There’s a reason previous governments baulked at the net zero challenge – it’s absolutely colossal, something Labour’s new Clean Power 2030 plan lays bare.
Offshore wind generating capacity, which has taken 20 years to reach 14.8GW, must more than triple to about 50GW within just six years.
The plan calls for a tripling of solar generation too, and a doubling supply from onshore wind turbines.
And to get all that clean, locally produced power to where it is actually needed will require an overhaul of the National Grid not seen since the current system was planned in the 1950s.
The government projects that to deliver all that infrastructure will require investment of £40bn a year until 2030.
Nearly all of that will come from the private sector – it hopes – knowing the Treasury certainly will not have any spare money to pay for it.
And all that is backed up by a promise that the project will lower consumer bills.
It’s a massive challenge and given the UK’s recent history of delivering large infrastructure projects – high-speed rail line anyone? – a major political gamble.
But Labour has decided it is worth the risk.
Read more:
Paris Agreement never been ‘more fragile’, UK climate chief warns
Scientists already say 2025 will be top three warmest years
If they pull it off, most analysts agree that locally generated renewable power will reduce the wholesale price of electricity – currently dictated by the international gas market.
This, in turn, will protect customers from price shocks and lower bills. Definitely a vote winner.
The other main attraction is to “get Britain building,” creating new, skilled jobs with many of them in parts of the country where they are needed most.
Coupled with that, many countries are pursuing similar goals and UK companies and workers…
