Ray Arrell reflects on the process pioneered by Regen back in 2015 – and how it has developed into a detailed, bottom-up approach to regional network planning.
Our projections outline credible future scenarios for potential changes in electricity demand, generation and storage on the distribution network in Northern Ireland.
With planning a critical enabler of net zero, our latest briefing explores the scale of the challenge and some of the practical solutions already being explored by local planning authorities.
In Regen's response to the working paper on community benefits and shared ownership, we make a clear case: community benefit should be mandated, but only in a way that enables flexibility, supports capacity building and empowers local people.
With zonal pricing now ruled out, Johnny Gowdy considers the challenges and opportunities still facing the government to deliver investment and meaningful benefits for consumers before the next election.
Our latest research with the Royal Town Planning Institute reveals significant challenges and missed opportunities for local authorities trying to deliver clean energy and heat and recommends a series of actions for central government that would enable better integration and unlock more efficient decision making at the local level.
Ray Arrell
The council’s planning backlog has sparked national coverage, but it’s part of a bigger problem Regen has been warning about: local planning teams are being put under extreme pressure just when the transition needs them most.
Rebecca Windemer
Frank Hodgson
Andrew Brand
Bruce Bardsley
Jonty Haynes
The requirement to deliver a 10% net gain in biodiversity has applied to Town and Country Planning projects since early 2024. Now the government is consulting on extending this to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Regen has responded to the consultation with a focus on what this means for renewables.
Holly Hoban
In our response, we highlight the urgent reforms needed to make the regime fair, transparent and investable across a range of technologies.
Olly Frankland
The ESN response argues that any mandatory framework must reflect the practical and financial realities of technologies like battery and long duration energy storage.
Alex Temple
Regen's response to the DESNZ working paper argues that the current voluntary approach has not delivered the scale or depth of participation required to meet the ambitious target of 8 GW of local and community-owned energy by 2030.
Jessica Hogan
Johnny Gowdy
Regen explored smart, local solutions to electricity grid constraints in rural areas as part of Rural Energy and Community Heat, a Strategic Innovation Fund project led by National Grid Electricity Distribution.
Tamar Bourne
George Middlemiss
With an estimated 40-50,000 private car parks across Great Britain, and an additional 20,000 run by councils, these sites have the potential to contribute significantly towards CP30 solar targets.
Tamar Bourne digs into one of the four foundations for a fair future retail market that we set out in our recent report with Consumer Scotland: ensuring that innovation is inclusive by design.
This paper provides a high-level overview of how policies for delivering clean power and nature recovery relate to one another, as well as the environmental challenges and opportunities associated with specific clean energy technologies.
Informed by extensive member engagement, the response highlights key concerns regarding project eligibility, assessment transparency, and the need for clearer guidance and targets.
With RESP teams seeking information from local authorities on the additional strategic investments that might be needed in the local electricity networks, we explain the tight deadline, outline what exactly NESO is looking for and suggest how to go about responding.
Poppy Maltby
Fraser Stewart
Our work with Consumer Scotland explores how the retail energy market could evolve to ensure that the transition to a cleaner, smarter energy system seizes the opportunities to tackle social injustices head-on.
This insight paper from our work with Innovate UK's Net Zero Living cohort of local authorities summarises the opportunities and challenges for retrofitting older properties and sets out practical solutions to accelerate progress.
Regen’s heat and buildings lead, Peter Griffin, summarises the key points from our response to the government's consultation on expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to increase access and stimulate further demand.
Peter Griffin
Following engagement with developers and investors, we've updated our previous paper and set out three recommendations to ensure that onshore wind can support delivery of Clean Power 2030.
Simon Gill
Rachel Hayes, founder of Regen's women in renewable energy network, ReWiRE, looks at ways the sector can attract and retain the diverse talent it needs to innovate, grow and lead the transition to net zero.
Rachel Hayes
Regen supports measures to ensure the planning system for renewable energy and storage projects is as quick, effective and clear as possible, while keeping local communities at the heart of the energy transition.
We Are All People of Power is a striking portrait and film series created by artist Polly Meyrick during her residency with Regen’s Art Lab programme.
Chloe Uden
Hazel Williams
After being awarded Net Zero Developer at Regen’s Green Energy Awards, Thrive Renewables reflects on 30 years of bringing together people, proven technology and a pioneering approach to accelerate the rollout of renewables.
Regen has submitted a response to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, focusing on the proposed introduction of financial benefits for people living within 500 metres of new electricity transmission infrastructure.
By sharing lessons and insights from across the sector, this guide aims to support a more consistent, thoughtful and transparent approach to engagement.
Regen is calling on DNOs to make wider data available to support the monitoring and improvement of the LCT connections process and aid the uptake of heat pumps, EVs and solar panels.
As part of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee's inquiry into the cost of energy, Regen has submitted evidence on the policy and regulatory interventions that could reduce consumer energy costs in the near term.
Ellie Brundrett
In light of Orsted's decision to mothball its Hornsea 4 wind farm, Johnny Gowdy asks if it's time to think beyond CfDs when it comes to providing support for large project investments.
We welcome the development of a Land Use Framework to coordinate and guide decision making. Our response is focused on the implications of this for the renewable energy generation and storage sectors
The UK electricity storage sector has united to issue a joint statement condemning the use of forced labour in the global lithium-ion battery supply chain. Coordinated by the Electricity Storage Network, the statement represents a collective stance from leading industry players, affirming a shared commitment to human rights and promoting transparent and sustainable supply chain practices.
Anna Ali
Regen director Johnny Gowdy considers how shifting to an electricity market based on zonal pricing may impact consumers and how they might respond to more volatile, transient and diverse prices.
The GC0117 code change could impose major new burdens on embedded generation projects, warranting a full review to address overlooked costs and policy impacts.
Off the back of a Technical Decision Document published in mid-March, Ofgem has moved to formally open the first application window for the LDES cap and floor mechanism. Ray Arell explores the details of the application process.
The ‘Review of the Fuel Poverty Strategy’ consultation comes at a critical time in the net zero transition. Regen’s response is focused on the intersection between fuel poverty and net zero.
Prina Sumaria
Robbie Evans
The RESP policy framework decision provides fresh detail on the establishment of the locally informed process that will soon be at the heart of decisions about what the GB energy system looks like in the future.
Winners have been announced in six award categories at the annual Green Energy Awards, hosted by Regen. The awards are a leading national celebration of the pioneering companies and inspiring people transforming the UK’s energy system.
Regen has responded to the government's consultation on further reforms to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Scheme for Allocation Round 7 (AR7), emphasising the need to support high-quality projects that will contribute to the Clean Power 2030 target.
Grace Millman
Regen has responded to the government’s Planning Reform Working Paper on Planning Committees, highlighting key recommendations to enhance the process for renewable energy and storage developments.
Using ‘open-source’ analysis, Regen has explored how different regulatory and market reforms affect the investability of an example Scottish onshore wind farm.
In February 2024, HM Treasury asked the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) to undertake a study on the challenges to making the electricity distribution networks in Great Britain fit for net zero.
Andrew Barry
Our letter to the Secretary of State highlights our concerns that converting the GB electricity market into one based on zonal pricing will undermine the clean power mission.
Merlin Hyman OBE
Regen's response to the government working paper supports planning reforms that accelerate the energy transition by creating a simpler, faster planning process aligned with nature recovery goals.
Regen has responded to Ofgem’s consultation on the grid connections process, emphasising the vital role that timely, efficient and well-regulated connections play in achieving the UK’s net zero goals.
Hannah Stanley
With Ofgem’s expectations for the first transitional or ‘t-RESP’ published this week, Regen is supporting local authorities to prepare for this critical new part of local energy planning.
In this insight piece, graduate energy analyst Andrew Brand explores the barriers to greater use of public transport in the UK – and considers how an Integrated National Transport Strategy might encourage a shift.
This report, developed as part of Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living programme, sets out practical steps to ensure local net zero planning delivers real change, rather than gathering dust on the shelf.
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