Ninety five per cent of Britain’s electricity will be low carbon under plans revealed by the Government today with nuclear, wind, solar and hydrogen power projects all being accelerated

A new body called Great British Nuclear will work on eight new nuclear reactors by 2030, or one a year this decade. Johnson wants up to 24GW by 2050 to come from nuclear — or 25 percent of Britain’s projected electricity demand

Wind power will provide 50GW by 2030, including 5GW from “floating” offshore wind in deeper seas like the Irish sea. Planning reforms will cut approval times for new offshore wind farms.

The U.K.’s current 14GW of solar capacity could grow up to five times by 2030 while Ministers also want 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by the same date.

Meanwhile in the short term there will be a licensing round for new North Sea oil and gas projects launching this autumn, with another new task force alongside it.

This plan says the Government,comes in light of rising global energy prices, provoked by surging demand after the pandemic as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This will be central to weaning Britain off expensive fossil fuels, which are subject to volatile gas prices set by international markets we are unable to control, and boosting our diverse sources of homegrown energy for greater energy security in the long-term.

The plan will see 90,000 jobs in offshore wind by 2028 – 30,000 more than previously expected; 10,000 jobs in solar power by 2028 ,almost double previous expectations; and 12,000 jobs in the UK hydrogen industry by 2030 – 3,000 more than previously expected.

Boris Johnson says:

We’re setting out bold plans to scale up and accelerate affordable, clean and secure energy made in Britain, for Britain — from new nuclear to offshore wind — in the decade ahead. This will reduce our dependence on power sources exposed to volatile international prices we cannot control, so we can enjoy greater energy self-sufficiency with cheaper bills.”

Shadow Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband:

“This relaunch will do nothing for the millions of families now facing an energy bills crisis. No reversal of the ban on onshore wind and not a penny more on energy efficiency. These decisions will force households to pay hundreds of pounds more for their energy bills and keep the U.K. dependent on imported gas for longer.”

Katie White, Executive Director of Campaigns at WWF said;

“This week’s IPCC report made it abundantly clear that if we are to keep our planet within a safe temperature, we have to sever our costly relationship with fossil fuels.

“Whilst there are warm words on the role of decarbonisation, this strategy represents a missed opportunity to accelerate the transition to a safer, cleaner, cheaper future. New licensing rounds in the North Sea directly contravene the clear message that developing new oil and gas fields is incompatible with net zero.

“Homegrown, renewable energy is flourishing – scaling this up and making our homes warmer and more efficient is the best way to cut energy bills and end our dependence on polluting gas imports. It’s cheap, protects our national security, creates new jobs and doesn’t burn the planet in the process. But this strategy provides limited funding for renewable energy and none at all for energy efficiency.

“The climate crisis is an emergency – we have the world-leading technology in the UK to meet it, but we need urgent political leadership to make it happen.”

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