Commenting on the Climate Change Committee’s 7th Carbon Budget which has been released today, covering the period from 2038 to 2042, RenewableUK’s Director of Future Electricity Systems Barnaby Wharton said:

“This budget puts offshore wind right at the heart of the UK’s clean electricity system, with our capacity growing sixfold between now and 2040. This is vital to meet the upsurge in electricity demand which the CCC predicts we’ll see in the 2030s, as more people take up electric vehicles and heat pumps. Building up our energy storage capacity alongside this, with more batteries and green hydrogen, will provide flexibility and strengthen the reliability of our future power system.

“The CCC is right to highlight the importance of reforming planning rules so that we can get on with building this much-needed new generation and grid infrastructure. As the Committee notes, this will enable everyone to benefit from domestically produced low-carbon electricity, reducing household bills in the long term and boosting the UK’s energy security.

“The Committee also emphasises the huge potential for job creation in the green economy in the years ahead, driven by the growth of supply chains across the country. We’re urging the Government to focus on clean energy in its Industrial Strategy which will be launched later this year”.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Robert Norris, Head of Communications – Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com or 07969 229913