RE: Too quiet in here7 Apr 2022 16:28
The FT is not impressed:
The Labour party and independent experts have warned that the energy security strategy will fail to reduce the UK’s reliance on expensive imports this decade and do little to alleviate the pressure on households from soaring fuel bills.
Energy groups and specialists also attacked the lack of fresh funding to improve the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock, which is among the leakiest in Europe. Reducing waste would be one of the quickest ways of tackling the current energy crisis, they said.
Ed Miliband, Labour’s energy spokesperson, called the strategy “hopeless” and said the government was in “disarray” over the current cost of living crisis.
“The gaping hole at the centre of it is it will do nothing?.?.?.?this decade to help people with energy bills or with the energy security situation that we face,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Danny Newport, head of net zero at the non-profit Tony Blair Institute, said the strategy felt “perilously insecure”.
“It was supposed to be a plan for rapidly overcoming three interlocking tests: how to reduce bills, improve energy security and stop funding Putin’s Russia. On any reasonable timeframe it fails all three,” Newport added.
Simon Virley, head of energy and natural resources at advisory firm KPMG, called the plan a “missed opportunity” and cautioned about the potential costs to consumers.
“The best way to reduce energy bills permanently, cut emissions and reduce our dependence on imported gas is a step change in energy efficiency,” said Virley.
“Other European countries, like Holland, France and Germany, are doing this as a matter of urgency as part of their response to the Russia/Ukraine crisis. Yet the UK strategy is almost silent on measures to improve energy efficiency.”
Robert Gross, professor of energy policy at Imperial College in London, said “very little” of what had been announced will bring short term relief to households.
“Even the quickest of the new technologies?.?.?.?won’t be operational for years, irrespective of streamlining of planning,” Gross added.
We would have been in a better position regarding tidal under a corbyn goverment.
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