A decarbonised power system by 2035 is the central requirement for achieving net zero in the UK and the “prize for all modern economies”, according to a new report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC).
The comprehensive report demonstrates the scale of the task in achieving the Government’s 2035 goal, with 25 new recommendations to improve the prospects of delivery.
The report contains fresh insights on the importance of developing a climate-resilient power system – and detailed modelling to illustrate the requirements of the 2035 power system, using actual historical weather data, stress-tested with an extreme scenario of a prolonged period of low wind.
Alongside Government’s Energy Security Strategy commitments to renewables and nuclear, the report specifically calls for new low-carbon back-up generation, with hydrogen-based power stations and some continued use of fossil gas, made low-carbon through use of carbon capture and storage.
It also urges for adoption of smart shifting of consumer demand, to help to smooth peaks in demand and absorb excess supply, especially through controlled timing of electric vehicle charging and use of heat pumps.
New storage solutions, beyond simply the use of batteries, are also called for in the report.
“Most critical is the use of surplus generation to produce hydrogen through electrolysis (‘green hydrogen’), providing long-term storage so it can later be used to generate electricity,” it stated.
Lord Deben, Chairman of the Climate Change Committee, said: “For 15 years, the Climate Change Committee’s main recommendation has been to decarbonise British electricity.
“The offer of cheap, decarbonised electricity for every consumer and business is now within reach, thanks to pioneering efforts to develop renewables.
“We know how to do this, but Government is asleep at the wheel.
“Recent commitments for new nuclear and renewables are welcome, but these alone are insufficient.
“A rapid overhaul of the planning system and regulations is needed.
“It is not clear where the responsibility lies for the design and operations of our modern energy system rests among key organisations.”
Countries around the world are “now racing” for net zero and while the UK is further ahead than most, it risks losing an early lead at the “worst possible time”, added Deben.
The report highlighted that renewables continue to be the cheapest form of electricity generation and they can be harnessed cost-effectively.
Managing their variability imposes some extra costs on the wider system, but these are manageable with the combination of low-carbon flexibility options, given that these only make up a relatively small proportion of generation and capacity.
The 2035 electricity system envisaged in the CCC’s report would maintain energy security, while coping with the expected increase in electricity demands and potentially long periods of low wind and other climate impacts including flooding and extreme temperatures.
The consequent reduction in gas consumption would also cut the UK’s exposure to volatile international fossil fuel markets, with greater reliance on homegrown low-cost renewables.
The report stated delivery and deployment of infrastructure must be achieved at a much greater pace than the present regulatory, planning and consenting regimes can achieve.
It requires that barriers to swift deployment of critical infrastructure are removed, and policy gaps remedied.
This will open the path to major new investment in renewable generation and infrastructure.
The network and storage infrastructure needed to support a decarbonised system will also be very significant, with build required for the transport and storage of electricity, hydrogen and carbon dioxide.