New renewable ambitions in PM's energy strategy will cut bills and increase energy security

That shift will be powered largely by the growth of renewable sources with new targets and policies set out for wind, solar and renewable hydrogen. The Government has set a new ambition for 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, including up to 5GW of innovative floating wind projects - a world leading target. Responding to the need to increase the speed of deployment, the Government has committed to reforming the planning system so that consenting decisions are made within 1 year.

Ministers will also be consulting on developing partnerships with local communities who wish to host onshore wind farms and benefit from lower electricity bills, potentially unlocking new capacity in England. The strategy also doubles the 2030 hydrogen target to 10GW, at least half of which will be green hydrogen capacity produced using renewable electricity.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said “The Prime Minister's ambitious new strategy puts the rocket boosters under the UK's transition to renewable energy and will cut consumer bills.

“The new targets mean that our world-leading offshore wind industry will do the heavy lifting in getting Britain permanently off the hook of gas power by boosting our nation's home-grown energy supply. Reforms to speed up the planning system and how quickly we connect new offshore wind are essential to meet these new ambitions.

“We need to make use of every tool in the box to boost our energy independence, so it's right that Government is looking again at planning rules so that onshore wind can proceed in parts of England where there is support, as it's the cheapest source of new power and the quickest to build. 

“Ramping up the roll-out of innovative technologies is vital too, and the increased targets for green hydrogen and floating wind will help us to build up new industries. Producing renewable hydrogen using electricity from wind will provide valuable flexibility to our future clean energy system, replacing gas in a wide variety of sectors like industry, transport and heating.

“In the short-term, we have a unique opportunity to boost renewables by maximising the amount of capacity we can secure in the current clean power auction, and step up in each subsequent annual auction to the hilt. Another key priority is ensuring that the regulator Ofgem has a clear mandate to enable investment in vital new grid infrastructure we need to deliver projects on time and at lowest cost”.