Energy & Environment

The UK market has a complex set of interacting policy instruments affecting supply and demand, and the current Government is in the process of implementing or amending a number of these. The principal reviews cover:

• the Feed-In Tariff for smaller scale renewable energy projects
• the Electricity Market Reform, proposing the introduction of a new Feed-In Tariff for larger projects, a capacity mechanism, an emissions performance standard and a carbon price floor.

At the same time, the UK Government has been developing new plans to support other parts of the sector, including:

• the Green Deal scheme to finance energy savings in domestic homes
• the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme to support renewable heat.

These policy instruments create significant opportunities for public sector organisations to progress sustainability policies and potentially generate revenues. Our advisory services draw on our understanding of the renewable sector and public sector procurement policy and project finance advice, valuations, feasibility studies, business cases, strategy reviews and market assessments.

We are also able to draw on our detailed knowledge of energy efficiency and microgeneration technologies, and the work that we do with rewnewables and energy companies in the private sector involving anaerobic digestion, biomass boilers, combined heat and power (CHP), on and off-shore wind, small scale hydro, wave energy, and waste to heat energy.

• We also provide advice to support policy implementation, working with central government departments, agencies and NDPBs, such as the Carbon Trust, Ofgem, DECC, Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), the Crown Estate and Water Industry Commission for Scotland and are closely involved with the public sector in all of the leading edge renewable technologies.
• We currently act as financial adviser to FCS on their tender for development of their programme of wind and hydro projects, the largest tenders of onshore wind and small hydro opportunities in the UK.
• We act as financial adviser to Ofgem on their Round 2 OFTO programme.
• We are advising the Carbon Trust on the distribution of finance for the Marine Renewables Proving Fund.
• We have just completed a review for DECC of the financial considerations concerning the new Green Deal.
• We advise both central government and local authority on procurement strategies to drive carbon reduction, helping organisations to increase sustainability, while making a commercial return without taking excessive risk. This includes projects such as a sustainable transport study.

Lastly, we also offer local authorities, NHS trusts and registered providers:

• advice on their own commercial sustainability and carbon emission accounting issues and
• advice on CRC (Carbon Reduction Commitment) Energy Efficiency Programme,
• validation of recycled waste data,
• assurance on process for managing and reporting on CSR activities and
• assessing and reporting on their use of natural resources.

We are also assisting Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Service in accelerating the retrofit of energy saving equipment to a number of existing buildings through an innovative commercial model designed to leverage commercial expertise in the energy market.