Energy and Renewables

This note explains what biofuels are, how they fit in with wider climate change and energy policy, and the key environmental and social impacts of producing biofuels. It briefly summarises EU and UK legislation for promoting biofuels.

A practice note on enforcement of the Building Regulations in England and Wales, including a local authority's enforcement powers and prosecution under the Building Act 1984.

This note explains what carbon capture and storage (CCS) is and the various demonstration (pilot) projects currently underway in the UK and the EU to develop CCS on a commercial scale.

A summary of the changes to the energy performance certificate (EPC) and display energy certificate (DEC) regimes brought in by the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/3118), which come into force on 9 January 2013.

This practice note explains the various charges and other costs that participants in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) may incur. 

This practice note explains what records must be kept in evidence packs by participants in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) and how audits will be carried out by the administrator.

This practice note explains how electricity generation (using either fossil fuels or renewable sources) is treated under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC).

This practice note explains the impact of changes to the structure of a public sector organisation under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC).

This practice note explains how the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) applies to public sector organisations. 

This practice note explains how the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) applies to universities, colleges and other institutions for higher education. 

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme came into force on 1 April 2010. This note highlights key areas of the scheme upon which corporate lawyers may be called to advise.

A note on the impact of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme on the construction and engineering industry. Note: we no longer maintain this note. For an overview of the CRC, see Practice note, CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme: overview.

This practice note provides a detailed overview of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC), which is a mandatory emissions trading scheme for large businesses and public sector organisations in the UK. The scheme came into force in April 2010.

This note explains what materials we have published recently on the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) and what additional materials we are planning to produce.

This practice note explains what issues should be considered in a share purchase in relation to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC). This note considers issues at all stages of a transaction, from the due diligence stage to post-completion matters.

This note examines Electricity Market Reform (EMR) introduced by the EMR White Paper in 2011, including the draft Energy Bill 2012 published in May 2012.

This note summarises the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) and its predecessors, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC).

This note explains the regime of energy performance certificates (EPCs), display energy certificates (DECs) and compulsory air-conditioning inspections introduced by the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. It also summarises the effect of Council Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings (recast). For a consideration of the provisions of sale contracts, leases and leasehold management documents that may be negotiated to deal with EPCs for commercial properties, see Practice note, Energy performance certificates: negotiation issues. NOTE ADDED (20.12.2012): The government announced changes to the EPC, DEC and air conditioning inspections regime, on 19 December 2012. This note is being updated to reflect the changes, which came into force on 9 January 2013. For more information, see Practice note, Changes to EPC regulations in January 2013 and Legal update, EPC regulations: destination table for 2012 regulations.

This note describes the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) (now formally called the EU Emissions Trading System). It explains how the EU ETS operated in Phase I (2005-2007) and Phase II (2008-2012), and how it operates in Phase III (2013-2020), including allocation of EU allowances (EUAs) and auctioning. It also explains security issues in the EU ETS, the EU ETS registries and trading of allowances in the EU ETS.

This note summarises the key provisions of the EPB Directive 2010 (Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings (recast)) and how these have been implemented in England and Wales.  

This note explains green tariffs (also known as green energy tariffs) and the debate surrounding them. It includes the government's voluntary Green Supply Guidelines and related Green Energy Scheme for certification of green tariffs.

This note summarises the main legal drivers for the development of microgeneration (the generation of electricity and heat on a small-scale) in the UK.

An overview of the main changes to the planning system introduced by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The NPPF came into force on 27 March 2012.

An overview of the main changes to the planning system introduced by the Planning Act 2008. The Act received Royal Assent on 26 November 2008 and is coming into force in a piecemeal fashion.

A note on the regime introduced by the Planning Act 2008 for the examination procedures for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs).

A note on National Policy Statements introduced by the Planning Act 2008.

This note summarises the government's planning policy on renewable energy. It covers the: High-level policy in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). National Policy Statement (NPS) on Renewable Energy Infrastructure. Planning and Energy Act 2008. Merton and Merton-plus rules.

This note provides a summary of the Renewable Energy Directive 2009 and explains how the UK plans to meet the targets under the Directive. The full title of the Directive is Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC. The Directive is also known as RED.

This practice note provides a summary of the various types of renewable energy, including wind, solar, wave, tidal, biofuels and other biomass technologies.

This note summarises the Renewables Obligation (RO), which provides financial incentives for large-scale renewables electricity generation. This note explains how the RO and Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) work, what legislation and guidance govern the scheme and what changes may be made to the scheme in the future by the Electricity Market Reform (EMR).

This note explains the Green Deal, which is the government's flagship initiative for improving the energy efficiency of buildings in Great Britain.

This practice note provides a summary of the Energy White Paper, which was published in May 2007 and background information on the energy and nuclear debate.