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.
This week's King's Speech included an announcement that oil and gas exploration licences are to be awarded on an annual basis. Here Johnny Gowdy, director at Regen, outlines five areas of controversy on the topic.
Johnny Gowdy
The UK government is consulting on the role of hydrogen blending into the GB gas distribution networks. Regen highlights that there are better options to build the hydrogen value chain.
Exeter-based playwright, Hattie Collins (Almanac Theatre), produced the short illustrated film using interviews with people from Devon & Cornwall, with the support of Regen Art Lab.
Sophie Whinney
Regen has written a letter to the Secretary of State, urging the government to take action to rebuild the UK's offshore wind leadership after the failure of the CfD Auction Round (AR) 5 to attract any offshore wind bids.
Grace Millman
In October 2023, National Grid ESO called for insight and evidence to shape the FES for 2024 and beyond. Regen welcomed the opportunity to input.
Frank Hodgson
Jonty Haynes
The recent Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 5 (AR5) flop for fixed offshore wind has made headlines, but the auction impacts for floating offshore wind (FLOW) and tidal stream technologies were just as dramatic. Becky Fowell, Energy Analyst, explores what the results mean for these technologies.
Becky Fowell
This summer, Ofgem released a call for input on what is needed to engage domestic consumers in energy flexibility – a critical part of the future energy system. Read a summary of Regen's response and recommendations below.
Rebecca Ford
Regen sets out market reform policy priorities for the next phase of the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA): drop LMP, refocus on the delivery of net zero investment, consumer value and creating a dynamic and flexible energy market supported by a smarter energy system.
Ellie Brundrett
Today's announcement that there have been no bids for new offshore wind farms in the government's Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 5 (AR5) is a disappointment, but not a surprise. The government now needs to take action to rebuild industry confidence and reestablish the pipeline of offshore wind projects.
Over the summer, UK Parliament launched an inquiry titled 'heating our homes'. Read Regen's response to the corresponding call for evidence.
The Electricity Networks Commissioner's report sets out an ambition to half the time taken to deliver major grid investment with some sensible recommendations. Regen's CEO Merlin Hyman shares his thoughts.
Merlin Hyman OBE
Regen director Johnny Gowdy reflects on the recent decision by Vattenfall to pause its Norfolk Boreas project and what this means for offshore wind in the UK.
In an era of energy system transformation, Regen's thought leadership paper 'Networks Unlocked', produced in partnership with SP Energy Networks, explores how our electricity networks could be enabled to deliver whole system, societal and economic value.
This insight paper explores the many locational signals that exist in the GB electricity markets and how they could be enhanced, reformed and refined to meet the challenge of a net zero electricity system.
Earlier this week, The Crown Estate announced alterations to the leasing process for Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5 - The Celtic Sea. With a focus on port development and social value, the announcement is a positive first step for the floating offshore wind in the region, but there is still more clarity needed.
Regen has submitted a response to the government's consultation on 'Developing Local Partnerships for Onshore Wind in England'.
Rebecca Windemer
Response from Regen and the Electricity Storage Network, Ofgem's consultation on modelling future supply and demand.
Ray Arrell
Response from Regen and the Electricity Storage Network, Ofgem's future reform to the electricity connections process.
Olly Frankland
Ray Arrell, our Head of Future Energy Systems, shares the outcome of a future load growth study that Regen has been conducting over the past 18 months for the Isle of Wight, and how the evidence collected could lead to significant investment in the island's electricity network.
Robbie Evans
In late 2022, Regen welcomed sound and digital media artist Cameron Naylor as its second Regen Art Lab artist-in-residence. The result was Sounding Connections—a 30-minute interactive, non-linear audio work that invites listeners to explore the emotional and social layers of the energy transition through sound.
Chloe Uden
Regen has submitted a response to the government consultation on the National Policy Statements (NPS).
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 the use of innovative technologies, the UK is in danger of losing out on significant system benefits.
The UK government has announced plans to support community benefits from electricity transmission infrastructure. Rebecca Windemer, Planning and Communities Lead at Regen, unpacks why this announcement is important, what it might mean for communities and key next steps to ensure the plans are delivered fairly.
Prina Sumaria
Regen has published a new report in partnership with the MCS Charitable Foundation that sets out the scale of the challenge - and the solutions - to prepare Britain's electricity network for net zero.
Regen responds to Ofgem's consultation on Regional System Planners, following engagement with local authorities.
Tamar Bourne
Poppy Maltby
Hannah Stanley
The Power Allotments, Devon project was set up by Regen and the Devon Energy Collective to engage and encourage communities and individuals across Devon to identify a 5 acre space in their local area for a biodiverse community-owned renewable power project.
Shona R
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 means. Our letter draws attention to the customer-facing side of flexibility.
SOUNDING CONNECTIONS is an online, interactive sound collage constructed from recordings taken around the North West of England. The works were developed by sound artist, Cameron Naylor, in an interdisciplinary collaboration with the Regen team.
The Devon Community Energy Network hosted their annual Spring Gathering in March 2023 at Dartington Hall in Devon. This year, Regen's George Middlemiss and Prina Sumaria helped the Devon-based network to organise and run the day.
George Middlemiss
Regen responds to the publication of the UK Offshore Wind Champion's independent report and recommendations to government on the future of the UK's offshore wind sector.
Following the UK government's 'Energy Security Day', Estelle Limon, policy and impact coordinator at Regen, provides a snap summary of some of the most relevant announcements for the clean energy sector.
This year, the Welsh Government is aiming to develop a framework for a Just Transition. We welcome the opportunity to contribute their Call for Evidence. At Regen, we are placing a Just Transition at the forefront of our thinking.
Fraser Stewart
In our latest insight paper, Johnny Gowdy discusses recent trends in CfD strike prices, the impact of this on future auctions and how rebuilding trust and collaboration between industry and government is essential to mitigate the growing delivery risk we are seeing.
In this insight paper, director Johnny Gowdy and project manager Ellie Brundrett explore the development of the current Capacity Market design, its evolution to date, and the role it should play in the energy system of the future.
Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have responded to the Inflexible Offer Licence Condition consultation from Ofgem.
On International Women's Day, Regen associate director Rachel Hayes explores the key challenges of increasing gender diversity in the energy sector.
Rachel Hayes
Regen's director Johnny Gowdy discusses the government's summary of REMA consultation responses.
Regen welcomes Climate Change Committee report on power decarbonisation as confirmation that decarbonising the UK's power sector by 2035 is achievable as well as necessary.
Regen and the Electricity Storage Network have responded to the government's consultation focusing on the future of the Capacity Market.
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 (DLUHC).
Hazel Williams
On 20 February 2023, Regen's director Johnny Gowdy drafted an open letter to ministers and officials from the Treasury and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, raising concerns about UK investment attractiveness in light of the Electricity Generator Levy.
As the government consults on changes to future rounds of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, Regen's Estelle Limon and Johnny Gowdy explore whether factors beyond price should be taken into account when awarding CfD contracts to renewable developers.
Regen has worked with Wiltshire Council to set out how the area can deliver on its ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
Meagan Reasoner
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.
Regen's Energy Justice and Just Transition Lead Fraser Stewart discusses the vital importance of a 'just transition' to net zero.
Regen's chief executive, Merlin Hyman, responds to the publication of Chris Skidmore's independent Net Zero Review.
In Regen's first insight paper of 2023, director Johnny Gowdy analyses the emerging details of the government's new Electricity Generator Levy (EGL).
Christmas has come early for many after Ofgem announced its decision to implement a new 'Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment' regulatory framework.
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