Central

Energy is a reserved power of the UK government except for Northern Ireland (where the UK retains responsibility for nuclear energy).

Regional

Northern Ireland

Energy policy is a devolved power except for nuclear energy and installations.

Wales

Encouragement of energy efficiency other than by prohibition or regulation.

The Wales Act of 2017 devolved further powers to the Welsh Parliament and Government in the following areas:

• regarding excepted energy buildings: the functions that had been held by the Secretary of State were transferred to the Welsh ministers
• concerning renewable energy incentive schemes: the Secretary of State must consult Welsh ministers before establishing a renewable energy incentive or amending such a scheme as it relates to Wales
• Welsh ministers are responsible for licensing the exploration and development of Wales' onshore petroleum resources, in return for a consideration
• access to land for the purpose of exploration and development of petroleum under such a licence
• Natural Resources Wales acts as the one stop shop for marine licensing and the regulation of work that may obstruct or endanger navigation in the course of exploration and development of petroleum
• land restoration after coal mining
• heat and cooling networks, but not the regulation of them. Schemes providing incentives to generate or produce, or to facilitate the generation or production of, heat or cooling from sources of energy other than fossil fuel or nuclear fuel
• the encouragement of energy efficiency other than by prohibition or regulation.

Scotland

The Scottish Government has an energy policy for Scotland, with priorities that differ from the UK Government's, despite energy being a reserved power of central government. The Scottish Government is responsible for the promotion of energy efficiency.

• Energy efficiency and fuel poverty schemes promoting the reduction of carbon emissions, reduction in home heating costs and other energy company obligations were devolved in 2016.
• Responsibility for offshore renewable energy installations was devolved in 2017.
• Onshore oil and gas licensing regimes were devolved in February 2018.

Local​

England

In March 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding between the then Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Local Government Group set out guidelines on how to help councils: reduce carbon emissions from their own operations, and from homes, businesses and transport infrastructure; promote renewable energy generation; and participate in national carbon reduction initiatives.

Since then, many councils have declared a climate emergency and are taking urgent action in their local areas to combat the negative impact of climate change and to deliver zero net carbon by 2030. The Local Government Association collates best practices in fields such as renewable energy installation and energy efficiency measures.

Responsible ministries/bodies

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Devolved governments of the United Kingdom 

Sources

Devolved government websites:

Scotland: https://www.parliament.scot/

Wales: https://senedd.wales/en/Pages/Home.aspx

Northern Ireland: https://www.northernireland.gov.uk/

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Memorandum of Understanding (2011). Between the LG Group and the Department of Energy and Climate Change

Tony Jackson and William Lynch, Public Sector Responses to Climate Change: Evaluating the Role of Scottish Local Government in Implementing the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance Issue 8/9: May-November 2011.