Conservatives say ditch net zero for cheap power: comment

Commenting on a report commissioned by the Conservatives from Onward, which backs dropping 'net zero dogma' by prioritising 'cheap power' [1], Jess Ralston, Head of Energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: "It's obvious that the North Sea is not a long term source of energy security with around 90% of its oil and gas already extracted [2], so building more gas plants just makes us more reliant on gas imports from the likes of the Strait of Hormuz and US. Polling shows British people aren’t happy relying on Trump for gas, with imports from the US already having risen around 40% last year. Gas prices today are near a three year high, as conflicts caused by actors like Putin and Trump dictate those costs, not UK supply.

"Nuclear can play a role, but so far large plants have been delayed and over budget. Small modular reactors have been touted for many years, but none are currently operating in the western world. The extreme heat and drought have forced nuclear plants across France, Romania and Hungary to switch off, a reminder that no energy source is completely ‘firm’.

"With household interest in net zero tech like solar, electric vehicles and heat pumps soaring as a result of energy instability resulting from war in Middle East, the public clearly see electrifying as a way to take back control of bills. Cheaper power would help boost that further, reducing our oil and gas demand and so our vulnerability to the next energy crisis, but there's no guarantee that nuclear or gas would deliver cost reductions while we know that renewables lowered the wholesale price of electricity by a third last year." [3]

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1.  The report is published Tue 18 Aug at 22:00. 

2. Around 90% of UK North Sea oil and gas ‘already drained dry’ – analysis (ECIU) 

3. Wind farms cut power prices by almost a third in 2025 (ECIU) 

For more information or for interview requests:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 020 8156 5305, M: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net