The energy transition requires an evolution of the energy system, the markets and actors that underpin it, and the behaviour of its consumers. The future of our energy system amounts to the product of how national policy materialises as regional and local outcomes.
Since 2015, Regen has been looking extensively at potential future energy pathways at a regional and local level, through pioneering and delivering Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES) assessments for electricity and gas distribution networks. The DFES approach provides high granularity scenario forecasts focused on individual geographic licence areas, projecting the trajectories of energy generation (low carbon and fossil fuel), demand and storage technologies which are expected to connect to or disconnect from the GB distribution networks, out to 2050.
Through delivering these assessments, Regen has gained insight into the regional trends of the current fuel mix of our energy supply, the constantly evolving pipeline of established, new and emerging low-carbon technologies s at both a regional and neighborhood level.
The Regional Energy Scenarios Insight Series will therefore look to highlight some of the key findings, trends and potential outcomes we are seeing across the UK, including the development of marine energy generation, the scale of the solar and battery storage pipelines, a street-level view of the uptake of EV charging and the future regional potential for bioenergy.
Take a look at the insight blog and podcast below and watch this space for more.
Eleventh-hour opportunity as tidal energy gets £20m reserve allocation in latest CfD round
Blog by Grace Millman, energy analyst
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 the UK the opportunity to diversify its generation of renewable power both geographically and technologically, helping build system resilience. In this blog, Grace Millman, lead analyst on Regen’s 2021 Distribution Future Energy Scenarios for Western Power Distribution, examines the ebbs and flows of tidal energy over the last few years, as well as the future of tidal energy in light of the latest government announcement that tidal stream would be awarded a £20m ring-fenced minima within AR4.
The UK energy storage pipeline
Podcast by Ray Arrell, head of technical development and Bruce Bardsley, energy analyst
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 was produced as part of the Electricity Storage Network (ESN) Annual Marketplace – find out more about the event here. If you’re not yet a member of the ESN, find out more about our work and how you can get involved here.
