Since 1990 the UK’s emissions are down by more than a
third while the economy has grown by two-thirds. Low
carbon generation provided more than half (52%) our
electricity this summer, according to National Grid,
while PwC analysis shows the UK decarbonising faster than
any other G20 nation.
The Clean Growth Strategy, which will be published this
week, will build on this success and ensure Britain
remains a global leader in the move towards a low carbon
economy. It will ensure the whole country can benefit
from new technologies, jobs and businesses that are good
for consumers, the environment and the economy.
As part of the strategy, developers will compete for up
to £557 million of funding in Contracts for Difference
auctions which drive down energy costs for consumers and
increase business confidence. The latest auction saw the
cost of new offshore wind fall by 50% compared to the
first auction held in 2015 and resulted in over 3GW of
new generation which could power 3.6 million homes.
Energy Minister said:
The government’s Clean Growth Strategy will set out how
the whole of the UK can benefit from the global move to
a low carbon economy.
We’ve shown beyond doubt that renewable energy projects
are an effective way to cut our emissions, while
creating thousands of good jobs and attracting billions
of pounds worth of investment.
The Clean Growth Strategy will look across the whole of
the economy and the country. It includes ambitious
proposals on housing, business, transport and the
environment, as well as the power sector. It will also
show how actions taken to tackle emissions have helped to
reduce energy bills for households.
The next Contracts for Difference auction is planned for
spring 2019.
