Plan sets out pathway to clean power system

The government has unveiled its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which details how it proposes to reform Britain’s energy system and tackle the climate crisis by improving energy security, protecting households from fluctuating fossil fuel prices and creating new energy industries supported by thousands of skilled workers.

In a statement, the government said that for too long, there had been no plan for building new energy infrastructure based on an assessment of the country’s long-term needs. As a result, billions of pounds of clean energy projects have been held up by a clogged-up planning system and a dysfunctional power grid queue that means renewables projects cannot get online.

The plan sets out measures to provide people with better access to clean power, including: cleaning up a dysfunctional grid system by prioritising the most important projects and ending the ‘first-come, first-served’ system; speeding up decisions on planning permission by empowering planners to prioritise critical energy infrastructure; and expanding the renewable auction process to stop delays and get more projects connected.

Delivering these reforms could unlock £40 billion a year of mainly private investment in clean power projects and infrastructure, creating jobs in engineering and mechanics.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The era of clean electricity is about harnessing the power of Britain’s natural resources so we can protect working people from the ravages of global energy markets.  

“The clean power sprint is the national security, economic security and social justice fight of our time – and this plan gives us the tools we need to win this fight for the British people.”

For more details about the government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, visit: gov.uk/government/publications/clean-power-2030-action-plan