Amid deep divisions among senior Conservatives, the strategy will anger environmentalists, who say the government’s plans defy its own clear zero targets and neglect alternatives that experts say will provide much faster relief from high bills. energy. The prime minister will launch the plan on Thursday, following a period of intense political controversy over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has disrupted energy markets and boosted energy bills at home. Whitehall sources said the strategy dispute between No. 10, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) continued until the publication was published, with one expert describing the process as “chaos”. ». The cabinet finally agreed that atomic energy would be the backbone of the strategy and up to eight new reactors were planned. Offshore wind and solar energy targets will also be set to boost 95% of Britain’s electricity by 2030. But the plans risk angering environmentalists, as the opportunity to remove obstacles to more land-based wind farms appeared to fall victim to the Tories’ battles, new drilling in the North Sea won the government’s blessing and ministers opened the door. in fracking. Opposition parties have been vocal in their opposition to the strategy. Two former Labor secretaries from the Labor and Liberal Democrats called it “ridiculous” and “desperate” for failing to extend wind power to land or tackle energy efficiency. Ed Miliband, the Labor party’s climate change secretary, said the energy restart was “in disarray” and would do nothing to help the millions of families now facing an energy crisis. “Boris Johnson has completely surrendered to his own fans and now, ridiculously, his own energy strategy has failed in the sprint we needed in dry wind and solar energy – the cheapest, cleanest forms of domestic energy,” he said. Ed Davey, the leader of the Lib Democrats and another former Secretary of Energy, added: “Failure to properly support new technologies such as tidal power and hydrogen is a complete betrayal of families and retirees across the UK.” The energy strategy outlines a broad plan to boost domestic energy production through a range of energy sources. Includes:
Increase of nuclear capacity from 7 gigawatts to 24 GW Offshore wind target increased from 40 GW to 50 GW (from 11 GW today) Solar energy could increase fivefold from 14 GW to 70 GW by 2035 An “impartial” review of whether fracking is safe Up to 10 GW of hydrogen power by 2030
Johnson said the plan “will reduce our dependence on energy sources exposed to volatile international prices that we can not control, so that we can enjoy greater energy self-sufficiency with cheaper bills.” “This plan comes in the light of rising global energy prices, caused by rising demand after the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “This will be central to weaning Britain from expensive fossil fuels, which are subject to volatile gas prices set by uncontrollable international markets, and to boosting diverse domestic energy sources for greater energy security in the long run. ». Wind turbines operated by ScottishPower Renewables at Whitelee in Eaglesham Moor, southwest of Glasgow, the UK’s largest onshore wind farm. Environmental activists are unhappy with the Tories’ internal strife over eliminating the use of more renewable energy. Photo: Andy Buchanan / AFP / Getty While some renewable domestic energy sources have gained support, the wind industry’s hopes of getting the green light to double its 30 GW terrestrial capacity appear to have fallen victim to opposition from within the Conservative Party to new projects, particularly in England. Incentives living near planned new projects could be offered incentives, such as guaranteed lower energy bills, but the plan does not include targets for increased production. Cabinet colleagues disagreed on whether to reform design laws to promote the faster development of onshore wind farms, which may take just a year to build and start contributing to the network, but were described by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps as a “look in the eye”. the weekend. The Shapps and lead whip Chris Heaton-Harris, a longtime opponent of the onshore wind, are among a group of lawmakers trying to stem the tide in Britain, with Michael Gove and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng – whose brief reference includes energy – among those who have repulsed. The business department is also thought to have been thwarted by the Treasury Department in a plan to channel 300 300m from the budget into a rapid development of energy efficiency upgrades that could help homeowners reduce their bills. Solar has won significant support from the government, which has said design rules could be relaxed to facilitate growth in unprotected land, allowing capacity to be increased up to fivefold, from 14 GW to 70 GW. The target for hydrogen power will double to 10 GW by 2030 “subject to affordability and value for money”. In total, “clean” energy sources could provide up to 40,000 new jobs, bringing the total to 480,000 by 2030, the government will say. But along with the push for renewable energy, there are plans that will worry rivals about further exploitation of oil and gas. The British Geological Survey will conduct an “impartial” review of whether shale gas fracking can proceed safely, a move that is likely to anger environmental activists over the controversial technology, especially after the moratorium was imposed in 2019. New oil and gas projects in the North Sea are also likely to accelerate, although the strategy sets out proposals to reduce emissions as much as possible. Nuclear energy is a central element of the energy strategy. Ministers expect to launch a competitive selection process as early as next year for a new round of nuclear work, although tensions between Downing Street and the Treasury over the cost of new projects, which are expected to require state investment, have not still resolved. The goal of generating 25% of Britain’s electricity from atomic energy is likely to require tens of billions of pounds in new investment from private companies, with the state providing guarantees under a new “regulated asset” financing model. A 120 120m Future Nuclear Enabling Fund will be launched this month in hopes of launching projects, and a new body called Great British Nuclear will oversee the projects. The National Grid has predicted that maximum electricity demand will reach 85 GW by 2050, from 60 GW today, due to factors such as vehicle electrification and home heating. The government said it could approve up to eight new reactors to help meet the 24 GW generation target of all nuclear power plants, which typically have more than one reactor. Part of the increase can be achieved by extending the life of the Sizewell B reactor, while the Hinkley Point C project is expected to be completed in 2027 and Rolls-Royce has blessed the government for small reactors nicknamed “mini-nukes”. Major projects that have already undergone some form of design, such as Sizewell C and Wylfa in Anglesey, have been identified by the government as among the first to gain support. The target also includes new facilities at sites where sites have already been approved but no plans are underway, such as Oldbury in Gloucestershire or Moorside (Sellafield) in Cumbria. While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked a global debate over how to reduce its dependence on the Kremlin-controlled oil and gas industry, it seems to have cooled down the government’s determination to curb fossil fuel production in the United Kingdom. Drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea runs counter to the government’s own zero targets. The government will justify the plans by saying that local hydrocarbon exploitation emits less carbon than importing supplies from elsewhere. Ministers also commissioned a new study to address security concerns about fracking, which polls have shown to be less popular with the public.
