Decarbonisation Readiness (DR) Guidance

Overview

The Environment Agency are the environmental regulator for combustion activities in England.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has expanded the scope of the current Carbon Capture Readiness (CCR) requirements through the Environmental Permitting (Electricity Generating Stations) (Amendment) Regulations 2024.

The new requirements, called decarbonisation readiness, will amend the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (EPR) so that new or substantially refurbished electricity generators within scope must provide and maintain a plan to decarbonise.

This will apply in England to permit applications submitted to the Environment Agency on or after 28 February 2026.

This consultation will be of interest to operators of in scope electricity generators and others that have an interest in decarbonisation. This includes operators and other businesses, trade associations, national and local government, non-governmental organisations, other regulators, academic institutions, individuals and community groups with an interest in decarbonisation.

This consultation is asking for your feedback on the draft guidance to be followed in preparing a decarbonisation readiness report as part of a permit application. We will use the responses to amend and improve the guidance before final publication so that it is clear and easy to follow.

Why your views matter

Background

In October 2024, the Government published its response to the Consultation they conducted on expanding and updating Carbon Capture Readiness requirements, which will now be known as Decarbonisation Readiness requirements, and moving the requirements from the planning consent process to environmental permitting.

What we are consulting on

Decarbonisation readiness is a new requirement, so we have drafted technical guidance for operators to follow when preparing to submit a permit application where this applies. We would like your feedback and views on the proposed Decarbonisation Readiness (DR) Guidance document to help us improve it, so that the final version is clear and easy to follow.

Scope of comments

We will consider comments that are related to the Decarbonisation Readiness (DR) Guidance document, and related issues as outlined in the questions. For other concerns outside of this, please email the National Customer Contact Centre at enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk and they will forward these to the appropriate team.