Energy industry unites and calls on government to build back greener ahead of COP26

With the eyes of the world on Glasgow at COP26 in November, the UK’s energy industry has united in a call for government to seize the opportunity to deliver a green economic recovery and boost Britain’s global reputation as a superpower of renewable energy.

To help deliver the UK’s Net Zero emissions targets, nine of Britain’s top energy trade associations representing networks, generators, retailers and the supply chain have issued a statement urging the government to drive Net Zero action and deliver:

• Strategic investment ahead of need in least-risk technologies and infrastructure.
• Clear, ambitious targets for the full breadth of renewable technologies, with a robust framework for delivery – 40GW offshore wind, 40GW of solar, 30GW of onshore wind, 2GW of floating wind, 5GW of green hydrogen electrolyser capacity, and 1GW of marine energy. Along with a clear plan to restore nuclear capacity at least to existing levels.
• A Just Transition Strategy which brings together schemes like The North Sea Transition Deal to maximise the employment opportunities of Net Zero.
• A Heat and Buildings Strategy which empowers customers and makes the most of all the tools at our disposal, delivering market certainty and customer choice over technologies like heat-pumps and hydrogen-ready boilers which can be rolled out through the 2020s.
• A regulator with a clear mandate for action on climate change, supporting decarbonisation across the value chain.
• A UK Net Zero Strategy that focuses on delivery from key sectors throughout the 2020s.

The next ten years is a short period of time to deliver the infrastructure and innovation needed to hit our 2030 targets. Government has already outlined its strategic vision with its 10 Point Plan. Now is the time to turn the Plan into action and implement the policies that will unlock the Net Zero future that customers across the country need. 

David Smith, Chief Executive of Energy Networks Association which represents the UK and Ireland’s energy network businesses said:

“As we count down to COP26, there is little question over the UK’s ambition on climate change, now the focus must be on delivery. The UK’s energy industry has done the heavy lifting so far and has tangible plans to not only fully decarbonise power, but also support the decarbonisation of heat, transportation and industry – plans which we want to work with government to deliver.

“The energy networks are at the heart of unlocking this green growth, turning climate plans into climate action and helping to provide a cleaner, greener future for all.”

End.

Green Infrastructure Week curates’ content from the entire ecosystem around green infrastructure from government and NGOs to respected commentators. 

Feel free to share this content with your social media community using #GreenInfrastructureWeek  

During Green Infrastructure Week we will host a programme of live and exclusive free-to-attend webinars.