Purpose To record the initial significance of the DESNZ publication and identify the work required before forming a Northstar view.
What changed On 2 September 2026, the Minister of State for Energy, Michael Shanks, made Written Statement HCWS303 announcing two Capacity Market documents:
- A consultation on changes for Prequalification 2027.
- An open letter inviting stakeholder views for the Annual Technology Review, covering new technologies.
Why it matters to Northstar Northstar is a UK-wide infrastructure and consumer services business with projects dependent on timely planning and consenting decisions. Changes to Capacity Market prequalification could affect the eligibility, compliance requirements or investment assumptions of any relevant energy-market participation, assets or contracted arrangements. The technology review may also affect the treatment of emerging technologies relevant to future infrastructure investment. Any resulting change in energy costs or market access could bear on the organisation’s objective of supporting a practical transition that enables investment and affordability.
What is confirmed
- The government has published or announced the publication of both documents.
- The consultation concerns Prequalification 2027.
- The open letter seeks stakeholder views on new technologies as part of the Annual Technology Review.
- DESNZ is the responsible department.
What remains unclear
- The specific prequalification changes.
- The technologies and eligibility issues covered by the open letter.
- Whether existing participants, future participants or particular asset classes are affected.
- The consultation and open-letter response deadlines.
- Whether Northstar has direct or indirect exposure.
- Whether a response would support Northstar’s investment and affordability objectives.
Recommended internal handling Keep the issue active and treat this as a material policy signal requiring structured follow-up, not an external-response trigger. Public Affairs should obtain and review the full documents, then coordinate a targeted exposure check with Finance, Operations and Infrastructure. Legal or Regulatory Affairs should be consulted if the proposals affect contractual compliance, licensing or market participation obligations.
Current position No approved position has been recorded for this issue. The appropriate working principle is therefore limited to the active priority objective: support a practical transition that enables investment and affordability. This is not sufficient basis for an external submission until the proposals and Northstar’s exposure are known.