2024 Has Been a Transformational Year for the U.K.’s Energy Sector | OilPrice.com
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Breaking News:
ByFelicity Bradstock- Dec 26, 2024, 10:00 AM CSTThe UK’s Labour government has implemented several new initiatives aimed at advancing the country’s green transition, including launching a new state energy company and ending a ban on new onshore wind farms.
The government has set out a plan for a new era of clean electricity, which includes measures to speed up planning decisions on green energy projects and increase the UK’s renewable energy supply.
While Labour looks to rapidly increase the UK’s renewable energy capacity, it also aims to reduce the country’s reliance on oil and gas by not approving new drilling licenses and introducing a higher windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers.
It has been a landmark year for the U.K.’s energy sector, as the change in government has meant a significant shift in energy policy. The U.K. has lagged behind the U.S. and EU in recent years in terms of its green transition. Under the former Conservative government, the country approved new oil and gas licences in the North Sea and rolled back plans for large-scale wind energy projects and other renewable energy and nuclear power developments. Since the Labour Party won the July general election, the government has announced several new initiatives aimed at advancing the U.K.’s green transition, as well as launched a new state energy company.At the beginning of July, the Labour government brought an end to the Conservative Party’s de facto ban on new onshore wind farms. The ban was established by two footnotes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which applied only to onshore wind and no other type of infrastructure. They required strong proof that there was no local opposition to wind projects that it made it almost impossible for developers to build onshore turbines. Once elected to power, Labour removed the footnotes from the NPPF.
‘;document.write(write_html);}Following the move, in a policy statement, officials said, “Delivering our clean power mission will help boost Britain’s energy independence, save money on energy bills, support high-skilled jobs and tackle the climate crisis.” They added, “We are therefore committed to doubling onshore wind energy by 2030. That means immediately removing the de facto ban on onshore wind in England in place since 2015. We are revising planning policy to place onshore wind on the same footing as other energy development in the National Planning Policy Framework.”Later that month, the government announced it would be creating a new state energy company called Great British Energy (GBE). It is publicly owned and focuses on clean energy, managing renewable energy projects across the country. Funding for its establishment came from a windfall tax on oil and gas firms. ‘;document.write(write_html);}else{var write_htm