By Rupert George, Director of Communications and Campaigns, UK100.
With talk of an expedited leadership election following Boris Johnson’s resignation, the debate between the candidates vying to succeed him doesn’t lack energy. But it does lack a focus on the vital subject of energy policy.
While candidates have clashed on tax and the culture wars, they have said little about what will become of the Energy Security Bill launched amidst the slew of ministerial resignations that eventually led to the Prime Minister’s downfall.
The long-awaited bill aims to put the British Energy Security Strategy (BESS), published earlier this year, on the statute books. It is very far from perfect, but the premise for its existence is a restatement of the UK’s Net Zero promises. Promises that former ministers Zac Goldsmith, Chris Skidmore and Michael Gove have defended as the quickest route to ending our reliance on Russian oil and gas, reducing household bills and boosting local jobs and skills across the country.
Local Net Zero Delivery progress
But as the latest UK100 Local Net Zero Delivery progress report confirms, the important bill embodies the same flaws as its BESS predecessor.
The UK100 Local Net Zero Delivery (LNZD) reports — due to be launched on 14 July — are, we like to think, the local authority cousin of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) report to Parliament.
Building on a PwC and Innovate UK report that found local investment in Net Zero delivered £2 of energy savings and £14 of wider social benefits for every £1 invested, the UK100 LNZD reports are clear that local input and decision-making is absolutely vital to the design and delivery of real progress towards Net Zero energy.
The almost complete absence of any explicit recognition of local authorities in the BESS and Energy Security Bill is, therefore, concerning. They get a total of ten mentions across 384 pages.
Energy efficiency
With the cheapest homegrown green energy being the energy we don’t use, it is also concerning to see the bill fail to make any significant commitment to reducing energy demand and wastage. With energy bills set to rise again in October, making Britain’s draughty homes comfortable and ready for winter should be a top priority.
There are measures to be welcomed, including a doubling of funding for green finance products to £20m and a request from the former chancellor (and current leadership contender) that the UK Infrastructure Bank should support energy efficiency (announced ahead of the strategy). In addition to the provisions allowing local authorities to oversee heat networks and investment in heat pumps.
But we desperately need more. Decarbonising homes should be a central element of the UK’s energy policy. And, as the PwC and Innovate UK report argued, and the Green Home Grants scheme proved, the best way to do it quickly, economically and at scale is hand-in-hand with local authorities.
Energy networks
Another area where the role of local leaders is particularly crucial is reconfiguring and redesigning the energy networks to be more agile and responsive to make the most of the UK’s clean energy potential.
The Net Zero transition means the energy networks that currently fuel our lives by connecting our homes and workplaces, commercial and industrial buildings, to energy sources for heat and power must adapt.
To state the obvious, it makes sense to harness the hydroelectric potential of the Mersey in Liverpool while capitalising on the suntrap valleys in Wiltshire to power their own local communities — rather than the other way around.
Ofgem recently recognised the current energy system is not fit for Net Zero and launched a five-year vision to overhaul it, putting local authorities at its heart.
We believe Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) should have a greater role and more powers given to local and regional authorities to develop a balanced energy system that combines a mix of large-scale power generation with local decentralised energy systems. And Ofgem has heeded our call for sustainable and affordable regional energy grids that recognise the power of local, including creating a Net Zero Advisory Group.
The Ofgem plan to: “build sustainable and affordable regional energy grids, supporting a low carbon, cheaper future for the UK” is a welcome relief, as the Government’s Energy Security Bill shows scant acknowledgement of the importance of local authorities and regional energy grids.
Renewables
On renewables, the Energy Bill’s increased ambition on offshore wind and solar capacity and promises to slash red tape is good news. But local leaders and communities need to be part of the plan to increase the pace and scale of delivery. New polling from YouGov, commissioned by UK100, shows an overwhelming 80% of voters want to see more investment in renewable energy to bring down bills.
The good news is also offset by the apparent scaling back of ambition on onshore wind. Onshore wind is one of the cheapest and cleanest routes to energy independence. It also enjoys broad support across the UK. But the door isn’t closed. The government has the power to make good on its promise to work with supportive local communities to expand onshore wind.
The way forward
Overall, then, our latest report gives a mixed picture of Local Net Zero Delivery, with big gaps but also cause for optimism. The new Local Net Zero Forum is a positive step forward for coordinating Net Zero action between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Local Authorities. While converting regional energy hubs into Local Net Zero Hubs can offer local leaders more support in securing sustainable funding for ambitious Net Zero energy projects — if adequately funded.
We know local leaders throughout our network are ready to work whoever collects the keys to Number 10 on ramping up the UK’s energy ambitions, from developing onshore wind in Cornwall and solar farms in Plymouth to retrofitting public buildings across Greater Manchester.
We hope the incoming Prime Minister is ready to keep an improved Energy Security Bill alive and be an active partner on the road to Net Zero — building and improving upon their predecessor’s efforts.