The UK government has revised its clean energy targets, now aiming for 95% clean power by 2030, down from its original pledge of “zero carbon electricity” by the end of the decade. Prime Minister Keir Starmer made this announcement on Thursday during a speech outlining the government’s new “Plan for Change.”
Just weeks after the Labour Party took office in early July, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had set an ambitious goal for a fully decarbonized power grid by 2030. He also promised to transform the UK into a “clean energy superpower” with zero carbon electricity by that time.
However, Starmer now frames these goals as milestones rather than fixed targets. The UK government will now strive for “at least 95% clean power by 2030,” a target that aligns more closely with the previous Conservative government’s plan, which aimed for 95% by 2030 and 100% by 2035.
Despite efforts to expand solar and wind energy, analysts earlier this year warned that the UK might fall short of its decarbonization goals for the power sector by 2030.
To accelerate progress, the government has lifted the ban on onshore wind in England, which has been in place since 2015. It has also committed to doubling onshore wind capacity, quadrupling offshore wind, and tripling solar energy by 2030.
While the UK has made significant strides in reducing emissions and increasing renewable energy in the grid, natural gas remains a major source of power for electricity generation, home heating, and boilers.
A report released last month by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) highlighted several challenges in Britain’s transition to a low-carbon energy system. These include the need for significant investments in transmission infrastructure and adjustments to energy demand patterns.
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