Women tradespeople have gone against the grain to build careers in the industry* and, as new entrants, face various hurdles – not having the appropriate workwear available, having to work…

7 July 2022 Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 4 results

The Contract for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 4 (AR4) results are out and, once again, renewables have come in with very low strike prices. As most policy makers are now…

7 July 2022 Unlocking local and community benefit: 4 key questions for the offshore wind sector

Unlocking local and community benefit: four key questions for the offshore wind sector With the UK aiming to build and operate 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030, questions about…

6 July 2022 Energy Security Bill – a mixed bag

Responding to the first reading of the Energy Security Bill, Merlin Hyman, chief executive of Regen, commented: “The Energy Security Bill being laid in Parliament today provides an unrivalled opportunity…

6 July 2022 ‘Levelling up heat’: local leadership key to heat decarbonisation

New research by Regen says that a local approach to heat decarbonisation is vital to delivering national net zero targets Central government should devolve powers and funding for local heat…

5 July 2022 The start of the race for floating wind in the Celtic Sea

You may have missed it while sipping your coffee this morning, but the Crown Estate has just fired the starting gun for the development of floating wind in the Celtic…

29 June 2022 Levelling up heat decarbonisation

Levelling up heat decarbonisation Local government and local leaders, with their unique reach into communities, will be critical in delivering a transformation in how we heat out homes and buildings.…

31 May 2022 Regen’s statement on the government’s cost of living support package

To help those struggling with soaring energy prices and the wider cost-of-living, the UK government has announced a package of support designed to alleviate mounting financial pressures in the coming…

16 May 2022 New study reveals floating offshore wind benefits for the South West

A new report published today reveals how the opportunities from developing Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) in the Celtic Sea can be maximised. Regen assessed the economic opportunities FLOW presents for…

10 May 2022 Energy Bill welcomed as opportunity to put UK on course for net zero

Responding to the announcement of Energy Bill in the Queen’s Speech today [10 May], Merlin Hyman, chief executive at Regen, commented: “We welcome the announcement in the Queen’s Speech of…

5 May 2022 Innovating together, failing together, prospering together

Regen has collaborated with ENA and the energy network companies over the past 6 months to develop a shared strategy for network innovation. This has provided Regen with an opportunity to…

29 April 2022 Onshore wind in England – a chink of light?

Energy security “strategy” The onshore wind sector in England has been on a policy rollercoaster over the last few weeks with hopes of a revival raised and then largely dashed…

7 April 2022 Energy security strategy – a missed opportunity

Responding to the release of the Prime Minister’s Energy Security Strategy, Merlin Hyman, Regen’s CEO, commented: “Overall, the Prime Minister’s Energy Security Strategy is a missed opportunity to deliver the…

6 April 2022 Decision on the public ownership of the Future System Operator

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…

31 March 2022 Net zero champions recognised for “extraordinary” contribution to the energy transition

Octopus Energy, Exeter Community Energy and Zap Map were amongst winners announced yesterday, on 30 March, for the 2022 Green Energy hosted by Regen and sponsored by specialist grid consultancy Roadnight Taylor. The…

31 March 2022 Decarbonising Scottish energy – the devil is in the delivery

Decarbonising Scottish energy – the devil is in the delivery After working for more than a decade in Scotland’s energy sector, one thing that is clear to me is that…

24 March 2022 A regional analysis of the net zero transition

On Monday 7 March, Regen and SSEN launched the 2021 edition of the Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES) analysis (see our joint press release here). This analysis provides a detailed…

17 March 2022 ESN welcomes new Markets and Revenues chair

The Electricity Storage Network is delighted to welcome Katherine Vinnicombe, head of business development at Eelpower, as the new chair for its Markets and Revenues Working Group. Katherine commented, “I…

16 March 2022 New interactive report sets out workings of a net zero power system

Regen has produced a new interactive report on behalf of National Grid Electricity System Operator which takes a detailed look at a ‘day in the life’ of a…

11 March 2022 Seven points to reduce the UK’s gas dependency

“For as long as we depend on oil and gas – wherever it is from – we are all vulnerable to Putin’s malign influence on global markets.” – Rt Hon…

7 March 2022 Local forecasts of a global transition: net zero in 2050

Published annually, SSEN’s Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES) set out detailed local projections for the growth of energy generation, demand and storage technology in SSEN’s two distribution areas in the…

3 March 2022 Regen steps up presence in Scotland

Joining Regen’s team of energy system and zero carbon technology experts, Simon Gill will build on the not-for-profit’s work paving the path to net zero in Scotland, which includes projects…

28 February 2022 Marking a path for DNOs and communities to work together on the Net Zero journey

Regen has been working with Western Power Distribution (WPD), the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for the Midlands, South West and South Wales, to update their Net Zero Communities Strategy, which…

23 February 2022 Regen welcomes the awards of UK Government’s £6.7m long duration storage competition

The UK Government today announced the awards given under their Longer Duration Energy Storage Demonstration Programme, with 24 projects, totally £6.7m of the £68m pledged. Ray Arrell, technical lead for…

23 February 2022 Shortlisted net zero champions announced for the 19th Green Energy Awards

We are pleased to announce the shortlisted nominations for this year’s annual Green Energy Awards hosted by Regen and sponsored by Roadnight Taylor. Scottish Power Energy Networks, GRIDSERVE and the…

15 February 2022 Reflections on the energy price cap increase

On Thursday the 3rd of February, the new energy price cap was revealed by Ofgem. The price cap will rise by 54% on 1 April 2022, due to an increase…

9 February 2022 Commitment to annual Contracts for Difference auctions – a welcome move for net zero

Today’s announcement that the UK government will hold annual CfD rounds is a welcome move towards building a resilient energy system powered by renewables and to protecting consumers against rising…

8 February 2022 Regen calls for Ofgem to put net zero at the heart of RIIO-ED2 price controls

Ask pretty much anyone working on net zero energy what the key challenges they face are and connecting to the network will be high on their list. This once quiet…

31 January 2022 The heat revolution – how do we empower the public to get involved in heat decarbonisation?

The role of local governments in net zero Many groups have been advocating for the appropriate powers, funding and capacity to be given to local authorities to deliver on heat…

26 January 2022 Podcast: Sustainability and Storage

In this episode of Regen’s Transforming Energy podcast, Sophie Whinney and Madeleine Greenhalgh discuss the battery lifecycle and the various challenges and opportunities that arise from this global supply chain.…

25 January 2022 Reflections on COP26

Firstly, I’d like to express my thanks for the huge amount of support I received from the sector throughout my secondment. Many were keen to engage and support where they…

11 January 2022 What are the outcomes of the Regen Art Lab collaboration?

The Regen Art Lab’s first residency programme brought together two of Regen’s experts and a visual artist who had no previous experience of working in the clean energy industry. The…

Go West! The case for a more diversified wind portfolio and greater energy integration between Great Britain, the Island of Ireland and western Europe

20 December 2021 Go West! The case for a more diversified wind portfolio and greater energy integration between Great Britain, the Island of Ireland and western Europe

The past weekend (16th-19th December 2021) has provided a perfect example of why the UK, and Europe, needs to develop a much more diversified wind portfolio, and in particular to…

15 December 2021 Good news for interconnection – Ofgem announces third round auction for new investment

As seen in the graphic, the UK’s newest interconnector, the North Sea link, came online this October, connecting the UK to Norway for the first time. The interconnector enables the…

15 December 2021 Developing an agile solution to local net zero energy planning

Local authorities are increasingly developing locally led plans to articulate how their area intends to reach net zero in heat, transport and power. Having a plan has many benefits. Done well it…

8 December 2021 Time to do something about green energy tariffs

A few years ago, Regen shone a spotlight on the issue of greenwashing in the energy sector. Our thought piece then, “We Need to Talk About Green Energy Tariffs”, produced a huge response…

30 November 2021 Review of energy National Policy Statements – consultation response

The Energy NPS is a vital set of policy documents that provides the decision-making process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). The Energy NPS, therefore, guides large-scale energy developers across…

30 November 2021 Heat and Buildings Strategy – reflections

There have been plenty of takes on the multiple strategies released by the government last month, but it’s always worth reflecting again once the content has had time to permeate.…

29 November 2021 Models to support new local renewables

Regen has published a new paper exploring the different models that local authorities or other local actors could implement to support new renewable generation. The publication was launched in a webinar where…

25 November 2021 Eleventh-hour opportunity as tidal energy gets £20m reserve allocation in latest CfD round

Contrasting outlooks for offshore technologies Tidal energy is one of the most reliable and predictable sources of renewable energy. Taken together with wave energy and floating wind, tidal energy offers…

24 November 2021 Podcast: Community Energy

Hear from: Jodie Giles, head of local and community energy, Regen Prina Sumaria, local energy coordinator, Regen Ky Hoare, local energy coordinator, Regen

11 November 2021 Good news: Regen welcomes The Crown Estate’s ambitious plans for Celtic Sea Floating Wind

Responding to The Crown Estate’s publication of its plans for floating wind leasing in the Celtic Sea, Johnny Gowdy, Regen’s director, commented: “With the ups and downs of COP26, it…

29 October 2021 Graphic of the Month: The Offshore Wind Pipeline

Regen’s analysis suggests that, on paper, the offshore wind development pipeline should be able to meet the UK’s 40 GW by 2030 target. However, success is not certain, it will…

28 October 2021 Welsh Net Zero

It’s great to see the First Minister calling for a ‘decade of action’ today while launching the action plan for Wales’ second carbon budget. The plan, which covers the period…

25 October 2021 Local leadership: filling the gaps in support for new renewables

Local leadership: filling the gaps in support for new renewables Despite their relative absence in the recent Net Zero Strategy, we know that smaller and medium-sized onshore renewables are going…

25 October 2021 Offshore Wind Briefing Note

Regen’s analysis suggests that, on paper, the offshore wind development pipeline should be able to meet the UK’s 40 GW by 2030 target. Success, however, will depend on a ramping…

22 October 2021 Regen responds to the UK Hydrogen Strategy consultations

Some of the key recommendations explored in the responses are summarised below. Low carbon hydrogen standard: The threshold for defining the carbon intensity of ‘low carbon’ hydrogen should be set…

21 October 2021 Decarbonising the UK’s heat from a creative perspective

In this first Regen Art Lab residency we are inviting the artist, Karenza Sparks, to explore the theme decarbonising heat. This refers to the considerable challenge of upgrading the majority…

19 October 2021 Regen responds to release of Net Zero and Heat and Buildings Strategies

We will spending the next few days digesting the huge amount of information in these strategies – stay tuned for more detailed commentary.

15 October 2021 A national and local partnership must be at the heart of the Net Zero Strategy

Next week, in the run up to COP26, we are expecting the government to publish the UK’s Net Zero Strategy, including long awaited plans to start to wean us of…

14 October 2021 September’s energy crisis demonstrates the advantage of betting on low-cost renewable energy

The energy crisis of September 2021 has been a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the UK energy system because of its continued dependency on fossil fuels. Culminating in collapsing…

4 October 2021 Call for BEIS to double the capacity of renewables in 2021 Contracts for Difference auctions

Regen welcomes the government’s commitment to fully decarbonise our electricity system by 2035. In response to this new target, we have written to the Secretary of State for the Department…

Global Climate Change

1 October 2021 Climate change brought to life at COP26 with over 200 events in Glasgow

Climate change brought to life at COP26 with over 200 events in Glasgow 200 events open to the public across the two weeks during the climate change summit Tickets will…

30 September 2021 The missing pieces of the heat decarbonisation puzzle

The Heat and Buildings Strategy is one of the most important pieces of policy currently being relentlessly ruminated in the government machine. It’s the most vital missing part of the…

30 September 2021 Unlocking local net zero investment opportunities

Unlocking local net zero investment opportunities As local authorities and regions work to deliver against climate emergency declarations, it is important they continue to build local support for action, which…

4 October 2021 The role of storage in volatile energy markets

The impact on households and businesses of the current high gas prices shows the importance of investing in technologies to store power as part of building a resilient, renewable power…

27 September 2021 Let’s take advantage of low-cost renewables to create a hedge on energy price rises

Let’s take advantage of low-cost renewables to create a hedge on energy price rises In response to the gas price crisis, Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State at the Department for…

13 September 2021 Contracts for Difference Round 4 – £10 million budget highlights great value of onshore wind and solar

Contracts for Difference Round 4 Draft Budget Announcement £10 million budget highlights great value of onshore wind and solar Today’s announcement of an annual £265m levy budget to be allocated…

19 August 2021 Race To Zero – creating action plans

Race To Zero – creating action plans This is the fourth in our ongoing series of blogs documenting Regen’s internal work to become net zero by 2030. Our first blog…

19 August 2021 Energy Digitalisation Strategy

Access to accurate and timely energy data is fundamental to operating a smart and flexible energy system. It enables us to make better, faster and more informed decisions. Whether you…

17 August 2021 Regen responds to the UK Hydrogen Strategy

As expected, the government’s Hydrogen Strategy is not a definitive strategy but more of a restatement of existing policy measures and targets, alongside a framework and timetable to make further decisions. To the credit of the officials that have worked in…

12 August 2021 Hydrogen for heat: eight critical questions

While there is broad consensus that hydrogen could have an important role to play in the decarbonisation of key industrial processes and some areas of heavy transportation, there is currently…

9 August 2021 Regen responds to the IPCC report

Responding to the Sixth Assessment Report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rachel Hayes, associate director at Regen, commented:

29 July 2021 Balancing mechanism, dispatch data and transparency

In response to industry pressure from the likes of Regen and the ESN, National Grid ESO has begun releasing data describing actions taken within the balancing mechanism – which assets…

28 July 2021 Opportunities for hydrogen in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Regen recently conducted a short hydrogen opportunity study for Cornwall Council and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP focusing on the period to 2030. The study sought to identify…

21 July 2021 Enabling Net Zero through Distribution System Operation

The electricity system is changing and, with it, new functions, processes and governance structures are emerging that will be required to run a smart electricity distribution network. As part of…

21 July 2021 The rise of the mild hybrid – a steppingstone technology or greenwash?

In this blog we cover the role of mild hybrids in the UK car market. There is considerable misunderstanding within the sector as to the definition of a mild hybrid.…

20 July 2021 Smart systems and flexibility

Today was another busy day in the net zero policy agenda, with six policy documents from the government and Ofgem which set out key steps towards enabling a smart, flexible,…

19 July 2021 Race To Zero – what does tracking our emissions tell us?

This is the third in our ongoing series of blogs documenting Regen’s internal work to become net zero by 2030. Our first which provides some background on this work and…

15 July 2021 Regen responds to the Transport Decarbonisation Plan

Though there are a number of laudable commitments in the Plan, there is a continuation of this government’s theme to provide broad-brush messages in nicely formatted documents, pushing the detail…

1 July 2021 How much we pay for connecting to the distribution electricity network is changing

How much we pay for connecting to the distribution electricity network is changing. And there could be some significant positives for net zero from 2023. The much delayed Ofgem minded-to…

29 June 2021 Equality, diversity and inclusion at Regen – working towards climate, social and racial justice

Despite some nervousness writing this blog, it’s a topic I’m incredibly passionate about and I’m grateful to have had the time and space over the last year to discuss and…

29 June 2021 Why heat decarbonisation is about people

I am an engineer by background and have spent many years troubling over the technical details of how we decarbonise our buildings. However, I am increasingly convinced that problems are…

25 June 2021 Race To Zero – electricity use and green tariffs

As part of Regen’s recent commitment to be net zero by 2030, as an organisation we are looking at our various sources of carbon emissions and how we can reduce…

24 June 2021 Regen responds to the Climate Change Committee’s Progress Report to Parliament

Today’s assessment from the Climate Change Committee has laid bare the gap between the government’s climate ambition and the painfully slow pace of decision making on key policies to phase…

14 June 2021 G7 reaction: Do our political leaders understand climate change?

It was intended to be a G7 where the west would set the decarbonisation agenda for the rest of the world, and especially China, to follow. Instead we have heard…

28 May 2021 Local Authority Net Zero Dashboards

We know that local authorities are going to be key to delivering net zero, working either directly or with other stakeholders to guide and inspire local action on heat, energy…

27 May 2021 What role could hydrogen play in decarbonising the industrial sector?

As a new low carbon fuel source, hydrogen could be used across a broad range of applications to meet existing and future sources of energy demand. One such target area…

20 May 2021 Heat and buildings industry needs action-focused plan for decarbonisation

In an open letter to the energy minister signed by a group of our members, we set out six policies for the government to implement to decarbonise heat and buildings,…

14 May 2021 Regen calls for UK to turn climate targets into climate delivery

With six months to go to COP26 in Glasgow, Alok Sharma is right to say this is our best chance for a better future. As COP26 host, the UK has…

29 April 2021 Earth Day 2021: are the pledges putting us on track to avoid climate chaos?

The major new commitments being made to cutting emissions on Earth Day prompt the obvious question: are the pledges putting us on track to avoid climate chaos? In 2019, global…

29 April 2021 Matching experience with potential: the value of mentoring

Matching experience with potential: the value of mentoring This month, we reached the halfway point for ReWiRE’s 2020 mentoring programme, which provided an opportunity to reflect on the feedback we’ve…

21 April 2021 What will it take to cut emissions by 78% by 2035?

13 April 2021 Race To Zero – the start of a journey

Race To Zero – the start of a journey Net zero by 2030 Emissions from the business sector contribute 18% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions[1]. Regen recently made a…

29 March 2021 Regen responds to Green Homes Grant closure

Regen’s members have been sounding the alarm at the chaos of the Green Homes Grant, and the impact on households and green jobs, for months. Shifting some of the funding…

25 March 2021 Regen to contribute to COP26 through secondment

COP26, which will take place in Glasgow this November, is a critical moment for addressing the global climate crisis. Regen is committed to supporting the success of this COP and,…

23 March 2021 Rethinking heat – should we treat shared ground arrays as a utility?

The housing challenge A report published by the Environmental Audit Committee this week[1] highlighted that the task of retrofitting our housing stock to meet net zero is “colossal”, and that…

19 March 2021 Regen responds to Environmental Audit Committee call for evidence on community energy

Community energy is essential to achieving the UK’s net zero statutory target. We will not be able to decarbonise at the speed and scale necessary without bringing people and communities…

18 March 2021 Community Energy State of Sector Survey 2021

Community Energy England, Wales and Scotland invite community organisations from across the UK, who are working on low carbon projects to respond to this survey. You can respond in in…

17 March 2021 Changing how we pay for electricity networks: A national methodology with big local impacts.

Moving electricity from where it is generated to where it is used is fundamental to our energy system. After decades of incremental change, the UK’s electricity infrastructure and systems now…

11 March 2021 Cold homes, sore throats, and hospital beds: A case for public spending on home retrofit

Cold homes, sore throats, and hospital beds: A case for public spending on home retrofit Inspired by the recent budget announcements and the current economic and public health crisis, I’d…

9 March 2021 ReWiRE Podcast: Women like me – Emma Bridge

We are excited to announce that the eighth episode of ReWiRE’s Podcast Series is now available. ‘Women like me’ provides a glimpse into the lives of women from across the…

8 March 2021 ReWiRE Podcast: Women like me – Felicity Jones

We are excited to announce that the seventh episode of ReWiRE’s Podcast Series is now available. ‘Women like me’ provides a glimpse into the lives of women from across the…

5 March 2021 ReWiRE Podcast: Women like me – Emma Pinchbeck

We are excited to announce that the sixth episode of ReWiRE’s Podcast Series is now available. ‘Women like me’ provides a glimpse into the lives of women from across the…

26 February 2021 Big oil raises the stakes in UK offshore wind market

Big oil raises the stakes in UK offshore wind market The Crown Estate has now announced the results of the Round 4 leasing round and the winning developers who will…

26 February 2021 Placing local leadership at the heart of net zero

Placing local leadership at the heart of net zero It was great to speak at our Local Leadership event in my new role as Head of cities and regions. I’m…

25 February 2021 Innovation in electricity procurement: supporting local renewables and clean growth

Innovation in electricity procurement: supporting local renewables and clean growth Local authorities are working hard to respond the global climate challenge and the UK’s transformational net zero carbon goal. By…

18 February 2021 ReWiRE Podcast: Women like me – Afsheen Kabir Rashid MBE

We are excited to announce that the fifth episode of ReWiRE’s Podcast Series is now available. ‘Women like me’ provides a glimpse into the lives of women from across the…

16 February 2021 Western Power Distribution’s 2023 – 2028 First Draft Business Plan: Briefing Note for Community Energy Groups

Read the Briefing Note for Community Energy Groups here. We have put together this briefing for community energy groups to help community and local energy stakeholders have their say on…

29 January 2021 Podcast: The opportunities and challenges of integrating hydrogen into the energy system

The fifth in Regen’s ‘transforming energy’ podcast series. In this episode, we hear from experts at Regen on the future of hydrogen. Following on from our recent paper ‘Building the hydrogen…

21 January 2021 Building the hydrogen value chain

Regen’s latest insight paper, written by Regen director Johnny Gowdy. This paper is part of Regen’s on-going research and analysis on the emerging low carbon hydrogen sector, in which we consider…

31 January 2022 Podcast: The UK energy storage pipeline

In this episode of Regen’s Transforming Energy podcast, Ray Arrell, head of technical development, and Bruce Bardsley, energy analyst, take an in-depth look at the UK energy storage pipeline. This…

18 December 2020 Podcast: The Energy White Paper Powering our Net Zero Future

The third in Regen’s ‘transforming energy’ podcast series. In this episode, we explore ‘the Energy White Paper Powering our Net Zero Future’. Following on from the Ten Point Plan and the…

18 December 2020 ReWiRE Podcast: Women like me – Philippa Eddie

We are excited to announce that the fourth episode of ReWiRE’s new Podcast Series is now available. ‘Women like me’ provides a glimpse into the lives of women from across…

16 December 2020 Scottish Government updates Climate Change Plan

In the week that the UK Government has finally published its Energy White Paper, it is great to see the Scottish Government moving ahead with its own “Update to the…

16 December 2020 ReWiRE Podcast: Women like me – Kayte O’Neill

We are excited to announce that the third episode of ReWiRE’s new Podcast Series is now available. ‘Women like me’ provides a glimpse into the lives of women from across…

16 December 2020 ReWiRE Podcast: Women like me – Cathy McClay

We are excited to announce that the second episode of ReWiRE’s new Podcast Series is now available. ‘Women like me’ provides a glimpse into the lives of women from across…

15 December 2020 Energy White Paper

The release of the Energy White Paper, after over 18 months of delay, is the vital next step to provide the policy detail on the ambitions set out in the…

10 December 2020 ReWiRE Podcast: Women like me – Sonya Bedford

We are excited to announce that the first episode of ReWiRE’s new Podcast Series is now available. ‘Women like me’ provides a glimpse into the lives of women from across…

9 December 2020 Hy to Hydrogen

Hy to Hydrogen – why this abundant element could be crucial in achieving net zero In the UK government’s Ten Point Plan, which focuses on “building back better, supporting green…

30 November 2020 2020 Planning

The role of the planning system has never been more important to our net zero ambitions. Last week the government committed through the National Infrastructure Strategy to more than 65%…

30 November 2020 System operation in a net zero world: what might the Energy White Paper mean for National Grid?

“The government will review the right long-term role and organisational structure for the Electricity System Operator, in light of the reforms to the System Operator instituted in April 2019” National…

30 November 2020 Decarbonisation and Ofgem – time for a change of remit

Regen has been following Ofgem’s work on network charging for the last three years and, notwithstanding the last-minute delay of Ofgem’s consultation into 2021, the Access SCR is now tantilisingly…

30 November 2020 Government policy bonanza

There’s been a flurry of government activity in the last week or so. The 10 Point Plan, whilst high level and vague in some areas, has set out the ambitions for this government and we…

27 November 2020 Back Onshore

This week brought confirmation that onshore wind and solar will be able to participate in the next round of Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions, providing the potential for new projects…

26 November 2020 Community energy’s 10-point plan

Last week we hosted a community energy forum exploring heat and energy efficiency with Northern Powergrid. Making the energy we use to heat our homes low carbon is one of…

18 November 2020 Podcast: The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution

The second in Regen’s ‘transforming energy’ podcast series. In this episode, we explore the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. We hear from our experts: Madeleine Greenhalgh, policy…

18 November 2020 Regen responds to the 10 Point Plan

The government’s announcement today of a “10 point plan” is a very welcome, and much needed, clear direction to set us on the transition to net zero and provide stimulus,…

30 October 2020 Ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution

No. 10 has announced that the Prime Minister will shortly launch a “10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution” which will provide the overall high level net zero goals…

29 October 2020 Creative Catalyst for Carbon Cutting

Are you a creative enterprise in the fields of design, arts, architecture, crafts, games, createch, film, TV, radio, music, performance, photography, heritage, publishing, etc.? The creative industries is one of…

26 October 2020 Podcast: Are we ready to operate a net zero energy system?

The first in Regen’s transforming energy podcast. In this episode, we explore how ready we are to operate a net zero energy system. Is the energy system working? Given the…

13 October 2020 NIA funding call for communities

Regen is working with Western Power Distribution (WPD) to put out a call for innovation ideas from communities, local authorities or any other local energy organisations. WPD is looking to…

7 October 2020 Energy Storage and the Electricity Generation Licence

Ofgem has released their decision on clarifying the regulatory framework for electricity storage. For many years the Electricity Storage Network has strongly argued for a definition that recognises storage technologies.…

30 September 2020 Access Significant Code Review: a damp squib or heralding a new era of decarbonisation?

The wait is nearly over, we are expecting Ofgem to publish it’s minded-to decision on their Access and Forward-Looking Charges Significant Code Review (SCR) within weeks. Regen have been following…

30 September 2020 Building flexibility markets for a net zero electricity system

Over the past year, Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have been exploring the question of carbon in flexibility markets, working with National Grid ESO, Ofgem and BEIS to improve…

30 September 2020 The smart energy journey

The world has been getting smarter rapidly, but it feels like the energy sector is only just starting out on its journey. It feels normal to have real-time information on…

29 September 2020 Plans in development for local energy network to boost green ambitions in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester has begun work on ambitious plans to revolutionise energy networks across the city-region, supporting a lower carbon future and our goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2038. The…

28 September 2020 What communities can do with local energy data

Regen was a partner on OpenLV, a network innovation project for Western Power Distribution (WPD) which gave communities access to local electricity substation data. Along with Centre for Sustainable Energy…

26 September 2020 Launching Local Leadership

Last week, I had the opportunity to present our latest Decade to Make a Difference paper – Local leadership to Transform the Energy System paper at its official web launch.…

17 September 2020 Diversifying community energy

At the start of the month we held our second community energy forum with Northern Powergrid, ‘Community energy and a green recovery’. It was a great opportunity to build on…

11 August 2020 UK energy trade bodies call for tax relief and reform to boost UK industry and support the green recovery

Co-ordinated by Regen and the Electricity Storage Network, the major trade bodies and membership organisations representing the energy industry have come together to ask the government to provide temporary tax…

5 August 2020 The problem with looking at the big picture

To say I’ve suffered with climate anxiety would be an understatement. I could spend time quoting academic articles and mental health studies, but actually the best way I’ve seen it…

30 July 2020 Local leadership to transform our energy system

I’ve spent the last 12 years working with local authorities on climate and energy issues. I’ve often been asked by local government officers “what can we do on energy?”. The latest paper in our Decade to Make a Difference series, Local…

27 July 2020 Regen comment on National Grid Future Energy Senarios

National Grid’s 2020 Future Energy Scenarios (FES 2020) published today has a key central message – net zero is achievable but it means getting on with action and decisions today.…

14 July 2020 Storage exempt from national planning regime

Today, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has confirmed that it will bring forward secondary legislation to exempt all size storage facilities (except pumped hydro) from the national…

9 July 2020 Unlock renewables for a green recovery

New Regen analysis shows that the UK has a pipeline of shovel-ready renewable energy and battery storage projects that could provide hundreds of thousands of jobs and contribute over £125…

30 June 2020 The power of collaboration for a green recovery

During this year’s Community Energy Fortnight, we hosted a Net Zero Community Energy webinar with Northern Powergrid to explore how they can work with community and local energy stakeholders to…

26 June 2020 Net Zero South Wales – a future, not so far away

Regen launched the results of a unique study, working with Western Power Distribution and Wales & West Utilities, to develop scenario pathways to show how the South Wales gas and electricity…

22 June 2020 Street level modelling with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

While there has been a lot of focus and analysis about how the shift to renewable energy will impact the overall energy system and energy system balancing, perhaps the greater…

17 June 2020 Press release: new analysis explores pathways to net zero in South Wales

Regen, along with project partners Western Power Distribution and Wales & West Utilities, have today published the first joint electricity and gas 2050 net zero scenarios covering their shared distribution…

16 June 2020 Egni Sir Gâr Cyfyngedig community benefit energy society funds food banks in Carmarthenshire from its’ solar portfolio in 2020

Egni Sir Gâr Cyfyngedig is the community benefit energy society established by Carmarthenshire County Council to tackle climate change by reducing energy costs, generating clean renewable energy, lowering carbon emissions…

15 June 2020 Interseasonal storage: a facilitator for net zero

Installed capacity of wind and solar in the UK is set to rise as we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The increased variation in generation, alongside widespread electrification of…

4 June 2020 Electric vehicle car sales showing resilience during lockdown

Covid-19 has had a huge impact on UK car sales, including Electric Vehicles (EVs). Total car sales were down 97% in April and 89% in May compared to last year’s…

2 June 2020 Electricity Storage: Pathways to a Net Zero Future

The Electricity Storage Network has released a report outlining the role storage can play in tackling the climate emergency. As the UK looks to a green recovery from the pandemic,…

1 June 2020 Regen responds to BEIS’ Contracts for Difference (CFD) Consultation

This consultation is a positive signal that the UK’s commitment to net zero is shaping government policy and could be transformational for the renewables industry. We’ve supported a number of…

28 May 2020 How might our distribution networks interact in the future?

Our energy networks are the backbone to our energy system, delivering energy from where it is generated to where it is consumed. In order to meet our net zero obligations,…

27 May 2020 Electricity Storage – Future Pathways and Barriers

Electricity storage has long been recognised as an essential element for our decarbonisation efforts. Through the government, the regulator and the system operator we are seeing changes to try and…

22 May 2020 Reflections on stakeholder engagement: Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES)

Western Power Distribution (WPD) and Regen have been working together to develop an understanding of how the national net zero transition is built up from a local level. Connections of…

21 May 2020 Interview with Fintan Slye: Operating a Zero Carbon Energy System

Operating a Zero Carbon Energy System with Fintan Slye – Director of the UK Electricity System Operator at National Grid The first in-depth interview in our ‘Leading the Energy Transition’…

19 May 2020 High granularity projections for low carbon technology uptake

Regen and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) will soon be publishing a report on our work together to produce street-level low carbon technology (LCT) projections. This work has built…

30 April 2020 Goodbye to RHI

The government announcements this week on the proposals for replacing the Renewable Heat Incentive are welcome sign that zero carbon policy is continuing to progress. We should recognise that the…

30 April 2020 Western Power Distribution Net Zero Communities Strategy

We helped Western Power Distribution (WPD) produce their Net Zero Communities Strategy this month, which sets out what they have done, and what they will do next to support community…

30 April 2020 Northern Powergrid Community Energy Engagement Strategy

Northern Powergrid have published their Community Energy Engagement Strategy developed in partnership with Regen. They recognise that they are in a position to help facilitate the low carbon transition, and…

30 April 2020 Graphic of the month: Lockdown impact on electricity demand

Noticeable reduction in GB electricity demand following lock down announcement This month’s graphic of the month illustrates lockdown impact on electricity demand alongside the amount of coal-fired power generation for…

30 April 2020 Leading the Energy Transition Webinars

Over the coming weeks Regen will be hosting a series of in-depth interviews with key players in the transformation of our energy system. As we focus on how to come…

29 April 2020 Engagement and innovation

Have you noticed that you’re getting a lot more invitations to stakeholder engagement events? Or perhaps you’re the person who’s sending them? Engagement fatigue has become a bit of a…

6 April 2020 Renewable energy projects support corona crisis funds

One of the things inspiring us during these difficult times is how renewable energy projects across the UK have been setting up crisis funds. These funds are being used to…

1 April 2020 Graphic of the Month: Reconfiguring domestic environmental levies into a carbon levy to incentivise low carbon heating

This month’s graphic highlights the domestic fuel price distortion created by current environmental levies and highlights the opportunity to reconfigure these into a new domestic carbon levy. A significant element…

31 March 2020 Government sets out pathway to the transport decarbonisation plan

In a positive sign that departments are keen to continue developing policy during the COVID–19 crisis, the government released a report that sets out the background and pathway to a transport decarbonisation plan, due in the Autumn. Some commentators were expecting the full plan to be released…

31 March 2020 Communities’ role in the Smart Energy Revolution

Communities are driving the smart energy revolution from the grass roots, demanding change via climate emergencies, extinction rebellion and citizens assemblies. However, they risk being left behind if they don’t…

31 March 2020 The winds of change?

Last week we visited Carmarthen for the Welsh edition of our ‘Communities and the Smart Energy Revolution’ events with Western Power Distribution (WPD). While there are still challenges to overcome…

31 March 2020 Towards new community energy business models

The second leg of our ‘Communities and the Smart Energy Revolution’ tour with Western Power Distribution (WPD) took us to Leicester, where we welcomed many new faces starting to enter…

31 March 2020 Community energy’s USP

A few weeks ago, we were in Birmingham for the first of our ‘Communities and the Smart Energy Revolution’ events with Western Power Distribution (WPD). We welcomed community energy organisations,…

30 March 2020 Engaging in network innovation

Working with the ENA and the energy networks over the past six months to develop their new network innovation strategies, published today, has been a unique opportunity to help shape…

13 March 2020 My time in India: Why I want to fight for climate justice

India is a country where you can see the impacts of the climate crisis starkly; so much so that once you bear witness, you cannot carry on without doing something.…

12 March 2020 Budget 2020 round up

The budget has some significant announcements on net zero in the run up to COP 26 in Glasgow – alongside the focus on Covid-19. There have been some headlines on…

9 March 2020 More price transparency is welcome, but can REGOs play a material role to achieve net zero carbon?

Keith Anderson, CEO of Scottish Power, recently blasted traders of Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin certificates (REGOs), suggesting that they are “playing games with bits of paper”. This puts the…

9 March 2020 New paper takes on the ‘greatest challenge’ of decarbonising heat

A new paper published today by leading energy system experts Regen, identifies that heat energy, which now accounts for over a third of the UK’s carbon emissions, is the greatest…

3 March 2020 Government to re-open Contracts for Difference for onshore wind and solar

Government to re-open Contracts for Difference for onshore wind and solar BEIS has released a consultation on the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme that proposes bring back the ‘Pot 1’…

28 February 2020 Subsidy-free solar taking off?

Recently, each electricity distribution network operator published a System Wide Resource Register, revealing the scale of the pipeline of solar farms. The capacity of projects with accepted connections now exceeds…

24 February 2020 Regen to help deliver two new smart local energy projects

An estimated 803 million citizens across 26 countries live in areas that have declared a climate emergency. Cities, regions and councils are now taking on a leading role in the…

7 February 2020 Consultation response to the Future Homes Standard

Regen and the Electricity Storage Network responded to The Future Homes Standard consultation from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The Future Homes Standard Homes built from…

3 February 2020 Ofgem joins the zero carbon journey

Ofgem’s publication today of a “decarbonisation programme action plan” is a significant moment in the journey to a net zero energy system and a positive start from the new chief…

31 January 2020 Graphic of the month – Stalled onshore wind deployment in England

This graphic of the month shows the impact of the government’s effective banning of onshore wind development in England through the planning regime – just three onshore wind farms (over…

31 January 2020 Developing a strategy for network innovation

Regen has been working with Energy Networks Association (ENA) and the electricity and gas network companies to refresh and update the strategies that guide network innovation. Over the past four…

31 January 2020 Future Homes Standard – Regen response

The Future Homes Standard consultation from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), is currently out for response, due to close on 7 February. Hidden amidst this very…

29 January 2020 Network charging – an emerging picture

On the 23 January, Regen hosted a members webinar exploring the implications of the two Ofgem Significant Code Reviews on Electricity Network Charging, focusing on new renewable generation and storage.…

8 January 2020 Regen energy insight: Is there a future for (natural) gas in a net zero carbon world?

Oil and gas companies have been hitting the blogsphere to explain why gas has a future in a low carbon world. But if that is the case, why aren’t they…

20 December 2019 A decade to make a difference

Some were celebrating on Friday and some spent the weekend in gloomy contemplation, but many of us are just keen to get on with the task at hand – delivering…

17 December 2019 Network charging, decarbonisation and sub-optimal economics

This week Ofgem have released a working paper which contains their initial thoughts on the crucial decision about the distribution connection boundary. Winter Working Paper: Distribution connection boundary – discussion…

11 December 2019 Smart, flexible and clean, or costly, dumb and dirty…

Don’t worry, this isn’t some ‘50 Shades of Grey’ analogy for our energy system. This is a breakthrough moment with solutions to a hostile takeover of our valuable grid capacity.…

4 December 2019 Regen manifesto analysis 2019

If we needed reassurance that the climate emergency is firmly rooted in political priorities, this election should give it in spades. The manifestos of all major parties include the phrase…

3 December 2019 A sketch of a new model for network governance and sustainability

Our newest paper, Energy Networks for the Future, highlights the need for a new partnership between the public and private sector to deliver the energy infrastructure needed to achieve…

28 November 2019 Green Energy Awards recognises companies spearheading the charge to a zero carbon future

Mixergy, Oxford City Council and Brighton and Hove Energy Services Co-operative amongst winners highlighted by prestigious sustainable energy awards. Last night, on the 27 November, the sustainable energy industry gathered…

25 November 2019 Decarbonisation scenarios in the North of Scotland

We are pleased to share a summary report on the future energy scenarios we have developed for the North of Scotland for Scottish and Southern Energy Networks. This unique and…

15 November 2019 Energy Generation in Wales in 5 minutes

This is a short graphical summary of the Energy Generation in Wales study which assess the most up to date deployment of renewable energy and fossil fuel generation in Wales.…

12 November 2019 Alternative model for regulating the electricity networks proposed in ambitious new paper

A new paper, Energy Networks for the Future, highlights the need for a new partnership between the public and private sector to deliver the energy infrastructure needed to achieve net…

31 October 2019 Renewable Futures: Net-Zero Summit

We all know that the speed and scale of action are not yet ambitious enough to meet the net-zero goal. So this year we have decided to turn our annual…

28 October 2019 Local flexibility auctions need to support smarter solutions – not rely on fossil generators

The results of the first rounds of auctions to provide flexible capacity to support the electricity distribution network have proven the concept that flexibility can provide solutions that delay the…

25 October 2019 New nuclear – playing on another field

This month Regen responded with a letter to the consultation on a Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model for nuclear. The UK government had proposed RAB as a funding model to…

16 October 2019 Government changes tack on planning regulations for storage

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has announced a new approach to the planning regulations for storage, exempting any storage projects over 50 MW from the national…

10 October 2019 Why should communities care about flexibility? 3. The future and the people

The full value of using energy in a flexible way is not yet fully realised, and as the markets develop and hopefully become more integrated, simplified and stackable, more people…

9 October 2019 Graphic of the month – Offshore wind CfD results

This month’s graphic shows the offshore wind projects which were awarded Contracts for Difference (CfD) in the latest auction round. Those that were successful in bidding were awarded a ‘strike…

3 October 2019 Future Homes Standard

In a first step towards achieving the Future Homes Standard (FHS) announced by Philip Hammond earlier this year, MHCLG yesterday published a consultation on the uplift to standards in Part…

3 October 2019 Why should communities care about flexibility? 2. The money

This is the second blog in a series of publications about the environmental, economic and social value and implications of emerging local flexibility markets. This week I’ll be following the…

30 September 2019 UK leaders in decarbonisation announced amongst finalists for the 16th annual Green Energy Awards

We are very excited to be able to announce the finalists for the 16th annual Green Energy Awards. The awards are a leading national celebration of the innovative technologies, pioneering…

26 September 2019 Why should communities care about flexibility? 1. Carbon reduction

In this series of three blogs I’ll share insight and key themes that have emerged from countless conversations with communities who look at flexibility in our energy system very differently…

24 September 2019 EV driving experience – a ReWiRE perspective

The transition to a net-zero carbon transport future is vital to help eliminate emissions from the sector and unlock new opportunities. In July, as part of our ReWiRE initiative, we…

23 September 2019 Staying flexible: why aren’t communities providing more network flexibility services?

Our energy system is undergoing radical change. Long-established patterns of demand are being disrupted by smart technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicles while renewable energy generation has increased variability…

20 September 2019 Regen reaction to the Contracts for Difference Auction results

“Companies are now committing to building offshore wind farms in UK waters that will generate power at prices well below new gas-fired power stations, this was unthinkable just a few…

29 August 2019 Nomination deadline for the 2019 Green Energy Awards

The final week of shortlisting is underway for the prestigious Green Energy Awards 2019 with the initial nominations closing on 6 September. The awards are a leading national celebration of…

22 August 2019 Learning from the power cut: 7 ways to make the UK energy system more resilient

The interim report[1] published by National Grid ESO into the cause, response and impact of the widespread blackout on the 9 August gives a very clear account of the mechanics…

21 August 2019 Pump up the volume – making a case for heat pumps in domestic properties

Heat remains one of the most challenging areas of the UK energy system to decarbonise. A number of pathways are being explored, including deeper levels of energy efficiency, broad-scale electrification,…

20 August 2019 Regen and ESN respond to National Grid’s interim report on the power cut

National Grid’s interim report released today on the 9 August blackout sets out clearly how the electricity system worked in response to two generators dropping out. However, neither this review…

12 August 2019 Power cut demonstrates value of fast-response assets like battery storage

Lessons to be learnt An investigation is set to follow Friday’s widespread power cut which will no doubt shed further light on what happened, why it happened, and the impact…

5 August 2019 The BESST ways to buy energy

To really decarbonise our energy system, every home and business will need to play its part. Finding smarter ways of buying energy services that are not only low carbon, but…

29 July 2019 Collaboration and innovation in community energy

We were in Bridgwater recently with Western Power Distribution (WPD), delivering our fourth joint event, Local Energy, a Flexible Future. We’ve been around the Midlands and the South West to…

29 July 2019 Opening up new opportunities for community energy

On Wednesday last week, 35 people attended Western Power Distribution’s (WPD) event in Exeter to help communities and local authorities learn more about flexibility, why it’s relevant and what it…

29 July 2019 The brave new world of local flexibility

Last month Western Power Distribution (WPD) ran an event in Lincoln talking with communities and local authorities about the future of local energy. A flexible energy system will be key…

25 July 2019 Bristol – Taking on the zero carbon challenge

Over 90 climate emergencies have now been declared by UK Local Authorities. Bristol was one of the first in November 2018 and the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees also announced…

23 July 2019 Ofgem’s investment guidelines highlight the need for a clearer decarbonisation mandate

As the leadership of the UK changes, this is an opportunity for the new Prime Minister, or Energy Minister, to make significant reforms towards decarbonisation. One of the highest priorities…

18 July 2019 The concepts behind our Energy Generation in Wales in 5 minutes document

A series of short stories: On the concepts behind our Energy Generation in Wales in 5 minutes document. Last year we produced a brilliant report, known as ‘Energy Generation in…

18 July 2019 Planning out of sync with net zero-carbon future, RTPI report finds

Planning needs to change to support a smooth transition to a net zero-carbon future, says a new report published by the RTPI. NPPF: lack of attention to smart energy The report…

17 July 2019 Getting the energy industry to net-zero

What do the CCC’s recommendations mean for the energy sector? The Committee on Climate Change released its progress report last week and added another hefty load to the mountain of…

10 July 2019 Regen backs the urgent actions set out in the latest progress report from the Committee on Climate Change

Today, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) have released another excellent report, setting out the UK’s progress towards meeting our carbon targets. We have seen increasingly forceful rhetoric from the…

4 July 2019 The future of heat and the role of gas in our energy system

Developing regional future scenarios for heat and gas To support Wales & West Utilities’ future gas demand forecasting, network analysis and investment planning, Regen has been commissioned to undertake a…

2 July 2019 Sharing the value of our future energy system

Community Energy Fortnight is always a good time to reflect upon the value that communities bring to our energy system, what motivates community organisations to participate in our energy system,…

26 June 2019 Ofgem adopts ESN’s definition of storage in the electricity generation licence

Ofgem have today announced an amendment to the electricity generation licence which gives a formal definition to electricity storage. This follows their 2017 consultation which proposed to use the Electricity…

13 June 2019 The future of local energy

Our energy system is changing, a third of all electricity generation came from renewables in 2018, and 15 Giga Watts (GW) of fossil fuel generation has come off the system…

12 June 2019 Regen responds to new 2050 net zero target set by UK government

Regen welcomes today’s news that the UK government has committed to a net zero emissions target by 2050. For the county that led the industrial revolution to commit to zero…

10 June 2019 Regen thrilled with OBE for chief executive, Merlin Hyman

The Regen team was thrilled to hear over the weekend that our chief executive, Merlin Hyman, has been awarded an OBE in this year’s Queen’s birthday honours. The award is…

3 June 2019 Graphic of the month – The decline of coal

The decline of coal Great Britain’s electricity system saw its first coal-free week for over 100 years this May (2019). At the time of publishing, we are in a second…

28 May 2019 The ESN debates network charging

Ofgem’s reforms to network charging are no longer a niche issue for network nerds – politicians, campaigners and the media are all picking up on the significance of the changes.…

2 May 2019 Regen’s response to the CCC net-zero report

Regen has welcomed the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) report recommending the UK sets a target to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and called on government to take immediate action…

1 May 2019 The looming capacity gap

The government’s own emission projections puts the UK on course to miss its legally binding carbon budgets, such that by 2032 it will overrun them by 10 percent. This was…

30 April 2019 The Electricity Storage Network’s Annual Symposium

The mayor of London was recently lambasted by climate protesters for asking that we return to “business as usual”. Their palpable anger at this simple turn of phrase is reflective…

30 April 2019 What is fair? Network charging for our future electricity system

Regen is part of an industry Challenge Group feeding into the ‘Access and forward-looking network charging Significant Code Review’. This Ofgem process is fundamentally changing how we pay for our…

29 April 2019 Introducing the Current± Hub, the energy transition’s trusted directory

Current± is delighted to announce the launch of the Current± Hub, the smart supply directory for the energy transition. Since its launch in May last year, Current± has sought to chart the transition…

18 April 2019 Climate protests gather momentum

Many of us at Regen attended the protests organised by Extinction Rebellion on Monday last week, with Olly putting in a full-on day of stewarding. Regen encouraged and supported us…

27 March 2019 Where there’s a will, is there a (planning) way?

The Electricity Storage Network (ESN) has been concerned for some time with how the planning regime deals with storage. To debate the issue, we have been running events over the…

22 March 2019 That’s all folks

A last minute spike in applications for the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) has breached the 41 MW cap for behind-the-meter solar PV installations over 50 kW. In our February Market Insight…

21 March 2019 WPD release latest report ‘Shaping Sub-transmission South Wales 2019’ based on Regen future energy scenarios

We are excited that Western Power Distribution (WPD) have now published their latest Shaping Sub-transmission report for South Wales 2019 based on Regen’s distribution future energy scenarios (DFES) report which…

12 March 2019 Regional Future Energy Scenarios for heat and gas

Regen is working with Wales & West Utilities on a new regionalised approach to understanding the future of heat and the role of gas in our energy system. Underpinning all…

5 March 2019 Smaller isn’t necessarily the lesser

Smaller isn’t necessarily the lesser News of the closure of closure of the Feed-in Tariff last year was not a surprise to many in the industry, but still of course,…

4 February 2019 Consultation Response to the Targeted Charging Review

Regen and the Electricity Storage Network (ESN) have responded to the recent consultation from Ofgem on the Targeted Charging Review which outlines how they plan to reform the distribution of…

30 January 2019 Future of Network Charging

There is seemingly endless activity on network charging with several consultations and code reviews. To try and make sense of all this, we ran an event ton 22 January to…

30 January 2019 New Report on Up-scaling Community Energy in Wales

We’ve recently been commissioned by the Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA) to write a report producing recommendations for community and local ownership of renewable energy schemes in Wales. The report…

16 January 2019 Prioritising a smart, flexible and low carbon energy system

The last few months have seen a barrage of policy changes coming from government and the regulator – some are minor, many will have a significant impact on the energy…

15 January 2019 Reforming the planning regime for storage

After being trailed in the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan in October last year, the government have published proposals to change the planning regime for storage. The Department for Business,…

18 December 2018 Feed-in Tariff Closure – Government Decision

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has today published its response to the summer consultation to close the Feed-in Tariff scheme to new applicants. Despite over 90%…

6 December 2018 A fair price for renewable energy – contact your MP

Since the Feed-in Tariff was capped and its closure announced in 2015, small-scale renewable generation has ‘nose-dived’, ‘fallen off a cliff’ or any other gravity-based metaphor that has been used…

30 November 2018 Capacity Market Suspension

Amidst a fraught and challenging day for the UK government, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) found in favour of Tempus Energy, who have challenged EU state aid approval of…

30 November 2018 All change for network charging…

Ofgem have published their Targeted Charging Review ‘minded to’ proposals for changes in how electricity users pay for the electricity network. The proposals are to move charges from paying for…

29 November 2018 Survey to gather experience and ideas on planning for a smart energy future

Regen is leading a project for the Royal Town Planning Institute (South West) on Planning for a Smart Energy Future, with Pell Frischmann, the Landmark Practice and the University of…

29 November 2018 Groundbreaking projects and schemes honored at the Green Energy Awards

On the night of the 27 November, the green energy industry gathered at a glittering awards’ ceremony in Bath to showcase and celebrate the companies, projects and individuals at the…

26 November 2018 A people-centred new energy system

We had a great event in Plymouth this week with Plymouth Energy Community (PEC), Western Power Distribution (WPD), and 83 participants. The number of people who took part demonstrates the…

22 November 2018 The art of collaboration

One of the strongest themes that has run through the event series held by Western Power Distribution (WPD) and Regen is collaboration. Without it, projects would find it hard to…

22 November 2018 Determination over despondence

“limiting global warming to 1.5°C with no or limited overshoot would require rapid and far-reaching transitions in energy… These systems transitions are unprecedented in terms of scale” IPCC Special Report…

9 November 2018 Planning for a smart energy future: How can planning stay ahead of the curve in supporting the transition to a smart energy future?

The Royal Town Planning Institute has commissioned Regen, The Landmark Practice, Pell Frischmann and the University of the West of England to undertake a research project on planning for a…

24 October 2018 Government changes to fracking planning regulations

The government is about to close two consultations which propose significant changes to the planning regulations surrounding fracking. Fracking started in the UK last week for the first time in…

19 October 2018 Fracking Up – UK energy policy in a muddle

The Green Great Britain Week was intended to be a celebration of the UK’s low carbon industries and the progress that has undoubtedly been made to decarbonise the UK economy.…

16 October 2018 A Progress Update to the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan

In July 2017, BEIS and Ofgem published a joint vision of how the UK is to adapt to our changing energy system – Upgrading Our Energy System: Smart Systems and…

8 October 2018 Regen’s response to the IPCC report

The sobering report from the International Panel on Climate Change today sets out the urgency of transforming our energy system. The dramatic growth in renewables this decade shows what…

4 October 2018 Capacity Market – Call for Evidence

The Capacity Market is up for its 5-year review and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) recently closed their call for evidence which kicked off that process. In…

3 October 2018 Communities in the energy ecosystem

Despite the challenges that have come its way over the past few years, the community energy sector is more determined than ever to play a key role in our energy…

24 September 2018 15th Green Energy Awards shortlist announced

We are excited to have announced the prestigious annual Green Energy Awards. The awards are a leading national celebration of the innovative technologies, pioneering companies and inspiring individuals shaking up…

24 September 2018 In search of the Holy Grail

The holy grail of community energy is local energy markets where communities can generate renewable energy and supply it via the public network to local homes and businesses. With the…

20 September 2018 Access and Forward Looking Charges

How we pay for our electricity network in the future will be critical to how the energy system develops to support more decentralised and decarbonised generation and flexibility. Ofgem decided…

14 September 2018 Feed-in Tariff Closure

The government announced their intention to close the generation element of the Feed-in Tariff back in 2015 and have recently put out a consultation on the details of that closure.…

31 August 2018 Response to BEIS’ call for evidence: ‘The Future for Small-Scale Low-Carbon Generation’

BEIS recently released two major consultations for the small-scale renewable sector. One outlines the closure of the Feed-in Tariff and the other is a wider call for evidence looking for…

17 August 2018 The call for local flexibility services: what, where, when (and how much?)

Distribution networks seeking flexibility As part of the transition to Distribution System Operator (DSO), many of the UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) are currently exploring the potential to procure flexibility…

15 August 2018 Launch of three new case studies developed for Western Power Distribution

Regen has developed three new case studies, alongside some short animations, looking at the growth of electric vehicles, the shift to Distribution System Operator and the role of local flexibility markets,…

13 August 2018 Capacity Market for a renewable future? Call for evidence

Capacity Market for a renewable future? Call for Evidence The government this week released a new call for evidence (CfE) to inform a five year (statutory) review of the operation…

8 August 2018 Energy storage prospectus and expression of interest on behalf of Cornwall Council

On behalf of Cornwall Council, Regen is working on the development of an energy storage solution at the Aerohub site in Newquay, Cornwall (UK). The prospectus and expression of interest outlines…

1 August 2018 Ofgem’s proposals for network charging should make everyone take notice

On 13 September we are running an event, with Ofgem, on the future of network charging. Book to attend here. Until recently most renewable energy generators lived in blissful ignorance…

30 July 2018 Revised National Planning Policy Framework published

The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published on 24 July 2018, following a consultation on the proposed revisions earlier this year. In relation to planning for the low carbon future, the…

23 July 2018 We need to talk about green energy tariffs

We need to talk about green tariffs….. There has been a rapid growth in the number of low-cost green tariffs on offer for renewable electricity. This has been accompanied by…

23 July 2018 Substantially increase the share of renewable energy by 2030? Not on today’s sloped playing field

The UK needs to substantially increase the share of renewable energy by 2030 to achieve Target 7.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Poppy Maltby from Regen explores whether this is…

20 July 2018 New opportunities for community energy

We had a great day in Cardiff at our Flexibility Markets for Beginners event at the start of July, this is a key area for communities to engage as we…

20 July 2018 Flexible power – a step towards local supply and addressing fuel poverty

Anyone on Economy 7 is used to the idea of using electricity at night, when it’s cheaper. Doing this on a local scale to avoid costly upgrades on the local…

20 July 2018 Rethinking our energy system from the bottom up

Having just run a series of three participatory events for community and local energy folk entitled ‘flexibility markets for beginners’, plus a community energy feast and site visit, I’ve come…

19 July 2018 Consultation on the closure of the Feed-In Tariff Scheme

The government has today published two documents that the small-scale renewable energy industry has been waiting for. These are the long-awaited consultation on the future of the Feed-in Tariffs Scheme and also a call for evidence on the…

17 July 2018 Electricity Storage Network (ESN)

Regen is very pleased to announce that, from 1 July, we have agreed to take on the management and coordination of the Electricity Storage Network (ESN), a network of businesses, academics and industry…

27 June 2018 Positive Power – five reasons to feel good about energy

There were 23 community organisations at Smart Energy marketplace last week, we celebrated the start of Community Energy Fortnight with a Feast for the Future in Devon on Friday, and…

25 June 2018 Nominations for the Green Energy Awards are now open

We are delighted to announce that entries are now open for Regen’s annual Green Energy Awards. This year, for the first time, all of the awards will be celebrating the…

24 June 2018 WPD turns to local flexibility to address local network challenges

Building on a trial looking for flexibility services in the Midlands last year, Western Power Distribution (WPD) has now extended their call for flexibility to other areas around the UK,…

16 June 2018 Harnessing the transport revolution

The world is about to undergo another major transport revolution. Just as steam replaced horsepower and oil has replaced steam, 21st century transportation will be revolutionised by low carbon and…

18 May 2018 Local flexibility in five steps part five: what does it mean for you?

In our final blog about the development of the local flexibility market, we look to understand what the rise of this market means for potential providers. These blogs draw on…

10 May 2018 Smart Grids and the role of the DSO

A critical part of the framework required to enable decentralised energy and smart grids is to have a system operator at the local distribution level of the electricity network. The…

4 May 2018 Local flexibility in five steps part four: how a local flexibility platform could work

In the fourth blog of our series on the development of the local flexibility market, we look at how the high-level process of procuring and enacting local flexibility might work…

30 April 2018 Local flexibility markets in five steps, part three: the role of a local flexibility market

In the third blog in our series on the development of local flexibility, we explore the role of the local flexibility market itself, drawing on our work with Open Utility…

30 April 2018 New report shows Swansea Bay City Region can take a major step towards meeting its total energy needs through renewable energy

View the report here. New report shows Swansea Bay City Region can take a major step towards meeting its total energy needs through renewable energy A new energy simulation model shows…

25 April 2018 Local Flexibility Markets in Five Steps Part Two: Benefits for DSOs

Benefits for DSOs This is the second in our series on local flexibility drawing on the experience of Open Utility in developing an online marketplace for local flexibility. When we…

24 April 2018 People, Power and Happiness

We launched the Devon Community Energy Impact Report today and it has loads of useful data demonstrating the added value of locally owned, grassroots energy activity. The generation of 17,431…

19 April 2018 Local Flexibility Markets in Five Steps Part One: Local Flexibility Trials

Local flexibility is one of the most active innovation areas in the electricity system. The first of our series of five blogs looks at the emerging lessons as to how…

11 April 2018 New energy guide launched to help communities innovate their way to smarter, cleaner energy system

Local electricity network operators have joined forces today to produce a guide to help communities to get involved with innovation projects to support a smarter, cleaner energy system. The guide…

10 April 2018 The transport revolution will accelerate the transition to clean and smart energy systems

The transport revolution will accelerate the transition to clean and smart energy systems. Download the full report here. The transport system is about to undergo a revolution. Just as steam…

30 March 2018 The role of Electric Vehicles in a Smart Grid

Smart grid technology provides the means to match up supply and demand at a local level. A critical part of a smart grid is to have forms of flexibility in…

24 March 2018 Utility Scale Solar and Storage: Getting the Pipeline Flowing

Utility Scale Solar and Storage: Getting the Pipeline Flowing Support from governments across Europe has enabled solar power to grow rapidly and drive down costs. With government subsidy support now…

20 March 2018 Ten years of carbon budgets – will heat prove too difficult?

A lot has changed since the 2008 Climate Change Act; legally binding carbon budgets have been met by rapidly decarbonising our electricity supply, largely due to significant amounts of PV…

2 March 2018 Energy Utopia

2 March 2018 On a very cold and snowy day in Birmingham, we met with a few very dedicated community energy folk who braved the weather to hear the latest…

28 February 2018 Democratic as well as Decarbonised

28 February 2018 One of Regen’s first initiatives to support the developing community energy sector, was to work with partners to set up Communities for Renewables CIC (CfR), to provide specialist expertise…

21 February 2018 Peer to peer trading and microgrids – the next big thing?

21 February 2018 As most of the community energy world looks around for new business models that work, a few brave souls are tackling innovative projects head on to bring…

16 February 2018 Future flexibility markets for beginners

16 February 2018 How can we make our energy system more democratic, decentralised and decarbonised? What will the transition from Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to Distribution System Operator (DSO) mean…

26 January 2018 Accessing the network benefits from local matching – a working model?

Communities and local generators often want to supply electricity directly to local customers and it feels intuitively right that doing this should cost less than if they used the full…

26 January 2018 Ups and downs in the Renewable Heat Incentive – will biomass remain as the dominant technology?

26 January 2018 The government last week released the latest statistics relating to the Renewable Heat Incentive, covering the period to December 2017 since the scheme’s inception in November 2011. During Q4…

24 January 2018 New study on the future challenges for the electricity distribution network

24 January 2018 Over the past two years, Regen has been working closely with Western Power Distribution to produce scenarios for demand on our electricity networks. Based on these scenarios,…

17 January 2018 Response to Committee On Climate Change Review

The review by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) of the government’s Clean Growth Plan published today and the government’s response provides a good new year insight into areas we can expect to see policies…

15 December 2017 Energy generation in Wales

Wales now generates over 43 percent of its electricity consumption from renewables, contributed to by over 67,000 renewable energy projects. While the UK and England are without a renewable energy…

15 December 2017 First ever community dinner with a DNO

40 community representatives joined Western Power Distribution for dinner on Tuesday. The dinner was part of a festive renewable energy site visit at Castle Drogo to see the restored…

11 December 2017 The future of network charging: What will it cost to access the grid? – Part 2

The way access to the electricity network is allocated and charged for is, in our view, currently the single most important policy and regulatory issue for a decarbonised and decentralised…

24 November 2017 Certain uncertainty

This week has seen the budget confirm the end of the Feed in Tariff and no further support for renewables until 2025. Only time will tell what this means for the…

22 November 2017 The future of network charging: What will it cost to access the grid? – Part 1

22 November 2017 What price access to the grid? – Part 1 The way access to the electricity network is allocated and charged for is, in our view, currently the…

1 November 2017 Paper on the ‘next wave’ of energy storage paper launched

When Regen published its first market insight paper looking at storage – Energy Storage: Towards a commercial model – in 2016, battery storage was still an emerging sector. We were certainly seeing…

10 October 2017 Options for providing heat locally

Heating our homes and businesses is responsible for some 20% of our carbon emissions.[1] Whilst emissions from power sector have been failing we are behind on our commitments to reduce emissions…

14 September 2017 Mind the Gap: the role of the Renewable Heat Incentive in UK carbon targets

The government’s recent announcements relating to the reform of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) address some important technical issues; however, whilst working through the detail for our briefing for Regen…

30 June 2017 The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back? Ofgem recently announced they will proceed with their plans to dramatically reduce ‘embedded benefits’ received by distributed generators from £45 per kW to £2 per kW,…

14 May 2017 Launch of WPD storage consultation report

WPD has been working with Regen to develop an approach to model the growth and operation of storage. As part of this modelling work, we developed and issued a consultation paper, aiming…

8 May 2017 Response to Ofgem’s ‘Targeted Charging Review’

Regen have responded to Ofgem’s Charging Review calling for holistic review of the network charging regime that focuses on how charging for use of the electricity network can better support…

25 April 2017 Local Flexibility Markets in Five Steps Part Two: Benefits for DSOs

This is the second in our series on local flexibility drawing on the experience of Open Utility in developing an online marketplace for local flexibility. When we first discussed this…

8 March 2017 Book Review of “Burn Out The Endgame for Fossil Fuels” By Dieter Helm

Given the punchy title you might think that Professor Dieter Helm, Oxford University’s preeminent energy academic, has finally turned on the industry to which he is closely associated. Not so,…

2 March 2017 Ofgem Embedded Benefits Consultation

02 March 2017 Ofgem have proposed dramatically reducing ‘embedded benefits’ received by distributed generators from £45 per kW to £2 per kW. This would be phased in between 2018 to…

27 February 2017 In praise of high voltage interconnectors

27 February 2017 Interconnectors – high voltage cables linking Great Britain’s energy system with our partners in Europe – are set to become a critical part of the UK’s future…

6 February 2017 Report on the future of distribution networks

6 February 2017 It is now broadly accepted that we are shifting to a decentralised and flexible energy system, the question is how such a system will work in practice.…

20 October 2016 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Policy Priorities

20 October 2016 As the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) settles in, we thought members would be interested in our take on the emerging priorities. There…

30 September 2016 Who pays for the grid?

30 September 2016 Changes announced for the future treatment of embedded benefits The question of who pays for the grid, and the methodology used to calculate network charging has vexed energy…

20 September 2016 Smart power revolution at risk from ‘tinkering’ with grid charging

20 September 2016 Smart power revolution at risk from ‘tinkering’ with grid charging The smart power revolution is being put at risk by tinkering with charging for use of the…

8 March 2015 Oil Price Collapse – not all bad news for Renewable Energy

The steep fall in the oil price to below $50 a barrel has been the economic story of 2014. We may have hit rock bottom according to the latest statement…