The UK government has established a new organisation that it claims will turbocharge the country’s mission to provide Britain with cheaper and clean power by 2030.
Mission Control for Clean Power, which will be lead by former Climate Change Committee chief executive Chris Stark, will have a “relentless focus on accelerating the transition away from volatile fossil fuel markets to clean, homegrown power, to boost Britain’s energy independence and cut bills for the British people”.
Mission Control will be a one-stop shop, bringing together a top team of industry experts and officials to troubleshoot, negotiate and clear the way for energy projects, said the Labour administration.
It will work with key energy companies and organisations including the regulator Ofgem, the National Grid and the Electricity System Operator to remove obstacles and identify and resolve issues as they arise.
This will speed up the connection of new power infrastructure to the grid, and cleaner, cheaper power to people’s homes and businesses, the government said.
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Years of underinvestment has left our country suffering energy insecurity, with working people paying the price through their energy bills and a cost-of-living crisis.
“That cannot happen again. This new Mission Control centre, benefitting from the expertise and experience of Chris Stark’s leadership – and bringing together the brightest and best in the national interest – will have a laser-like focus on delivering our mission of clean power by 2030.
“Making Britain a clean energy superpower will not only keep bills down, it will also create hundreds of thousands of good jobs, while protecting national security by keeping dictators out of our energy markets. And, of course, it will allow us to play a leading role in tackling the climate crisis.”
Stark added: “Tackling the climate crisis and accelerating the transition to clean power is the country’s biggest challenge, and its greatest opportunity.
“By taking action now, we can put the UK at the forefront of the global race to net zero – driving down our carbon emissions but also cutting bills for households.
“It is a privilege to head up this work alongside the country’s top energy experts who will make this mission a reality.”