The government is just over half-way through its list of actions set out in the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan (SSFP), and intends to complete those outstanding by 2022.
Earlier today the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published an update to the SSFP, revealing that 15 of the 29 actions outlined last summer had been completed.
Of those outstanding, the nascent battery storage industry is perhaps most looking forward to the introduction of a modified generation licence to include battery storage facilities. This, BEIS updated on Tuesday, is to be finalised shortly and will rectify the issue of ‘double charging’, a considerable complaint within energy storage circles.
Meanwhile the government has said it intends to consult on the treatment of energy storage in the planning system.
In the electric vehicle sector, BEIS has announced its intent to consult on smart EV charging standards by early next year.
But while the government remains committed to working through the list of actions in the original SSFP, a further nine have been identified and added to the to-do list.
Amongst the new initiatives announced is the creation of an ‘Energy Data Taskforce’, which is to be run by the Energy Systems Catapult and chaired by Laura Sandys. The taskforce is to look across the energy sector and identify areas where data could be used more efficiently before making recommendations to government and Ofgem.
The release of the update has been well received. James Court, policy and external affairs director at the Renewable Energy Association, said the government had made “good progress” to date.
“We urge the government to continue implementing the actions as discussed – many of the tasks from here on which are critical to the development of this sector, such as a definition for energy storage in primary legislation, will be trickier to achieve than others. Speed of implementation is key if we are to become world leaders in this area.”
