Targets for onshore wind as well as for tidal energy will help the UK to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, according to the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC).
The EAC’s new report, “Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies”, details a string of wide-reaching measures the UK needs to take to reduce its fossil fuel dependency, which today accounts for 78% of the UK’s energy needs.
While the Government’s British Energy Security Strategy sets out ambitions for low-carbon electricity generation, there remain significant gaps, according to the Committee.
When the Government publishes its updated Net Zero Strategy in the Spring, ambitious targets for onshore wind and tidal energy “would be vital to send the right demand signals to industry”, EAC stated.
It is calling for greater focus on the potential of onshore wind to be rolled out rapidly in the short term and for tidal energy to contribute to the UK’s energy security baseload in the long term.
Furthermore, developers should be required to fit solar photovoltaics (PV) on homes to help achieve the Government’s ambition of 70GW of solar generating capacity by 2035, stated EAC.
To continue to demonstrate its international climate leadership, the Committee is calling for the Government to set a clear date for ending new oil and gas licensing rounds.
The MPs are also calling for faster action from the oil and gas sector to reduce its operational emissions produced during oil and gas extraction.
The upstream emissions reduction targets currently set under the North Sea Transition Deal are not stretching enough, EAC said.
More rapid action will be required to reduce production emissions by 68% in line with the Government’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The Committee is calling on the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to insist on the electrification of all new oil and gas projects in the 33rd licencing round and is also calling for routine flaring to be banned outright.
NSTA should publish a league table of the best and worst performing companies, so that progress can be clearly monitored.
Environmental Audit Committee Chairman, Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP (pictured), said: “Fossil fuels have helped keep our homes warm, power our cars and generate the majority of our electricity.
“Britain will continue to need to access fossil fuel supplies during the Net Zero transition.
“But Government should consult on setting an end date for licencing oil and gas from the North Sea.
“We can accelerate this transition by fully harnessing our abundant renewable energy resources, including tidal energy that can deliver a reliable year-round source of clean electricity, and by upgrading our energy inefficient buildings.
“The UK has enormous renewable energy potential and sectors such as offshore wind are booming. But more must be done to harness the opportunities which onshore wind, tidal and solar technologies provide.
“Developers should be required to fit solar panels on new homes as standard.”
The Committee has called for an update of the British Energy Security Strategy to be published in Spring 2023 indicating progress in reducing reliance on Russian imports, securing energy supplies and improving energy efficiency.