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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
Pathway to net zero: UK government and local authorities align for greener homes
2/10/2024
News
In a move to address fuel poverty and promote energy efficiency, the UK government has launched a series of initiatives designed to improve energy standards in both private and social rented homes. The announcement coincides with the release of a new toolkit aimed at supporting local authorities in meeting their clean energy goals.
Families across the UK, particularly those in rented accommodation, continue to feel the sting of high energy bills, exacerbated by the broader cost-of-living crisis. For many renters, living in cold, draughty homes has become an unfortunate reality, with little respite in sight.
To address this issue, the government is moving to consult on proposals that will require private and social rented homes to meet at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030. This marks a significant shift from the current regulations, where private rented homes only need to achieve an EPC rating of E, and social rented homes have no minimum energy efficiency standards at all.
Alongside stricter EPC requirements, the government has introduced a suite of financial measures designed to ease the cost burden of energy performance upgrades. They would, it says, pull over a million households out of fuel poverty by 2030. They include grants to help low-income homeowners and private tenants implement energy efficiency measures, and a fund for social housing providers and their tenants to do the same, plus similar support for public buildings via continuing the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
It is hoped that by making homes more energy-efficient, home-owners and renters can expect not only warmer living conditions but also lower energy bills, especially as insulation and cleaner heating systems such as solar panels and heat pumps are rolled out nationwide.
New toolkit to empower councils’ clean energy ambitions
While the government works on improving the energy efficiency of homes, local authorities are stepping up to spearhead local clean energy projects.
UK Power Networks, the UK’s largest distribution system operator (DSO), in partnership with UK100, is offering local authorities guidance on how to collaborate with energy distributors and other stakeholders in the pursuit of decarbonisation.
Given the rapid rise in local renewable energy projects and the increasing demand for electric vehicle (EV) charge points and other green energy infrastructure, local authorities are facing more pressure than ever to implement sustainable energy solutions. However, according to Christopher Hammond, Chief Executive of UK100, while many councils are ready to act, they simply ‘don’t know where to start’. The new initiative, ‘Navigating the Net Zero Energy Transition: A Toolkit for Local Authorities’, supports development of a Local Area Energy Plan (LEAP), enabling them to become major players in the shift to a net zero energy system, he explains.
Lynne McDonald, head of Local Net Zero at UK Power Networks’ DSO, adds that the guidance ‘includes a wider look at how the electricity system is changing, who the key stakeholders are, and what support is available from them for the delivery of local net zero’. There is also practical advice on the opportunities available to finance this work and how a decarbonised energy system can reduce costs.
