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New UK net zero plan targets emissions and costs New UK plan to reach net zero goal faces criticism
(about 4 hours later)
A new plan to cut greenhouse gases and lower energy costs by investing in renewable energy and nuclear is being unveiled by the government. Carbon capture sites will take CO2 produce by industries such as steel
Ministers say they want the UK to have the cheapest electricity in Europe by 2035, but admit the strategy is unlikely to bring down bills next year. The government has unveiled a new net zero plan which has been met with intense criticism from experts and environmental groups.
The Net Zero plan has numerous measures to cut emissions including announcing the first carbon capture sites. The document was drawn up after the High Court ruled the government's existing plans were not sufficient to meet its climate targets.
But Labour said the plans were a "rehash" with no new investment. A central plank of the strategy is to store CO2 under the North Sea.
Some experts welcomed the focus on UK renewable energy projects, but others said it was "a missed opportunity" and there was no significant boost for home insulation funding. But scientists say even this plan will not move the UK closer towards meeting its legally-binding carbon commitments.
Ministers say it also aims to lower people's energy bills, although this will not be achieved in the short term.
What is carbon capture and can it fight climate change?
Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets?Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets?
What does net zero mean?What does net zero mean?
Net zero delay will hurt economy, MP’s review says The government was forced to publish this "Powering up Britain" strategy, after the High Court judged last July that its current plan was not detailed enough to show how the UK would meet its goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
The strategy - called Powering Up Britain - is largely focused on increasing UK clean energy - wind, solar and nuclear - which it is hoped will drive down emissions but also reduce energy costs. Academics and green groups are unconvinced it will make enough difference.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "When global energy supplies are disrupted and weaponised by the likes of Putin, we have seen household bills soar. We are stepping up to ensure our energy security in the long term so we can drive down energy prices." Dr Chris Jones, an expert in climate change at the University of Manchester, said: "This latest government energy strategy is a weak response to the UK's zero carbon energy needs.
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said the proposals, published on Thursday, would change the way people are billed which would cut electricity prices in the long term. "The regressive measures on fossil fuels won't make any real impact on our bills and energy security, but they are enough to downgrade the UK's role as a leader in tackling climate change."
There are dozens of measures in the plan, which runs to 1,000 pages, covering energy efficiency in domestic properties to large infrastructure projects. They include: Friends of the Earth - who were part of the team who brought the legal case against the last plan - said they may have to go back to the High Court.
Rebranding of the ECO+ scheme to the Great British Insulation Scheme, to help insulate 300,000 of the poorest performing homes "With these policies looking dangerously lacklustre and lacking on climate action, we are poised to act if ministers have fallen short once again," said Mike Childs, head of policy at campaign group Friends of the Earth.
Confirmation of £240m funding for green hydrogen projects One of the key parts of the new strategy is announcing the UK's first carbon capture sites in Teesside. These sites take carbon dioxide (CO2) produced during the burning of fossil fuels like gas, and store them in deep caverns under the North Sea.
Confirmed launch of Great British Nuclear to support the growth of the nuclear industry It is hoped this could remove up to 50% of the emissions from the country's industry.
More flexibility in planning for onshore wind and accelerated planning for offshore wind and solar Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said building "new thriving industries like carbon carbon capture will in turn create good jobs across the country."
It also contains a detailed outline of how the UK will achieve its climate targets, after the High Court ruled last July that the original net zero plan was not detailed enough to show how the UK would reduce its emissions. Although carbon capture has been recommended by the UK's independent climate advisers the UKCCC, as a way to remove CO2 already in the atmosphere, academics are concerned it could allow the UK to keep using oil and gas rather than focusing on renewable energy.
But Labour and experts have said that most of these measures have already been announced. "What does not make sense is to carry on with further development of new fossil fuel reserves on the assumption CCS will be available to mop up all the additional emissions," said Bob Ward, policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change at LSE.
Shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said: "What was billed with huge hype as the government's "green day" turns out to be a weak and feeble groundhog day of re-announcements, reheated policy, and no new investment." Some campaigners are also frustrated that it appears there is no significant increase in funding for home insulation. It is one of the most effective ways to bring down energy consumption for heating and therefore emissions - heating in homes currently accounts for 14% of UK emissions.
The government has announced, as part of the plan, the first sites for storing captured carbon. The three sites in Teesside will remove CO2, produced during the burning of fossil fuels like gas and store them under the North Sea. Last year the UKCCC - the government's independent advisers on climate change - said there was a "shocking gap" in policy for better insulated homes, and were expecting the government to respond to those concerns in this report.
What is carbon capture and can it fight climate change? Dr Paul Balcombe, senior lecturer in chemical engineering and renewable energy at Queen Mary University of London, said: "The most sustainable way to be low carbon and increase security is to reduce our energy demand: the stated intention of insulating 300,000 out of [more than] 20 million homes is clearly insufficient when we have such a poorly insulated housing stock."
But Bob Ward, policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change at LSE, said the government should only be using carbon capture and storage (CCS) for emissions already released. He said: "What does not make sense is to carry on with further development of new fossil fuel reserves on the assumption CCS will be available to mop up all the additional emissions." Meanwhile, Labour's shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said: "The government's 'green day' turns out to be a weak and feeble groundhog day of re-announcements, reheated policy, and no new investment."
Hydrogen could be used for large vehicles, some energy needs and manufacturing materials like steel
Campaigners are frustrated that it appears there is no significant increase in funding for home insulation. It is one of the most effective ways to reduce wasteful heat loss, which increases bills and emissions.
Last year the UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC) - the government's independent advisers on climate change - said there was a "shocking gap" in policy for better insulated homes, and were expecting the government to respond to those concerns in this report.
Dr Paul Balcombe, senior lecturer in chemical engineering and renewable energy at Queen Mary University of London, said: "Investing in new low carbon energy infrastructure is great, but the most sustainable way to be low carbon and increase security is to reduce our energy demand: the stated intention of insulating 300,000 out of [more than] 20 million homes is clearly insufficient when we have such a poorly insulated housing stock."
Mike Childs, head of policy at campaign group Friends of the Earth said the environmental campaign group took legal action against the government's previous net zero strategy "because it failed to show how legally binding climate targets would be met".
"With these policies looking dangerously lacklustre and lacking on climate action, we will be combing through the detail of the amended strategy and are poised to act if ministers have fallen short once again", he added.
Energy companies also said the strategy was a missed opportunity to address some of the issues with connecting new renewable energy to the power grid.
Lucy Yu, CEO of the Centre for Net Zero, a think tank owned by Octopus Energy, told the BBC: "Speeding up the planning process for new renewable energy developments is welcome, but it has to be accompanied by reforms that make it easier, faster and cheaper to get a grid connection."
What help can I get with home insulation?What help can I get with home insulation?
Poorer homes to get £1.5bn energy efficiency helpPoorer homes to get £1.5bn energy efficiency help
Without proper insulation homes lose heat - increasing bills and emissions There are dozens of measures in the plan, which runs to 1,000 pages, covering energy efficiency in domestic properties to large infrastructure projects.
Updated measures include a three-year extension to 2028 to a scheme offering households £5,000 to replace their gas boilers with heat pumps. Ministers have promised to extend a scheme offering households £5,000 to replace their gas boilers with heat pumps by three years.
A Lords enquiry recently described the heat pump scheme as "seriously failing", after initial figures showed low take-up of the grant by households. But it is hoped that a new marketing campaign will help dispel some of the worries around their installation.A Lords enquiry recently described the heat pump scheme as "seriously failing", after initial figures showed low take-up of the grant by households. But it is hoped that a new marketing campaign will help dispel some of the worries around their installation.
Keeping energy bills low for consumers is a key ambition of this strategy. The government has said it recognises one of the main ways to bring down bills is by increasing renewable energy but also by "decoupling" electricity from gas prices. Keeping energy bills low for consumers is also a key ambition of this strategy.
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said the proposals, published on Thursday, would change the way people are billed which would cut electricity prices in the long term.
The government has said it recognises one of the main ways to bring down bills is by increasing renewable energy but also by "decoupling" electricity from gas prices.
At the moment the UK still needs natural gas to meet its demand, so its generators, which charge the highest prices, set the electricity cost.At the moment the UK still needs natural gas to meet its demand, so its generators, which charge the highest prices, set the electricity cost.
How the government achieves this is not yet clear - it said it would make no announcements at this time but were looking at different measures. It has proposed to move the existing "green levies" on electricity prices over to gas prices so as not to penalise households for using electricity, which is greener.How the government achieves this is not yet clear - it said it would make no announcements at this time but were looking at different measures. It has proposed to move the existing "green levies" on electricity prices over to gas prices so as not to penalise households for using electricity, which is greener.
Without proper insulation homes lose heat, increasing bills and emissions, as protesters argue
More announcements are expected to be made on Thursday including on new investment into offshore wind energy.More announcements are expected to be made on Thursday including on new investment into offshore wind energy.
But energy companies have aid the strategy so far is a missed opportunity to address some of the issues with connecting new renewable energy to the power grid.
Lucy Yu, CEO of the Centre for Net Zero, a think tank owned by Octopus Energy, told the BBC: "Speeding up the planning process for new renewable energy developments is welcome, but it has to be accompanied by reforms that make it easier, faster and cheaper to get a grid connection."
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Electric carsElectric cars
Climate changeClimate change
Renewable energyRenewable energy
Carbon neutralityCarbon neutrality