Government advisers say hydrogen and carbon capture must be rolled out faster if the UK is to achieve a zero-carbon electricity system by 2035.
Britain's Climate Change Committee (CCC) today warned that the government was “asleep at the wheel” over efforts to meet this goal – and that it could be missed altogether unless the current pace of infrastructure deployment is accelerated.
Alongside the target for a net-zero economy by 2050, the British energy security strategy calls for a fully decarbonised electricity system by 2035, underpinned by a massive expansion of nuclear, offshore wind and hydrogen capacity.
The CCC analysis indicates achieving this could see electricity demand increase by 50% by 2035, and potentially double by 2050 under some scenarios, while hydrogen demand for power could outstrip UK production capacity.
Energy Voice says the report makes 25 recommendations to improve the chances of delivery, firstly calling on the government to publish “a comprehensive long-term strategy”.
Included in the recommendations is the need to develop and fast-track new low-carbon back-up generation, based on both hydrogen and gas-fired power stations twinned with carbon capture.
Cluster-selection process
This would involve “de-risking” carbon-capture, utilisation and storage projects by launching the next cluster-selection process as soon as possible and establishing market models and plans for CO2 transport and storage.
Surplus generation could produce hydrogen through electrolysis, providing long-term storage so it can later be used to generate electricity, the authors note.
In addition, they call for smarter shifting of consumer demand to help smooth peaks and absorb excess supply.
The CCC warned that new technologies must be rolled out at “a much greater pace than the present regulatory, planning and consenting regimes can achieve.”
Committee chairman Lord Deben said that “cheap, decarbonised electricity for every consumer and business is now within reach” thanks to the development of renewable technologies.
He added: “Now there is more at stake. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought home the fundamental importance of energy security. A reliable energy system based mainly on UK’s plentiful renewable resources now has new significance.
Asleep
“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.”
The CCC also said it is “imperative” that the effects of climate change are also built into assessments of the country’s energy mix.