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Community energy for a just transition: breaking the stereotype
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Regen leads coalition calling for a commitment to local energy
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Why we must not overlook the immense value of ‘local’ power
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Empowering MPs to counter myths about renewables
Onshore Wind Energy
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?  …
Does the Clean Power Plan for 2030 spell the end of the zonal pricing debate?
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Assessing transmission network planning timelines for NESO
Planning for Renewables
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…
Is the ‘Local Power Plan’ part of the ‘Clean Power 2030 Plan’?
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Clean Power 2030
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Changes to G99
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Autumn Budget 2024 round-up
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Reinvigorating shared ownership for a fast and fair transition
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
We need clarity and direction on REMA
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
What will the new Strategic Spatial Energy Plan mean for planning?
Planning for Renewables
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…
Is your project ‘needed’ for clean power?
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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:…
The ‘need’ for local in Clean Power 2030
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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.…
Our verdict on Labour’s first 100 days
Energy Innovation
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,…
Empowering people, places and the energy system: our responses to the RESP 
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Insights from National Grid’s ‘Intro to the development of community-owned renewables’ webinar
NGED Communities
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…
How the global offshore wind industry can help ensure a just transition
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Regen responds to NPPF consultation
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Why retrofit programmes need to be more strategic at a local level
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Pioneering modelling will help ensure fairer energy network planning for net zero
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
CfD AR6 analysis – offshore energy
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Insights from Northern Powergrid’s Community Energy Conferences
Northern Powergrid Communities
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…
Electricity Storage Network responds to National Fire Chiefs Council consultation
ESN Consultation Responses & Policy Updates
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…
The power of portraiture
Regen Art Lab
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…
Regen’s priorities for the Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce
Onshore Wind Energy
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…
Regen welcomes consultation on revised National Planning Policy Framework
Onshore Wind Energy
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…
Labour ups the CfD budget
Regen Comment
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…
Takeaways from another busy week in Parliament
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
ESO publishes new pathways to net zero
Future Scenarios
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…
Progressive market reform for a clean power system
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Regen welcomes the removal of the planning restrictions on onshore wind 
Planning for Renewables
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…
Accelerating clean British power – our call to Labour for its first 100 days in government
Energy Innovation
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…
Insights from National Grid’s 2024 East Midlands Community Energy Forum
NGED Communities
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.…
Fast and fair: Regen receives funding for vital just transition work
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Insights from National Grid’s 2024 South West Community Energy Forum
NGED Communities
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…
Regen welcomes Labour manifesto pledges on planning reform
Regen Comment
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…
Regen welcomes Environmental Audit Committee recommendations on planning and community benefits
Local & Community Energy Support
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’.…
Briefing: What do we mean by ‘clean power’?
Regen Comment
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…
Smart solutions could create network capacity and enable new renewable generation on the Isle of Wight
Future Scenarios
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…
Planning reform in the renewables sector: A crucial year
Planning for Renewables
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…
NIC progress review is a clear route map for accelerated energy policy
Regen Comment
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,…
Investing in local grid infrastructure should be a national priority
Future Scenarios
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 –…
Roadmap to RESP can set the course for a more dynamic and fair energy system
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Electricity Storage Network responds to second REMA consultation
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Time to focus on progressive market reform – Regen responds to second REMA consultation
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Barriers to community energy projects call for evidence: asking enough questions?
Planning for Renewables
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…
Accelerated planning: where are the renewables?
Planning for Renewables
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…
Somerset Energy Investment Plan – a roadmap to net zero
Future Scenarios
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…
Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group (PRASEG) event on planning and communities
Planning for Renewables
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,…
Playbook identifies patterns for network innovation success
Energy Innovation
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…
How to unlock smart local energy systems for a net zero future
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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,…
Consultation Response: Heat Network Zoning
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Net Zero Communities: Insights from the energy markets and connections webinar
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Winners of the Green Energy Awards 2024 announced!
Regen Events
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…
Regen awarded strategic funding for two network innovation projects
Future Scenarios
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…
Second REMA consultation: A significant step forward, despite pre-election politics
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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,…
Consultation response: Long Duration Energy Storage cap and floor scheme
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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.…
AR6: Is the government about to make another costly mistake?
Regen Comment
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…
Consultation response: Amendments to AR7 and future CfD rounds
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Shaping the future of renewables and storage: Insights from industry leaders
Planning for Renewables
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…
Heavy expectations and exciting opportunities for the Regional Energy Strategic Planners
Planning for Renewables
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…
Green Energy Awards Shortlist 2024
Regen Events
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…
Powering heat pumps with ‘local’ wind could cut emissions and bills
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Unlock the potential of British wind – our response to Labour’s promise to end onshore ban
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Written evidence to ESNZ Select Committee on LMP and progressive market reforms
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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.…
Consultation response: Ofgem’s ten-year review of Capacity Market rules
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Regen’s commitment to community energy and plans for the year ahead
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Regen and ESN’s response to Transmission Constraint Licence Condition call for input
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Net zero load growth on Scottish Islands: the Outer Hebrides
Future Scenarios
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…
Regen evidence to Select Committee inquiry on power market reform
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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.…
The growth of GB’s interconnector capacity
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Regen talks constraints with ESNZ Select Committee
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Who will pay for gas network decline and decommissioning?
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Consultation response: Sustainable Industry Rewards for offshore wind
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
How to leverage local and community energy for a just transition in Scotland
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Regen report to government informs Long Duration Energy Storage consultation
ESN Consultation Responses & Policy Updates
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…
Celebrating 20 years of Regen
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Building the dispatch model – a summer internship blog
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Hot off the press: a guide to community heat
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Regen and ESN’s response to Phase 2 of the government’s Capacity Market consultation
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Fostering closer collaboration between energy networks and local authorities​
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Review of Electricity Market Arrangements: A Vision for Scotland
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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.…
Planning for decarbonisation at a local level
Local Authority Guidance
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)…
Government publishes plans to half the lead-time for major transmission construction
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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.…
Regen responds to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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.…
Community benefits for transmission infrastructure: Regen’s view on the government’s plans
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Regen and SSEN Distribution working to develop thinking on Regional Energy Strategic Planners
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Regen welcomes Ofgem announcement of Regional Energy Strategic Planners
Local Authority Guidance
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…
Relief as government confirms increased administrative strike prices for offshore wind
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
New oil and gas licences are just a distracting political stunt
Global Climate Change
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…
Reforming grid connections: Preparing Britain’s electricity network for net zero
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Consultation response: Hydrogen blending into the GB gas distribution network
Global Climate Change
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…
Consultation response: National Grid ESO Future Energy Scenarios
Future Scenarios
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…
Regen calls for urgent action from government to rebuild UK’s offshore wind leadership
Offshore Renewable Energy
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.…
AR5: Tidal stream benefits from missing floating offshore wind bids
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Consultation response: Engaging domestic customers in energy flexibility
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Regen sets out priorities for market reform in letter to REMA team
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
How are DNOs making use of flexibility on their networks?
Energy Markets for Net Zero
28 September 2023 How are DNOs making use of flexibility on their networks?
What does Sunak’s statement on net zero mean for the clean energy industry?
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
AR5: Urgent government response needed to rebuild leadership in UK offshore wind
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Heating our homes: Regen responds to UK Parliament’s inquiry
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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:…
The Electricity Networks Commissioner’s transmission report – going far enough?
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
A bump in the road but not yet a car crash – time to reset and rebuild the UK offshore wind pipeline
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Insight paper: Improving locational signals in the GB electricity market
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5: Getting ready for a summer full of sun, sand and the Celtic Sea
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Consultation response: Developing local partnerships for onshore wind in England
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Consultation response: Ofgem modelling future supply and demand
Future Scenarios
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…
Labour’s Local Power Plan
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Consultation response: Ofgem future reform to the electricity connections process
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Briefing note: Developing Local Partnerships for Onshore Wind in England
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Net zero load growth – an evidence case for the Isle of Wight
Future Scenarios
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…
Consultation response: Updating the National Policy Statements
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Introducing non-price factors into the CfD: reviewing the proposed reforms
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Regen submits response to community benefit for electricity transmission infrastructure consultation
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Preparing Britain’s electricity network for net zero
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Local authorities call for collaborative partnerships to create regional energy system plans
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Briefing note: community benefits for transmission infrastructure
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Regen open letter to Ofgem on the future of distributed flexibility
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Behind the scenes of  SOUNDING CONNECTIONS: an audio collage of democracy and energy dialogues
Regen Art Lab
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…
Decarbonising power by 2035: Regen supports Select Committee recommendations to Government
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Devon Community Energy Network: Spring Gathering – our highlights
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Marine Energy Wales 2023 conference: time to “seas” the moment
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Independent report highlights opportunities to build on UK’s leadership in offshore wind
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
New ‘energy security’ plans overlook low-cost, low-carbon, homegrown renewables
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Winners of the Green Energy Awards 2023 announced!
Regen Events
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…
Regen responds to Energy Security Day measures
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Insight Paper: Could the government be about to gamble away the UK’s leadership in offshore wind?
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Regen and ESN respond to Balancing Mechanism Inflexible Offer Licence Condition consultation from Ofgem
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
First take on the Spring Budget: No strategy for net zero investment
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Regen responds to Climate Change Committee report on power decarbonisation
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Review of Energy Market Arrangements – Summary of Consultation Responses Published
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
A call to arms for more women in the clean energy sector
Women in Renewables
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…
Regen and the ESN respond to the government’s Capacity Market consultation
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
The future of local energy governance? Regen’s take on the new Ofgem consultation
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Regen submits response to onshore wind consultation
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Green Energy Awards Shortlist 2023
Regen Events
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…
Industry aligned on critical investment for energy sector
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Letter to Treasury on Maintaining Investment Attractiveness and the Electricity Generator Levy
Energy Markets for Net Zero
20 February 2023 Letter to Treasury on Maintaining Investment Attractiveness and the Electricity Generator Levy
Briefing note: planning reforms for onshore wind
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Making the most of Contracts for Difference to deliver wider energy system benefits
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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,…
Exploring progress towards the Welsh Government’s energy targets and their future evolution
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Regen’s Chief Executive gives evidence to the BEIS select committee
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Why a just transition is crucial to net zero
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Dr Charles Ogilvie OBE joins Regen’s board
Office
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…
Regen responds to Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero Review
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Electricity generator levy – less like a windfall tax, more like a super-tax
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Regen brief: the onshore wind open consultation
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Regen responds to launch of open consultation on onshore wind development
Policy Updates & Consultation Responses
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…
Good news for net zero as Ofgem announces investment in key strategic projects
Offshore Renewable Energy
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’…
Industry calls for urgent action to address electricity network constraints
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Will the power grid be fossil fuel free by 2035? Learnings from our latest project with National Grid ESO
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Exploring energy democracy through sound art: an introductory blog
Regen Art Lab
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…
Regen Brief: the Electricity Generator Levy
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Regen responds to announcement of levy on electricity generators
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Net Zero Review – a vital opportunity
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Regen’s key priorities and recommendations for REMA
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
New report launched: Go West!
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
A day in the life of 2035: Second edition
Future Scenarios
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…
Regen’s response to BEIS’ REMA consultation
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Early Insight Analysis for SSEN highlights growth in LCT pipelines
Future Scenarios
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…
Regen responds to the Energy Prices Bill
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
A net exporter of energy by 2040?
Future Scenarios
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…
The Energy Innovation Summit 2022
Future Scenarios
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…
Graphic of the month: Comparing Labour’s 2030 renewable electricity pledges against other net zero scenarios
Future Scenarios
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…
Regen responds to energy measures in the Chancellor’s mini-budget
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Why are disabled people more vulnerable to rising energy costs and what should be done about it?
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Graphic of the Month: largest Contracts for Difference round confirms renewables are cheapest
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Regen responds to Prime Minister’s energy support package
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
eFuels – missing link, or costly distraction?
Future Scenarios
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…
Solar farms and land use in a changing climate
Future Scenarios
26 August 2022 Solar farms and land use in a changing climate
Regen responds to energy price cap announcement
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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.…
Open Letter on RIIO-ED2 and Net Zero
Future Scenarios
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…
Seven solutions to the rising cost of transmission network constraint management
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Open Letter: Electricity network barriers to net zero, energy security and lower customer bills
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Cutting costs and carbon through a local approach to decarbonise heat
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Regen welcomes the publication of Future Energy Scenarios 2022 
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Unpacking the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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,…
Why we need to support and champion tradeswomen in decarbonising heat
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 4 results
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Unlocking local and community benefit: 4 key questions for the offshore wind sector
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Energy Security Bill – a mixed bag
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
‘Levelling up heat’: local leadership key to heat decarbonisation
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
The start of the race for floating wind in the Celtic Sea
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Levelling up heat decarbonisation
Local & Community Energy Support
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.…
Regen’s statement on the government’s cost of living support package
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
New study reveals floating offshore wind benefits for the South West
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Energy Bill welcomed as opportunity to put UK on course for net zero
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Innovating together, failing together, prospering together
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Onshore wind in England – a chink of light?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Energy security strategy – a missed opportunity
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Decision on the public ownership of the Future System Operator
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Net zero champions recognised for “extraordinary” contribution to the energy transition
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Decarbonising Scottish energy – the devil is in the delivery
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
A regional analysis of the net zero transition
Future Scenarios
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…
ESN welcomes new Markets and Revenues chair
ESN Working Groups
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…
New interactive report sets out workings of a net zero power system
Future Scenarios
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…
Seven points to reduce the UK’s gas dependency
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Local forecasts of a global transition: net zero in 2050
Future Scenarios
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…
Regen steps up presence in Scotland
Office
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…
Marking a path for DNOs and communities to work together on the Net Zero journey
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Regen welcomes the awards of UK Government’s £6.7m long duration storage competition
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Reflections on the energy price cap increase
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Commitment to annual Contracts for Difference auctions – a welcome move for net zero
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Regen calls for Ofgem to put net zero at the heart of RIIO-ED2 price controls
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
The heat revolution – how do we empower the public to get involved in heat decarbonisation?
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
Podcast: Sustainability and Storage
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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.…
Reflections on COP26
Global Climate Change
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…
What are the outcomes of the Regen Art Lab collaboration?
Regen Art Lab
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
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Good news for interconnection – Ofgem announces third round auction for new investment
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Developing an agile solution to local net zero energy planning
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Time to do something about green energy tariffs
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Review of energy National Policy Statements – consultation response
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Heat and Buildings Strategy – reflections
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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.…
Models to support new local renewables
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Eleventh-hour opportunity as tidal energy gets £20m reserve allocation in latest CfD round
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Podcast: Community Energy
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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
Good news: Regen welcomes The Crown Estate’s ambitious plans for Celtic Sea Floating Wind
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Graphic of the Month: The Offshore Wind Pipeline
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Welsh Net Zero
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Local leadership: filling the gaps in support for new renewables
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Offshore Wind Briefing Note
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Regen responds to the UK Hydrogen Strategy consultations
Hydrogen & Future of Gas
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…
Decarbonising the UK’s heat from a creative perspective
Regen Art Lab
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…
Regen responds to release of Net Zero and Heat and Buildings Strategies
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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.  
A national and local partnership must be at the heart of the Net Zero Strategy
Global Climate Change
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…
September’s energy crisis demonstrates the advantage of betting on low-cost renewable energy
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Call for BEIS to double the capacity of renewables in 2021 Contracts for Difference auctions
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Climate change brought to life at COP26 with over 200 events in Glasgow
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…
The missing pieces of the heat decarbonisation puzzle
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
Unlocking local net zero investment opportunities
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
The role of storage in volatile energy markets
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Let’s take advantage of low-cost renewables to create a hedge on energy price rises
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Contracts for Difference Round 4 – £10 million budget highlights great value of onshore wind and solar
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Race To Zero – creating action plans
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Energy Digitalisation Strategy
Smart Data
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…
Regen responds to the UK Hydrogen Strategy
Hydrogen & Future of Gas
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…
Hydrogen for heat: eight critical questions
Hydrogen & Future of Gas
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…
Regen responds to the IPCC report
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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:    
Balancing mechanism, dispatch data and transparency
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Opportunities for hydrogen in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Hydrogen & Future of Gas
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…
Enabling Net Zero through Distribution System Operation
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
The rise of the mild hybrid – a steppingstone technology or greenwash?
Zero-Carbon Transport Futures
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.…
Smart systems and flexibility
ESN Consultation Responses & Policy Updates
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,…
Race To Zero – what does tracking our emissions tell us?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Regen responds to the Transport Decarbonisation Plan
Zero-Carbon Transport Futures
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…
How much we pay for connecting to the distribution electricity network is changing
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Equality, diversity and inclusion at Regen – working towards climate, social and racial justice
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Why heat decarbonisation is about people
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Race To Zero – electricity use and green tariffs
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Regen responds to the Climate Change Committee’s Progress Report to Parliament
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
G7 reaction: Do our political leaders understand climate change?
Global Climate Change
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…
Local Authority Net Zero Dashboards
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
What role could hydrogen play in decarbonising the industrial sector?
Hydrogen & Future of Gas
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…
Heat and buildings industry needs action-focused plan for decarbonisation
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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,…
Regen calls for UK to turn climate targets into climate delivery
Global Climate Change
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…
Earth Day 2021: are the pledges putting us on track to avoid climate chaos?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Matching experience with potential: the value of mentoring
Women in Renewables
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…
What will it take to cut emissions by 78% by 2035?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
21 April 2021 What will it take to cut emissions by 78% by 2035?
Race To Zero – the start of a journey
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Regen responds to Green Homes Grant closure
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Regen to contribute to COP26 through secondment
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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,…
Rethinking heat – should we treat shared ground arrays as a utility?
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
Regen responds to Environmental Audit Committee call for evidence on community energy
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Community Energy State of Sector Survey 2021
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Changing how we pay for electricity networks: A national methodology with big local impacts.
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Cold homes, sore throats, and hospital beds: A case for public spending on home retrofit
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
ReWiRE Podcast:  Women like me – Emma Bridge
Women in Renewables
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…
ReWiRE Podcast:  Women like me – Felicity Jones
Women in Renewables
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…
ReWiRE Podcast:  Women like me – Emma Pinchbeck
Women in Renewables
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…
Big oil raises the stakes in UK offshore wind market
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Placing local leadership at the heart of net zero
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Innovation in electricity procurement: supporting local renewables and clean growth
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
ReWiRE Podcast:  Women like me – Afsheen Kabir Rashid MBE
Women in Renewables
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…
Western Power Distribution’s 2023 – 2028 First Draft Business Plan: Briefing Note for Community Energy Groups
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Podcast:  The opportunities and challenges of integrating hydrogen into the energy system
Hydrogen & Future of Gas
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…
Building the hydrogen value chain
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Podcast: The UK energy storage pipeline
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Podcast:  The Energy White Paper Powering our Net Zero Future
Smart Energy
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…
ReWiRE Podcast:  Women like me – Philippa Eddie
Women in Renewables
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…
Scottish Government updates Climate Change Plan
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
ReWiRE Podcast:  Women like me – Kayte O’Neill
Women in Renewables
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…
ReWiRE Podcast:  Women like me – Cathy McClay
Women in Renewables
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…
Energy White Paper
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
ReWiRE Podcast:  Women like me – Sonya Bedford
Women in Renewables
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…
Hy to Hydrogen
Hydrogen & Future of Gas
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…
2020 Planning
Local & Community Energy Support
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%…
System operation in a net zero world: what might the Energy White Paper mean for National Grid?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Decarbonisation and Ofgem – time for a change of remit
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Government policy bonanza
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Back Onshore
Other Literature
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…
Community energy’s 10-point plan
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Podcast:  The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution
Smart Energy
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…
Regen responds to the 10 Point Plan
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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,…
Ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Creative Catalyst for Carbon Cutting
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Podcast:  Are we ready to operate a net zero energy system?
Smart Energy
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…
NIA funding call for communities
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Energy Storage and the Electricity Generation Licence
ESN Consultation Responses & Policy Updates
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.…
Access Significant Code Review: a damp squib or heralding a new era of decarbonisation?  
Smart Energy
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…
Building flexibility markets for a net zero electricity system
Storage and Flexibility
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…
The smart energy journey
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Plans in development for local energy network to boost green ambitions in Greater Manchester
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
What communities can do with local energy data
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Launching Local Leadership
Local & Community Energy Support
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.…
Diversifying community energy
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
UK energy trade bodies call for tax relief and reform to boost UK industry and support the green recovery
Storage and Flexibility
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…
The problem with looking at the big picture
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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…
Local leadership to transform our energy system
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Regen comment on National Grid Future Energy Senarios
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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.…
Storage exempt from national planning regime
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Unlock renewables for a green recovery
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
The power of collaboration for a green recovery
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Net Zero South Wales – a future, not so far away
Future Scenarios
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…
Street level modelling with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
Future Scenarios
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…
Press release: new analysis explores pathways to net zero in South Wales
Future Scenarios
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…
Egni Sir Gâr Cyfyngedig community benefit energy society funds food banks in Carmarthenshire from its’ solar portfolio in 2020
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Interseasonal storage: a facilitator for net zero
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Electric vehicle car sales showing resilience during lockdown
Zero-Carbon Transport Futures
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…
Electricity Storage: Pathways to a Net Zero Future
Storage and Flexibility
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,…
Regen responds to BEIS’ Contracts for Difference (CFD) Consultation
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
How might our distribution networks interact in the future?
Future Scenarios
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,…
Electricity Storage – Future Pathways and Barriers
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Reflections on stakeholder engagement: Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES)
Future Scenarios
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…
Interview with Fintan Slye: Operating a Zero Carbon Energy System
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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’…
High granularity projections for low carbon technology uptake
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Goodbye to RHI
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
Western Power Distribution Net Zero Communities Strategy
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Northern Powergrid Community Energy Engagement Strategy
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Graphic of the month: Lockdown impact on electricity demand
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Leading the Energy Transition Webinars
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Engagement and innovation
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Renewable energy projects support corona crisis funds
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Graphic of the Month: Reconfiguring domestic environmental levies into a carbon levy to incentivise low carbon heating
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
Government sets out pathway to the transport decarbonisation plan
Zero-Carbon Transport Futures
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…
Communities’ role in the Smart Energy Revolution
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
The winds of change?
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Towards new community energy business models
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Community energy’s USP
Local & Community Energy Support
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,…
Engaging in network innovation
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
My time in India: Why I want to fight for climate justice
Energy Justice & Just Transitions
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.…
Budget 2020 round up
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
More price transparency is welcome, but can REGOs play a material role to achieve net zero carbon?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
New paper takes on the ‘greatest challenge’ of decarbonising heat
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Government to re-open Contracts for Difference for onshore wind and solar
Local & Community Energy Support
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’…
Subsidy-free solar taking off?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Regen to help deliver two new smart local energy projects
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Consultation response to the Future Homes Standard
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
Ofgem joins the zero carbon journey
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Graphic of the month – Stalled onshore wind deployment in England
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Developing a strategy for network innovation
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Network charging – an emerging picture
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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.…
Regen energy insight: Is there a future for (natural) gas in a net zero carbon world?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
A decade to make a difference
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Network charging, decarbonisation and sub-optimal economics
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Smart, flexible and clean, or costly, dumb and dirty…
Local & Community Energy Support
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.…
Regen manifesto analysis 2019
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
A sketch of a new model for network governance and sustainability
Future Scenarios
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…
Green Energy Awards recognises companies spearheading the charge to a zero carbon future
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Decarbonisation scenarios in the North of Scotland
Future Scenarios
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…
Energy Generation in Wales in 5 minutes
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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.…
Alternative model for regulating the electricity networks proposed in ambitious new paper
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Renewable Futures: Net-Zero Summit
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Local flexibility auctions need to support smarter solutions – not rely on fossil generators
Storage and Flexibility
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…
New nuclear – playing on another field
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Government changes tack on planning regulations for storage
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Why should communities care about flexibility?  3. The future and the people
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Graphic of the month – Offshore wind CfD results
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
Future Homes Standard
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Why should communities care about flexibility? 2. The money
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
UK leaders in decarbonisation announced amongst finalists for the 16th annual Green Energy Awards
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Why should communities care about flexibility? 1. Carbon reduction
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
EV driving experience – a ReWiRE perspective
Zero-Carbon Transport Futures
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…
Staying flexible: why aren’t communities providing more network flexibility services?
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Regen reaction to the Contracts for Difference Auction results
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Nomination deadline for the 2019 Green Energy Awards
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Learning from the power cut: 7 ways to make the UK energy system more resilient
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Pump up the volume – making a case for heat pumps in domestic properties
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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,…
Regen and ESN respond to National Grid’s interim report on the power cut
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Power cut demonstrates value of fast-response assets like battery storage
Storage and Flexibility
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…
The BESST ways to buy energy
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Collaboration and innovation in community energy
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Opening up new opportunities for community energy
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
The brave new world of local flexibility
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Bristol – Taking on the zero carbon challenge
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Ofgem’s investment guidelines highlight the need for a clearer decarbonisation mandate
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
The concepts behind our Energy Generation in Wales in 5 minutes document
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Planning out of sync with net zero-carbon future, RTPI report finds
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Getting the energy industry to net-zero
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Regen backs the urgent actions set out in the latest progress report from the Committee on Climate Change
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
The future of heat and the role of gas in our energy system
Future Scenarios
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…
Sharing the value of our future energy system
Local & Community Energy Support
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,…
Ofgem adopts ESN’s definition of storage in the electricity generation licence
Storage and Flexibility
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…
The future of local energy
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Regen responds to new 2050 net zero target set by UK government
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Regen thrilled with OBE for chief executive, Merlin Hyman
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Graphic of the month – The decline of coal
Offshore Renewable Energy
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…
The ESN debates network charging
ESN Events
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.…
Regen’s response to the CCC net-zero report
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
The looming capacity gap
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
The Electricity Storage Network’s Annual Symposium
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
What is fair? Network charging for our future electricity system
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Introducing the Current± Hub, the energy transition’s trusted directory
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Climate protests gather momentum
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Where there’s a will, is there a (planning) way?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
That’s all folks
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
WPD release latest report ‘Shaping Sub-transmission South Wales 2019’ based on Regen future energy scenarios
Future Scenarios
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…
Regional Future Energy Scenarios for heat and gas
Future Scenarios
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…
Smaller isn’t necessarily the lesser
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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,…
Consultation Response to the Targeted Charging Review
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Future of Network Charging
Storage and Flexibility
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…
New Report on Up-scaling Community Energy in Wales
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Prioritising a smart, flexible and low carbon energy system
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Reforming the planning regime for storage
Storage and Flexibility
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,…
Feed-in Tariff Closure – Government Decision
Storage and Flexibility
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%…
A fair price for renewable energy – contact your MP
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Capacity Market Suspension
Storage and Flexibility
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…
All change for network charging…
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Survey to gather experience and ideas on planning for a smart energy future
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
Groundbreaking projects and schemes honored at the Green Energy Awards
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
A people-centred new energy system
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
The art of collaboration
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Determination over despondence
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Planning for a smart energy future: How can planning stay ahead of the curve in supporting the transition to a smart energy future?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Government changes to fracking planning regulations
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Fracking Up – UK energy policy in a muddle
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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.…
A Progress Update to the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Regen’s response to the IPCC report
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Capacity Market – Call for Evidence
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Communities in the energy ecosystem
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
15th Green Energy Awards shortlist announced
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
In search of the Holy Grail
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Access and Forward Looking Charges
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Feed-in Tariff Closure
Storage and Flexibility
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.…
Response to BEIS’ call for evidence: ‘The Future for Small-Scale Low-Carbon Generation’
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
The call for local flexibility services: what, where, when (and how much?)
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Launch of three new case studies developed for Western Power Distribution
Local & Community Energy Support
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,…
Capacity Market for a renewable future? Call for evidence
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Energy storage prospectus and expression of interest on behalf of Cornwall Council
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Ofgem’s proposals for network charging should make everyone take notice
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Revised National Planning Policy Framework published
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
We need to talk about green energy tariffs
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Substantially increase the share of renewable energy by 2030? Not on today’s sloped playing field
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
New opportunities for community energy
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Flexible power – a step towards local supply and addressing fuel poverty
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Rethinking our energy system from the bottom up
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Consultation on the closure of the Feed-In Tariff Scheme
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Electricity Storage Network (ESN)
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Positive Power – five reasons to feel good about energy
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Nominations for the Green Energy Awards are now open
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
WPD turns to local flexibility to address local network challenges
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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,…
Harnessing the transport revolution
Zero-Carbon Transport Futures
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…
Local flexibility in five steps part five: what does it mean for you?
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Smart Grids and the role of the DSO
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Local flexibility in five steps part four: how a local flexibility platform could work
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Local flexibility markets in five steps, part three: the role of a local flexibility market
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
New report shows Swansea Bay City Region can take a major step towards meeting its total energy needs through renewable energy
Future Scenarios
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…
Local Flexibility Markets in Five Steps Part Two: Benefits for DSOs
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
People, Power and Happiness
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Local Flexibility Markets in Five Steps Part One: Local Flexibility Trials
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
New energy guide launched to help communities innovate their way to smarter, cleaner energy system
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
The transport revolution will accelerate the transition to clean and smart energy systems
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
The role of Electric Vehicles in a Smart Grid
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Utility Scale Solar and Storage: Getting the Pipeline Flowing
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Ten years of carbon budgets – will heat prove too difficult?
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
Energy Utopia
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Democratic as well as Decarbonised
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Peer to peer trading and microgrids – the next big thing?
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Future flexibility markets for beginners
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Accessing the network benefits from local matching – a working model?
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Ups and downs in the Renewable Heat Incentive – will biomass remain as the dominant technology?
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
New study on the future challenges for the electricity distribution network
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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,…
Response to Committee On Climate Change Review
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Energy generation in Wales
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
First ever community dinner with a DNO
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
The future of network charging: What will it cost to access the grid? – Part 2
Local & Community Energy Support
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…
Certain uncertainty
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
The future of network charging: What will it cost to access the grid? – Part 1
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Paper on the ‘next wave’ of energy storage paper launched
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Options for providing heat locally
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
Mind the Gap: the role of the Renewable Heat Incentive in UK carbon targets
Zero-Carbon Heat and the Built Environment
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…
The Empire Strikes Back
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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,…
Launch of WPD storage consultation report
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Response to Ofgem’s ‘Targeted Charging Review’
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Local Flexibility Markets in Five Steps Part Two: Benefits for DSOs
Energy Markets for Net Zero
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…
Book Review of  “Burn Out  The Endgame for Fossil Fuels” By Dieter Helm
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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,…
Ofgem Embedded Benefits Consultation
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
In praise of high voltage interconnectors
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Report on the future of distribution networks
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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.…
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Policy Priorities
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Who pays for the grid?
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…
Smart power revolution at risk from ‘tinkering’ with grid charging
Storage and Flexibility
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…
Oil Price Collapse – not all bad news for Renewable Energy
Strategic Decarbonisation Studies
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…

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