18/04/2023 | Grid

RenewableUK welcomes key amendment to Energy Bill to give Ofgem new net zero mandate

18 April 2023 - RenewableUK press release


RenewableUK is welcoming a key amendment to the Energy Bill, made late last night by the House of Lords, to give the energy regulator Ofgem a statutory duty to assist in the delivery of net zero.


RenewableUK’s Head of Public Affairs Nathan Bennett said: 


“Reforming Ofgem’s mandate to consider net zero in every decision takes is long overdue. We’re glad that the House of Lords has listened to calls from across the energy sector to make this vital change and hope that MPs will support it when the Energy Bill goes back to the Commons in the weeks ahead.


“The change would empower Ofgem to ramp up the pace and scale of investment in new grid infrastructure, in turn enabling the roll out of more wind, solar and tidal stream projects. At the moment some wind farms are waiting for more than ten years to get a connection. This reform would allow us to build a grid that’s fit for purpose for the twenty-first century.


Refreshing Ofgem’s mandate so that it better enables the UK’s shift to clean energy is ultimately in the interest of billpayers, as renewable projects are our cheapest source of new power, lowering energy bills as well as strengthening Britain’s energy security.”         


(ends)


 

Notes


RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 470 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.


RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.


For further information, contact