The Heat Networks (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 came into force on 18 December 2014 under the EU Energy Efficiency Directive. This affects all businesses in the UK that supply and charge for heating, cooling or hot water to a final customer through communal heating or a district heating network including multi tenanted buildings with a shared heating and cooling system. For phase 2, qualifying businesses must submit notifications of existing heat networks by 31 December 2019. The feasibility study and potential...

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The National Grid has announced a commitment to reduce its direct greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, the same timeframe as the UK Government's legislative target. It has also pledged to drive the reduction of emissions that are outside of its direct control. The organisation will deliver energy efficiency programmes to help domestic households reduce consumption and will incentivise its supply chain to reduce the carbon impact of construction projects. The operating firm for National Grid...

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The Environment Bill has passed its second reading in the House of Commons and will now move to committee stage, following a lively debate between MPs. The bill builds on the 25 Year Plan for the Environment in the UK and will enshrine environmental principles in UK law for the first time ensuring that the environment will be placed at the centre of Government decision making. The Bill introduces a set of new environmental policies including powers to...

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The Government has released its latest consultation supporting the intention outlined in the Queen’s Speech last week to enshrine principles in law and set legally binding improvement targets to protect the environment. In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy to legislate to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The Government aims to set a clear long-term trajectory to 2030 is designed to provide time and certainty to non-domestic landlords, businesses and the...

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The Government and the European Union have agreed on a deal for Brexit which would see the UK leave the union which will include a set of level playing field commitments on the environment. There is still no clarity around how the process will play out however as the deal is now subject to a vote in Parliament. If approved the UK could leave the EU on the intended deadline of 31 October 2019. The latest revised agreement includes...

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On Monday, 14 October 2019 the UK Government announced its plans, during the Queen’s Speech, for the long overdue Environment Bill. The Queen stated that the bill, published the following day, will enshrine principles in law and set legally binding improvement targets to reduce plastics, cut air pollution, restore biodiversity and improve water quality. The Government has clearly stated that its overall ambition is to leave our environment in a better state than we inherited it. The Bill outlines the...

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It is unsurprising that the Government has delayed the deadline for the smart energy meter rollout by four years until 2024. Previously, suppliers were required to fit smart meters to all supplies by the end of 2020. Customers are not obliged to have a smart meter fitted, but energy firms must have offered them to all UK households by the end of the new deadline. The benefits of the smart meter roll out are that readings would be automatic,...

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Boris Johnson has requested that the EU reworks the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the union to allow Britain to significantly diverge from European rules after Brexit. Theresa May had committed to a level playing field in key areas such as the environment and social standards. Although non-binding, the political declaration that was drafted by Mrs May, was intended as the key document defining the path of future negotiations once Britain has left the EU. The European Commission...

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The UK has formally received the backing of all countries responsible for agreeing on the host of the COP26 climate conference. The event will take place in Glasgow in December 2020, with more than 30,000 national policy leaders, business representatives and climate scientists from across the world in attendance. As part of the bid to host, the UK Government has agreed that the event will be hosted in partnership with Italy, with the main event held in Glasgow and a...

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The Scottish Government has unveiled it’s legislative programme for the year, entitled Protecting Scotland’s future. The manifesto is wide-ranging but has a strong focus on efforts to tackle climate change, putting the transition to net-zero emissions at the heart of the Scottish National Investment Bank’s work. The Scottish government has pledged to ensure that, by 2024, all new homes must use renewable or low-carbon heat. The new policy package has been widely welcomed across the UK's green economy, including by...

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