Commenting on a report commissioned by the Conservatives from
Onward, which backs dropping 'net zero dogma' by
prioritising 'cheap power' [1], Jess Ralston, Head
of Energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit
(ECIU), said: "It's obvious that the North Sea
is not a long term source of energy security with around 90% of
its oil and gas already extracted [2], so building more gas
plants just makes us more reliant on gas imports from the likes
of the Strait of Hormuz and US. Polling shows British people
aren't happy relying on Trump for gas, with imports from the US
already having risen around 40% last year. Gas prices today are
near a three year high, as conflicts caused by actors like Putin
and Trump dictate those costs, not UK supply.
"Nuclear can play a role, but so far large plants have been
delayed and over budget. Small modular reactors have been touted
for many years, but none are currently operating in the western
world. The extreme heat and drought have forced nuclear plants
across France, Romania and Hungary to switch off, a reminder that
no energy source is completely firm'.
"With household interest in net zero tech like solar, electric
vehicles and heat pumps soaring as a result of energy instability
resulting from war in Middle East, the public clearly see
electrifying as a way to take back control of bills. Cheaper
power would help boost that further, reducing our oil and gas
demand and so our vulnerability to the next energy crisis, but
there's no guarantee that nuclear or gas would deliver cost
reductions while we know that renewables lowered the wholesale
price of electricity by a third last year." [3]
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The report is published Tue 18 Aug at 22:00.
2. Around 90% of UK North Sea oil
and gas already drained dry' analysis (ECIU)
3. Wind farms cut power prices by
almost a third in 2025 (ECIU)
