UK ‘needs decarbonised power system to achieve net zero’ – © iStock
A decarbonised power system is the central requirement for achieving Net Zero in the UK and the “prize” for all modern economies, according to a report.
A comprehensive report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) demonstrates the scale of the task in achieving the government’s 2035 goal, with 25 new recommendations to improve the prospects of delivery.
Access to reliable, resilient and plentiful decarbonised electricity – at an affordable price to consumers – is “key” to a thriving, energy-secure economy, less dependent on imported oil and gas, states the research.
The report contains fresh insights on the importance of developing a climate-resilient power system – and detailed modelling to illustrate the requirements of the 2035 power system, using actual historical weather data, stress-tested with an extreme scenario of a prolonged period of low wind.
The report recommends that alongside the government’s Energy Security Strategy commitments to renewables and nuclear, the UK needs:
* New low-carbon back-up generation, with hydrogen-based power stations and some continued use of fossil gas, made low-carbon through use of carbon capture and storage.
* Smart shifting of consumer demand to help to smooth peaks in demand and absorb excess supply, especially through controlled timing of electric vehicle charging and use of heat pumps.
* New storage solutions, beyond simply the use of batteries. Most critical is the use of surplus generation to produce hydrogen through electrolysis (‘green hydrogen’), providing long-term storage so it can later be used to generate electricity.
Developing renewables
Lord Deben, chairman of the Climate Change Committee, said: “For 15 years, the Climate Change Committee’s main recommendation has been to decarbonise British electricity. The offer of cheap, decarbonised electricity for every consumer and business is now within reach, thanks to pioneering efforts to develop renewables.
“Now there is more at stake. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought home the fundamental importance of energy security. A reliable energy system based mainly on the UK's plentiful renewable resources now has new significance.
“We know how to do this, but the government is asleep at the wheel. Recent commitments for new nuclear and renewables are welcome, but these alone are insufficient. A rapid overhaul of the planning system and regulations is needed. It is not clear where the responsibility lies for the design and operations of our modern energy system rests among key organisations.
“Countries around the world are now racing for this goal. The UK is further ahead than most, but we risk losing our early lead at the worst possible time.”
Baroness Brown, chair of the adaptation committee, said: “The climate risks to the electricity system are currently underplayed. Climate-related impacts will multiply as the UK relies increasingly on electricity for heat and transport needs. The CCC’s analysis shows that a well-designed decarbonised power system, with a higher degree of weather-dependent generation, can be reliable and resilient. This is not an issue for the future, we need to build in that resilience now, as we scale the electricity system to meet our Net Zero targets.”
