United Kingdom: Oil, Gas & Electricity

The energy sector faces rapid transformation driven by technological innovation, regulatory reform and evolving policy priorities. This newsletter examines critical developments in energy infrastructure procurement, data centre connections, heat network policy reforms, and strategic decarbonisation partnerships across the UK's renewable energy and resource management landscape.

The UK Government has introduced a new procurement policy note requiring public authorities to prioritize national security considerations when procuring in four critical sectors: energy infrastructure, steel, AI, and shipbuilding. This market-shaping approach mandates collaboration with designated Sector Leads and fundamentally changes how contracting authorities must assess value for money, moving beyond immediate commercial outcomes to consider long-term strategic resilience and supply chain security.

Ofgem has launched a consultation on draft licence conditions for Competitively Appointed Transmission Owners (CATOs), introducing an Early Competition model for developing onshore transmission assets. The proposed regulatory framework governs CATOs across the full project lifecycle, from design and construction through to operation and eventual decommissioning.

Matt Grimwood and John Howells from Newmark explore the explosive growth of the UK data centre sector, examining how power availability, grid capacity constraints...

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As nuclear fusion technology moves closer to commercial viability, a critical question emerges: should patent protection be extended when mandatory regulatory processes consume years of the standard 20-year patent term? This analysis examines whether the patent system adequately incentivizes investment in fusion energy, where foundational inventions may expire just as they become commercially deployable.

The new “opt-out” power under Section 35B of the Planning Act 2008 allows developers to apply to direct development out of the NSIP/DCO regime. We examine the procedure, guidance, and implications for energy projects

Where there's smoke, there's usually fire, but in the world of smoke-detector testing, the whole point is to simulate one without the other. In No Climb Products Ltd v Gas Safe Europe Ltd [2026] EWHC 908 (IPEC), handed down on 22 April 2026...

Jones Day partners Michelle T. Davies and Martin Stewart-Smith lead an expert panel exploring the UK's Competitively Appointed Transmission Owner (CATO) regime, examining its significance in today's energy and infrastructure landscape. The discussion reveals what this competitive framework means for investors, stakeholders, and the future of electricity transmission in the United Kingdom.