The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has unveiled a new energy strategy that aims to tackle rising energy costs and boost energy independence amid drastically increasing energy prices stoked by the Russian-Ukraine invasion. These ambitious new commitments are expected to supercharge the development of wind, solar, nuclear, hydrogen, oil and gas which could see up to 95% of Great Britain’s electricity sourced from low-carbon generation by 2030.
For solar PV, the strategy focuses on radically facilitating planning requirements and strengthening policy in favour of development in non-protected land and/or brownfield sites whilst also maximising the efficiency of land use and public sector assets. Across the UK, there has been rapid adoption of solar PV, particularly in Manufacturing and Industrial sectors; partially, on account of the cost of solar falling by around 85% over the past decade. BEIS predicts a five-fold increase in solar capacity by 2035.
Other highlights from the policy include:
- An updated ambition of 50GW offshore wind capacity by 2030 – enough to power all UK homes
- Significant acceleration of nuclear with a £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund launched later this month. Up to 8 more nuclear reactors could be approved on existing sites
- Ambition for low carbon hydrogen supply doubled to 10GW by 2030
- Delivering a £1 billion commitment to 4 industrial carbon capture clusters that will be the starting point for a new carbon capture industry of sizable export within the UK
