The UK's Energy Journey: From Early Renewables Adoption to a Net-Zero Future

The United Kingdom's embrace of renewable energy has a long and evolving history. While the recent push for clean energy solutions is driven by the urgency of climate change, the seeds of this policy were sown much earlier.

Early Days: From Water to Wind

The UK's initial foray into renewables can be traced back to its reliance on hydropower. Dams like the one built on the River Dee in Wales in 1901 harnessed the power of moving water for electricity generation. However, it was the oil crises of the 1970s that truly ignited interest in alternative energy sources. Wind power emerged as a promising option, with the first commercial wind farm opening in Scotland in 1982.

Setting Ambitious Targets: The 21st Century and Beyond

The turn of the millennium saw a significant shift in the UK's renewable energy policy. The 2007 White Paper on Energy established a target of 20% renewable energy sources by 2020, marking a clear commitment to clean energy. This target was successfully surpassed, with renewables reaching over 40% of the UK's electricity mix of wind, solar, bioenergy and hydroelectricity in 2022. On 15th May, the UK produced its trillionth kilowatt hour of renewable energy generation.

The UK's ambition continued to grow with the introduction of the Climate Change Act in 2008, enshrining a legally binding target of net-zero emissions by 2050. This ambitious goal necessitated further advancements in renewable energy.

Green Ambitions on Hold: The Rise and Fall of Feed-in Tariffs

Just prior to the 2010 election, the lucrative Feed-in-Tariffs were introduced to promote the uptake of renewable and low-carbon electricity generation. The FIT Scheme offered two types of payments; a Generation Tariff and Export Tariff.

The generation tariff was a payment for all electricity generated by a solar or renewable system, regardless of whether it was exported or used in the property. This tariff was originally set at a rate of 41.3p per kWh in April 2010. However, this was significantly lowered by the Conservative Government in several stages. In March 2012, the tariff was cut to 21p per kWh. This cut was initially scheduled for December 2011, but was delayed due to a joint appeal by environmental organisation Friends of the Earth and two solar companies (Solar Century and HomeSun). A further two cuts brought the tariff rate down to 15.44p per kWh in November 2012.

The FIT scheme was discontinued in 2019 for any new solar installations, with the Smart Export Guarantee taking its place as a new initiative with a focus on export rates, but with much lower payback for customers. The rates are decided by each energy supplier, and the only requirement is that the rate must be greater than zero.

Following the victory of the Conservative Party in 2010, their green targets included a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050, which was made into law in 2019. Boris Johnson made a commitment to ban petrol and diesel cars by 2030, with a £12bn plan to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle car charging points, as well as the development and production of electric vehicle batteries. This was recently pushed back to 2035 by Rishi Sunak.

However, there were some negative changes to green and environmental initiatives in the Conservative governments leadership, such as the disbandment of the long-established and well-respected independent body, the Royal Commission for Environmental Pollution (RCEP). Significant funding cuts to the Environment Agency and Natural England were also implemented, as part of broader reductions in the budget deficit.

The government did introduce a 0% VAT rate for solar systems for domestic customers, helping provide more affordable clean energy for more households.

The Roadmap to Net-Zero: Current and Future Policies

The UK government has implemented a series of policies to support its net-zero ambitions. The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, launched in 2020, outlines a roadmap for clean energy investment and infrastructure development. The 2021 Net Zero Strategy further details sector-specific strategies for decarbonisation.

Following the general election in July, anticipation surrounds potential policy announcements.

Ed Miliband, the new Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, has already set out his priorities for the department, and has already put some into action.

Only a week into his appointment, he has overridden officials to immediately ban any new oil drilling in the North Sea, and reinstated onshore wind farms, boosting renewable wind energy generation.

Future priorities include:

• Making electricity 100% clean by 2030.

• Upgrading up to five million homes with insulation and solar panel installation.

• Setting up ‘Great British Energy’, a publicly-owned company, with plans to invest in clean energy.

Who and What is Great British Energy?

The Great British Energy Company, or GB Energy, is a planned publicly owned investment body focused on renewable energy in the UK. It was a key pledge from the Labour Party's 2024 general election campaign.

Here's a breakdown of the key points about GB Energy:

• Ownership: Publicly owned by the British people, but operationally independent with its own board.

• Focus: Investing in renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower.

• Headquarters: Scotland

• Funding: £8.3 billion of government funding to be invested over the course of a parliament.

• Targets: Generate 8 GW of renewable power by 2030 and create jobs in the clean energy sector.

The UK's renewable energy journey is far from over. With ambitious goals and a focus on innovation, the country is well-positioned to secure a clean and sustainable energy future.

At Atlantic Renewables, we're passionate about helping homeowners like you take control of their energy future. By switching to solar, you'll not only see significant savings on your electricity bills, but you'll also be investing in a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future for your property.

We are here to guide you every step of the way, from initial consultation to installation and ongoing maintenance. Get a free, no-obligation quote today to see how solar can benefit your home or business.