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The REA responds to the highly anticipated
“Green Day,” now named “Powering Up Britain”;
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Today’s sizable collection of announcements includes a
revised energy strategy and a formal response to MP’s Independent Review of
Net Zero;
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The REA welcomes several ambitious measures, yet
expresses concern over remaining policy gaps;
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The “Energy Revolution” must have renewables at its
core to ensure growth and address the joint climate and energy
crises.
The REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology)
warmly welcomes the range of measures announced today which
highlight that Government are finally committing to several
programmes long awaited by industry. This includes the Zero
Emission Vehicle Mandate, consideration of planning reforms and
green hydrogen projects. These are positive moves that will start
to get these technologies delivered.
It is also welcome that today’s announcements provide further
detail in relation to previously announced ambitions that had
been stated in the Net Zero Strategy and Energy Security
Strategy.
However, the REA stresses that significant gaps remain, and there
continues to be a lack of policies that will quickly address some
of the biggest barriers to renewable and low carbon deployment.
Chief amongst these is accelerating UK attractiveness in globally
competitive investment market and ensuring that renewables are
treated on a level playing field with Oil and Gas investment.
This could be addressed by dedicated capital allowances for low
carbon investments and ensuring a route to market for a complete
range of low carbon and clean energy technologies.
Furthermore, a number of technologies of strategic importance for
reaching the UK’s net zero targets are not referenced in today’s
announcements. This includes areas such as Deep Geothermal,
advanced conversion technologies, BECCS at all scales, the
broader bioenergy and organic recycling sectors, as well as much
more ambitious heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency
measures.
The REA also welcomes the publication of Sir Patrick Vallance’s
Pro-Innovation Review, in which the REA assisted, as well as a
formal response to MP’s Independent Review of
Net Zero; “Mission Zero.” It is extremely welcome that government
are partly or fully acting upon 23 recommendations from the
report’s 25 recommendations for 2025, which will ensure that the
UK’s journey to net zero by 2050 is both pro-business and
pro-growth.
Dr Nina Skorupska CBE FEI, Chief Executive of the
Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA)
said:
“Despite positive moves that will get vital renewable
technologies delivered, we still need stronger ambitions to
cement the UK’s position as a world leader in our sector.
The UK is now in an international race for investment and
needs to keep pace, as well as urgently delivering on Net Zero
ambitions.
“Highlighted by the recent CCC and IPCC reports, it could not
be clearer that we need to move faster, and today’s announcements
leave significant gaps in vital policy that will provide a route
to market for the speedy decarbonisation of power, heat and
transport, while moving to a circular economy and addressing the
joint climate and energy crises. A full range of renewable and
clean energy technologies are needed to decarbonise our energy
systems, many of which continue to be missing from today’s
plans.
“Whilst making this clear, we do recognise that a number of
ambitious measures have been released today which highlight that
Government are finally committing to several programmes long
awaited by industry. The REA welcomes government’s recommitment
to Net Zero and green industries in Britain.
“The REA look forward to working with government to see
delivery of today’s announcements and to address the substantial
policy gaps that remain.”
