This week’s edition of Energy highlights includes analysis on the impact of the introduction of the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and what it means for small-scale generators; the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) publication of the government’s responses to ‘The future for small-scale low-carbon generation: Part A and B’ in respect of SEG; as well as an announcement that it will invest £33m in 32 companies from across the UK to develop the next generation of low-carbon vehicles.
Renewable energy
Smart Export guarantee introduced
Energy analysis: BEIS has made provisions to introduce the long awaited SEG scheme, intended to provide a route-to-market for smaller generators following closure of the Feed-In Tariff Scheme to new applications on 31 March 2019. We consider the impact of the introduction of the SEG on suppliers and what it means for small-scale generators. See News Analysis: Smart Export Guarantee introduced.
Government outlines responses to small-scale low-carbon consultations
BEIS has released the government’s responses to two consultations—‘The future for small-scale low-carbon generation: Part A’ and ‘The future for small-scale low-carbon generation: Part B’. See: LNB News 10/06/2019 34.
Smart Export Guarantee Order 2019
SI 2019/1005: Provisions are made to introduce SEG, which provides for payments to be made by mandated electricity suppliers to small-scale low-carbon generators exporting electricity to the grid in Great Britain. This Order will come into force partly on 1 October 2019 and fully on 1 January 2020. See: LNB News 11/06/2019 6.
Government to invest £33m in companies developing low-carbon vehicles
BEIS has announced that it will invest £33m in 32 companies from across the UK to develop the next generation of low-carbon vehicles. The investment will come through the advanced propulsion centre (APC) and is part of the government’s modern industrial strategy. APC investment will cover initiatives such as the development of high-performance battery packs, electrified construction equipment and hydrogen-powered engines (as well as the establishment of supply chains). See: LNB News 10/06/2019 60.
UK to invest £23m in developing electric car battery technologies
The government has announced that it is giving £23m towards the development of the latest technology for electric car batteries. Companies of all sizes across the UK are among the list of winners to receive portion of the Faraday Battery Challenge, to help the UK remain at the forefront of developing the latest electric vehicle technology. The companies will use the funding towards developing electric car battery technologies, to support the UK’s transition towards being a zero emissions economy. See: LNB News 11/06/2019 89.
Air emissions, efficiency and climate change
UK to reduce net emissions to zero by 2050
The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has announced new legislation to reduce net UK emissions to zero by 2050. The target, based on advice from the Committee on Climate Change, will be implemented through a statutory instrument laid on 12 June 2019, amending the Climate Change Act 2008 (CCA 2008). When made, the statutory instrument would make the UK the first G7 country to legislate for net zero emissions. Lawyers from Herbert Smith Freehills, Cornerstone Barristers and Burgess Salmon comment on the target, adding it ‘shows that—whatever else arises from the Brexit debate—the UK still wants to be a world leader on reducing carbon emissions’. See: LNB News 12/06/2019 115.
UK praised by IEA for action against climate change
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest review of the UK’s energy policies has praised the progress which has been made in decarbonisation reform, and clean energy technologies. The report acknowledges that the UK government has a good track record in its approach to tackling climate change, both domestically and globally, but finds that ‘outside of the UK power sector, there is still significant potential for improvements’. A mixed approach of options such as technology innovation and electrification, stimulated by fiscal policies and energy efficiency, are the best approach to make further change, says the IEA. See: LNB News 06/06/2019 58.
Source: LexisNexis Purpose Built
Energy weekly highlights—13 June 2019
