In today’s blog, we take a look at Ofgem’s recently published response to the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero’s consultation, outlining mid-scheme updates to both the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS). These changes aim to improve the effectiveness of the schemes and ensure they continue to support energy efficiency upgrades for households most in need (Ofgem, 2025).

We predict these will have a positive impact on the adoption of renewable technologies, and catapult the industry’s growth even further.

Review of the Fuel Poverty Strategy

The government is currently consulting on proposals for a new Fuel Poverty Strategy for England. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero has an obligation to set and publish a plan to tackle fuel poverty, with the goal of upgrading as many fuel-poor households as possible to Energy Efficiency Band C by 2030. However, the latest review finds that progress toward this target has stalled, reinforcing the need for a revised strategy (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 2025). The consultation is seeking views on the existing fuel poverty target and new policies to support fuel-poor households. The deadline for responses is 4 April 2025, so we should have some further clarity on this in the coming months.

GRE Energy Training is committed to playing a role in this strategy by equipping professionals with the certified skills needed to implement sustainable energy solutions, reducing fuel poverty through high-quality installations and energy-efficient technologies.

Improving Energy Efficiency in Privately Rented Homes

The government is also gathering feedback on raising minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in England and Wales, aiming for all rental properties to achieve at least an EPC Band C rating by 2030. This is part of the broader push to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills for tenants and will subsequently lead to an uptake in the installations of these systems.

The team at GRE Energy Training, are committed in helping installers gain the skills to effectively design, install, and maintain energy-efficient systems, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations and helping to future-proof their careers.

ECO4 Register Update

Recent updates to the ECO4 Register, includes resolving previous date format errors that caused renotification issues and moving the Stage 2 validation rule to core checks upon upload (Ofgem, 2025). As a result, all notifications must follow the correct format to be processed successfully. The ECO4 scheme runs until 31 March 2026, supporting the transition to more efficient energy solutions.

For professionals looking to navigate ECO4 compliance, GRE Energy Training provides the certifications and expertise needed to deliver qualifying installations.

The Future of Energy Flexibility: Ofgem’s New Market System

In a major step towards a smarter, more flexible energy system, Ofgem has confirmed that the new Flexibility Market Asset Registration (FMAR) system will launch in 2027 (Ofgem, 2025). This system will streamline the registration of assets such as EV chargers, solar panels, and batteries to facilitate participation in energy flexibility markets. Consumers will gain access to more affordable and sustainable energy by shifting usage to times of surplus supply, while aggregators will be able to register once and access multiple flexibility markets.

As the demand for flexible energy solutions grows, there is a need for skilled professionals who can install and manage renewable energy technologies. GRE Energy Training offers accredited training in solar PV, battery storage, and energy efficiency, and more, preparing the workforce to support the UK’s transition to a more sustainable future.

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References:

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. (2025). Fuel poverty strategy consultation report. UK Government.

Ofgem. (2025). Mid-scheme response to ECO4 and GBIS consultation. Ofgem.

Ofgem. (2025). Flexibility Market Asset Registration system update. Ofgem.