UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has been advised to make full use of new auctions for onshore wind and solar to ensure the UK benefits from the cheapest form of electricity generation.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) have written to the new PM setting out the positive case for action on energy efficiency, low carbon heat and renewables in the face of the current cost of living crisis.
The letter sets out the organisations’ joint positions on topics including energy security, fossil fuels and the role of infrastructure in delivering net zero.
Its authors are the CCC Chair, Lord Deben, and the NIC Chair, Sir John Armitt.
The CCC and NIC recommend that the Government makes full use of new auctions for onshore wind and solar, since renewables are the cheapest form of electricity generation and requests updated National Policy Statements for energy and for the government to act quickly to resolve barriers to deployment of strategic energy infrastructure.
It also urges the government to develop “credible policies” for energy efficiency in buildings to reduce the amount of energy wasted over the long-term and support the transition to low-carbon heat.
It also stipulates the provision of a comprehensive energy advice service and urges the government to deliver a working market-based mechanism for low-carbon heat, as this is the main policy the Government has put in train to deliver on its goal to grow the market for heat pumps.