Previous governments hesitated to tackle the net zero challenge for a good reason – it’s a massive undertaking, as illustrated by Labour’s new Clean Power 2030 plan.
Offshore wind capacity needs to more than triple to around 50GW in just six years, after taking 20 years to reach 14.8GW.
The plan also calls for a tripling of solar generation and a doubling of supply from onshore wind turbines.
To transmit all this clean, locally produced power to where it’s needed will require a significant overhaul of the National Grid, which has not been seen since its inception in the 1950s.
The government estimates that achieving this infrastructure will necessitate an investment of £40bn per year until 2030.
The prime minister has pledged an overhaul of the UK’s power grid and renewable energy.
Pic: AP
The majority of this funding is expected to come from the private sector, as the Treasury is unlikely to have extra funds for the project.
This initiative is supported by a promise that it will lower consumer bills.
Undoubtedly, this is a massive challenge, especially considering the UK’s track record with large infrastructure projects like high-speed rail lines.
However, Labour has deemed it a risk worth taking.
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If successful, most analysts believe that locally generated renewable power will reduce the wholesale electricity prices that are currently tied to the global gas market.
This, in turn, will shield customers from sudden price spikes and lead to lower bills – a clear advantage for voters.
Another attractive aspect of the plan is the opportunity to boost construction activity in the UK, creating new skilled jobs in areas where they are needed most.
Moreover, as many countries pursue similar green energy goals, UK companies and workers can leverage their expertise by exporting it internationally.
Add to that the legal obligation under the Climate Change Act and the commitment to the Paris Agreement, and the government is mandated to push through these changes.
However, none of this diminishes the difficulty of the task at hand.
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From September: Can the UK achieve its offshore wind target?
Consider the grid, for instance.
Currently, as new renewable projects like large offshore wind farms connect to our outdated national grid, there’s already an excess of electricity on windy days that the system can’t handle.
Larger wind farms far from consumers are sometimes paid not to generate power, while gas-fired power stations closer to consumers are paid to come online instead.
The cost of these “grid constraints” is already around £2bn annually.
Modernizing the grid will alleviate this issue and benefit everyone.
If there’s a delay – due to local opposition, labor shortages, or inefficient construction – in upgrading the grid alongside the increase in generating capacity, the constraint costs could soar to £8bn per year by the late 2020s, equating to £80 per household. That would be a major setback for a government committed to reducing bills. And the grid upgrade is just one piece of the zero-carbon electricity puzzle.
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Every aspect, from revamping the energy retail market to smart metering, EV charging, integrating heat pumps, and implementing technologies to store excess electricity for non-windy periods, must progress simultaneously and swiftly to deliver the promised benefits of the project.
The Clean Power plan will not only test Britain’s ability to “get building again” but also assess Keir Starmer’s political fortitude when challenges inevitably arise.