Consumer-Led Engagement in Electricity Flexibility

Interest in private network generation, whereby an electricity generator supplies electricity directly to an end user via a private network, has surged, driven by the promise of cost savings and additional capacity. This blog explores the potential of private networks and how expert support can help unlock their full value.

Kate Mulvany and Tom Edwards are joined by Peter Stanley, Elexon CEO, to discuss the critical topic of energy flexibility and the government's ambitions for a clean power system by 2030

Smart meters are a useful tool for supporting energy flexibility and helping consumers to monitor their usage. However, their implementation has been fraught with challenges over the last 15 years, and these appear set to continue as we move towards a complete rollout.

Cornwall Insight experts Anna Moss and Robert Buckley meet with Uswitch CEO Angus McCarey to discuss the future of energy supply markets and the evolving role of consumers in the net zero transition

In June, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) published its “Progress in reducing emissions” report to Parliament. It highlighted, that with more action, the UK can still achieve its legally binding climate targets and improve energy security for households and businesses across the UK. However, a lot more action was needed.

Cornwall Insight experts Tim Dixon, Lucy Dolton, and Robin Clarke discuss the recently published indicative timeline for the upcoming Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7 auction.

REGO prices have plummeted - but is this a short-term dip or a sign of deeper change? From record highs in 2023 to lows not seen since 2021, prices in the Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) market have shifted fast.

At the start of May, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published an impact assessment of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. But will the Bill deliver on its promises? And what could it mean for businesses and households? We take a closer look at the detail.

Meeting the UK’s targets of a clean power sector by 2030 and a net zero economy by 2050 will require a significant growth in intermittent renewable generation, and an accompanying increase in technologies that can provide system flexibility – of which batteries are a key component. Our latest blog explores the evolution of the GB battery revenue stack over the last few years and the key drivers behind this.

This question and answer blog explores the purpose, capacity, and implications of gas storage in GB while addressing the key question: should we be worried about running low?

Principal Consultant Kate Mulvany delves into the key proposals and the potential impacts on investors, consumers, and the broader energy system.

To facilitate an ever-growing supply of intermittent renewable energy generation, there is a need for the Single Electricity Market (SEM) for Ireland and Northern Ireland to have robust System Services

We look at the opportunities for businesses and optimisers that have been opened up by the implementation of Virtual Trading Party arrangements under P415

As the UK transitions to net zero the capacity of renewable generation and storage connected to the grid will need to significantly increase from the current volumes.

In our latest insight paper, Living the Hy Life: Assessing Low-Carbon Hydrogen Offtake in the UK, Cornwall Insight dives into the evolving role of low-carbon hydrogen.

Research Analyst Jamie Maule is joined by our Senior Consultants Antony Badger and Jacob Briggs, as they discuss energy supply contracting for electric vehicle charge-point operators in the GB market

In this podcast, our experts discuss the drivers and trends behind these long-term costs as well as the impacts on corporate decarbonisation efforts.

Our research paper explores the value of smart and V2G electric vehicle (EV) charging within a flexible energy system in three snapshot years.

Our latest report discusses a series of actions that can be taken by the new government, industry bodies, and market participants to help regain and maintain momentum in the transition to net zero.

In our latest blog, Senior Consultant James Cunningham sets out the challenges these costs pose for developing the renewable energy projects needed to reach net zero and what is currently being done to address these issues.

Ireland has renewable electricity targets for 2030 set out in the Climate Action Plans since 2021 of 9GW of onshore wind, 5GW of offshore wind and 8GW of solar.

The new government is wasting no time rolling out its ambitious plans for a net zero electricity system by 2030.

We published our latest EVCA Index which considers these developments and how they affect the relative attractiveness of 15 European countries as they attempt to accelerate their EV transitions.

Since publishing the previous iteration of the Low-carbon Hydrogen Policy Index in April 2023, the global hydrogen market has continued to grow and develop as both national governments and industry stakeholders have sought to expand the role of hydrogen in their decarbonisation plans.

Cornwall Insight Australia has released our latest NEM Benchmark power curve (NEM BPC) for Q1 2024 to our subscribers. Our latest data from our recent Australian NEM Benchmark Power Curve shows that policy settings and decarbonisation ambition is likely to lead to a temporary, but significant, increase in wholesale energy prices before the end of the decade.

In this podcast, our experts discuss the opportunities and challenges being faced as we pursue the transition to a green economy in the UK.

In this podcast our Lead Research Analyst, Kate Hill, is joined by Stephen Knight from Heat Trust and George Munson from Leeds City Council to discuss heat network zoning and the impact this might have on consumers and how this could deliver for consumers.

This report, developed in partnership with Integrate to Zero, explores the highlights, insights, and themes that are characterising household flexibility markets around the world.

This blog explores, how since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK’s and EU’s natural gas imports have transitioned away from Russian pipeline supplies and towards liquified natural gas (LNG); the short and long-term impacts on UK energy bills; and what issues lie ahead in the LNG transition.

In this insight paper, we discuss the demand and challenges accompanying Japan’s changing energy mix. Aiming to address whether, as the transition to net zero creates greater need and opportunities for faster dispatch electricity storage, could Japan represent an up-and-coming market for battery asset investors and developers?

We believe learning curves or rates have two important functions in the GB energy market: informing bids in subsidy auctions and fundamental inputs into long-term capacity expansion models.

In this insight paper, we discuss the opportunities and challenges accompanying Germany’s changing energy mix, from a reliance on fossil fuels to widespread electrification and the further development of low-carbon hydrogen.

We have collated some predictions from across our knowledge base to provide a quick snapshot of what to look out for in the GB energy market in 2024.

This report provides an annual overview of trends for the All-Ireland Power Market out to 2030 using outputs from Cornwall Insight’s latest forward curve for the All-Island (AI) Single Electricity Market (SEM) covering Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Following the previous iteration of the EVCA Index, published in September 2023, the EV market has continued to grow across Europe. From October 2022 to October 2023, the EU, Norway, and the UK have seen a combined 29% year-on-year increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales

From Cornwall Insight Australia’s Energy Market Alerts service Energy laws have now been amended to incorporate an emissions reduction objective alongside the other objectives. The list of targets that the market bodies will need to consider is listed in a separately published Targets Statement. The targets currently listed cover both Federal and state governments

This report focusses on the strategic measures that businesses can take to decarbonise their energy usage, with more practical measures discussed in our previous insight papers.

This report explores the potential to enable the decarbonisation of the GB energy system and meeting net zero ambitions through evolutionary reforms to the transmission charging and constraint management arrangements. Cornwall Insight is an independent energy consultant with extensive experience in market and policy analysis.

Since the previous iteration of the EVCA Index, published in June 2023, there have been some changes to the electric vehicle (EV) landscape. The EV market has continued to grow with battery electric vehicle (BEVs) sales increasing across Europe. Cornwall Insight have partnered with law firm Shoosmiths to create the Electric Vehicle Country Attractiveness (EVCA) \[…\]

New analysis from Cornwall Insight and Smart Energy GB has revealed the substantial cost-saving potential of household flexible electricity initiatives such as time-of-use tariffs, smart meters, solar PV, and batteries. The has data revealed national wholesale and system electricity costs could be cut by an annual £4.6bn in 2030 and £14.1 billion in 2040

The research underpinning this report aims to understand the financial and environmental benefits of household flexibility for consumers and the national energy system. We have analysed the difference between a scenario where households participate in flexibility, and one where they don’t.

Since the previous iteration of the EVCA Index, published in March 2023, there have been some changes to the EV landscape. New countries have emerged as leaders in battery electric vehicle (BEV) growth while others have continued to develop their charging networks and maintain economic strength

Using exclusive insights from our new North West Europe Benchmark Power Curve, our insight paper assesses the impact of the energy crisis on Germany’s net zero ambitions and attainment. Current and future policy decisions are unpacked and evaluated to determine their impact on the net zero investment landscape

Join us for a podcast episode where we tackle the complicated seeming topic of constructing an electricity network that supports decarbonisation. Despite its complexities, the conversation is accessible and easy to follow. Guests, Frank Hodgson from REGEN and David Cowdrey from MCS Charitable Foundation, share opinions and findings from the research report Building a GB \[…\]

Anna Moss is joined by Cornwall Insight’s Jacob Briggs and Dan Hamza-Goodacre and Sophie Bordat from Integrate to Zero to talk about our recent research into the carbon and cost reduction opportunities from integrated energy in GB.

Soaring inflation and interest rates\*, combined with supply chain issues and labour shortages, have pushed up the cost of capital and increased the costs needed to finance renewable projects. With the latest round of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme now ongoing

The Irish electricity sector has undergone significant change in recent years. The Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM) arrangements introduced in 2018 fundamentally transformed the market framework to maximise competition, facilitate electricity wholesale trading, and incentivise the development of low-carbon generation sources

Soaring energy prices and challenging macroeconomic conditions mean many businesses are struggling to maintain progress towards net zero. With increasing pressures from both consumers and investors for companies to decarbonise, the desire to progress to net zero remains for many businesses but financial pressures have forced plans to be pushed back.

This report summarises the current market landscape, opportunities, and barriers to offering integrated energy propositions to consumers in Great Britain (GB).

In light of the financial pressures faced by enterprises from rising inflation and interest rates, tight supply chains and labour markets, alongside high energy bills, this paper investigates to what extent decarbonisation is still a priority for corporates and how progress towards net zero has been impacted by recent developments.

Smart meters have the potential to play a critical role in energy security, providing near real-time information through a visual in-home display, empowering consumers to change how much energy they use and when they use it. If consumers reduce or shift their energy consumption away from peak periods, they may be able to save money

Head of Relationship Development, Robert Buckley, joins us for the last part of our REMA event. Find out how we can help you navigate REMA here.

Part 4 of our REMA event sees Head of Modelling, Sarah Johnston share her thoughts. Find out how we can help you navigate REMA here.

In Part 3 of our REMA event, Senior Consultant, Kate Mulvany, talks about different options available for REMA. Find out how we can help you navigate REMA here.

In Part 2 of our REMA event, Principal Consultant, Adam Boorman introduces REMA. Find out how we can help you navigate REMA here.

In Part 1 of our event on REMA, Dr. Daniel Atzori introduces how the energy market has changed up until now, survey results from the industry on REMA and what our other experts will be speaking on. Find out how we can help you navigate REMA here.

Recent challenges have emphasised the recurring importance of the energy trilemma, namely the need to decarbonise the energy system while ensuring energy security and affordability. The government announced its Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) in April 2022 to address these issues.

MCS Charitable Foundation (MCS) in its charity goal of decarbonising homes, heat and energy has commissioned us to calculate the costs of blue and green hydrogen, based on current and projected gas prices. This report sets out our methodology for this forecast, and our findings in terms of delivered prices for green and blue hydrogen.

Amidst the proposals to help consumers with rising energy bills is one to incentivise investment in renewables. Earlier this week Rob Gross from UKERC, the originator of this Pot Zero” proposal, joined Tom Edwards and Robert Buckley to discuss it and wider prospects for the British energy sector.

With climate change high on the agenda, many countries are looking at decarbonising their electricity generation and incorporating more renewable generation into their electricity systems. This research snapshot focuses on energy market design in Great Britain (GB), Ireland and Australia, considering what is being done to adapt to the changing generation mix.

Ireland has an ambitious vision to reach net zero by 2050, and decarbonising residential heating is a significant challenge. This report examines the potential for hydrogen-based heating solutions in decarbonising residential heating in Ireland.On comparing the various options of using hydrogen for domestic heating in Ireland, hydrogen blending in the gas network is likely the \[…\]