The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the response to its January 2024 consultation on designing a policy framework to enable investment in long duration electricity storage (LDES). The response confirms the government’s intention to establish a cap and floor scheme to unlock investment for LDES projects. Ofgem has agreed to act as the regulator and delivery body for the investment framework.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the response to its January 2024 consultation on proposed amendments to Allocation Round (AR7) and future rounds of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme. The response outlines the government’s decision to implement various changes ahead of AR7, including enabling repowered onshore wind projects that meet the eligibility criteria to bid into the CfD from AR7, and extending the phased CfD policy, currently available for fixed-based offshore wind projects, to floating offshore wind projects. It confirms and addresses the outcomes of a range of policy considerations for future rounds beyond AR7, such as appeals, hybrid metering, facilitating coordinated infrastructure, and indexation, among other aspects.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the summary of responses to its August 2022 call for evidence on land rights and consents processes for electricity network infrastructure. The document outlines stakeholder feedback on several aspects of the current processes, including voluntary wayleaves, necessary wayleaves, and Section 37 consents. Key issues identified include delays, high costs, and inefficiencies in the existing system. In response, DESNZ established a Working Group to explore potential changes to land purchase and wayleave processes. Suggested improvements include introducing a Code of Practice, implementing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and standardising compensation rates. The government is now considering policy changes and intends to conduct further consultations as required, with the objective of facilitating the UK's ambition of achieving net zero power by 2030.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published a consultation response summary on proposed changes to energy infrastructure planning application fees following a consultation held between December 2025 and February 2026. Respondents raised significant concerns about DESNZ’s proposed fixed fee model, particularly for Development Consent Orders (DCOs) and Necessary Wayleave applications, arguing that applications vary considerably in scale and complexity and that a single fixed fee could disproportionately affect smaller or less complex projects. Many respondents instead favoured tiered, segmented or staged charging models that would better reflect application complexity and reduce the risk of cross-subsidisation.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the response to its January 2024 consultation on potential transitional support arrangements to facilitate the transition of large-scale biomass electricity generators to power bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS). After reviewing stakeholder feedback and advice from the National Energy System Operator, the government has decided to implement a short-term support mechanism for these generators from 2027. This decision recognises that the continued operation of biomass plants will enhance security of supply by providing low-carbon, dispatchable electricity to the grid. DESNZ also plans to establish an independent review to consider how options for greenhouse gas removal, including large-scale power BECCS and direct air carbon capture and sequestration, can help the UK achieve its net zero targets and ensure security of supply through 2050.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the criteria for granting Transitional Energy Certificates (TECs), as committed to in the North Sea Future Plan, to support the management of existing oil and gas fields for their lifetime. The criteria outlines that a TEC could be granted where any eventual development on that site: will not undertake any exploration, is for block of acreage that is part of, or adjacent to, an existing field (linked by a tieback), and where the activity is necessary for a managed, prosperous and orderly transition.

The DESNZ has published the draft Contract Allocation Framework for Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 8 (AR8), together with Schedule 5 (application checks) and a detailed list of changes. The framework sets out the eligibility, valuation and allocation rules for AR8 and introduces a number of notable updates, including new provisions on amended determinations and review rights, the ability for applicants to rectify certain non-material errors through additional evidence, and revised procedures for qualification reviews, appeals and pending applications.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the draft Strategy and Policy Statement for energy policy in Great Britain, alongside the summary of responses to this consultation.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published draft commercial principles for a proposed Transition Access Agreement (TAA), intended to enable projects that do not require full CCUS business model revenue support to connect to the UK carbon dioxide (CO₂) Transport and Storage (T&S) Network.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has concluded its consultation on proposed guidance for criminal and civil sanctions related to breaches of core fuel sector resilience measures. Following industry feedback, which was largely positive, DESNZ has published a draft guidance document. The consultation, which ran from May to July 2024, sought to ensure that the guidance adequately outlined the government's approach to enforcement actions in cases of non-compliance. The final draft incorporates additional information requested by industry stakeholders and maintains an escalatory approach to sanctions, emphasising that punitive measures are not intended as a first resort.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published draft statutory guidance for the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA) on supporting economic growth through electricity-network regulation and procurement. The guidance sets out considerations for GEMA on how regulation can support UK manufacturing, employment, skills and supply-chain resilience while protecting consumers. It also encourages GEMA and network owners to consider voluntarily applying a minimum 10% social-value weighting to procurements and working towards a 20% weighting in the longer term. GEMA should consider how regulation can encourage final UK assembly and increased investment in domestic supply chains while maintaining value for money for billpayers. GEMA should also consider developing guidance for network owners and is expected to discuss progress with the government quarterly and publish annual updates. GEMA is expected to explain how it will balance these objectives with its other statutory duties.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published an evaluation of the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework, which was introduced in 2019 and requires certain businesses to report their energy use and carbon emissions in their annual accounts. The framework applies to UK-registered quoted companies, as well as large unquoted companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) that exceed statutory thresholds for employee numbers, turnover and balance sheet totals. The evaluation assesses how the SECR framework has operated in practice, including its interaction with other reporting requirements, the outcomes and impacts of the framework, and the overall cost-effectiveness of the policy in meeting its objectives. It draws on evidence including a survey of businesses, qualitative interviews with businesses, reporting consultancies and investors, quasi-experimental analysis of energy meter data and Companies House accounts, and a cost–benefit analysis.