Warwick energy experts slam the Government for ‘fudging’ green commitment
WARWICK Business School’s Global Energy Group is concerned that the new UK Energy Bill will fail to resolve the tension between the industry and the Government, nor provide a framework to meet the country’s energy demands in the long term.
The UK Government’s Energy Bill is an attempt to tackle how the nation’s electricity infrastructure will be improved over the coming years.
But David Elmes, professor of practice and academic director for Warwick Global Energy, is worried it will only further complicate the picture.
He said: “We are concerned this bill still fails to provide a clear framework for a successful future. The Prime Minister’s commitment to be the ‘greenest government ever’ has been fudged by pushing any decision on a target for decarbonising electricity until after the next election.
“By pushing out key decisions, the UK has less of a blueprint for the future and faces more of a scramble where environmental commitments the Government has signed up to may be missed and the investments needed to keep the lights on may not be made in time.”
Monica Giulietti, associate professor of global energy at Warwick Business School is also worried the Government has picked nuclear and offshore wind power too early.
“The key issue is investment and how it is going to happen,” said Dr Giulietti. “Will the bill promote the necessary investment and to some degree are the choices of investment that this bill promotes still the right choices?
“There is still a lot of research going on into the different types of energy supply, storage and consumption. Other countries are promoting a much broader base to pick from.”
