The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the outcome of its call for evidence on enabling industrial electrification. The responses highlight the barriers industrial sites face regarding electrification and emphasise the need for further electrification-specific interventions to ensure parity with other low carbon fuels, allowing sites to select the most appropriate decarbonisation option for their business.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published an open consultation seeking views on proposals for the development of a common biomass sustainability framework, including its scope and the sustainability criteria to be included. The framework would set minimum sustainability criteria to ensure consistency across biomass applications and to ensure government only supports low carbon biomass in line with its net zero ambition. It is proposed that the framework would initially apply to government incentive schemes supporting bioenergy, with future adoption by other government policies. The consultation also seeks views on improvements to existing monitoring, reporting and verification requirements. DESNZ intends the framework to be delivered as a policy document to support schemes in applying consistent criteria, without the need for additional legislation. The consultation closes on 27 February 2026.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the outcome to the consultation on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its response to a consultation on the review of the Fuel Poverty Strategy for England, setting out how stakeholder feedback has informed the government’s updated approach to alleviating fuel poverty and accelerating progress towards the statutory 2030 fuel poverty target. DESNZ confirms that the government will retain the existing statutory target to ensure that, as far as reasonably practicable, fuel poor homes in England reach a minimum energy efficiency rating of  Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) B and C by the end of 2030, and states that delivery will be accelerated with the aim of lifting around one million households out of fuel poverty by that date. The government also commits to consulting within this Parliament on a successor statutory target to sustain progress beyond 2030.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its response to the consultation on the operational cost levies for the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) and the Electricity Settlements Company (ESC) for the financial years 2026–27, 2027–28 and 2028–29. The consultation ran from 26 November 2025 to 2 January 2026 and received one response, which supported the proposals and raised no issues requiring amendments. The government has confirmed the operational cost budgets and levy rates for both companies, including updated electricity demand forecasts used in levy calculations. For LCCC, the budgets relate to its role in administering Contracts for Difference and revenue collection under the Regulated Asset Base model for new nuclear. For ESC, the government confirmed increasing settlement cost levies over the three years. Regulations to implement these levies have been laid before Parliament under the affirmative procedure, with settlement cost levy provisions taking effect the day after the regulations are made and operational cost levies applying from 1 April 2026.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its response to Part 2 of the consultation on certification requirements for clean heat schemes, confirming its decision to mandate the Microgeneration Certification Scheme as the sole certification scheme for installations under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4), Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, and Warm Homes: Local Grant , thereby removing the option for equivalent schemes. This interim measure applies only to technologies currently requiring Microgeneration Certification Scheme  certification and excludes heat networks and products governed by PAS 2030. It precedes broader consumer protection reforms to be outlined in the forthcoming Warm Homes Plan. In response to consultation feedback, the government has committed to strengthening Microgeneration Certification Scheme oversight through departmental board representation, a memorandum of understanding, and annual consumer protection reporting.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its response to the 2023 consultation on heat network zoning, setting out the final policy framework for identifying, designating and delivering heat network zones in England. The government confirms that a new heat network zoning authority initially housed within DESNZ and later the Warm Homes Agency will oversee national zoning standards, administer the zoning digital service and support local authorities. Local zone coordination bodies will be responsible for refining zone boundaries, running competitive developer selection processes, managing local engagement and monitoring compliance. DESNZ confirms that zoning will apply in areas where heat networks are the lowest-cost pathway to decarbonising heat, with mandatory connection requirements for new buildings, existing communally heated buildings, large non‑domestic buildings with annual heat demand above 100 MWh, and campus networks. A standardised connection process will apply, with minimum agreement and connection windows, and exemptions available on defined legal, technical or cost grounds. The government will introduce future connection cost caps to ensure required connections are no more expensive than relevant low‑carbon counterfactual systems.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the consultation outcome on proposals to implementing voluntary carbon and nature market integrity principles (VCNM). This included consideration of how the government’s six principles for VCNM Integrity could be put into practice through guidance, policy measures and regulation. DESNZ states that it received around 200 responses, with overall respondents expressing support for the proposals to improve integrity, trust and usability in these markets. Respondents also emphasised the importance of: (1) clear, internationally aligned expectations on the appropriate use of credits; (2) robust approaches to ensuring credit quality; (3) transparent reporting and claims; (4) proportionate assurance and enforcement mechanisms and (5) avoiding unnecessary fragmentation within a fast-evolving standards landscape. The next steps will be set out in the government response to be published in summer 2026.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its response to the consultation on proposals to remove the ability for Capacity Market Units (CMUs) to change location after Prequalification. Many respondents opposed the proposal but supported stronger checks on Change of Address (CoA) applications. They warned that applying the change to existing agreements could harm investor confidence, especially during ongoing grid connection reform. DESNZ has therefore decided that the removal of the CoA provisions will apply only to new agreements awarded from the 2027 auctions onwards. Existing agreements, including those prequalifying before 2026, will not be affected. DESNZ also concluded that the changes should not negatively affect Demand Side Response (DSR) CMUs, as other rules already allow DSR providers to update or reallocate components and use of CoA by DSR has been limited.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its government response to the consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes. DESNZ confirmed that privately rented homes in England and Wales will be required to meet a higher minimum energy efficiency standard equivalent to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C by a single compliance date of 1 October 2030. The new standard will be based on reformed EPC and will use a dual-metric approach, requiring landlords first to meet a fabric performance standard and then, at their discretion, either a heating system standard or a smart readiness standard, with the aim of delivering energy bill savings, reducing fuel poverty and cutting carbon emissions.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its consultation response and revised strategic policy guidance for electricity networks growth. DESNZ intends to issue the guidance to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, Ofgem’s governing body, under the Electricity Act 1989. The guidance asks Ofgem to support investment, domestic supply-chain capability, workforce development and good-quality jobs through its regulation of electricity networks. It also asks Ofgem to support procurement practices that strengthen supply-chain resilience, energy security and delivery confidence, while providing value for money for consumers. Ofgem should consider social value in network procurement, including a minimum 10% social-value weighting and how a 20% weighting could be achieved in future. DESNZ has clarified the guidance’s objectives and key terms, confirmed that Ofgem’s existing duties on consumer protection, affordability and the environment remain in force, and asked Ofgem to explain how it will manage trade-offs between its duties. The revised guidance includes distribution network operators, encourages independent distribution network operators to align voluntarily, and supports consideration of final UK assembly and the domestic high-value supply chain without imposing UK-content requirements. The guidance is due to take effect on 17 November 2026 and Ofgem will be expected to report annually on its implementation.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its response to the 2025 consultation on updating wind turbine noise guidance and issued new guidance replacing the 1996 ETSU-R-97 framework. Following the consultation, the government decided to retain separate daytime and night-time noise limits, maintaining a daytime lower limiting value range of 35–40 dB and a night-time lower limiting value of 43 dB, rather than introducing a single limit or increasing the minimum daytime threshold. The updated guidance introduces an amplitude modulation character correction, revises approaches to cumulative noise assessment, site-specific noise limits and compliance monitoring, clarifies the treatment of financially involved receptors, and provides updated planning condition guidance. DESNZ stated that the guidance should be used by developers and planning authorities across the UK when assessing operational noise from onshore wind turbines, with the aim of supporting renewable energy development while providing a reasonable degree of protection for neighbouring properties.