Energy minister Andrea Leadsom has reaffirmed the government’s intention to decarbonise the UK’s energy system following the vote to leave the European Union.
The Conservative leadership hopeful said the UK remains “fully committed” to its three-pronged energy policy of security, affordability and decarbonisation.
Speaking at the Utility Week Energy Summit in Westminster, she said: “Decarbonising our energy system is not some abstract regulatory requirement – it is an essential responsibility that we hold towards our children and grandchildren, as the only way to effectively counter the threat of climate change.
“However we choose to leave the EU, let me be clear: we remain committed to dealing with climate change.”
Leadsom said the UK was on track for 35% of its electricity to come from renewables by 2020 and had surpassed its own expectations on solar with 10GW capacity installed.
The energy minister defended the government’s decision to cut subsidies for renewables and suggested there would be no U-turn on the UK’s policy of decarbonising at the least cost.
“In the long-term, it is the market that will decide the contributions of the different technologies – first through auctions, and then directly as clean energy begins to deploy without subsidy.
“It is in all of our interests to reach the point where clean energy can deploy without subsidy, and the government can remove itself from the market, as soon as possible.”
Image: Andrea Leadsom (DECC)
Leadsom: No change to policy
Minister says decarbonisation is ‘not some abstract regulatory requirement'
By EBS