Government must not hamper ‘aggressive’ local net zero plans

Decisions on decarbonisation should be made by local communities instead of a “one size fits all approach”, the chief executive of SP Energy Networks (SPEN) has said.

Frank Mitchell was speaking to Utility Week following the launch of the company’s Zero Carbon Communities report today (23 October) which highlights the work needed to achieve net zero.

This included research conducted by Capita Economics which suggests that the UK will need to install more than 25 million electric vehicle charging points; and 23 million heat pumps, equal to 4,000 charging points and heat pumps per day until 2050.

Mitchell argued that while he thought the national 2050 net-zero target was a good idea, different areas of the UK have their own targets and they should be given more consideration.

“Westminster’s 2050 target is great but they are the slowest person out there.

“If we have local communities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Liverpool with much more aggressive targets, then the 2050 target really doesn’t work for them.

“There isn’t a one size fits all, I don’t think there can be that approach that centralises it that says ‘this is how you do it in every part of the country’ and the pace you are on at.

“I think trying to bring that through in a central committee in London or otherwise is just folly if we are going to try and meet the timescale we are running at.”

Instead Mitchell and SPEN believe planned investment ahead of need is key.

He added: “Our analysis tells us if we get ahead of need and do investment ahead of demand then it is much more planned and much cheaper and more efficient, but also enables the future much quicker than otherwise the current model allows.

“So a combination of making sure we reflect the local community needs and actual reality that those different solutions for every community as well as realising that getting out ahead of the curve actually ends up being lower cost for everybody, with low risk of stranded assets if you do it properly.

“Having that voice of your local community in the heart of that is I think the key to delivering the future as fast as we can.”

The network operator set out a blueprint in the report for the steps that local communities can take to meet climate change targets, ensuring they are not “left behind”.

To do this, SPEN has highlighted three areas:

• Devolve more power so that communities have a proper say in setting carbon priorities in their areas
• Don’t wait. Allow future investment to meet the needs of communities in making the transition to net zero
• Ensure that all regulation has the ambitions of meeting decarbonisation targets at its core

Also writing in the report was Keith Anderson, Scottish Power’s chief executive.

He said: “We recognise that the fundamental shift we need to make – away from a reliance on fossil fuels towards green energy powering clean lives – is an urgent and monumental task for us all. It’s the defining challenge of our time.

“That’s why we’re launching Zero Carbon Communities – an initiative that aims to help and guide local communities along the path to net zero.

“We’re launching Zero Carbon Communities in Liverpool. It’s a city we’re proud to serve. A city that has already committed to go further than many others, with a zero-carbon target of 2040.

“Over the coming months, we’ll roll out our Zero Carbon Communities approach to other areas – working in partnership with great cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh, wonderful rural communities like Anglesey and Fife.

“Getting to net zero means changes for us all – how we operate as a business, how the energy sector is regulated, and how we live our everyday lives.”