Two of the Humber region’s biggest renewables-focused companies have welcomed the Net Zero Strategy.
Published by the government, it details how the government aims to meet legislated targets, and comes ahead of the 海角视频 hosting the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted the ambition could be achieved without giving up flying abroad or driving cars, as electrification and sustainable fuels come to the fore.
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He said: “For years, going green was inextricably bound up with a sense that we have to sacrifice the things we love.
“But this strategy shows how we can build back greener without so much as a hair shirt in sight.
“In 2050, we will still be driving cars, flying planes and heating our homes, but our cars will be electric gliding silently around our cities, our planes will be zero emission allowing us to fly guilt-free, and our homes will be heated by cheap reliable power drawn from the winds of the North Sea.”
The biggest player in the latter is Orsted, with a £14 million base in Grimsby serving the largest offshore wind farms in the world.
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Duncan Clark, the 海角视频 head, said: “The 海角视频 Government’s Net Zero Strategy and Net Zero Review are very welcome as they underline once again the fiscal, social and environmental case for investing to achieve a zero carbon economy. Delivering at least 40GW of offshore wind by 2030 will be crucial to achieving net zero in the 海角视频 and will also unlock huge opportunities, both domestically and overseas, for companies in the world class 海角视频 supply chain to market the skills and innovative technologies that have been fostered in the 海角视频 offshore wind industry.
“Offshore wind underpins the most cost-effective way to achieve the 海角视频’s net zero ambitions and delivering 40GW of offshore wind by 2030 is an essential first step on this roadmap. This is a challenging target, but achievable if the government and the industry continue to work together to remove barriers to deployment and ensure the 海角视频 project pipeline has access to regular Contracts for Difference auctions - providing a route to market for investors. Regular release of suitable sea areas is also essential to keep the project pipeline for net zero well stocked. Alongside this, we must also fully exploit the potential of innovative technologies like renewable hydrogen and floating wind to accelerate our progress to a more sustainable, low-carbon future.”
Inland, and Drax Group has completed a huge move from coal to biomass, and is now pioneering bioenergy with carbon capture and storage to clean it up further - providing base-load power to mitigate variable input from wind and solar.
It is also behind hydro-electric provision in Scotland, with plans to expand.
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Will Gardiner, chief executive, said: “The Government’s Net Zero Strategy is a key step forward as the 海角视频 looks towards a zero-carbon future. It’s also a clear endorsement of the vital role that Drax will continue to play in helping the 海角视频 reach its net zero targets.
“It highlights the significant contributions that both our negative emissions technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), and the expansion of our pumped storage hydro capacity, could play in generating renewable energy in the 海角视频, for the 海角视频, whilst also addressing the climate crisis.
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“It is important that the Government now advances its plans to develop business models for greenhouse gas removal technologies so as to enable companies like Drax to invest in these and ensure their deployment in the 2020s.”
Jim Cardwell, head of policy development at Northern Powergrid, also picked up on the heat and building strategy element, with the plan to remove gas boilers from households by 2035.
In Hull, Ideal Heating is investing to increase capacity for new home solutions.
“There is no question that the 海角视频 will decarbonise its heat and building sectors and the £3.2bn investment we are proposing over the coming years will help get us there,” Mr Cardwell said.
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“The Government’s strategy is another stepping stone on the way to Net Zero emissions and the sentiment of affordable clean heat is one we welcome with all our customers in mind.
“Whatever happens next and whatever clean technologies thrive, our pledge is that the local grid we manage and maintain for the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire can be ready for them and we will seek a just transition for all our customers.
“Britain’s energy networks are central to unlocking the government’s Net Zero emissions ambition and our local distribution future energy scenarios take into account decarbonisation pathways that support the future needs of our society, however their lives are powered.”
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