Window closing on infrastructure investment says NIC: comment
NIC report said that delays in investment in infrastructure could constrain economic growth and threaten climate targets.
By George Smeeton
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Commenting on a report from the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), which said that delays in investment in infrastructure could constrain economic growth and threaten climate targets [1], Jess Ralston, Head of Energy at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said:
"The sky high energy bills of the last two years came from a failure to invest in energy infrastructure, in home efficiency and electric heat pumps, leaving the UK's total spend on the gas crisis at over £100bn. [2] The jeopardy of continuing underinvestment is that bills stay high and more of our energy comes from abroad.
"The government U-turned on its heat pump policy, didn't fully lift the de-facto ban on onshore wind and fumbled the last renewables auction leaving the UK more dependent on foreign energy imports. Delays to offshore wind mean the UK could miss out on twenty-two times more homegrown electricity than could be generated by gas from new North Sea licences. [3] If it wants to build a more resilient and independent energy system, the Government seems to be focussed on the wrong things."
Notes to editors:
1. The Infrastructure Progress Review 2024 is published on on 16 May.
2. Russia war anniversary – UK gas bill has topped £100bn during gas crisis: https://eciu.net/media/press-r...;
3. Year on from Government’s energy security strategy, UK less energy secure – analysis: https://eciu.net/media/press-r...;
For more information or for interview requests:
George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: +44 (0)7894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net