Energy & Utilities

Grid Connection for Energy Projects

How to connect electricity generation projects to the UK grid. Understand the difference between DNO and National Grid routes, the G99 connection standard, and the April 2025 Ofgem reforms that promise £5 billion in savings and faster connection timelines.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Reservoir registration and safety inspections

How to register large raised reservoirs, appoint panel engineers, comply with inspection requirements, and meet safety obligations under the Reservoirs Act 1975 and devolved legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Apply for an electricity or gas licence in Northern Ireland

Step-by-step guide to applying to UREGNI for an electricity or gas licence in Northern Ireland. Covers the different licence types for electricity (generation, transmission, distribution, supply) and gas (supply, conveyance, storage), what UREGNI requires from applicants, the application process and timescales, and the criminal offence of operating without a licence.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Grid Connection Agreement

All electricity generators connecting to the GB electricity network require a connection agreement with either NESO (National Energy System Operator) (transmission) or a Distribution Network Operator (DNO).

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Marine Licence

Activities in the marine environment (below Mean High Water Springs) require a Marine Licence from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in England.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Run a compliant energy business

Whatever energy business you run — generation, networks, gas, supply or heat — the same core duties apply. Health and safety carries unusual weight in this sector because of major-hazard risk, you must insure your employees, activities with emissions need an environmental permit from the right national regulator, large combustion installations are in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, and sites holding dangerous substances above threshold quantities have COMAH major-accident duties.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Set up and run a safe water supply operation

Every water collection, treatment and supply business must protect its workers and others affected by the work. This guide covers the workplace health and safety, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection duties that apply before you get into the sector-specific water industry regulatory requirements.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Run a heat network or steam supply business

Heat networks — district heating and cooling — are moving into formal regulation: the Energy Act 2023 makes Ofgem the regulator and brings in operator authorisation and consumer protection, phased in from 2024. Alongside that sit the plant-level duties: steam boilers and pressure systems need a written scheme of examination, air-conditioning plant containing F-gases needs certified handling, heat and steam plant in buildings must meet Building Regulations energy standards, CHP operators can certify under CHPQA for Climate Change Levy relief, and large undertakings must run ESOS energy audits every four years.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Develop offshore wind projects and secure seabed leases

How to develop offshore wind projects in UK waters, from securing seabed rights through Crown Estate leasing rounds to obtaining Section 36 consent, safety zones, and grid connections. Covers England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland with differences in consenting regimes and landlords.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Gas network and gas safety rules

Conveying gas through pipes to premises needs an Ofgem gas transporter licence and an HSE-accepted safety case before you start — and gas manufacturing processes connected to a network, such as biomethane production, need their own safety case. High-pressure pipelines carry major-accident duties under the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996, networks with more than one transporter need a Network Emergency Co-ordinator, and licensed transporters sit under the RIIO-GD price control. The Gas Act 1986 does not extend to Northern Ireland.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Comply as an energy supplier

Selling electricity or gas to customers over the public networks is a licensed activity with heavyweight ongoing obligations. Beyond getting the Ofgem supply licence, you must join the industry codes — the Balancing and Settlement Code for electricity, the Uniform Network Code for gas — keep domestic tariffs within the quarterly price cap, meet Ofgem's standards of conduct, and meet the renewable-scheme obligations: the Renewables Obligation, the Contracts for Difference levy and, for larger suppliers, the mandatory Smart Export Guarantee. Ofgem can fine suppliers up to 10% of turnover for licence-condition breaches.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Energy compliance checklist

A confirmation checklist for energy businesses. Work through the cross-cutting duties every energy business shares, then the section for what you operate — electricity generation, electricity networks, gas networks and gas manufacture, energy supply, or heat, steam and air conditioning.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Run an electricity network business

Electricity transmission and distribution are licensed monopoly activities in Great Britain. Transmission operators need an Ofgem transmission licence and must comply with the Grid Code and CUSC under the RIIO-T price control. Distribution network operators need a distribution licence, sit under the RIIO-ED price control and must meet Ofgem's guaranteed standards of performance. Businesses that build and adopt new connection assets follow the ICP accreditation or IDNO licence route. In Northern Ireland the networks are regulated by UREGNI.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Which energy rules apply to your business

Energy businesses — electricity generators, network operators, gas transporters and manufacturers, energy suppliers and heat network operators — share one defining feature: most activities need an Ofgem licence or authorisation before you can operate, and operating without one can be a criminal offence. Beyond licensing, what you must do depends on what you operate. Work out which you are and follow the right guide — and if you operate in Northern Ireland, the Utility Regulator (UREGNI) licenses you separately.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Crown Estate Seabed Lease

All offshore wind developments in English and Welsh waters require a seabed lease from The Crown Estate.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Electricity Supply Licence

Businesses supplying electricity to consumers in Great Britain require a Supply Licence from Ofgem.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Gas supply and shipper licensing

How to obtain a gas supply, shipper, transporter, or interconnector licence from Ofgem. Covers licence types, exemptions, application process, fees, standard conditions, HSE safety case requirements, and penalties for non-compliance. Applies to Great Britain only.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Get an electricity generation licence

How to determine if you need an electricity generation licence from Ofgem (GB) or the Utility Regulator (NI). Covers licensing thresholds, exemptions, environmental permits, grid connections, and COMAH compliance for larger energy facilities.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Working in the civil nuclear industry

Regulatory compliance requirements for businesses operating in the civil nuclear industry including site licensing, security vetting, liability insurance, and decommissioning obligations under Office for Nuclear Regulation oversight.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Environmental Permit - Part A(1) Installation

Large combustion plant (50MW thermal input and above) and other major industrial installations require a Part A(1) environmental permit.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Understand deep land rights and petroleum licensing for onshore energy

How deep level land access rights work for petroleum and geothermal exploration. Covers the 300m depth threshold, PEDL licensing, hydraulic fracturing consent requirements, and the 11 statutory safeguards. Includes differences between England/Wales and Scotland.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

COMAH Compliance for Chemical Sites

Meet COMAH requirements for sites holding dangerous substances.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Control and monitor air emissions

How to comply with air emissions permit conditions for Part A and Part B regulated activities. Covers the difference between Environment Agency and local authority regulation, emission limits, MCERTS monitoring, stack testing, abatement equipment, and reporting requirements.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) compliance

Complete guide to UK ETS obligations for installations, aviation operators, and maritime operators. Covers registration thresholds, annual reporting deadlines, verification requirements, allowance surrender, and penalties.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Comply with UK Emissions Trading Scheme

How to meet your annual UK ETS compliance obligations if you operate a regulated installation, run aviation operations, or will be covered by maritime expansion from 2026. Covers the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) cycle, surrendering allowances, and penalties for non-compliance.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.