The United Kingdom's Path to Net Zero
The United Kingdom in 2019 became the first major economy to legislate a binding target for achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
In the future, electricity use in the UK is anticipated to rise significantly due to the widespread adoption in transport and heating as part of the country's low-carbon transition. To meet this growing demand while achieving net-zero emissions, the UK will increasingly rely on renewable energy sources and nuclear power.
In 2020, the Conservative government introduced a ten-point plan outlining the strategies and measures to achieve this goal. The plan includes initiatives to boost renewable energy production, promote energy efficiency, and support the transition to low-carbon technologies.
1. Advancing Offshore Wind
2. Driving the Growth of Low Carbon Hydrogen
3. Delivering New and Advanced Nuclear Power
4. Accelerating the Shift to Zero Emission Vehicles
5. Green Public Transport, Cycling and Walking
6. Jet Zero and Green Ships
7. Greener Buildings
8. Investing in Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage
9. Protecting Our Natural Environment
10. Green Finance and Innovation
At present, offshore wind, solar and nuclear power appear to have the most viable strategies in place for expanding the UK's energy capacity, given today's technological capabilities. These established technologies offer reliable and scalable solutions to meet current energy demands, while advancements in other areas continue to evolve.
In April 2022, the government published its British Energy Security Strategy, which aims to deploy up to 50 GW of offshore wind capacity in the UK by 2030, with up to 5 GW to come from floating wind.
As of March 2024, the total installed capacity of solar power in the UK reached 15.8 GW. The government aims to reach 70 GW by the year 2035. Achieving this goal faces significant obstacles, acknowledged by the government as grid capacity limitations and challenges in securing timely grid connections.
Nuclear power provides reliable, low-carbon electricity. The UK is actively pursuing large-scale nuclear projects and investing in advanced nuclear technologies. As part of this commitment, the government has set an ambition for up to 24 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050. Additionally, the UK has joined more than 20 nations, including the US, France, Ghana, and the UAE, in endorsing the net zero nuclear declaration, advocating for a global tripling of nuclear energy by 2050.
As the nation approaches a general election next month, the future of the UK's climate strategy is a pivotal issue. The Conservative and Labour parties both remain steadfast in their commitment to reaching net zero and are presenting their own refreshed approaches to achieving this goal. They outline varied strategies to tackle climate change and manage the energy transition.
The Conservatives announced plans to legislate for annual licensing rounds for oil and gas production in the North Sea. To maintain a safe and reliable energy supply, new gas power stations are set to be opened. Additionally, the windfall tax on oil and gas companies will remain in place until the 2028-29 fiscal year.
A significant focus will be on renewable energy, with a promise to triple the current offshore wind capacity. Furthermore, a Conservative government aims to build the first two carbon capture and storage clusters and invest £1.1 billion into the Green Industries Growth Accelerator to foster innovation and growth in sustainable sectors.
Nuclear power will also see substantial expansion; within the first 100 days of the new Parliament, two new fleets of Small Modular Reactors will be approved to expedite nuclear power development. The approval process for new nuclear reactors will be halved in duration, and a new gigawatt power plant will be established at Wylfa in North Wales.
Labour's 2024 manifesto outlines an ambitious energy strategy centered around the creation of a new publicly-owned company, Great British Energy, which will be owned by the British people to deliver power back to them. This company will collaborate with industry and trade unions to co-invest in leading technologies and deliver clean power. With a robust industrial strategy and genuine public-private partnerships, Labour aims to position Britain as a clean energy superpower, with a national mission for clean power by 2030 seen as achievable.
Labour views the national grid as a major barrier to deploying cheap, clean energy and electrifying industry, with connection dates pushed to the late 2030s. This delay hinders vital business and infrastructure investments. Labour will collaborate with industry to upgrade the transmission infrastructure and rewire Britain.
Their plans include doubling onshore wind, tripling solar power, and quadrupling offshore wind by 2030. Additionally, Labour will invest in carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, marine energy, and long-term energy storage solutions. The manifesto also emphasizes the importance of nuclear power, including extending the life of existing plants and completing Hinkley Point C. Additionally, Labour plans to develop new projects like Sizewell C and Small Modular Reactors.
To ensure energy security, Labour will maintain a strategic reserve of gas power stations and oversee a responsible transition in the North Sea, utilizing existing offshore infrastructure and workforce skills. They commit to not issuing new licences for oil and gas exploration, not granting new coal licences, and banning fracking permanently. Labour will also close loopholes in the windfall tax on oil and gas companies, extending the Energy Profits Levy's sunset clause until the end of the next parliament, increasing the levy rate by three percentage points, and removing overly generous investment allowances.