Comment by David Smith, Chief Executive, ENA, in response to today’s announcement on the RHI:
"Today’s announcement is excellent news for the public, industry and Britain’s climate targets - boosting the amount of low-carbon green gas on our gas networks provides low-carbon heating with virtually zero disruption and at no extra cost to households. "Gas network companies are at the very heart of this work, having connected almost 100 biomethane plants to the gas grid already, and now developing plans for a low cost, low-carbon gas network through the launch of ENA’s long-term Gas Decarbonisation Pathways project."
Notes to editor
- Energy Networks Association represents the companies responsible for operating the ‘wires and pipes’ of Britain’s energy network infrastructure.
- Serving over 30 million customers, they are responsible for the transmission and distribution network of “wires and pipes” that keep our lights on, our homes warm and our businesses running.
- The current RIIO price control (RIIO1) will end on 31st March 2021, with the new price control (RIIO2) starting on 1st April 2021. Gas network companies are required to submit a RIIO-2 business plan to Ofgem which has been informed by engagement and consultation with stakeholders and customers.
- Research conducted by KPMG in 2016 found that evolving the role of Britain’s gas networks infrastructure so they play a part in meeting our decarbonisation targets could save £214bn by 2050. This research is attached.
- Independent YouGov polling commissioned by ENA in May 2018 found that 75% of people support the Government doing more to prioritise the production & use of domestic green gas over fossil fuel gas. The polling is attached.
- ENA's Gas Decarbonisation Pathways Project is a major industry initiative to build on the work that Britain’s gas networks have been undertaking to build a low cost, low carbon network and develop new technologies that make the most of biogas, bioSNG, hydrogen and smart hybrid heating systems. More information is available here.
About us
Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the energy networks. Our members include every major electricity network operator in the UK. The electricity networks are at the heart of the energy transition. They directly employ more than 26,000 people in the UK, including 1,500 apprentices. They are spending and investing £33bn in our electricity grids over the coming years, to ensure safe, reliable and secure energy supplies for the millions of homes and businesses reliant on power every day.
Press contacts
You can contact ENA's press office by emailing press@energynetworks.org. For urgent or out-of-hours enquiries from journalists, please call 0204 599 7691.