On 2 April, Storelectric attended Regen’s “In Conversation with Chris Stark” event in London. We sat in on engaging and candid discussion with the head of Mission Control for Clean Power. The event provided a welcome opportunity to hear directly about the government’s Clean Power 2030 (CP30) Action Plan. Discussion also covered the investments and reforms needed to accelerate renewable energy generation across the UK.
The discussion held made it clear that 2025 is a decisive year for the energy sector. Here are our key takeaways from the conversation:
Connections Reform
Conversation around the grid connection process considered how we can deliver reform without slowing down investment. Grid access poses perhaps the most pressing bottleneck to unlocking new energy generation. Stark outlined that “clearing the decks” of our current connection queue at pace needs to be a priority.
While there was no suggestion of radical changes to the CP30 technology allocation pots, Stark confirmed a willingness to revisit and update certain assumptions to better reflect the current landscape. He was clear this would not be a wholesale redesign.
The signal was clear: action is required now to remove uncertainty and catalyse investment. The challenge is to implement reforms at pace without deterring momentum in clean technology deployment.
Electricity Markets
With Allocation Round 7 (AR7) of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme on the horizon, insuring investor confidence was a key topic of discussion. Stark reiterated the government’s commitment to making key decisions on market reform before AR7. This will provide greater certainty for industry and investors.
Zonal pricing, the idea of setting electricity prices based on location, was a hot topic. While Stark didn’t express an outright preference, he acknowledged being “zonal curious”, hinting at potential future locationally sensitive mechanisms which could shape investment behaviour.
More clarity on zonal pricing is expected in the coming months.
Planning Reform
Planning delays remain a stubborn barrier to key project deployment. Stark stressed that “the quicker we can bring clarity, the better” to keep investors engaged and project timelines on track.
A particularly interesting insight was discussion around a project dashboard – a live list of priority projects aligned with CP30 goals. Whilst not yet publicly accessible, Stark discussed a review of the dashboard, through which he would like to implement a policy filter, to help decision-makers see how various regulatory changes will impact different projects.
This kind of joined-up thinking could help unlock stalled developments and create a clearer framework for investors, developers and policy makers.
People and the Energy Transition
Perhaps the most candid and compelling comments came on the question how the energy transition will impact the public. Stark was firm:
“There is nothing more important than this.”
Most consumers, he noted, don’t engage with concepts like capital expenditure, they care about their bills and their lived experience. That’s why public trust, transparency, and local engagement are essential if the transition is to be truly inclusive.
Community energy was highlighted as an area needing more attention. While small in scale, its role in building trust, skills and regional momentum is disproportionately valuable and needs more government acknowledgement and support.
Final Reflections
Stark closed with a reminder that while CP30 is a narrow target, delivering it will require broad, systemic action across planning, grid reform, public engagement, and market design.
We left the event with renewed clarity on the government’s direction, and appreciation for the transparency with which challenges and uncertainties are being addressed. Events like this are a vital part of ensuring that at Storelectric, we stay connected to the evolving policy landscape.
A big thank you to Regen for organising the event, and to Chris for his open communication. It’s encouraging to see this level of dialogue at a pivotal moment for the UK’s energy future.
