RenewableUK has produced a plan for the UK Government outlining steps which would enable the UK to effectively end dependence on gas for electricity within five years.
Replacing gas with new renewable energy capacity to generate power would reduce the country’s vulnerability to huge fluctuations in global gas prices which are hurting consumers, as well as accelerating action against climate change, RenewableUK stated.
With renewables already set to expand rapidly this decade, the plan would unlock a further 25% growth in renewable power by 2030.
The measures in the Renewable Energy Response Plan include increasing the amount of new renewable capacity which will be secured in this year’s auction for contracts to generate clean power.
RenewableUK said the government should remove the limit imposed on the amount of onshore wind capacity which can go ahead in this auction and raise the budget available for offshore wind as more projects are now shovel-ready than when the Government set out initial ambitions.
“By investing an extra £68m in the budget for offshore wind, we can cut consumers’ exposure to gas by £1.5bn,” RenewableUK stated.
Government should also ensure that the planning process for renewables moves faster, to maximise the capacity that can be secured from annual clean power auctions starting in 2023, said the trade body.
Planning decisions for offshore wind projects should be taken within a statutory timeframe of one year, whereas it’s currently taking at least 2-3 years, said RenewableUK.
It also said the planning regime for onshore wind in England is in “urgent need” of reform as in practice it is blocking nearly all new projects from going ahead, including those with broad community support.
Most UK onshore wind development will take place in Scotland where, wind speeds are strongest, and the Scottish Government should clarify and expedite the planning system, which is currently being reviewed, the group added.
Other steps in the plan include calls for Ofgem to “urgently enable” new grid investment to bring forward renewable projects faster and tackle the enormous disparities in the way renewable energy generators are charged for using the grid.
New rules are also needed to bring forward grid-scale batteries as fast as possible.
RenewableUK said bringing forward a 5GW low carbon hydrogen target by 2030 could replace 5% of total UK gas demand, equivalent to £5.7bn.
RenewableUK chief executive Dan McGrail said: “With the rocketing global cost of gas continuing to push up energy bills, Government and industry need to work together to cut our reliance on gas to generate electricity as quickly as possible and I believe we can do that within five years.
“We can start on this by doubling down on what we can get in this year’s clean power auctions, to protect consumers from global price shocks in the future.”