The UK targets net-zero emissions by deploying an average of 15.5GW of renewable energy yearly. Despite obstacles like supply chain management and permitting, utilizing solar and onshore wind energy on less than 3% of its land could substantially boost renewable energy output.
Slow Progress Towards Decarbonisation Aim
The UK's clean energy expansion is insufficient to meet its ambitious climate goals, despite growth in the renewable energy sector. Achieving net zero emissions by 2050 necessitates a significant increase in clean energy implementation, but a slow policy environment may hinder progress.
Decarbonization progress in the UK has been slow due to political obstacles, such as bans on onshore wind projects and delays in transitioning away from gas and diesel vehicles. Measures to improve energy efficiency in buildings have also faced setbacks under former Prime Minister David Cameron and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
As a result of delays in clean energy deployment and other decarbonization efforts, a recent analysis by AtkinsRealis indicates that the UK must deploy an average of 15.5GW of clean energy per year to align with its own targets. This is concerning given that the UK has never added more than 6.5GW of new low-carbon capacity in a single year, a record set back in 2017, according to a recent report by Edie.
Rapid Expansion Necessary Within a Limited Time
In an ideal scenario, the pace of deployment should have been increasing each year to remain on course. The UK has a legally binding commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century, supported by carbon budgets aligned with the 2050 target. Additionally, there is a newer pledge to eliminate all unabated fossil fuels from the national energy mix by 2035.
However, the UK now has less time to accomplish a greater buildout, posing challenges for a seamless transition. According to reports by Edie, a rapid expansion of wind and solar energy within a compressed time frame presents heightened challenges such as supply chain management, planning, permitting, and workforce preparation.
This accelerated buildout also faces significant issues related to contentious land-use agreements, which often require time to resolve. Ultimately, prolonged reliance on unabated gas could jeopardize climate progress as the only alternative.
There’s Hope For a Cleaner UK
There is encouraging news about England's renewable energy potential. By using less than 3% of its total land area, the country could increase renewable energy output by 13 times through solar and onshore wind — the most cost-effective renewable energy sources.
This conclusion stems from recent research conducted by Exeter University, commissioned by Friends of the Earth (FoE). According to their study, England could increase its photovoltaic solar energy capacity by 130 terawatt hours and onshore wind energy capacity by 96 terawatt hours, in addition to the current 17 terawatt hours of renewable electricity generated from all onland clean energy sources combined.
Image: Collected
The calculations excluded land unsuitable for clean energy projects, such as national parks, areas of exceptional natural beauty, prime agricultural land, and heritage sites. Rooftop solar panels — which do not require additional undeveloped land — were also not considered in these figures. The remaining proposed sites for large-scale solar and wind farms are illustrated on an interactive map.
Addressing Possible Challenges
Although meeting the UK's climate commitments is entirely feasible, it won't be without challenges. Tony Bosworth, a climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, highlighted the UK's potential for generating affordable and clean domestic renewable energy. He stressed that this is essential for lowering energy costs permanently and meeting the target of reducing carbon emissions by two-thirds by 2030.
However, he criticized the current government's inadequate efforts to enhance energy security through renewables, asserting that the UK trails far behind in the global transition to a zero-carbon economy. Additionally, Bosworth expressed concerns about the Labour Party's wavering commitment to climate action after scaling back its planned investments in green growth.
In conclusion, achieving the UK's net-zero emissions goal requires a doubling of clean energy deployment, despite political and logistical challenges. While progress towards decarbonization has been slow, there is hope, as England has the potential to significantly increase renewable energy output using solar and wind energy. However, addressing challenges such as policy inertia and insufficient investment is crucial to realizing this potential and meeting climate commitments.