Category: Policy Watch

UK’s revised net zero plan

UK’s revised net zero plan

Sep 25, 2023 |

Revised plans will ease the burden on working people, as the Prime Minister forges a credible, transparent path to net zero that maintains public consent. Ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars will be moved back to 2035 and new policies forcing landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties will be scrapped. The ban on new fossil fuel boilers for certain households will be delayed while cash grants for boiler upgrade schemes will increase by 50% to £7,500 for those who want to transition now.

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A Just Transition: G20 energy ministers outline the way forward

A Just Transition: G20 energy ministers outline the way forward

Sep 1, 2023 |

In the run up to India-led G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023, the Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting (ETMM) concluded last month with a forward-looking outcome document that emphasises the acceleration of a just and equitable energy transition. While member natio­ns unanimously recognised the need for addressing technology gaps, ensuring low-cost financing and promoting energy efficiency, among other things as co­mponents of energy transitions, discussions on tripling renewable energy capa­city and phasing out coal were the poin­ts of divergence.

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US Investigation on Circumvention Enquiries of Solar Cells and Modules from China

US Investigation on Circumvention Enquiries of Solar Cells and Modules from China

Aug 28, 2023 |

On August 18, 2023, the US Department of Commerce issued its final affirmative determinations that solar cells and modules completed in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam using components from China, and exported to the United States, are circumventing the antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on solar cells, whether or not assembled into modules, from China. Duties will not be collected on imports before June 2024, because of a temporary duty suspension ordered by President Biden.

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US Energy Regulator Adopts New Interconnection Regime

US Energy Regulator Adopts New Interconnection Regime

Aug 14, 2023 |

Following contentious rule-making proceedings triggered by its proposed rule issued over 12 months ago, on July 28, 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued its final rule (Final Rule) to revise current pro forma generator interconnection procedures and agreements to impose “commercial readiness” requirements on new generator interconnection applicants, requiring more concrete interconnection plans and forfeitable deposits for new interconnection applicants and some pending interconnection applicants.

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Europe adopts new EV charging infrastructure law

Europe adopts new EV charging infrastructure law

Aug 4, 2023 |

From 2025 onwards, fast recharging stations of at least 150kW for cars and vans need to be installed every 60 km along the EU’s main transport corridors, the so-called ‘trans-European transport (TEN-T) network’. Recharging stations for heavy-duty vehicles with a minimum output of 350kW need to be deployed every 60 km along the TEN-T core network, and every 100 km on the larger TEN-T comprehensive network from 2025 onwards, with complete network coverage by 2030.

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European Union Adopts a New Batteries Regulation

European Union Adopts a New Batteries Regulation

Jul 28, 2023 |

On 10 July 2023, the Council of the European Union approved the European Parliament’s position on a new batteries and waste batteries regulation (‘Batteries Regulation’). The Batteries Regulation is now awaiting its imminent publication in the European Union’s Official Journal before entering into force. The new rules will cover the entire life cycle of all types of batteries sold in the European Union.

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India prioritises renewables in the National Electricity Plan

India prioritises renewables in the National Electricity Plan

Jul 10, 2023 |

India, which has set a goal to install 500 GW of non-fossil-fuel-based energy capacity by 2030, is a front runner in renewable energy installations. The country’s green commitment is evident in the recently published National El­ec­tricity Plan (NEP) (Volume I: Genera­tion) by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The new plan estimates more than 400 GW of capacity addition in the renewable energy sector, far exceeding the combined capacity addition of less than 70 GW in the thermal and nuclear power sectors.

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Understanding California’s Advanced Clean Truck Regulation

Understanding California’s Advanced Clean Truck Regulation

Jul 3, 2023 |

To reduce emissions, ACT requires original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to sell zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) or near-zero-emissions vehicles (NZEVs) such as plug-in electric hybrids as an increasing percentage of their annual sales from 2024 to 2035. The regulation uses a cap-and-trade system, capping the number of fossil fuel vehicles sold by stipulating annual sales percentage requirements.

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Vietnam’s Eight National Power Development Plan (PDP8)

Vietnam’s Eight National Power Development Plan (PDP8)

Jun 25, 2023 |

On May 15, 2023, the Vietnamese government released Vietnam’s Eight Power Development Plan (PDP8) for the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The release was severely delayed due to disagreements in the authorities regarding the country’s future power mix, particularly the pace of the phase down of coal-fired power generators and the expansion of renewable energies (RE). The PDP8 encompasses the planning of Vietnam’s future power sources and the planning of the national transmission grid infrastructure.

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US Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap

US Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap

Jun 11, 2023 |

Pathways for clean hydrogen to decarbonize applications are informed by demand scenarios for 2030, 2040, and 2050 with strategic opportunities for 10 million metric tonnes (MMT) of clean hydrogen annually by 2030, 20 MMT annually by 2040, and 50 MMT annually by 2050. These values are based not only the opportunity for clean hydrogen production in the U.S., but on demand for clean hydrogen use across sectors, informed by achieving market competitiveness in specific applications.

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Reserve Bank of India defines the framework for green deposits

Reserve Bank of India defines the framework for green deposits

May 22, 2023 |

To achieve climate-resilient economi­es, financial resources need to be di­rec­ted towards environment-fri­endly pro­je­cts and activities. Therefore, as green finance gains traction in the public and private sectors across global econo­mies, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announc­ed plans to establish a framework for the acceptance of green depo­sits. As a financial instrument, a “gr­e­en de­posit” is an in­terest-bearing de­posit received by regulated entities (REs) for a fixed period.

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Infrastructure and supply chains won’t hold up EPA’s proposed light and medium-duty vehicle standards

Infrastructure and supply chains won’t hold up EPA’s proposed light and medium-duty vehicle standards

May 15, 2023 |

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) light and medium-duty vehicle proposal builds upon important climate legislation enacted in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). EPA expects the regulation, proposed on April 12, 2023, to lead to a 67% electric vehicle (EV) sales share in 2032 for light-duty vehicles such as cars, SUVs, and passenger pick-up trucks and 46% for medium-duty vehicles including vans and larger pick-ups.

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EU Electricity Market Reforms To Encourage Investment In Renewables Rather Than Directly Reduce High Electricity Prices

EU Electricity Market Reforms To Encourage Investment In Renewables Rather Than Directly Reduce High Electricity Prices

May 1, 2023 |

The electricity market reforms proposed by the European Commission on March 14 2023 will provide a framework to increase transparency, competition, stability and uniformity through changes to policy such as Contracts for Difference (CfD) schemes that we expect will broadly support higher investment in non-hydropower renewables. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) markets will benefit from the changes, with more incentives to drive long-term agreements, which will increase low-cost renewables to stabilise prices, but shift investment focus into western markets.

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OWT Support: The UK launches GBP 100 million scheme for coordinated development

OWT Support: The UK launches GBP 100 million scheme for coordinated development

Apr 23, 2023 |

The UK is making efforts towards ac­hieving its ambitious 2030 offshore wind (OSW) goal of 50 GW in order to meet its long-term net zero targets. The UK government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which recently took over the energy portfolio from the former Dep­ar­tment for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), has published documents about its Offshore Coordination Support Scheme (OCSS), which aims to support the development of coordinated offshore wind transmission (OWT) infrastructure.

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UK Government publishes updated Green Finance Strategy

UK Government publishes updated Green Finance Strategy

Apr 17, 2023 |

On 30 March 2023, the UK Government published an updated Green Finance Strategy (the “Strategy“). The Strategy, which updates the UK’s 2019 Green Finance Strategy, outlines how “continued UK leadership on green finance will cement the UK’s place at the forefront of this growing global market, and how we will mobilise the investment needed to meet our climate and nature objectives“. The Strategy discusses how the UK Government intends to achieve these objectives via three chapters: (1) Foundations; (2) Align; and (3) Invest.

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Germany implements plans and strategies to meet its offshore wind targets

Germany implements plans and strategies to meet its offshore wind targets

Apr 2, 2023 |

Germany is focusing on rapid offsho­re wind energy development to de­carbonise its energy systems as part of its energy transition, also known as Energiewende, and ensure energy security in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, which has had a significant impact on the entire European Union. The country aims to increase the share of renewable energy in power consumption to at least 80 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035 (compared to around 49 per cent at the end of 2022).

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US BOEM Proposes First Offshore Wind Auction in the Gulf of Mexico

US BOEM Proposes First Offshore Wind Auction in the Gulf of Mexico

Mar 13, 2023 |

On February 24, 2023, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) in the Federal Register that includes three proposed lease areas in the Gulf of Mexico for offshore wind development. One lease area is in the Lake Charles Wind Energy Area (WEA), offshore of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and two are in the Galveston WEA, offshore of Galveston, Texas.

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New Actions for US Offshore Wind Expansion

New Actions for US Offshore Wind Expansion

Mar 5, 2023 |

For the first time, the Department of the Interior (DOI) is announcing a proposed offshore wind lease sale for three areas in the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Texas and Louisiana. These areas have the potential to generate enough clean energy to power almost 1.3 million homes. The proposed auction includes provisions that would incentivize new investments in workforce training and a domestic supply chain, to expand economic opportunities across offshore wind manufacturing, port operations, and more.

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Benefits of higher renewable energy targets in Germany

Benefits of higher renewable energy targets in Germany

Feb 25, 2023 |

The level of ambition of the Federal government for the Energiewende has dramatically increased with the new coalition elected in 2021, the share of renewables to be reached in the power mix by 2030 being set at 80 per cent. The German wind industry has however been affected by a slowdown of the expansion of capacities, several rounds of onshore wind and solar auctions being in 2022 undersubscribed. The added value of the Energiewende in terms of job creation has been ambivalent so far.

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