Delivering UK energy security and a net zero electricity system by 2035 must be a “national endeavour”, according to Siemens Energy and other supply chain companies.
Siemens Energy’s supply chain report stated that the UK supply chain has the capability but needs to increase capacity.
The report, which has been co-authored by Siemens Energy, Aurora Energy and trade associations BEAMA and the EIC, will be launched at a Parliamentary Reception on 6 September 2022.
The report warns that significant investment in supply chains is required to deliver these ambitious plans for UK hydrogen production and offshore wind.
It found that the UK offshore wind industry needs to build four times as much, in half the time it has taken so far, to meet the British Energy Security Strategy target of 50GW by 2030.
In addition, low carbon hydrogen production in the UK must grow four orders of magnitude (10,000 times) to reach its 10GW target.
Emerging technologies for energy storage and carbon capture are also required at scale.
Steve Scrimshaw, VP at Siemens Energy UK & Ireland and member of the UK Government’s Hydrogen Advisory Council, said: “As a new Prime Minister takes up office in No.10, it is vital we talk now about how the supply chain can support the net zero challenge.
“Climate change should no longer be a political debate, it is happening, and we must take action. It is clear the energy industry is in crisis and we see challenges across the energy trilemma.
“Affordability is now hitting the pockets of consumers, reliability is no longer a given across Europe with geo-political turmoil and from a sustainability perspective, we must decarbonise.
“We urgently need to pick up the pace to meet ambitious targets.
“That means increased collaboration at pace; it needs to be a national endeavour.
“A net zero power system will not only help give Britain energy security, it will also reduce prices and help mitigate climate change.”
Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive of SSE, said:
“We can solve many of the issues in the current energy system by accelerating development of cheaper, cleaner and more secure homegrown energy.
“Here in the UK, we have the people, the technology and the financial strength to ensure we fully benefit from our massive renewable resources.
“But to fully unlock our potential this report shows we need to go further and faster in building more offshore wind, upgrading electricity networks to meet increased demand, and developing technologies like carbon capture and low-carbon hydrogen.
“This will take partnership across industry and government, and at SSE we are playing our part with a Great British investment programme that could see us investing £24bn by the end of this decade.”