Post: UK sets out action plan for clean power

UK sets out action plan for clean power

The UK government has set out an “action plan” for reaching its target of clean power by 2030, which it describes as “the most ambitious reforms to our energy system in generations”.

Published on 13 December, the plan outlines how the government hopes to “make Britain a clean energy superpower to cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030”. The Clean Power Action Plan aims to accelerate delivery of UK-based energy infrastructure and supply increase national energy security. It will prioritise national grid projects, speed up planning processes for energy infrastructure and expand the renewable auction process.

Key points include:

• systemic reform to prioritise the most viable national grid connection projects
• allowing planners to prioritise critical energy infrastructure to speed up project delivery
• to explore building canopies of solar panels on outdoor car parks
• to reach 45GW-47GW solar generation capacity by 2030
• bringing onshore wind back under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime
• expanding the renewable auction process to enable funding to be secured prior to planning permission to speed up project delivery

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero estimates that the proposals will generate £40B a year of investment from the private sector.

Launching the plan Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

“A new era of clean electricity for our country offers a positive vision of Britain’s future with energy security, lower bills, good jobs and climate action. This can only happen with big, bold change and that is why the government is embarking on the most ambitious reforms to our energy system in generations. […] “The era of clean electricity is about harnessing the power of Britain’s natural resources so we can protect working people from the ravages of global energy markets.

“The clean power sprint is the national security, economic security, and social justice fight of our time – and this plan gives us the tools we need to win this fight for the British people.”