Energy Strategy Gets Stinging Criticism from Industry

THE ENERGY SECURITY STRATEGY has attracted stinging criticism across industry for its focus on nuclear and wind power.

The strategy offers no funding to encourage increased installation of renewables to generate secure energy in the short term and ease the current energy crisis as well as lack of a plan to retrofit the existing housing stock and commercial buildings with energy efficiency measures.

The government’s British Energy Security Strategy was published on 6 April.

Insulate, then Generate Says NFRC

James Talman, CEO of NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors), said:

James Talman, CEO NFRC

“We are pleased to see the government’s plans to increase solar capacity across the UK, with expectations that deployment will increase fivefold by 2035. We encourage the government to capitalise on the many acres of industrial flat roof space across the country for the situation of panels, rather than using solar ‘farms’ on land that would otherwise be useful for agricultural or other purposes.

“The elephant in the room is that the strategy lacks new provision to improve energy efficiency. Reducing demand is a quick win: the first step to meet the UK’s needs should be improving the energy efficiency of our buildings through properly insulating roofs and walls.

“Fitting a roof with solar panels is an excellent way to provide a source of power for business premises and homes, but if the building is heated yet poorly insulated, a proportion will be lost straight away. Investing in generating more power holds less weight if a substantial proportion of it will be immediately—avoidably—wasted.

“The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has said that improving the energy efficiency of the entire UK building stock is a national infrastructure priority and should be recognised as such by the government. Let’s focus on energy efficiency in conjunction with efforts to generate green energy, so that what we generate doesn’t go to waste.”

Misses the Mark

The Federation of Master Builders added its voice to criticism of the strategy, repeating its calls for a government plan to make homes more energy efficient.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders

Brian Berry, Chief Executive at the FMB said “The Energy Security Strategy completely misses the mark in tackling energy consumption in our homes.

“After the disappointment of the Heat and Buildings Strategy this was an opportunity for Government to implement a National Retrofit Strategy, focussing on improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s draughty and leaky homes.

“While the strategy does deliver 0% VAT on energy efficiency improvements to properties, a welcome move that the FMB has long been campaigning for, this only helps those with the money to pay in the first place. A broader, insulation led, retrofit strategy would have been an immediate solution to reduce energy consumption, boost the economy and importantly, help save homeowners money on their bills during a cost-of-living crises.”

Chorus of Criticism

Green Angel Syndicate President, Nick Lyth

The Green Angel Syndicate says environmentalists, energy specialists, and economists alike have mounted a chorus of criticism.

“The delays in publishing arguably the most urgent strategy for the Government were reportedly due to controversy surrounding nuclear policy; and a similar controversy on the role of onshore wind.  Sure enough, nuclear is a cornerstone of the new strategy; and onshore wind is almost ignored.

“The consequence of this is that neither nuclear nor onshore wind can contribute to the UK’s short term need for energy stability.  This has drawn stinging criticism from the industry.

“There is precious little energy available from nuclear in the short term,” comments Green Angel Syndicate President, Nick Lyth, “– absolutely no security, and where is the strategy?  This is a government offering little other than a rehash of the old ideas.”

“Much of the environmental movement is critical of the absence of emission reducing measures, such as domestic insulation, which would help to reduce energy demand.  Economists are more alarmed than ever by the failure of the Government to address escalating energy bills. But the Oil & Gas sector is smiling.  The one certain beneficiary of this ‘new’ strategy is the expansion of Oil & Gas operations, rising prices and rising profits.

“We seem to be going backwards in every sense.  More expensive energy, more polluting energy, with less security of supply, and mounting demand.  Who remembers the three-day week and electricity rationing in the early and later 70s under Ted Heath and then Jim Callaghan?  I wonder if our leaders are heading back that way,” adds Lyth.

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