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The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021: his is an early notice publication of regulations to be laid under the 'Automated and electric vehicles (AEV) act 2018'. The AEV Act gives the UK Government the powers through secondary legislation to mandate that private electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints sold or installed in the UK must have smart functionality and meet minimum device-level requirements.

The UK will provide a subsequent notification with draft text, notified under article 2.9.2 with an appropriate comment period, post publication of the Government's consultation response, expected in June/July 2021 ahead of laying legislation later this year.

Decarbonising transport is an essential step towards the UK reaching its target of bringing all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. In 2020, the UK Government announced an accelerated, 2-phased approach to ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, with the phase-out date brought forward to 2030, and all new cars and vans to be fully zero emission at the tailpipe from 2035. For this to happen, our electricity system needs to be able to meet the extra demand created by electric vehicles. EVs offer new opportunities for consumers to be part of a smarter and more flexible electricity system. Smart charging, for example during off-peak periods when electricity demand is low, means consumers can benefit from cheaper electricity and avoids triggering unnecessary network reinforcement. Charging of EVs can also be shifted to periods where there is plentiful renewable electricity generation and support system operation by providing demand side response services. To ensure the UK has the infrastructure in place to support a smarter energy system, these regulations aim to embed smart functionality within chargepoints across "private" settings such as homes and workplaces. Secondly these regulations ensure that smart chargepoints meet minimum device-level requirements to mitigate the potential risks posed by smart charging, such as cyber security

The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021: This is a notice for regulations due to be laid under the 'Automated and electric vehicles (AEV) act 2018'. The AEV Act gives the UK Government the powers through secondary legislation to mandate that private electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints sold or installed in the UK must have smart functionality and meet minimum device-level requirements.

The UK gave a "pre-notification" in March 2021 to give members the opportunity to provide early comment. No technical comments were received. The UK is now formally notifying members of its intention to lay secondary legislation for electric vehicle smart chargepoints.

Decarbonising transport is an essential step towards the UK reaching its target of bringing all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. In 2020, the UK Government announced an accelerated, 2-phased approach to ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, with the phase-out date brought forward to 2030, and all new cars and vans to be fully zero emission at the tailpipe from 2035. For this to happen, our electricity system needs to be able to meet the extra demand created by electric vehicles. EVs offer new opportunities for consumers to be part of a smarter and more flexible electricity system. Smart charging, for example during off-peak periods when electricity demand is low, means consumers can benefit from cheaper electricity and avoids triggering unnecessary network reinforcement. Charging of EVs can also be shifted to periods where there is plentiful renewable electricity generation and support system operation by providing demand side response services. To ensure the UK has the infrastructure in place to support a smarter energy system, these regulations aim to embed smart functionality within chargepoints across "private" settings such as homes and workplaces. Secondly these regulations ensure that smart chargepoints meet minimum device-level requirements to mitigate the potential risks posed by smart charging, such as cyber security. (...)

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021: These regulations propose introducing market restrictions – effectively a ban – for problematic single-use plastic (SUP) items in line with Article 5 of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904 .

The Regulations ban the supply, in the course of business, and the manufacture of:
• single-use plastic expanded polystyrene beverage cups
• single-use plastic expanded polystyrene beverage containers
• single-use plastic expanded polystyrene food containers
• single-use plastic cutlery
• single-use plastic plates
• single-use plastic beverage stirrers

The Regulations ban the supply, in the course of a business and subject to specified exemptions of:
• single-use plastic straws
• single-use plastic balloon sticks.

his measure is designed in reference to other WTO member's rules, such as the EU's, to prevent and reduce the impact on the environment, in particular the aquatic environment, and human health. Tackling the negative impact that plastic waste has on our communities, oceans, rivers and land ecosystems has never been more important. Failing to act to protect our finite natural resources and to address the significant economic, social and environmental challenges associated with plastic litter is simply not an option. We must act to address the linear consumption model for single-use plastic items which remains far too prevalent. Our current throwaway culture causes pollution of our ecosystems, biodiversity loss, increased carbon emissions and litter. By introducing market restrictions, the Scottish Government wishes to see innovative solutions towards more sustainable business models and re-use alternatives prioritised over substitution of materials. These regulations represent an important next step in our efforts to tackle our plastic problem, allowing us to maintain pace with leading environmental regulatory standards while re-affirming Scotland's position as a world-leader in the circular economy

Draft Statutory Instrument: The Restriction of The Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2021: These measures will amend the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 ("the RoHS Regulations") as they apply in England and Wales and Scotland. (...)

Northern Ireland Executive: Resource Efficiency Capital Grant

Scottish Government: Highlands and Islands Enterprise General Block Exemption Scheme 2014 2020 (2017 amended):
The objective of the scheme is to assist firms to increase their contribution to employment and Gross Value Added in the economy by investing in business growth. The scheme applies to sectors such as energy, life sciences, food and drink, creative industries, sustainable tourism, financial and business services, and universities through a range of interventions, principally through direct support to businesses and social enterprises, specialist programmes and interventions to create the conditions for strong sectoral growth.

Scottish Government: South of Scotland Enterprise General Block Exemption Scheme:
The objective of this scheme is to offer assistance to businesses, individuals and communities to increase their contribution to employment and Gross Value Added in the economy by investing in business growth.
Types of assistance covered under this scheme include regional aid, support towards SMEs including access to finance, R&D&I, environmental protection and culture and heritage conservation, local infrastructure and regional ports and airports.

UK Government: Advanced Biofuel Demonstration Competition:
This is a grant funding competition to support the development of a domestic advanced biofuel industry. This includes funding towards building of advanced biofuel plants.
The scheme aims to help projects demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of high potential technologies by removing fundamental barriers to scale up, enabling them to reach commercial scale production. It also aims to support the uptake of low carbon fuels.

UK Government: Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition (F4C):
This is a grant funding competition which supports the development of a domestic advanced biofuel industry. Grants have been provided to organisations that will build advanced biofuel plants that will produce fuels for aviation and Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
The intention is to help projects demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of high potential technologies by removing fundamental barriers to scale up, enabling them to reach commercial scale production. It also aims to support the development of a domestic advanced biofuel industry for aviation and HGVs, and to support the uptake of low carbon fuels.