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 insight paper sets out an agenda for an efficient GB electricity market that increases low-carbon investment and delivers consumer value.
Johnny Gowdy
As a key driver of local change, Dorset Council has taken an innovative approach to integrating barriers and mapping solutions locally, with help from Regen.
Alex Robertson
Poppy Maltby
Regen has worked with the Energy Networks Association (ENA) to provide input to the future design and function of the Regional Energy Strategic Planners (RESPs), focused on the interaction between RESPs and DNOs.
Jonty Haynes
Frank Hodgson
In our response to the government's recent call for evidence on the barriers to community energy, we've focused on the challenges facing generation projects, on the basis that the barriers around energy efficiency and retrofit require wider system change not specific to community energy.
Robbie Evans
Prina Sumaria
Rebecca Windemer
Labour’s election manifesto promises to bring in much-needed changes to the planning system – but lacks detail on some critical aspects for delivering net zero.
Rebecca Windemer summarises the recommendations made by the Environmental Audit Committee as a result of the inquiry and outlines the additional steps we believe are necessary to achieve the transition to renewable energy.
With pre-election debate over green energy targets ramping up, we discuss what we actually mean by ‘clean power’ – and why ambition and leadership are equally important.
Merlin Hyman OBE
Grace Millman
This report, funded by the European Climate Foundation, examines five issues that project developers and planners have told us are the key challenges for the planning system for renewables and storage in England.
Regen welcomes the National Infrastructure Committee's 2024 progress review, which calls for 'a concerted catch-up programme' to ensure the country's infrastructure is fit for the future.
Regen has worked with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and Environmental Project Support on this SIF Discovery phase project looking at non-network solutions to the barriers facing renewable energy generation on the Isle of Wight.
Ellie Brundrett
Tamar Bourne
Ray Arrell
Regen has worked with the MCS Foundation on a paper looking at what's needed to ensure the distribution network is ready for net zero.
This paper, sponsored by SSEN, sets out new thinking on the role of Regional Energy Strategic Planners and how processes today, such as network and local area energy planning, can evolve to unlock regional net zero ambitions.
Fraser Stewart
In our response to the second Review of Electricity Market Arrangements consultation, we welcome the decision to drop nodal Locational Marginal Pricing and a Split Market and recommend now dropping zonal pricing.
Olly Frankland
Simon Gill
Becky Fowell
The Electricity Storage Network has responded to the second REMA consultation, calling for more details ahead of any final decisions in mid-2025.
As part of our DFES work for SSEN, we developed new 'vulnerability and just transition' scenarios that support more targeted investment ahead of need in lower-income areas.
Regen's response to the consultation on an 'accelerated planning system', co-signed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, urges government to include – and prioritise – renewable energy projects.
Commissioned by Somerset Council, this guide sets out the current evidence on the energy system in Somerset and analyses the local resources to inform a potential Net Zero Pathway for the county.
Tamsyn Lonsdale-Smith
Hazel Williams
Regen has worked with Innovate UK to develop a Playbook for Network Innovation which gathers learnings from previous innovations to support future innovators on the journey to successful implementation and commercialisation.
Rebecca Ford
Christine Chapter
Regen has responded to the latest round of the UK government's consultation on heat network zoning, highlighting two key improvements to focus on.
Sophie Whinney
Regen was commissioned by the University of Strathclyde to synthesise the huge body of research conducted in the EnergyREV programme and identify key recommendations and next steps for delivering smart local energy systems.
On 7 March, Regen hosted the first National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) Net Zero Communities webinar of the year.
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.
Regen director Johnny Gowdy argues that, if we have another energy price spike, consumers will again be exposed to higher electricity prices as, once again, the government is lagging behind the market.
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 is in the detail.
Strategies for building a community around your CMS.
Anna Ali
Chloe Uden
Poppy Maltby outlines four key challenge areas that have emerged so far in the design of the Regional Energy Strategic Planners (RESPs) and possible solutions for local areas and electricity networks.
This report for climate charity Possible explores the potential for new community-owned onshore wind projects to unlock part of the puzzle of making clean, alleviating fuel poverty and protect consumers, the climate and national energy security.
Regen CEO Merlin Hyman welcomes Ed Miliband's announcement that a Labour government would overturn the effective ban on onshore wind in England as one of its first acts if elected.
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.
Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have responded to Ofgem's ten-year review of the Capacity Market rules consultation.
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.
The evidence case report for the Outer Hebrides is the first of three studies that will help SSEN better understand the investment needed to enable a net zero transition for Scottish island communities.
Regen was commissioned by ClimateXChange on behalf of the Scottish Government to explore how local and community-owned energy could help drive Scotland’s just transition.
Regen director Johnny Gowdy gave evidence to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee on a flexible grid for the future, alongside representatives from FTI, Octopus Energy and Citizen's Advice.
Following the announcement in December that the Viking Link interconnector has begun commercial operation, Ellie Brundrett provides an update on GB's current interconnector pipeline.
Last week, Regen market insight duo Johnny Gowdy and Ellie Brundrett were invited to brief MPs on the issue of network constraints and what can be done to reduce rising constraint management costs.
Ofgem's consultation on how it intends to regulate gas networks during the RIIO-3 price control period raises questions about the future rise in gas network costs and eventual decommissioning, argues Frank Hodgson.
Regen has responded to a UK government consultation on how the current Contracts for Difference scheme could better recognise wider societal, economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind.
The PRIDE project aims to improve how local planning and network investment decisions are made to fast-track the infrastructure and low-carbon technology deployment at a regional level to deliver net zero.
Mollie Atherton
Our summer intern from this year, Ovais Kashif, shares his learnings from the dispatch model he worked on during his time at Regen.
A new National Grid guide, supported by Regen, delves into how individuals and organisations can get started with community heat projects.
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.
Energy Networks Association, in partnership with Regen, has published a new report focused on how electricity and gas network operators can work more closely with local authorities to develop and deliver net zero plans.
In a new report for Scottish Futures Trust, Regen associate Simon Gill argues that the ongoing Review of Electricity Market Arrangements is crucial to ensure Scotland can hit its decarbonisation targets and, by extension, to ensure that Great Britain can deliver a net zero electricity system by 2035.
Local authorities are vital to delivering net zero. But how can we fully unlock their role? Read the findings and recommendations from Regen's recent study with Innovate UK on planning for decarbonisation at a local level.
The government has published its response to the Electricity Network Commissioner's report on accelerating electricity transmission network build-out. Regen's Director Johnny Gowdy unpacks the key measures.
Today's announcement that the administrative strike prices (ASPs) for offshore wind will be increased for the government's sixth Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocation round (AR6) will be greeted with a collective sigh of relief within the industry and should be an encouragement to supply chain investors.
We welcome the decision to develop a Regional Energy Strategic Planner to sit within the expanded Future System Operator, but caution that there is now lots of work to do on the detail to ensure adds value for the energy system, networks, local authorities and stakeholders, and citizens and communities alike.
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