Thursday 7 April 2022

Industry responds to Energy Security Strategy

Britain will massively expand wind, solar and nuclear so that nearly all of its electricity comes from low carbon energy sources by the end of the decade.

The government has unveiled its much-anticipated Energy Security Strategy to minimise its dependence on energy imports following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But what does the industry think about the new energy plan?

Rocket boosters under UK's energy transition

RenewableUK's Chief Executive Dan McGrail said: "The Prime Minister's ambitious new strategy puts the rocket boosters under the UK's transition to renewable energy and will cut consumer bills.

"The new targets mean that our world-leading offshore wind industry will do the heavy lifting in getting Britain permanently off the hook of gas power by boosting our nation's homegrown energy supply." 

The boss of the trade association added that the government needed to make use of every tool in the box to boost the UK's energy independence.

Lack of commitment to UK jobs 

The GMB Union said promises of jobs in the offshore wind sector do not make sense when the UK awards new projects to companies based in authoritarian regimes.

Gary Smith, GMB General Secretary said: "Looking beyond the 'aims' and 'ambitions' of this plan, there are serious questions about the worrying lack of specific commitments on UK jobs.

"The UK should be building this energy future, not surrendering it to other nations."

Energy Strategy U-turn costs 22,500 homes up to £600 each

The Energy and Climate Intelligent Unit (ECIU) highlighted that the government's Energy Security Strategy took 'very limited steps on energy efficiency'.

It noted that the home energy efficiency scheme ECO could have been expanded to allow an estimated 22,500 homes to benefit from insulation upgrades.

Sepi Golzari-Munro, Deputy Director at ECIU, said: "Soaring gas prices are responsible for adding at least £500 to energy bills, forcing another 2.5 million households into fuel poverty.

"Without help to insulate their homes to bring down gas bills there may be little prospect they can afford to keep their homes warm.

"Rumours that Chancellor Rishi Sunak blocked moves to boost the successful ECO scheme that's saved low income households £1.2 billion on their energy bills this year, could raise tough questions as the gas price crisis continues to bite."

The role of nuclear

In response to the government’s British Energy Security Strategy and its announcements on nuclear power, the Chief Executive of the UK Nuclear Industry Association, Tom Greatrex, said: “The new nuclear target of 24GW by 2050 is a vital step forward for UK energy security and our net zero future.

"Investing in fleets of large and small scale stations is essential to securing clean, affordable, British power which will work alongside renewables to cut our dependence on gas."

Energy giant EDF welcomed the government’s ambition for further investment in wind, nuclear and solar.

EDF’s UK CEO Simone Rossi said: “Britain is right to take control of its energy future, with a step-change in ambition for electricity from wind, nuclear and solar and greater energy efficiency.

“Building more new nuclear will reduce Britain’s dependence on overseas gas and keep energy prices stable, creating thousands of jobs while we’re doing it."

Need for a balanced mix in a renewables-led energy revolution

Tom Fyans, Director of Campaigns and Policy at countryside charity CPRE, said: "We have yet to see the full details but at first glance, there are serious concerns the imbalance between offshore wind and solar energy.

"In particular, the scale of the expansion of solar energy seems likely to industrialise the countryside rather than heralding a new era of popular rooftop renewables.

"These proposals suggest offshore wind – by far the least landscape damaging option that has the most public support – would be under utilised at the expense of the countryside, which we also need to grow food and soak up carbon."

The strategy won't lower people's bills 

In response to the publication of the Energy Security Strategy, Greenpeace UK tweeted: "More oil and gas, massive gamble on nuclear energy. Fails to tackle energy waste and insulate our homes.

"Weak on popular and cheap onshore wind. It's a D- from us. The strategy won't lower people's bills or make our energy secure."