Spotlighting the UK’s green energy goals for 2030, the Labour Party’s target is to power the UK with clean, renewable energy sources entirely. If the plan turns out to be successful, the UK will be set as the next exporter of green electricity, which means that it would be able to sell a surplus of energy to other countries. This ambitious target will help citizens house energy bills by reducing dependence on imported gases, which often fluctuate in price, meaning the country will move towards affordable and clean energy in the near future.
However, Neso, the National Energy System Operator, has warned that the timeline would require change to ensure the earliest possible delays. The systems that are currently in store, along with their planning and approval processes, will take a longer time to complete. Neso has also emphasized that the government should streamline the approval process as soon as possible, and only then will the necessary infrastructure be built on time.
Of course, to achieve these goals for green energy, there are several requirements that Neso highlighted as well. That includes infrastructure needs like regional power networks, which are smaller, local networks that can grow at a rate four times faster than it has in the past 10 years, as well as high voltage transmission networks, which have to be built twice as fast as the previous decade, and it would also need a total planning process overhaul, meaning the approval process should have accelerated timelines.
The report states that the achievement of a proper clean energy system would reduce international gas prices and enhance energy security. Another benefit would be that households and businesses would have stable power from more reliable and affordable sources as well. Other sectors like transportation and such industries would benefit from decarbonization while maintaining broader economic goals and climate resilience.
With everything in mind, there are two ways to make these goals possible, the first being a focus on renewables, which is a plan aimed to expand renewable energy, especially offshore wind, tripling it to 50 GW by 2030. The other path focuses on nuclear power, expanding the life of its current reactors and building new ones. Developed gas plants designed to capture carbon would also reduce emissions.
The goals of the UK would then be to double the capacity of onshore wind power from 13GW to 27GW by 2030, triple the capacity of solar power from 15GW to 47GW by 2030, and encourage shifting energy to use less busy times with the target to grow flexible sands from 2GW to 10-12GW.
Despite the goals that already hold promise, it is stated that gas plants will still be needed as backup for the times the renewables are low, but they should account for less than 5% of power use.
Ed Miliband’s mission then is to get the government to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, improve planning and grid systems, and attract investment. Further, Neso and GB Energy will work together to make renewable energy projects reach the grid faster.
The ambitious plan of 2033 for the UK will require the support of the government, rapid development, and structural changes but will definitely be for the benefit of security, cost stability, and lower emissions overall.
