Project duration: 2013 – ongoing

In 2013, the Welsh Government commissioned Regen to design a survey process and undertake an assessment of the number of renewable energy installations in Wales.  We used our data analysis expertise gained from over 10 years of producing our south west Progress Report, to create a process for gathering the necessary information in Wales and supplied the Welsh Government with a database detailing individual projects across the country.

For 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 we have been repeating the study, adding analysis of local ownership of renewable energy projects, trends of fossil fuel electricity generation, and progress towards Wales’ renewable energy targets. The study analyses how the energy generation capacity in Wales has changed over time, in order to support the development of their energy policy, helping to evidence the economic, community and environmental benefits from the development of Welsh energy projects.

In the latest study for 2018, it has been found that Wales has reached the milestone of 50% of its electricity consumption being generated by renewable electricity. This has risen from 19% in 2014 and is well on the way to meeting the 70% target in 2030.

You can view and download the latest reports in English or in Welsh here.

We have also produced quick-summary ‘Energy Generation in Wales in 5 minutes’ versions, click here for the 2019 publication in English or Welsh.

For more information about Renewable energy in Wales, contact  Joel Venn at jvenn@regen.co.uk.

Project duration: March 2018 – March 2019

The Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides experiences many problems with its electricity network that are typical of such remote areas. The electricity connection to the mainland is at peak capacity, meaning further development of the island’s prolific renewable energy resources is difficult. Furthermore, the existing wind farms on the island are constrained and back-up diesel generators are required when there are outages which affect the connection to the mainland.

Regen was a partner, with Cenex and E-Car, on an innovative study led by Zero Carbon Marine, co-funded by OLEV and BEIS in partnership with Innovate UK, that will used the Isle of Lewis as a living laboratory. The study will assessed the potential for the Isle of Lewis to decarbonise its power and transport markets through the use of smart charging and Vehicle to Grid (V2G) technology. The ultimate aim is to deploy V2G technology to make the island’s electricity infrastructure more robust and self-sufficient and maximise the export of zero carbon power through the interconnector to the mainland.

For more information about this project, contact Joel Venn at jvenn@regen.co.uk.

Project duration: February 2019 to August 2019

The BESST (Bristol Energy Smart System Transformation) project designed a customer focused way to deploy smart energy and digital technology at scale. It aimed to reduce energy system costs and deliver a radically new customer experience for local energy consumers and businesses. The project was funded by Innovate UK.

We worked with a multi-disciplinary consortium to integrate existing technology and commercial offerings to reach a tipping point and unleash mainstream adoption of local energy system offerings. Our partners were Bristol Energy, Upside Energy, Bristol City Council, Bristol Energy Network, Bristol Community Transport and SeverNet.

The project aimed to create a cluster of smart homes and businesses across four wards in west Bristol, including the Avonmouth and Severnside enterprise area.

Digitally integrated within a flexibility and smart city platform, these energy consumers would be empowered to take advantage of a number of new and innovative energy service propositions, such as new smart and local generation tariffs, ‘Energy as a Service’ models, energy management and optimisation and, in the future, energy peer-to-peer trading and local energy markets.

The focus of the design phase was on engaging with both customers and new smart energy supply chain actors to validate the value propositions and confirm the technical, commercial and regulatory architecture. The goal was that, by the end of phase one, the solutions could be rolled out and form an integral part of the wider Bristol City Leap programme, which is seeking over £875 million of public/private investment to transform the energy landscape of the city.

You can read the final report below:

Download the publication

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To find out more about our BESST project, contact Rachel Hayes, head of networks and development at rhayes@regen.co.uk.

Project duration: 2019 – 2020

Throughout 2020, Regen will be publishing a series of thought provoking papers looking at the challenges and solutions that would deliver the transformations needed to counter climate change. Regen is looking to partner with leading organisations that are willing to sponsor or co-sponsor individual papers or indeed the whole series.

The progress made to decarbonise the UK power sector since 2010 is a great example of how the alignment of government policy, investment and industry can deliver new renewable energy solutions at scale. Important steps have been taken but, in truth, we are still walking in the foothills of energy transformation. The biggest challenges to achieve full decarbonisation across all energy vectors – power, heat and transport – have yet to be met and if anything, progress has begun to falter over the past three years.

Faced with the need to achieve both rapid and dramatic change, the energy industry is being asked to rise to the decarbonisation challenge. The big question is whether the industry will be able to do this? And if so, what new technologies, policies and business models will be required to enable radical change?

So far Regen has identified five potential papers that we would like to develop:

Paper A The decarbonisation of heat – published and available here
Paper B We’ve got the power: re-energising investment in renewable electricity
Paper C Transport: the revolution is coming
Paper D Energy efficiency: transforming the way we use energy
Paper E Local leadership to transform our energy system – published and available here

As with previous market insight papers, Regen will partner with leading organisations that are willing to sponsor or co-sponsor individual papers or indeed the whole series.

Sponsorship packages

– Series sponsor £60k + VAT
– Headline paper sponsor £20k + VAT
– Co-sponsor £10k + VAT

Our events throughout 2020 will showcase the papers and sponsors. In addition, we will feature the papers at many of our and third-party events throughout the year.

To find out more about our Decade to make a Difference series, contact Rachel Hayes, head of networks and development at rhayes@regen.co.uk.

Project duration: January 2019 to July 2019

Regen has run the Solar Commission, a project that has been set up as part of the UKERC Whole Systems Network Fund.

Innovation and falling costs are leading to solar power playing an increasing role in the energy system. The UK has considerable scientific, technical and business experience in solar power and including technology, power storage, control systems, financing, and power purchase arrangements.

The role of the Commission has been to stimulate new thinking and encourage collaboration between academics, industry and system operators on the role of solar power in the energy system. The Commission examined areas where the UK could use its scientific and technical capabilities to play a leading role in innovation and industrial strategy opportunities in solar power.

The Commission was formed of industry leaders, academics and others and the Commissioners were responsible for investigating the future role of solar power in the energy system, considering the UK’s areas of strength in research and innovation in solar.

The findings will be used to inform and influence decision makers and leading players in the UK energy system and have been published in a non technical briefing at the House of Lords on 9 July 2019. The project engaged new voices and maximise female representation through collaboration with Regen’s Entrepreneurial Women in Renewables initiative.

View the final publication here and below:

View blog – Why do we need more research into solar energy conversion?  

View blog Revenue opportunities for solar farms from system services

Dr. Biljana Stojkovska, National Grid ESO

Solar Commission - Members of the Commission include:

Name	Organisation	Logo
Professor Alison Walker	University of Bath
Professor Neil Robertson	University of Edinburgh
Professor Neil Greenham	University of Cambridge
Professor Mike Walls	Loughborough University
Robyn Lucas	Open Energi
Aleksandra Klassen	Solar Trade Association
Dr KT Tan	Viridian Solar
Christine Coonick	BRE National Solar Centre
Dr Phillip Dale	University of Luxembourg
Paul Warren	NSG
Imran Agha	Siemens
Sonya Bedford	Stephens Scown

If you are interested in finding out more about the Solar Commission please contact Kerry Hayes at khayes@regen.co.uk.