Renewable energy, such as tidal power, needs to be part of the National Infrastructure Commission’s plans to meet the challenges facing UK in the coming decades, according to the CBI.
The CBI said in a new paper – Plotting the Course – that new energy sources and supplies should be one of eight priority areas for the Commission.
It said hydrogen and carbon capture and storage should also be part of the mix and “go hand in hand with keeping costs down”.
The paper said the commission cannot afford to be way-laid by politics in taking decisions and needs to focus on “long-term planning to tackle the challenges” ahead for the UK.
Electricity will need to meet more of the country’s energy needs in order to mover towards a low-carbon economy.
For example, the “electrification of heat and transport would double our current peak electricity demand, but would require significant upgrades to our electricity infrastructure”, the CBI said.
Other priority areas are rail, roads, digital, water, flood defences and ports and airports.
CBI business environment director Rhian Kelly said: “The National Infrastructure Commission gives the UK the perfect opportunity to carefully and strategically plot the course of its long-term infrastructure needs.
“It allows both government and business to plan now for the challenges that the decades to come will bring, like the effects of climate change and increased demand on our infrastructure.
“With a strong commission, we can deliver the projects – from upgrading our digital connectivity to boost productivity, to investing in new energy sources for a low-carbon economy – that will enable firms up and down the country to get on with growing our economy and creating jobs for the long-run.
“For this to happen though, it’s vital the Commission is not blown off course by politics. This independent body must be given strong teeth by politicians so that it can recommend significant infrastructure decisions, like building a new runway in the South East, are made for the future benefit of all.”
Image: the CBI said tidal power is one area that the National Infrastructure Committee should prioritise (sxc)
