Renewable energy ‘stands ready to deliver’ after election

Sector urges new government to establish a stable policy framework

The existence of a hung parliament should be no bar to progress on renewable energy and emissions reduction due to cross-party consensus on decarbonising the economy, according to industry bodies.

Responding to the general election result, Renewable UK chief executive Hugh McNeal urged all Westminster politicians to use the cross-party consensus on decarbonisation to put renewable generation at the heart of UK energy policy and called on the new Conservative government to ensure a stable policy framework for renewables.

“With relatively simple support, in these unprecedented political times, renewable energy stands ready to deliver,” said McNeal.

Julie Hirigoyen, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, urged policy makers not to allow Westminster horse-trading to derail efforts to cut emissions.

She said: “Over the coming weeks and months, parliament must not let power struggles and partisan wrangling obstruct the immediate need for leadership and action on urgent policy imperatives such as housing and the emissions reduction plan. The election campaign has highlighted the importance of these issues to voters alongside Brexit policy.

“These times of political turmoil, businesses need clarity and certainty to invest in a low carbon, internationally competitive economy. Steadfast commitment to tackling climate change is one rare area of agreement between the two main parties, so this political common ground must now be extended to decisive action on domestic carbon emissions reductions.”

And the Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy and climate campaigner, Alasdair Cameron, added: “Whatever deal the Conservatives do with the climate-sceptic DUP, action on climate change and renewable energy must be accelerated, and not stalled, and we call on all parties to make that happen. 

“As a first step there is a clear need for the government to show how they will boost the uptake of renewables and meet carbon targets – now delayed by the recent election.”

While Nuclear Industry Association chief executive Tom Greatrex said the new government, when it is up and running, has to “urgently” come up with replacement arrangements for Euratom, which the Conservatives have pledged to pull out of alongside the EU.

Greatrex said: “This election was called to resolve the direction of Brexit but its outcome has cast serious doubt over the future. In this situation, industry desperately needs clarity and the new Government, whatever form it takes, must resolve the critical and complicated Euratom issue.

“If current policy is maintained, which would see the UK withdraw from Euratom, the new Government must, as a matter of urgency, look to ensure alternative arrangements are in place as soon as possible to avoid a damaging cliff edge.

“The clock is ticking towards March 2019, and without equivalent new arrangements, the exponential economic growth potential of the UK’s nuclear programme could well be lost.”