30/04/2025
Welcome to our April Energy Matters Newsletter
The energy sector is a rapidly changing market with daily updates on technological advances, regulatory reviews, policy updates, funding decisions. In each edition of our Energy Matters Newsletter, we aim to provide a user-friendly, summary update of some of the key issues we are seeing across the renewable energy and resource management sectors.
If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised, please contact a member of our energy team.
Energy Spotlight
The government has announced a suite of reforms of the planning and infrastructure regime, which among other things, is designed to support the development of clean energy and give Britain greater energy independence.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, introduced to Parliament in March 2025, aims to streamline planning processes for national infrastructure developments - including clean energy - and seeks to attract billions in investment, give consumers greater fuel security and help achieve net zero goals. In his Ministerial statement, Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State for Housing and Planning set out the need for a planning application process which “considers the correct statutory and technical issues in a timely and proportionate manner, enabling confident and timely decision making.”
Read more about the proposed changes in our article here.
Quick Links
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Carbon Capture Storage / Usage
Government launches consultation on principles for carbon credit use
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 17 April 2025
The government are seeking views on the implementation of the principles for voluntary carbon and nature market integrity.
District Energy
UK government may extend domestic energy grants to heat batteries
Guardian 10 April 2025
Scheme in England and Wales covers only heat pumps, uptake of which has been slow.
Electricity
National Grid applies for new electricity line for Sea Link project
BBC News 27 March 2025
National Grid's plans for a new electricity line between Kent and Suffolk have been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, the company has announced.
Government announces consultation to remove Climate Change Levy costs from green hydrogen production
HM Treasury 26 March 2025
In the Spring Statement, the government committed to removing Climate Change Levy (CCL) costs from electricity used in electrolysis to produce hydrogen. This consultation seeks views to determine the best legislative route to remove these CCL costs and ensure the commitment is delivered in a way that achieves government’s objectives whilst avoiding unintended consequences.
NESO to investigate Heathrow power loss
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 22 March 2025
The Energy Secretary has commissioned the independent National Energy System Operator to investigate the power outage that affected Heathrow Airport.
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Department for Transport 7 April 2025
The response to the consultation states the government’s is committed to phase out pure petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
Energy Sector Reform
Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduced into parliament
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 10 March 2025
Dozens of clean energy projects will jump to the front of the queue for grid connections, through new measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Planning reforms to slash a year off infrastructure delivery
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 23 April 2025
Clean energy projects, reservoirs, railway lines, and other major infrastructure to be built faster, under changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Ofgem launches second consultation on energy code reform implementation
Ofgem 3 April 2025
Ofgem has launched a second consultation, seeking feedback on its proposals for implementing energy code reform, as set out in the Energy Act 2023.
Clean energy projects prioritised for grid connections
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 15 April 2025
Ofgem is expected to confirm the National Energy System Operator's ambitious new plan to reform grid connections and unlock billions of investment.
Ofgem allowing early access to £4 billion infrastructure investment
Ofgem 20 March 2025
British renewable energy projects will be connected quicker thanks to new Ofgem rules granting early access to almost £4 billion of investment for crucial transmission equipment and services. The regulator’s new Advanced Procurement Mechanism (APM) will unblock supply chains by allowing Britain’s electricity transmission owners (TOs) to buy essential equipment.
Energy Storage
Ofgem 8 April 2025
A new era for renewable power and energy security begins as Ofgem launches a new cap and floor investment support scheme, unlocking billions in funding to build major Long Duration Electricity Storage projects for the first time in 40 years.
Hydrogen
Businesses unveil plans for £6.5bn UK renewable hydrogen project
Hyspeed 14 April 2025
Project HySpeed is a transformative clean hydrogen initiative backed by some of Britain’s largest companies and most innovative SMEs. Together, they’re injecting £6.5 billion of private capital into the UK economy and creating 24,300 new jobs across the nation’s industrial heartlands.
New hydrogen power projects to boost growth
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 7 April 2025
A new wave of hydrogen powered projects have been shortlisted today to help cut emissions and create thousands of jobs in the UK’s industrial heartlands.
