Energy Systems Catapult welcomes the opportunity to respond to this DESNZ consultation on a policy framework to grow the market for low carbon industrial products.

Key points:

• Support for voluntary product standards, with a transition to mandatory standards
  • We advocate for product standards that are based on rigorous, verifiable emissions data and take a technology-neutral approach. This ensures fair competition, encourages innovation, and avoids locking in specific technological pathways. We recommend a phased approach, starting with voluntary standards and moving towards mandatory requirements over time. This allows industry and verification bodies to prepare adequately and aligns with the approach taken to corporate sustainability reporting.
•  A Carbon Regulator to oversee the robustness of emissions data
  • We propose the establishment of an economy-wide Carbon Regulator to oversee emissions measurement, reporting, and verification. This would improve data quality, streamline reporting processes, and support the professionalisation of carbon accounting and verification providers.
• Importance of demand-side signals and green procurement
  • To build market demand for low carbon products, we support the development of green procurement guidance and voluntary standards within Government Buying Standards. These measures will incentivise producers to decarbonise and enable purchasers to make informed decisions.
• Digital infrastructure and data exchange
  • Significant barriers still exist in relation to the sharing and accessing of emissions data. We highlight the need for scalable, interoperable digital tools to support emissions data exchange. A ‘disclose once’ principle would reduce administrative burden and improve data accessibility across supply chains.