Government legislation has a significant impact on the energy industry. It sets the boundaries within which the experts in the industry have to work.
The examples of legislation published here are illustrative rather than comprehensive.
Energy Act 2008
The Energy Act gained Royal Ascent in November 2008. Its main purpose was to update energy policy in the UK to encapsulate the new technolgies that can be used to provide energy in a low carbon context. Amongst other provisions, it lays the foundations for gas importation and storage, electricity generated from renewable sources, electricity transmission, payments to small-scale generators of low-carbon electricity, decommissioning of energy installations, and the management and disposal of waste produced during the operation of nuclear installations.
Climate Change Act 2008
The Climate Change Act was passed into law in November 2008. It was introduced to provide guidance on how the UK would achieve ambitious carbon reduction targets by the year 2050. In order to confront and manage these targets the act provides for a system of carbon budgeting, establishes a Committee on Climate Change, confers powers to establish trading schemes for the purpose of limiting greenhouse gas emissions and schemes for providing financial incentives to produce less domestic waste and to recycle more of what is produced.
Planning Act 2008
The Planning Act gained Royal Ascent in November 2008. It established the Infrastructure Planning Commission and its functions, which include the authorisation of projects for the development of nationally significant infrastructure, guidance on town and country planning and the imposition of a Community Infrastructure Levy.