National Policy Statements for energy: appraisal of sustainability
The likely significant sustainability effects of developing new energy infrastructure of the types covered by the National Policy Statements for energy.
- Impact Assessment National Policy Statements for energy: appraisal of sustainability main report (2023 update - applies to EN-2 and EN-4) (accessible webpage)
- Impact Assessment National Policy Statements for energy: appraisal of sustainability appendices volume I (2023 update - applies to EN-2 and EN-4) (accessible webpage)
- Impact Assessment National Policy Statements for energy: appraisal of sustainability post adoption statement (2023 update - applies to EN-2 and EN-4) (accessible webpage)
- Impact Assessment National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation (EN-7): appraisal of sustainability - post adoption statement (accessible webpage)
The energy National Policy Statements cover the overarching needs case for different types of energy infrastructure, fossil fuel electricity generation, renewable electricity generation, gas and oil infrastructure, electricity networks, nuclear energy generation.
The appraisal of sustainability sets out the likely significant sustainability effects of developing new energy infrastructure of the types envisaged by:
- the energy NPSs as a whole (EN-1)
- for each technology (EN-2 to EN-5, and EN-7)
It also indicates how the NPSs are consistent with the principles of sustainable development more generally.
An appraisal of sustainability was undertaken on updated EN-1 to EN-5 in 2023.
In 2025 EN-1, EN-3 and EN-5 were further updated and the appraisal of sustainability undertaken on the three updated NPSs (2025).
Appraisal of current EN-2 and EN-4 is provided in the appraisal of sustainability of EN-1 to EN-5 (2023).