A new report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change backs calls for a “reset” of the UK’s electricity strategy, but critics warn it could play into the hands of those seeking to slow down clean-power investment.
A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition welcomed “any serious discussion about how to make our energy transition smarter, faster and fairer,” but also commented:
“Given that by 2027 the North Sea will no longer be able to provide enough gas to heat our homes, this report must not become a pretext to delay vital moves to improve energy security and bring down bills.
“Scrapping contracts for green power, weakening support for renewables or backing away from decisive grid upgrades will continue to keep households locked into volatile fossil-fuel markets and higher bills.
“The report’s conclusions also raise questions about the Tony Blair Institute’s funding and affiliations. As reported by The Guardian, the Institute has received financial support from governments and entities linked to fossil fuel-producing states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.”
Ed Matthew, UK programme director for the independent climate change think tank E3G said:
“The only solution to get off the gas price rollercoaster is to get off gas.
“Our research shows that it is possible for the Government to reach its 2030 clean power target whilst reducing electricity bills by more than £200.
“But that requires urgent action by government to implement cost cutting policies, including moving levies off electricity bills into the Exchequer [general taxation].”
Jess Ralston, energy analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), added: “The public may be more interested in their energy bills than what percentage of clean power the UK reaches in 2030, but renewables are already lowering wholesale power prices by around a quarter, or £25 per megawatt hour.”