Can the UK hit the clean energy targets by 2030?

As it stands, the UK is aiming for a clean power system by 2035. However, a study by the think tank Ember states that the UK can bring down its gas generation to 1% of electricity by 2030.

And it’s a study backed by Labour, whose manifesto includes:

A fossil-fuel-free electricity system by 2030
Making the UK a net exporter of clean energy

So far, the Conservatives are committed to the original 2035 deadline. But Labour claims that hitting the clean energy target five years early could save British households an estimated £93 billion over the rest of the decade.

Lofty goals indeed, but is it achievable?

Can the UK achieve net-zero energy by 2030?

It could be possible for the UK to reach the 2030 deadline set out by Ember, but a lot needs to change before then.

Here is how the UK could achieve it:

1. Offshore wind

The UK’s geographical position means we are perfectly placed to get the most out of wind, hydro, tidal and solar power.

2. Low carbon hydrogen production

According to The Guardian, ScottishPower has plans to build a £150m 100mW green hydrogen plant at the Port of Felixstowe that will help power trains, trucks and ships.

And the good news is, it could be ready to go in 2026.

But it’s not the only planned hydrogen plant. The Innovation News Network reported on 12th October 2022 that bp is proposing to build a large-scale green hydrogen plant in Teesside and has submitted plans to the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF) and the UK Government’s Hydrogen Business Model (HBM).

3. Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)

CCUS involves capturing CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions from industrial processes, including:

The burning of fossil fuels in power generation
Cement production
Steel production

The captured carbon can then be transported via cargo ship or pipeline and stored underground.

4. Nuclear power

Nuclear power used to be controversial, but a better understanding of how it can be used shows the benefits it can have in fighting climate change.

Nuclear power is:

A low-carbon energy source
Extremely reliable
Cost-effective

It also has one of the smallest carbon footprints and will be essential in bridging the gap between the transfer from fossil fuels to renewable energy — something the UK Government is backing.

5. Electric Vehicles

In 2020, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a ten-point plan which included £620 million of funding for Electric Vehicle infrastructure. And a further £350 million was allocated to build vehicles in the UK and improve their supply chains.

The average car releases around 1.68 million grams of CO2 every year, devastating considering there are around 33 million cars on the UK roads alone.

If the UK is to reach the government’s current net-zero 2035 target, there will need to be a massive shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Labour is the only party at the moment that has stated its aim to bring this date forward to 2030 by:

Doubling onshore wind capacity
Tripling solar power
Quadrupling offshore wind
Increasing the use of offshore wind farms

The plan also includes building new nuclear power stations, Hinkley Point C and Sizewell B in Suffolk, as well as other new, small modular reactors. Labour has also promised there will be a reserve of backup gas-fired power stations as added security against any future energy crisis. And that there will be massive investment in hydrogen and carbon capture and storage schemes.

However, with Rishi Sunak being installed as PM this week, perhaps we will see a more defined commitment/outline to renewable and self-sufficient energy in the UK, by the Conservative party.

How Inteb can help your business reduce carbon emissions

As business owners, we all need to do our bit to reduce carbon emissions.

So, why not see how we can help?

Inteb’s experience in net-zero strategy and energy efficiency spans several years. And in that time, we‘ve helped clients stay compliant, reduce emissions, reduce waste, and save money on their energy bills.