In reaction to the government’s ‘Energy Security Day’
announcements (formerly known as ‘Green Day’), Greenpeace
UK’s head of climate, Mel Evans, said:
“Green Day has turned into Groundhog Day - yet another government
failure on climate action. As climate chaos hits our shores and
millions struggle to pay their bills, ministers have again
spectacularly failed to rise to the challenge. This piecemeal,
re-heated and confusing announcement is just not enough to
meaningfully tackle climate change or to provide secure,
affordable energy for households.
“Hundreds of thousands of homes will remain uninsulated by next
winter. Cheap wind power is still effectively banned onshore in
England. There’s no net zero mandate for the energy
regulator. And our policy on electric vehicles remains - at best
- stuck in second gear.
“Ministers talk about leading the world, but the UK is not even
making it to the starting blocks of the green tech race. A good
government would go all in on renewable, efficient energy to give
millions of people warm homes, clean air, lower bills and a safe
climate - but Powering Up Britain is a far cry from what this
country needs.”
Comments on specific policies:
Electric vehicles - The government has announced
£380m to boost charging infrastructure and a further consultation
is expected on how many electric models car manufacturers must
sell each year (Zero Emissions Vehicle
mandate)
Greenpeace UK view: “The measures on charging are welcome but
do not go far enough. Delaying introducing a robust ZEV mandate
through yet another consultation is unacceptable. Without further
action to secure battery plants to deliver green job
opportunities and more money and enabling policies to deliver
adequate charging infrastructure to meet demand, the government’s
EV strategy would still be in need of a jump start.”
Renewables - The government has announced £160mn
for floating offshore wind port infrastructure, and confirmed it
will reduce planning obstacles to solar and offshore wind. The
5th (now annual) auction round for renewables contracts has
opened with £205mn available although the strike price limits
have not been changed from last year.
Greenpeace UK view: “The £160mn for floating offshore is
welcome although as a technology where we could genuinely lead
the world it seems a bit half-hearted compared to the £4bn an expert
group assessed as necessary for that task. There is
an ongoing failure to permit onshore wind in England that remains
blocked by planning rules, and promises to streamline planning
for offshore wind and solar were made in the British Energy
Security Strategy nearly a year ago and have seen little change.
Meanwhile there are doubts about whether the benchmarks and
funding in the new renewables contract auction have been set at a
level too low to attract investment given the supply chain
inflation and high-interest rates.”
Nuclear Power - Rules on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
competition will come in the Autumn.
Greenpeace UK view: “Nuclear power has consistently failed to
deliver on time or to budget. It’s an expensive distraction from
genuine climate and energy security solutions, like renewable
power and grid upgrades. SMRs don’t yet exist, are highly
unlikely to solve our energy woes and won’t provide a solution to
the waste hazards that come with nuclear.”
CCUS - Moving to the next stage of development
for a number of CCS clusters. Clusters expected to go into
negotiations over funding are East of England and around
Morecambe Bay.
Greenpeace view: “Carbon capture is not zero carbon; is
unlikely to see dramatic cost reductions or be scalable; and is
often used for greenwashing by oil and gas companies so they can
carry on polluting. It doesn’t do what it says on the tin and
certainly should not be prioritised as part of a green industrial
strategy.”
Heat pumps and insulation - A rebrand of ECO+
and widening of access to the grant scheme with the intention to
insulate 300,000 homes and a £30m Heat Pump Investment
Accelerator along with an extension - not announced on scope and
timing - to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Greenpeace UK view: “Our European neighbours are snapping up
heat pumps like hot cakes, while UK households are being left out
in the cold. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is failing and needs a
much more rounded strategy to increase heat pump uptake including
skills packages, independent consumer advice and support,
advertising and promotion, as well as much more money. £30m for
an “investment accelerator” just isn’t going to move the
dial. £3.37bn extra
is needed now as part of a market mechanism to accelerate the
transition away from gas heating towards installation of heat
pumps, alongside a requirement on boiler manufacturers to shift
production to heat pumps on a timeframe in line with a commitment
to ban all new gas boilers by 2033.”
Rebalancing gas and electricity bills - The
Government will set out plans during 2023/24 to rebalance gas and
electricity costs in household bills with the aim of making
electricity bills cheaper and speeding up electrification for
households and businesses.
Greenpeace UK view: “This could be a welcome and necessary
step towards allowing households to truly benefit from clean heat
and power. Yet despite the pressure on household bills there is
no clarity on when the government will act. The government should
have confirmed an immediate relief of policy costs on electricity
bills, with further action to transfer the cost to gas bills at a
later date.”
