UK commits to fully decarbonised power system by 2035
The UK government says it will “double down” on efforts to deploy a new generation of home-grown energy technologies, so that homes and businesses are powered by affordable, clean and secure electricity by 2035.
A landmark commitment to decarbonise the UK’s electricity system by 2035 was confirmed last week by Boris Johnson and Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to help the country reach its ambitious net zero targets. The government hopes that building a secure, home-grown clean energy sector will reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels and exposure to volatile global wholesale energy prices.
The announcement brings forward the government’s commitment to a fully decarbonised power system by 15 years and will require rapid and large-scale deployment of technologies such as renewable energy (including onshore and offshore wind and solar), hydrogen, nuclear and carbon capture and storage.
By tapping into the wealth of Britain’s natural resources, it is hoped the plans will also create thousands of new high- skilled jobs in new industries across the UK.
Business & Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Our plan to move to clean energy and a carbon-neutral economy means new kinds of jobs in new kinds of industries. The world needs the innovation and entrepreneurial genius of British companies for this transition to succeed. Recent volatile gas prices have also demonstrated how the way to strengthen Britain’s energy security, ensure greater energy independence and protect household energy budgets in the long-term is through clean power that is generated in this country for the people of this country.”
The government will set out further details on its wider plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, through its net zero strategy, which will be published ahead of the UK playing host to the UN COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.
