Electricity market reform - latest
Scroll down for the latest Green Alliance news and information on our Electricity Market Reform work. Additional information also available on the events page and in the media room.
What does the energy bill need to do to decarbonise the power sector?
Britain's electricity market reform process has been running for a year and a half, and is poised to deliver new legislation later this year. This will set the structure needed to deliver a ten-fold decrease in average power sector emissions by 2030 and enable low-carbon electricity to decarbonise heat and transport. It will have to do so in the context of increasing energy bills and uncertainty about future fossil fuel prices.
In order to be successful, the energy bill will need to set a clear carbon trajectory to a nearly decarbonised power sector in 2030. This will give confidence to manufacturers and power companies so they can invest in innovative low-carbon technology. To help keep costs low, the energy bill will need to create a level playing field for demand reduction, so that we don't end up building new supply when we can take advantage of cheaper demand reduction.
Our proposal is to create an efficiency feed-in tariff to make this happen.
Our initial response to the EMR White Paper
There has been one big question asked about electricity market reform over the past few weeks. Whether the government's much-anticipated white paper will enable business to invest in the technologies we need to restrain spiralling fossil fuel prices, or whether it would leave crucial decisions open. The white paper yesterday makes it clear that big questions remain unanswered.
Read our full response
Avoiding gas lock-in
Why a second dash for gas is not in the UK's interest
The first dash for gas, following liberalisation of the UK electricity market in 1990, was clearly in the UK’s national interest, because it significantly reduced carbon emissions and electricity prices. This briefing shows that a second dash for gas would not be in the UK’s long-term interest as it will raise the cost of meeting the nation’s carbon budgets.
Download our briefing
or read it online here:
Towards a bright future
Transforming the electricity market
A major overhaul of the electricity market is needed. In our report, leading experts in the field examine what electricity reform needs to achieve, the barriers and opportunities, and the merits of various reform options.
Download our report
or read it here online:
Energy and Climate Change Committee evidence hearing on the Electricity Market Reform
Tuesday 25 January 2011
Senior policy adviser Rachel Cary was invited by the Energy and Climate Change Committee to give evidence on the Electricy Market Reform. This hearing is available to view on Parliament TV.
Green Alliance Electricity Market Reform workshop - developing ideas and solutions
Friday 18 February 2011
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Electricity Market Reform (EMR) consultation sets out a wide range of complex proposals but will they actually deliver the transformation of the electricity sector that is urgently required? This full-day workshop enabled participants from a range of organisations to brainstorm and work together to consider the overall impact of the proposed package and also to develop detailed policy recommendations. See below for presentations and a summary of the day.
EMR workshop
summary (pdf 364.37 KB)
Rachel Cary spoke at the Association of Electricity Producers seminar on Electricity Market Reform
The Association of Electricity Producers held a seminar on EMR on Tuesday 5th April, Britain’s 3 pin energy policy: Does the Electricity Market Reform plug fit? Rachel Cary sat on the afternoon panel – click below to see her presentation
Please contact Rachel Cary if you would like to discuss this area of work further.
Rachel Cary
senior policy adviser
direct dial: 020 7630 4525
rcary@green-alliance.org.uk