On 19 January 2022, a webinar hosted by Cornwall Insight in partnership with the law firm Weightmans focused on routes to market for renewable projects that may not secure a contract during the fourth allocation round of the ‘Contracts for Difference’ (CfD) auction, which opened in December 2021. In the absence of the revenue certainty provided by a contract with a credit-worthy counterparty such as the government, developers have to find alternative business models to mitigate uncertainty, such as utility power purchase agreements (PPAs) and corporate PPAs, accepting various degrees of merchant risk. Our event considered the options available for developers and investors, based on asset type, connection and potential revenue streams. The recording is available here.
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Low carbon generation
RESS 3 consultation: DECC is listening, but the true test will be in the detail of the solutions incorporated
The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) published the consultation for the third round of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 3) on 28 October 2022. Some of the issues drawn out in the consultation is a testimony that DECC has its ears on the ground and is...
Energy Market Design
Financing Net Zero: A (revenue) cap on UK merchant financing opportunities?
On 13 October 2022, we hosted the latest instalment of our ‘Financing Net Zero’ webinar series. The session, sponsored by Shoosmiths, focused on opportunities and challenges for merchant financed renewable projects amid the current wholesale price volatility. In recent years, due to the increasing success-rate and profitability of renewable projects,...
Regulation and policy
Government to consult on the introduction of Cost-Plus-Revenue Limit
The government issued its Energy Prices Bill on 12 October. The bill will put in law a number of the already-announced mechanisms that will be used to support households and businesses this winter including the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Also announced alongside this is the...
Energy storage and flexibility
From zero to hero: Can CfDs split markets and reduce costs this winter?
Given media comment on the imposition of a revenue cap for low carbon generators instead of migration of existing projects onto a CfD, please find below a blog published by Cornwall Insight three weeks ago. Not only did this note the possibility of the revenue cap being a fall back...
Energy Market Design
How does REMA impact energy generation, flexibility and consumers?
The Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) is the largest review programme of GB electricity market arrangements for a generation. It comes at a time when European energy markets are suffering extreme turmoil. Depending on the outcome there could be significant implications for generators, flexibility providers, and, indirectly, consumers. REMA...
Energy Market Design
REMA: electricity market design choices
Electricity markets will serve as the foundation for the future GB energy system. This article examines some of the market design decisions that will be considered by the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA). Market design goals At its most simple, a well-functioning market will attract enough potential “buyers” and...
Low carbon generation
Head to Head: CfD vs RESS
2022 has been busy for renewable developers in Great Britain and Ireland, with both the fourth allocation round of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and the second round of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) concluding this summer. We compared the latest results of the CfD and RESS schemes...
Low carbon generation
Energy System Reform: Ofgem shares plans for Britain’s energy system
Against the backdrop of record high and volatile energy prices, Ofgem set out on 8 July its view on key aspects of the GB energy system where it considers significant reform is required to deliver a resilient, low cost, low carbon energy sector. Recent developments in the energy market, such...
