Lower Cost & Lower Carbon: Increasing renewable energy deployment to maximise savings across the economy
With energy bills still too high and the clock ticking on fulfilling our climate commitments, this report explores the benefits of prioritising renewable energy over fossil fuels and nuclear power.
Key findings:
Cheaper energy: Maximising our use of clean, cheap renewable energy could save the UK up to £35 billion by 2030, compared to trying to deliver risky, expensive or speculative technologies like new nuclear power plants and carbon capture and storage.
Faster decarbonisation: A renewables-first approach could cut cumulative emissions by nearly 1.1 gigatonnes by 2050, equal to almost three years of the UK’s 2023 greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy security: Renewables offer a stable, home-grown energy supply that protects households and businesses from volatile gas prices.
The government has committed to decarbonising power by 2030. But they still have plans to invest in costly and inefficient technologies, like new nuclear plants and putting carbon capture and storage on gas power plants to keep them running. This route will likely take decades to deliver, cost far more than renewables, and delay the clean energy transition we urgently need.
Instead, to secure a cleaner, cheaper, and more resilient energy future, the government must:
Ramp up renewables: Focus on rapidly deploying wind, solar, and other proven renewable technologies.
Phase out fossil fuels: Avoid costly and unproven carbon capture and shift investments toward smarter energy storage solutions.
Empower communities: Support local renewable projects through feed-in tariffs and energy-sharing schemes.
Why this matters:
This report lays out the path to a future powered by clean, affordable, and reliable energy. Sticking with gas and nuclear isn’t just bad for the planet — it’s bad for our wallets too. By prioritising renewables, the government can cut emissions, stabilise energy prices, and meet our climate goals faster. It’s time to leave outdated, high-cost energy systems behind and embrace a smarter, greener, and more cost-effective future. Not only will this speed up reaching a clean energy grid, it will also allow us to cut emissions more quickly from other sectors too, including heat and transport.
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