UK Gov Facing Challenge to Meet 2035 Low-Carbon Electricity Goal

Bir bakışta

• UK government has set a goal to source all electricity from low-carbon sources by 2035
• National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that the government has made little progress in producing a “long-term delivery plan”
• Emissions related to UK power generation have fallen by 73% since 1990
• Electricity demand is predicted to increase by as much as 60% by 2035
• Government estimated that £280bn to £400bn of investment is needed to decarbonise the power sector

Ayrıntılar

The UK Government’s Goal

The UK government has set a goal to source all electricity from low-carbon sources by 2035 as part of its plan to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

However, the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that the energy crisis has meant the government has made little progress in producing a “long-term delivery plan” to boost clean energy sources.

Current Progress

Emissions related to UK power generation have fallen by 73% since 1990 due to increases in wind and solar power and the phasing out of coal power stations.

However, about 40% of the UK’s electricity is still generated from gas and the owners of gas-fired power plants are still picking up huge subsidies to keep the lights on when wind and solar power drop out owing to weather conditions.

Future Challenges

Electricity demand is predicted to increase by as much as 60% by 2035 as vehicles and heating are switched from fossil fuels to electricity.

In response, the government stepped in late last year to subsidise energy bills amid fears that the rise in wholesale gas prices would leave many households and businesses unable to afford bills.

The government has estimated that £280bn to £400bn of investment is needed to decarbonise the power sector, excluding the cost of researching new technologies and constructing new networks.

Ministers are also under pressure to respond to Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which has made the US more attractive to international investors looking to fund green energy projects.