DESNZ monthly newsletter

Welcome to our latest monthly newsletter with updates on the key announcements we've made:

• DESNZ leaders guest spot - Innovation Zero
• Net Zero Council marks a year of success
• Enabling consumers to benefit from cheaper energy deals
• Other DESNZ news
• Your views wanted

DESNZ leaders guest spot: Innovation Zero (Professor Paul Monks, Chief Scientific Advisor)

Jorge Barba, a self-styled innovation insurgent, has said “Innovation is the future delivered”.? ?This week I spoke at the second Innovation Zero show at Olympia in London. ?As we move to decarbonise, there is a need for new solutions and new opportunities across the entire ecosystem, not only in energy, but in transport, industry, manufacturing, aviation, shipping, food and agriculture. Innovation is also required in key enabling sectors such as finance, carbon markets, minerals and materials.

It is easy to cheerlead for innovation, but to deliver Net Zero, it is essential.? In multiple ways, global economies will see some of the largest shifts since the fossil fuel powered industrial revolution.? With that in mind, what is required is a bold, coherent programme of public sector research and innovation investment, alongside appropriate policy support, coordinated with industry, to encourage and de-risk technology development and deployment and mobilise private sector investment.

Innovation Zero was a real showcase of the can-do attitude of the innovation sector, highlighting the push from major corporates, all the way to small and innovative start-ups.??All voices were heard.? It was great to see the businesses that has been supported through the department’s?Net Zero Innovation Portfolio?(NZIP). NZIP was a ￡1 billion fund launched in November 2021 to accelerate the?commercialisation?of low-carbon technologies, systems and business models in power, buildings, and industry. The programme is now into its final year of delivery and is supporting nearly 4,000 jobs across 450 projects whilst leveraging over ￡345 million in private investment. ?80% of the funding is outside London and the South-East. Fourteen NZIP companies were exhibiting at Innovation Zero over the 2 days.

Particular favourites to highlight include RheEnergise who are demonstrating, with their novel energy dense liquid, that you do not need large mountains for hydro pump-storage.? Also, Sunswap, who are looking to decarbonise refrigerated transport for the haulage industry using their battery/solar combination and Batch.Works with their 3-d printed solution using recycled plastic feedstocks.

Net Zero Council marks a year of success

On Monday 29 April, Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero Justin Tomlinson met with leaders of banks, energy companies, businesses and investors, as the Net Zero Council celebrated its first anniversary.

In the past year the Council has produced Net Zero Business Sector Roadmap guidelines, having identified the need for businesses to have credible and consistent criteria to build plans to reduce emissions and reviewed industry plans representing around 80% of UK emissions.

Over the next 12 months the Council aims to:?

• bring the industry-led roadmaps together to support further work to maximise decarbonisation opportunities.
• continue supporting?SMEs?by backing the expansion of the tools and resources provided by the UK Business Climate Hub.
• increase public awareness of?net zero, including providing toolkits for businesses to support engagement with their customers and supply chains.

Enabling consumers to benefit from cheaper energy deals

On the 16 April the department published a consultation to introduce minimum requirements for cyber security and grid stability, and minimum product standards for energy smart appliances to give consumers confidence to take up smart devices and make it easier for them to benefit from cheaper bills.

Smart devices allow consumers to manage their energy use to benefit from cheaper tariffs at times of low electricity demand. By shifting some electricity use away from peak periods, this will ease pressure on the grid, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and the need for new infrastructure like pylons.

Measures also include a legal requirement for service providers to have a consumer complaints process in line with that which is required for energy suppliers.

The consultation closes on 11 June.

Other DESNZ news:

• Dr Paul Golby confirmed as new National Energy System Operator chair - 3 May
• Step closer to protecting over 500,000 heat network customers – 30 April
• Energy Secretary speech at Innovation Zero 2024 – 30 April
• Peter Hill CBE appointed as new Chair of the NDA – 12 April
• British businesses supported to settle energy disputes – 4 April

Your views wanted:

The following consultations and calls for evidence are currently open, you can respond via the links below:

• Barriers to community energy projects – closes 11.59pm, 30 June
• Green Gas Support Scheme: annual tariff review 2024 - closes 11.59pm, 27 May
• National Energy System Operator (NESO) licences and other impacted licences – closes midnight, 9 May
• Clean Heat Market Mechanism: adjustment to scheme introduction date – closes 11.59pm, 9 May
• Review of electricity market arrangements (REMA): second consultation – closes 11.59pm, 7 May